AGM and QGM Strachur Memorial Hall
Strachur Memorial Hall Committee
Annual General Meeting
Wednesday 5th October 2011
Present
Executive Committee - David Fiddes - Chairman, Tom Peebles - Vice Chairman, Frieda Bos - Booking Officer, Bill Dickson - Treasurer, Kate Glasgow - Secretary.
Honorary President - Mary Thomson
Group Representatives -Murray Cormie - Shinty Club, Kirstie Reid - Tenants and Residents Association, Evie Campbell - Fiddle Workshop, Isabel McGladdery - Smiddy Trust, Iseabal Thomson - Flower Show, Willie Montgomery - Local History Society, Alison Roy - Strachur Youth Group, Ken Finlayson - Cowalfest, Bob Acklam - Scottish Country Dancing, Anne Fiddes - Ladies Bowls / Friendship Group, Betty Acklam - SWRI / Guild, Rita MacKellar - Playgroup, Sheena Dowse - Fun-Raisers
Members of the Public - Theresa Hunt-Earle
Apologies - Elspeth Ferguson, Rev Dr Robin Mackenzie, Alex McNaughton, Douglas Currie, Anne Currie, Jane Haddon, Archie Reid & Hugh Killin. Drew Stewart, Gerry Gibson and Cathy Montgomery.
The
Minutes of Meeting 19th October 2010
Circulated,
read and approved as being correct, proposed by Rita MacKellar and
seconded by Tom Peebles.
Matters Arising - None
Chairman's/Executive
Report
David
Fiddes reported a busy
and financially satisfactory
year.
He welcomed the
Fun-Raisers, represented by Sheena Dowse. They
raise money for charity and are now fully integrated into the Hall
user-group community.
The Biomass Boiler
was installed for environmental
reasons (to
reduce our carbon
footprint)
and financial (to
protect from oil price-inflation).
After some teething
troubles we are
now running
oil-free. The
heating control system was
upgraded and
is a reliable and
effective system.
Changes
to the Green Room and converting the Registrar's Room to a Community
Office have progressed slowly but should now accelerate.
This
committee is run by and for the user-groups you represent. The
Executive's role is to raise enough funds to maintain the fabric of
the building and oversee the interaction of your groups.
The
Community Council has taken over the Remembrance Day Service and
switching on the Christmas Lights.
The
Fun Day Elspeth had
initiated is now taken over by the Parent Partnership Group of the
Primary School.
We
have tried to
bring professional theatre to Strachur and were
delighted that recently
The Mull Theatre hired the Hall, relieving us of financial risk. We
are getting on the map as a worthwhile venue.
The
next big event for Strachur will be the opening of the Pavilion at
the Sports Field. This has already been used by a number of our
user-groups. There is a compelling case for integrating a number of
activities in the maintenance and operation of the two facilities.
Grass
cutting was organised very effectively by Elspeth using the Council's
Community Service gang saving us money so grateful thanks both to
Elspeth and the Council.
Now
we can press on with the kitchen upgrade, Tom has a committee working
on the plans and pricing.
David
gave thanks to Fiona Campbell who continues to do a fantastic job
which would be
impossible without everyone tidying up after their sessions. Thanks
are due to the Friendship Group and their volunteers who collect the
50:50 monies which bolster our funds each year. We are also indebted
to Drew who does
a wonderful job on the Newsletter supported by Gelda.
Finally
he thanked the Executive members for their support and hard work
throughout the last few years. Kate has been a very efficient
secretary. Bill has looked after our finances impeccably with Moira's
assistance. Frieda manages the booking system and the website
brilliantly. Elspeth has been a tower of strength. Tom has served
his apprenticeship and taken a load off me. And last but not least,
Douglas for his advice as chairman emeritus.
This
year a majority of new office bearers will be elected, David wished
the new team well and hope the user groups have been happy with the
efforts of the outgoing team.
Treasurer's
Annual Report
Bill
Dickson reported a good year, The 50:50 Club donated £3538, overall
income was up by £2000 as was the expenditure, donations were down
by £2000. The main costs were the heating, repairs including £648
for floor varnishing. The heating costs are down from £500/month to
£260, electricity bills are down and Newsletter revenue is up. The
accounts are sitting at over £10000 and £4000.
Bill
finished saying he has learned a lot and enjoyed working as a team.
Anne
Fiddes asked about the necessity for the contract with Argyll Hygiene
for the sanitary bins in the ladies toilets, after some discussion
and it was decided the committee will look into removing this
facility.
Booking
Officer's Report
Frieda
Bos reported the hall
continues to be in high demand which helps to keep the rates low.
Most regular users book well in advance and more people check
availability on the website before contacting her making Frieda's
work easier.
We
had 2 weddings this year and a number of parties.
Business
bookings have increased, it seems the reduced business rates have
attracted more users.
Most
users book the hall for the hours they need and return it to the
state they found it, which is good as this is the only way we can
continue running the hall using volunteers and a cleaner for a
limited number of hours. Regretfully that is not always the case and
Frieda would appeal to all the users to comply with the rules and our
other terms of use which are on the notice board.
The number of visitors of the Strachur website has increased 50% compared to last year. If you want any changes or additions to the website, or an own page for your group let Frieda know. There is also an event calendar on the website.
Activities
Supervisor's Report
Nothing
to report
Newsletter
Report
Drew Stewart sent a report that the Newsletter
continues to operate in the black. Since the style of the publication
changed in March there had been a marked increase in sales. In fact
every month has been well up on those of last year. He gave thanks to
the contributors and advertisers and hopes to see the rise in sales
continues over the next few months. David gave his thanks to Drew and
Gelda.
Appointment
of Office Bearers
Honorary
President - Mary Thomson
Chairman
- Tom Peebles
Chairman
Emeritus - David Fiddes
Vice
Chairman - Andrew Weir (nominated by Tom Peebles seconded by Anne
Fiddes)
Treasurer
- Ken Finlayson (nominated by Tom Peebles seconded by Bill Dickson)
Secretary
- Theresa Hunt-Earle (nominated by Tom Peebles seconded by Frieda
Bos)
Hall
Booking Officer - Frieda Bos
Activities
Supervisor - Elspeth Ferguson is to step down and with no nominations
this position is empty at present.
Tom
Peebles gave thanks to all the outgoing members of the committee for
the time and efforts they have put in over the years.
A
special thanks to David Fiddes who has put in a tremendous amount of
time and effort not only in the frontline management of the hall and
user groups, but many hours at home, filling out applications for
grant funding, contacting and supervising contractors and tradesmen,
physically repairing things, organising the heating morning and
night as well as overseeing the co-ordination of user groups. David
has been responsible for the installation of the new woodchip boiler
and upgraded internal heating controls which we will all benefit
from.Tom is grateful that David,as Chairman Emeritus, will be
available to help and advise.
Tom
will give the job his full attention and with the new committee will
strive to maintain the high standards. He proposes to set up a book
for recording complaints or maintenance issues or any other matters
of concern it will be checked regularly and the matters dealt with.
Tasks
which require immediate attention include ensuring the premises are
in good order before the onset of winter. The kitchen and the
community office will be priority and the garden needs attention.
Tom
reminded everyone that the Committee is not just comprised of the
executive it also includes the representatives of user groups, no
major decisions on expenditure or management are made without the
approval of the whole committee. Quarterly meetings will continue to
report on progress and discuss decisions. It is important that, as
committee members, the user group representatives attend these
meetings. The executive will meet regularly to decide on the best
ways of carrying out the decisions or wishes of the full committee.
AOB
- Sheena Dowse asked for a note of all representatives contact
numbers which Kate will get for her. She asked if the Fun-Raisers
could have some storage for clothes and props, the executive agree
that storage facilities in the hall need to be rationalised and
something will be arranged for the Fun-Raisers.
The
dates are now definite
for Stars in Their Eyes as the 25th and 26th November.
Evie
Campbell asked about the possibility of storage for the fiddles and
the exec will look into this too.
The meeting closed at 8.45 pm.