AGM 2018
9th May 2018
Inchture Hotel at 7pm

Minutes from AGM 2017

Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group
Annual General Meeting and Open Meeting – 24th April 2017
Draft Minute
 
 
Agenda

Welcome
FR welcomed those present. She outlined the agenda for the evening and as this was a paperless activity, the agenda and minutes had been published on the groups’ website.
 
The first item of business the approval of the 2016 AGM minutes.
 
Coral Bell called for a proposer and seconder
Proposed by Ian Bell
Seconded by Joseph Khazaka
The minutes were approved.
 

Report of Chair – Fiona Ross
 
Fiona outlined the work of the group to date
  • A busy and productive year for the group
  • Climate Change Funding had enabled the group to take forward a community sustainability e survey in association with focus groups’ meetings and scenario planning days
  • There was a good response to the survey and days and four main themes emerged form this – Climate Change, Local Transport, Over development and Broadband
  • FR also attended the SCCAN conference at Dynamic Earth – 30 years vision which gave insight to the main issues emerging and finding solutions for them
  • FR undertook a sharing knowledge exchange event in Ullapool. This is part of the work of the Ullapool Community Trust under the umbrella of SCCAN
  • The group has also been granted a Heritage Lottery Funding - £10K – to take forward the Patrick Matthew Project. A wide ranging project to celebrate the life and work of this little known Carsonian
 
 
Treasurer’s Report: Ian Bell
Carse of Gowrie Sustainability Group’s Annual Accounts
presented by Treasurer, Ian Bell
 
IB outlined some of the key points for the financial activity for the year highlighting the fact that collection activities had greatly assisted in paying for the group’s insurance premium.
 
 
 Junior Carsonians : Coral Bell
 
My role
  • Is to work in conjunction with Astrid Leeson, another volunteer who started with the Living Communities project and when the funding stopped has continued to work with the children, the staff of the schools and in particular the DHT of Invergowrie PS, Stephanie Kellie
  • Take notes of the meeting and pass them on to the DHT for distribution to the schools
  • Arrange visits and speakers as relevant
 
  • Over the last year the children/staff of the 6 primary schools in the Carse have continued to be involved in the Junior Carsonians
  • Representatives of each school participate in meeting, discussion and decision making activities. The representatives are generally from the older age groups of the school but that is not always the case.
  • The representatives also share information and ideas with their classmates and indeed the whole school
  • The activities and projects are within the wider context of Curriculum for Excellence and relationships with their community
 
Over the year, they have begun to research the country of Malawi –
  • they compiled research questions around geography – climate and weather; culture and education; language and food.
  • We are still endeavouring to find actual links with schools in Malawi and this is in part due to the lack of resources schools have in Malawi and the huge differences in those resources between the two countries which is itself a key learning point for the children. We are highlighting the similarities and the differences.
 
Researching and life and career of Victoria Drummond
  • In September the group visited Megginich Castle where Victoria lived and is buried in the estate’s chapel graveyard. They were able to access primary sources including her books, uniform, toys and models she had made, photogrpahs
  • Participated in a talk from David Middleton – retired marine engineering lecturer from Dundee University. The impact on the children and adults was very evident to the point that one young man was so inspired he had decided to become and engineer
 
Getting the views of the young people
  • The representative group also took part in the survey undertaken by the CoGSG. Their views were incorporated into the survey results. They were sharp and interesting. They loved the Carse – quiet, great views, lots of room to play. They wanted more appropriate facilities for play – playgrounds, places to ride bikes safely.
  • Attendant to that survey was that some of the older children had difficulties with transport after participating in after school activities. Parents have to either pick up or pay bus fares
 
The way forward
  • Participate in the activities relating to the HLF project – Stories, Stones and Bones on the Remarkable Life of Patrick Matthew. Astrid will be key in this work.
  • Continuing the Malawi project
 

Office Bearers and Committee members
 
Roles and responsibilities to be decided at the next management group meeting
Astrid Leeson and Alexa Martin to be associate members
 
 

AOB
 
None
 
FR closed the meeting.