Minutes of Meeting
Friends of Leith Hall
Tuesday 5th April 2011, 7pm Leith Hall Tearoom

Present: Tina,  Tim, Grainne, Dinah, Effie, Linda, Catharine, Martin & Stephen. We were also joined by Guides Anne and Violet.
Apologies: Jim

  1. Welcome

Welcome to Anne and Violet who had joined tonight’s meeting.

  1. Minutes of the Last Committee Meeting

Tina apologised as she has misplaced her notes from the previous meeting. Grainne kindly offered to pull together some minutes from the notes she had taken at the last meeting.

  1. NTS Update
  • There has been no further development in terms of timescale for the Project. The Project Manager has changed several times internally, however in discussions Tina has had with the Lead Surveyor/National Projects Manager Ian Davidson, he believes that the capital works will begin in the autumn of this year as building consents/warrants have to be sought.
  • The NTS Curatorial Team have been on site this week (5th/6th/7th of April) to begin an inventory of all the rooms/items that will be affected with the project in order to schedule a movement plan. It was suggested by Dinah that the former guides could help with the movement of objects in order to save money. Tina responded that this will be an internal move therefore will incur no additional cost, unless items are too heavy in which case a contractor will be employed for the heavy lifting. Tina would welcome any support from the former guides when the collection will require moving and again before the Hall re-opens in 2012.
  • Catharine expressed a concern shared by all that the monies within the project may not be enough to cover all the works proposed. Tina responded that it was difficult for her to comment until the first Project Team Meeting is held to discuss the budget and works.
  • Tina shared with the committee that as of Summer 2011, she will no longer be Property Manager for Craigievar Castle which will mean she has more time to spend at Leith Hall.
  1. Secretary Report
  • All Memberships and mailings are up to date.
  • Tina produced a Membership Folder for Effie who has kindly agreed to become the Membership Secretary working in conjunction with Tina for mailings and Grainne for the accounts.
  • The committee agreed that the prices for Membership for 2011-12 would be £5 Individual and £10 Family.
  1. Treasurer Report
  • Total in the bank at present is £1451.
  1. Report on all initiatives to date

Photo Competition 2011 has been launched April – September. Calendar sales will cover the cost of the prizes which are to be vouchers.

  1. Events

QUIZ
Great fun had by all at the quiz night. 14 teams participated and raised £264. Special thanks to Eileen Law (for the quiz) and to Grainne for pulling the quiz together. Card had been sent to Eileen. Commitee all hoped that this will become and annual event.

EASTER
NTS Cadbury Event is running Good Friday to Easter Sunday (22nd to 24th April), Tim requested some additional help on these days.
Friends Support/Event on Saturday 23rd of April.
Stephen is running some easter crafts and is bringing materials – will have a donations bowl to help cover the Rangers costs. Tim, Tina and Stephen agreed to tidy up the Nature Room at the Hall to allow a venue for the crafts. Grainne is co-ordinating some gazebos. Within the gazebos will be an area for Friends Information and hopefully some NTS information about the project and plans for the property going forward. Grainne to produce a programme of all events happening throughout the day including Easter Bonnet Competition and Duck Race.

AGM
Notice has gone out to all the Friends via the Newsletter. Tina to draft the agreed agenda items for committee approval and then will be sent to all Friends in advance.

  1. AOCB

Destination Management Organisation: Tina and Grainne both raised this issue which has been discussed at previous meetings. Tina is keen to get all those stakeholders/interested parties who came to intial meetings about the future of Leith Hall in 2009 back together to discuss how we can all work together.
Charity Status: Ongoing discussion about the Friends Group gaining charity status
Bel Canto: Grainne spoke with Rod Munro who confirmed that he sent the monies from the concerts direct to NTS HQ in Edinburgh. As this was not co-ordinated through the property who were not made aware of this, the monies have gone into the central NTS/Leith Hall pot and cannot be allocated now that the NTS have moved into a new financial year.

  1. Date and Time of Next Meeting

Tuesday 3rd May 2011 at Leith Hall Tearoom

 

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