North Tolsta Historical Society AGM 1^st March 2004

Chairman's Report

I would like to thank the committee for their support during 2003. Their attendance at meetings was excellent and all members made positive contributions to the Society throughout the year.

1.Visitors/members

Once again we have had good support from locals and visitors and the website has helped us make contact with many descendants of Tolstonians throughout the world. Our membership is now 317.

2. Projects

(a) Photoscan Project

The Photoscan Project was completed in June 2003. The CD 'Village History in Pictures' and the booklet 'Tolsta at Work and at Play' both sold well and the presentation at the 'Tolsta Evening' in the Community Hall on 20^th June was very successful. The number of e-mail messages through the website and the number of messages left on the site itself indicate that the website www.tolsta.info is well used. The problem caused by 'spammers' last summer had to be addressed and the site is now more secure and is protected from unwanted messages.

(b) Young Historians

Following on from an unsuccessful application to Young Roots (a Heritage Lottery Programme), the Society made a successful application for funding to LEADER+ and Better Neighbourhood Scheme Fund, to the value of £16,200. The Society's contribution was an extra £1,800 giving a total of £18,000. Two group leaders Nina Moir and John A. Maciver were appointed to run the project 'Lost Customs and Traditions'. The 18-month project got underway in November 2003 and is progressing well. The project leaders present a monthly report to the Society and the youngsters are hoping to produce newsletters to raise awareness of the project. As part of their fund-raising the YHs organised a sponsored walk to Muirneag on 27^th September 2003 and they donated £400 of the money raised to the Bethesda Hospice.

The proposed Tolsta Head walk was linked with a Township Development Project planned by the Grazings Committee and a successful application for funding was made. Unfortunately W.I.E., one of the sponsors, withdrew their support before the development was complete. Efforts are now being made to find other sponsors.

(d) Tolsta Bardachd

We are hopeful that our funding application for this project will be successful and we anticipate that a person will be appointed part-time to work in our office.

(e) Painting

We arranged to have the external walls of the Historical Society building painted and CNES helped pay for this.

3. Functions

(a) Tolsta Evening - already mentioned.

(b) New Year Ceilidh This was very successful and we are grateful to Proiseact nan Ealan and to all the artistes who performed. We were treated to a feast of traditional Gaelic songs! The sum raised along with the sponsored walk money covers the Society's contribution to the YH Project.

4. Income

We are very grateful to all those who gave private donations throughout the year. Seanchas remains our main source of income. We now print 400 copies. There are currently 61 subscriptions to Seanchas.

All donations help to keep the Society solvent.

5. Special Interest Groups

Work is ongoing with these groups researching Tolsta Families, Cemetery Records etc.

6. Database

The Young Historians have produced a very useful Village Database and we have decided to note some of the statistics from the database at the AGM every year and to file a paper copy of the database every February.

AGM February 2004

Pre-school children 32 (6 births since March 2003)

School Age children 65

16-18 year olds 7

18-59 year olds 242

Over 60s 140

Total 486

Deaths since March 2003 11

Holiday Homes 13

Unoccupied Houses 5

7.Visits

We had a representative at all meetings of the Caidreachas Eachdraidh and we attended meetings in the Lews Castle College/ Woodlands Centre.