Bearsden and Milngavie Ramblers and Hillwalkers Minute of the Committee Meeting held on 23 June 2014. Present: Bob Diamond (Chairman). Beth Diamond, Mary Darke, Doreen Kingsbury, Helen Donnachie, Moira Allan, Fiona Taylor, Karine Davison, Imogen Johnstone, Peter Allan, Peter Bartos, Helena Bartos 1. Apologies: Hazel Miller, Liz Weir 2. Minute of the meeting of 28 April 2014 These were agreed with the following corrections: 5.2 amend to ‘Map Leaflets and Plinth. It was agreed that this should be paid in full from the no.3 account’. Attached reports - Change heading of report labelled ‘Publicity’ to ‘Webmaster’ 3. Matters Arising: 3.1 Reports. It was agreed that the new system of the Secretary circulating reports one week prior to the meeting appeared successful. Any item which came up after submission of a report could be brought up at the meeting. 3.2 Hi-Vis Jackets. These were now available 3.3 Proposal for Bus Walks. Fiona said that it was too onerous for the Walks Co- ordinator to organise all the bus walks as well as the normal walking programme. Plans for bus walks had been made by the full committee in the past, not the walks committee. It was suggested that the Bus Convenor should also organise the walks on bus walks. These trips would also need to be organised earlier if additional notice in the programme was required. These suggestions were noted for future discussion. 4. Reports 4.1 Publicity (Report attached). Milngavie Walks Panels. Peter A asked that if anyone from the committee was notified of/invited to the official unveiling of the Milngavie Walks plinth and board they let him know. It was agreed that a heading reading ‘Developed and Funded by Bearsden and Milngavie Ramblers and Hillwalkers’ (or ‘Developed and Funded by Bearsden and Milngavie Ramblers Group’) was preferable to that proposed. However it might be too late for an alteration to be made. Peter A would check. It was agreed to send Andrew Summers and Sue Swinson an official email congratulating them on being selected to carry the Glasgow Commonwealth Games baton. (Bob) 4.2 Bus Convenor (Report Attached). Glencoe. Bookings for the Glencoe trip were now 38. A 49 seater coach had been booked. Bob asked if there was any flexibility in bookings. Could a smaller coach than had been booked be substituted if numbers were lower than expected? Moira said that there was little difference in costs for coach size, as the main cost was the driver’s time. 13 September bus walk. It was agreed that a 49 seater bus should be booked, leaving Milngavie at 8.30am, and returning as late as possible within the driver’s permitted hours. There was some concern that the C walkers might be left in Moffat for a long time whilst waiting for the A walkers to complete their walk. Peter B said this would be taken into consideration when planning pick ups and drop offs. 4.3 Social (Report Attched Christmas Lunch. It was agreed that the Christmas lunch should be at the Glazert Hotel, Lennoxtown on 13 December 2014. Helena would book this. Doreen volunteered to lead the pre-lunch walk, and the new Social Convenor would be asked to organise the mulled wine. AGM Speaker. Helena proposed inviting a speaker on the history of the Central Hotel. This was agreed. Spanish Night. Mugdock was booked for 19 September. Fiona and Moira would co- ordinate this and pass on information for the programme to Peter B by 5 August, and final details to Helena after 10 September. Peter A would include an item will be included in ‘Breaking News’ mid August. Deadline for bookings would be 12 September. Cost approximately £8 – to be confirmed by Moira. Visit to see The Great Tapestry of Scotland in New Lanark. Visit proposed for 21 October 2014. Visit to Coats Observatory. A visit was proposed on 11 November. A maximum of 15 people could be accommodated. Details would be included in the new programme. Christmas Pantomime. It was agreed that no bookings should be made for this year, but this should be discussed at the AGM to see if there was support for attending a panto. Christmas 2015, and if so whether a daytime or evening performance was preferable. 4.4 Treasurer (Report Attached) Moira suggested that a bus booking deadline should be re-introduced. Booking to close two weeks prior to the date of the excursion. This would permit cancellation of the bus if the trip was insufficiently supported to be viable. This was agreed. 4.5 Webmaster (Report Attached) 4.6 Nerja (Report Attached) 4.7 Walks Co-ordinator. Planning of the Autumn and Winter programme had been started, but there had been a slow response from potential leaders. The programme needed to be completed for forwarding to Peter B by 5 August. Mary Darke had volunteered to lead a C walk on the Moffat Big Bus trip. 4.8 Membership (Report Attached) 4.9 Secretary (Report Attached) The items in the secretary’s report were discussed. 1. Milngavie in Bloom (see Access Officer’s report) 2. Bearsden festival – Invitation to take part. As this event would take place on a walk day it was agreed to arrange for some Ramblers leaflets to be displayed. 3. Ramblers Open Meeting, 27 June 2014. It was agreed that the Chairman would email Benedict Southworth and make the following points: o Short notice given regarding the meeting o Lack of consultation regarding the organisation of such a meeting o Inappropriateness of a discussion of Ramblers membership in Scotland when the result of the referendum in September might mean that Ramblers Scotland was no longer part of Ramblers UK. It was agreed that Bearsden and Milngavie Ramblers Group would not be represented at the meeting. 4.10 Chairman (Report Attached) (Correct name of Ramblers Scotland representative to Jeannie Cranfield). 4.11 Access Officer (Report Attached) Imogen said that the report that had been distributed had part of its text missing. The correct version is attached. 5. Area AGM 2015 It was planned to hold the 2015 Area AGM in Milngavie. It was agreed that the Bearsden and Milngavie group would assist with organisation of refreshments and a short walk. 6. Bearsden and Milngavie Ramblers AGM speaker. This was discussed in item 4.3 7. Support for Milngavie in Bloom’s plans for upgrading the West Highland Way Imogen said that Milngavie in Bloom (MIB) were developing a 5 year project to upgrade the local section of the West Highland Way (WHW). They had suggested that B&M Ramblers might like to assist both by volunteering help, and funding. It was agreed that this was a worthwhile project, and B&M Ramblers should support the project in principle. MIB would be asked to supply details of their plan, so that B&M Ramblers could decide what help the group could offer. A note of two volunteer days already arranged would be put on ‘Breaking News’. 8. Funding Proposals Options for use of funding available in the group’s accounts were discussed. MIB – as above Paths maintenance – Bob to approach Kathleen McWhirter about this Printing costs for programmes – Moira to get an estimate A decision of spending these funds was required before 1 September. 9. AOCB IDTags. Moira had produced some sample tags for members to have with them on walks. It was agreed that these were suitable. In addition to the information previously agreed, it was decided to add full address of member and B&M Ramblers charity number. 10. Date of Next meeting Monday 25 August 2014 at Milngavie Community Centre Reports Bus Convenor I was on holiday when the bus to Cowal took place on 7th June and Moira very kindly dealt with this so I am unable to report on this bus. With regard to the Glencoe bus which takes place on 5th July, I have 31 bookings so far. I would suggest we get a Breaking News put on the website to chase up some bookings as it is only about two weeks away. Helen Donnachie 16th June 2014 Social Events Co-ordinator On Friday 16th May 'Ladies Who Lunch” event was held, very successfully, 23 ladies enjoyed their meal and an opportunity to exchange their news and respective opinions. On Tuesday 10th June “Pollok Country Park Tour” was planned. There was not much interest shown and therefore only 3 people were disappointed when the event had to be cancelled due to an extremely inclement weather. Several events are being planned for the programme starting in September. The following events are being suggested and an approval or rejection is being sought during the committee meeting: 19 September : Spanish Night (Mugdock Park Theatre has been already booked for the event by Peter and Moira A.) 21 October: A visit to see The Great Tapestry of Scotland in New Lanark 31 October : AGM A search for a speaker(s) is under way 18 November : A visit to the Coats Observatory in Paisley for Winter viewing night – Telescope viewing. If sky is out of sight Planetarium show is substituted. 13 or 20 December : Christmas Lunch. It is to be held again in the Erskine Bridge Hotel. Particulars are expected from the hotel within next few days. A visit to a pantomime (preferably to the Citizens Theatre for Christmas Carol) is considered but a discussion of an evening attendance is required by the committee. HB 16/6/14 Treasurer’s report 16 June 2014 No 1 a/c - General a/cBalance as at 16 June 2014 - £1170.61. Quarterly funding of £262 and quarterly recce allowance of £55 are due around mid July.