Abernyte.org and Abernyte Community Company

ABERNYTE HERITAGE GROUP

MINUTES OF THE 21st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

24th November 2009.

24 Members and Guests in attendance

Apologies; Ian & Pat Roberts, John Barton,Stephen Hole, Mary Young Andy and Linda Nicol.

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Presidents Report

Anne Davies reviewed the year’s activities and thanked the committee members and the community for their continuing support in what had been a busy and successful year.

The sales of our book The Quiet Revolution exceeded our expectations and it had been very well received and had critical acclaim. Mary Young and all the helpers were again thanked and it was a pleasure to see their efforts in print and sales.

Treasurers Report

Margaret Carr presented the annual accounts for the Year to 14th November 2009. She explained the various entries and answered a number of questions. The conditions of the loan from Perth & Kinross Council were noted   The Accounts were unanimously approved by the meeting.

Election of Office Bearers

All of the office bearers and committee members were available for re-election and as there were no other nominations they were re-elected. The Secretary explained that additional committee members would be welcomed and anyone interested should contact him.

OTHER REPORTS

Breathing Places

This is separately reported later in the meeting.

Field Names.

This is an ongoing activity and a list was displayed . Members are asked to pass on any names and memories to assist the compilation of the old field names in the area .

Oral History.

Consideration is being given to continuing the process into the second half of the 20th Century. In particular now is a good time to capture the 50’s and 60’s.

Scrap Book.

The community should continue to let Yve Duncan  have any press cuttings and other information concerning Abernyte.

Notice Board

This needs constant tidying and any out of date notices removed.

FUTURE PROGRAMME

The President led an open discussion covering the following:

Parish Walk.

The annual walk is planned to be held in early April 2010. The committee will organise a route and advise those interested well in advance.

Annual  Lecture

This has been planned  for Monday 8th March 2010.  Details of the speaker and topic will be made available .

Annual BBQ.

It is planned to continue holding the BBQ on the first Friday of the school Autumn term .

Community Assets.

We have recently been gifted Neil Gow’s snuff box which was donated through Maisie Alcorn’s estate and the key to Baledgarno Mill dated 1747. The committee are in process of establishing an inventory of Community Assets.

OTHER BUSINESS

The President asked for approval to nominate one of our young people for a Sports Council Award. This was approved unanimously and will be done through the Luncheon Club.

Thereafter two items of Common interest with the Community Company were discussed.

BREATHING PLACES PRESENTATION

Barry Caudwell gave a presentation on the project and outlined the work done in the past year. He then explained the various species found, the surveys carried out and planned , and drew attention to the success in attracting wildlife even at this early stage. He finished by encouraging all visitors to note what they saw and found , and to keep up the reports on wildlife on the web site

PLANNING AND BOUNDARIES

Malcolm McSwan  reported that the Company and the Heritage Group committee had both confirmed that they would not be involved in supporting or objecting to any planning proposals or applications in our area. Both organisations believe that their role will be to facilitate and ensure the community is made aware of any issues and individuals are given the opportunity to express their views to the appropriate body or bodies.

Recent events at the Community Council and the new Planning system has given rise to a new group being formed – The Braes of the Carse Conservation Group. This group will include representatives from Abernyte , and their role will be to monitor proposals and do what is possible to conserve the unique character of the villages and the countryside of the Braes  . Individuals will be approached shortly by the new group to encourage membership and participation.

Some discussion followed and there was agreement on the role of the two Abernyte organisations . The meeting was generally supportive of the Braes of the Carse initiative.

The President thanked everyone for attending and a Pot Luck supper followed with the Abernyte Community Company.