Note of the meeting of the North Tolsta Historical Society at the Schoolhouse, North Tolsta, on Tuesday, 29 January 2007.

PRESENT: D.Murray; R.Murray; A.Murray; A.MacLeod, A. MacKenzie; S. MacIver; C M Smith; M Murray ; D MacLeod.

APOLOGIES : R. MacLeod; R.Moir; AA Smith.

CHAIR: D.Murray

•  Note of the Last Meeting

The Notes of the meetings of 26/9/2006; 10/10/2006; 07/11/2006 and 16/11/2006 were approved. It was noted that the three latter meetings were convened specifically to discuss the recruitment process and short leeting of the candidates for the two part-time posts of researcher and archivist. Interviews for these posts were held on 17/11/2006 and Anna Munro and Anna Mackenzie were selected.

2. Finance

The current balance as per the Treasurer's statement (circulated) £4,055.44. The Treasurer had also indicated previously that he wished to withdraw as one of our representatives on Hebridean Connections.

3.   Clachan Crìche

Rèidio nan Gaidheal had done a programme on the above project which went out on 13/12/2006. It was presented by Catriona Murray Macleod and featured a number of other local people associated with the poetry. The programme had been very well received and the publication was also selling well at various retail outlets. A CD of the programme had been forwarded to the Comann Eachdraidh.

The committee discussed the review of Clachan Crìche by Anne Frater in Gath which was felt to be unjustified and in part factually inaccurate and considered whether it was appropriate to respond to it.

4.   Ard Walk/Abhainn Lìdh

These projects were now completed. It was hoped to arrange an ‘inaugural walk' some time in the near future and to take a photograph to commemorate the project and to acknowledge formally the EU funding assistance from the Western Isles Countryside Access Programme (WICAP). A. Murray would contact Susan Rabe, WICAP officer.

5.   Genealogy /Archive

A letter had been received from Bill Lawson offering to write Tolsta's crofting history.

•  Hebridean Connections

An important meeting was to follow on 2/2/2007 to discuss a way forward in 2007 and to agree/finalise proposed company status. It was important to note that the involvement of Comainn Eachdraidh in Hebridean Connections was two-way collaboration and that participating historical societies would have to make a practical commitment to the initiative. A. Murray would attend the meeting.

7.   Evaluation of Links Project

RGA tourism consultants had undertaken an evaluation of the above project which was a joint Scottish Museums/Museum nan Eilean project. In general, the Comann Eachdraidh felt that the training associated with the project was useful but beyond that could see no tangible benefit to historical societies in the short term at least. It was a useful information sharing exercise. The Comann Eachdraidh had responded to a telephone survey.

•  Skills Building Courses

A series of training courses had been organised by Gayle McBean, such as archive handling and management and copyright. The Comann Eachdraidh had been represented at these training sessions which were felt to be very useful.

9.   Caidreachas Eachdraidh

The AGM was held on 4 December 2006 and new office bearers were elected as follows: Chair: Angus MacLeod; Vice Chair: D.Murray (Tolsta); Secretary: Margaret MacInnes and Treasurer: Kenny MacDougall.

The per capita grant received by the Comann Eachdraidh was £700, reflecting membership of over 300. Audited accounts and minutes of AGMs would now have to be forwarded to Richard Langhorne as a condition of grant.

•  Date of AGM

The date was set at 26 February 2007 in the Tigh Ceilidh.

11.   Seanchas and Correspondence

The current issue had been completed. There was an urgent call to all interested parties, at home and abroad, to provide articles/materials for inclusion in Seanchas.

There was considerable e-mail correspondence as usual which was dealt with as appropriate by D. Murray. Some of these were discussed on the evening of the meeting.

12.   AOCB

The Chairman thanked Domhnall Iain Mhòir who had produced a map of all the mainland hills visible from croft no.5 Tolsta.

•  Date of next meeting

  The next meeting would be the AGM.