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Note
of the Annual General Meeting of the North Tolsta Historical
Society at the Tigh Ceilidh , North Tolsta, on 15 February
2006.
PRESENT:
D.Murray; R.Murray;
A.Murray; A.A.Smith; R.MacLeod; A.M Henderson; M.Murray; A.MacKenzie;
M.MacIver; J M Macleod; D.MacLeod; J Macleod
APOLOGIES
: S. MacIver;
D. Lawson; A. Macleod; A Campbell; R. Moir; M Campbell
CHAIR
: D.Murray
•
Note of the last AGM
The
Note of the AGM of 28 February 2005 was approved.
Proposed
: A.A Smith
Seconded
: A.M Henderson
•
Chairperson's Report
Donald
outlined the various activities in which the Society had
been involved in the previous year:-
•
Young Historians
The
project was due to finish in April 2005, but we negotiated
an extension with our project sponsors which enabled us
to complete the work that had not been completed. No further
financial claims would be made. An inventory of equipment
purchased under the YH initiative would be produced.
2.2
Tolsta Bàrdachd
There
was a sizeable collection of village bàrdachd from
which the selection was made in October 2005 for the proposed
publication of Clachan Crìche. Donald explained that
there had been some difficulties with the printers and he
hoped that the book would be printed in readiness for the
official launch on 24 February 2006.
2.3
Local Walks (Ard Walk)
A
grant of £12k had been secured from the Western Isles
Countryside Access Programme to fund the Tolsta Walks. Donald
and Angus had met that Programme's Project Officer, Susan
Rabe, several times, the last of which was on 14 September
2005. Susan was to provide a list of equipment to Donald
and he would then pursue quotations from various contractors.
There were contractors interested but we awaited the information
from Susan. It was noted that the Community Council would
be asked formally to front the application for insurance
purposes.
2.4
Hebridean Connections
The
North Tolsta Historical Society joined this web-based historical/cultural
research and development project in September 2005. It has
been funded via the Lottery among others and it is anticipated
that Hebridean Connections will become a Company Limited
by Guarantee. Four Comainn Eachdraidh were involved in the
initial pilot and the second phase would include a further
four, including NTCC.
2.5
Functions etc
The
following functions took place throughout the year:
2.5.1
Aig Muir
This
was a successful evening for fishermen/seamen, held at the
Community Centre on 11 March 2005 - very well attended.
2.5.2
Broadband
Donnie
Morrison gave an excellent
presentation on the topic of Hebridean Connection and Broadband
in the Community Centre on 26 July 2005.
2.5.3
Sarah Egan
Sarah,
from the Hebridean connections project, gave an informal
presentation to the NTCC Committee on 26 September 2005.
•
Uist Trip
This
was an enjoyable study visit to the Uists on 15 and 16 July
2005. The touring party stayed overnight at the Creagorry
hotel.
2.6
Other items
These
were as follows:
2.6.1
Enquiries
Enquires
continue apace via the office, web site and by e-mail which
are dealt with in the first instance by Donald.
•
Seanchas
Seanchas
and private donations were vitally important in meeting
NTCC's running costs. 400 copies of Seanchas were printed
every quarter. Alastair Maciver did the typesetting and
the printers were Hebridean Printers. There were currently
93 subscriptions to Seanchas, but Donald stressed the need
for more written contributions.
•
Special Interest Groups
They
met throughout the year. Last year, the focus was on old
photos and wedding photos, some of which were shown by Anna
at the Launch Club Wedding Fayre on 1 July 2005.
•
Membership
Membership
stood at 352.
•
Website
The
web site has been very useful in keeping in touch with a
number of descendants of Tolsta emigrants. Donald thanked
Ruaraidh, Donnie and Rhoda for their efforts/work on the
web site – with guidance from Taylor Edgar who set it up
originally.
•
Caidreachas
Donald
had attended all their meetings in the past year but was
now finding this too time consuming. He asked that two representatives
be appointed at the meeting to represent NTCC at future
meetings of the Caidreachas.
•
Skills Building
Some
members of the NTCC would be attending these free training
courses.
•
Links , Mod stall,
BBC 4 documentary
Donald
and other members of the NTCC attended the Links Conference
at Lews Castle College from 26 – 28 April 2005. Members
also ran a stall at the Mod in October 2005. Donald was
also interviewed for the BBC 4 documentary “Cold War, Dirty
Science”.
2.7
Database
The
statistics showed an increase in the village's population
from 489 in February 2005 to 503 in February 2006. There
were seven births in the period and one death. There were
14 holiday homes and five unoccupied. The school roll was
45, with a further ten pupils going elsewhere.
Donald
thanked the membership for their efforts which ensured another
successful year for NTCC. The proposed sailing round Tolsta
Head had not taken place in the past year due to bad weather
and it was hoped that this could be done this summer.
•
Treasurer's Report
The
Treasurer outlined NTCC's financial status to date as per
his circulated report. The report indicated a balance, as
at 31/1/2006, of £3521.10, on a yearly turnover of
£14,000 in the financial year.
Funders
of NTCC projects (CnaG and the Comhairle) had been acknowledged
in the publicity (logos) on publications.
The
Treasurer's report was moved for adoption.
Proposed
: A. Mackenzie
Seconded
: M.Murray
•
Election of Office
Bearers/Committee
The
Society's Office Bearers were re-elected as follows:
Chairperson
: Donald Murray
Proposed:
A Mackenzie
Seconded:
AA Smith
Vice
Chairperson :
Anna MacKenzie
Proposed
: A.A.Smith
Seconded
: A.M Henderson
Treasurer
: AA Smith
Proposed
: A Mackenzie
Seconded
: R. Macleod
Secretary
: Angus Murray
Proposed
: R.Murray
`
Seconded
: M.Murray
•
Society Committee
A
committee of twelve members was elected. M. Murray indicated
that she would be standing down.
•
Caidreachas
Rita
would join Donald Murray as NTCC's other representative
at Caidreachas meetings.
•
Programme 2006
The
Bàrdachd evening
It
was hoped that the book would be ready for the official
launch. The Community Centre had been booked for 24 February
2006. Murdo Macleod (former inspector of Gaelic) had been
asked to review the book for the Stornoway Gazette.
It
was hoped to ask those involved in the bàrdachd project
to recite and sing some of the poetry, as appropriate, on
the evening of the launch. John A MacIver would be asked
to ‘chair' the evening. Books would be sold on the evening
for £9. Posters and publicity, teas and refreshments
needed to be arranged.
“Aig
Muir”
It
was agreed that this event could be held in the autumn 2006.
Donald and Alex Angus would hold a pre-meeting to discuss
further.
Wedding
Photos – Coffee Evening
It
was agreed that this event could be held in May June 2006.
Ard
Walk
Angus
would speak to Susan Rabe to progress matters outstanding
regarding this project.
Hebridean
Connections
Angus
and Alex Angus would be NTCC's representatives on this project,
proposed by Anna and seconded by Mairead.
Historical
Talk
It
was hoped to invite Donald W Stewart ( Edinburgh University
academic) to give a talk on local history.
•
AOCB and Date of Next
Meeting
No
further business and the date of the next meeting would
be intimated in due course.
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