AYRSHIRE ASSOCIATION OF BURNS CLUBS


(No 192 on the roll of The Robert Burns World Federation Ltd)
held their Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 12th October 2006 in Wellwood, Irvine.

President Joe McGinty opened the meeting before inviting Ellen Hunter, President of Irvine Lasses Burns Club, to say a few words.  Ellen welcomed the 35 members and informed that supper would be served after the meeting and readings and songs by 4 of her Club’s members.
                       
The Minutes of the 2005 Annual General Meeting were ratified, having been approved on 8th December 2005.  There were no matters arising.  The Minutes of the Quarterly Meeting held on Thursday, 10th August 2006 in Dalry having been circulated, were adopted.  There were no matters arising.         

The President informed that since our last meeting he had attended the AABC Schoolwinners’ Concert in Irvine and the Burns Federation Conference in Renfrew.  He highlighted that two Ayrshire members had been honoured at the Conference – Margaret Skilling had become the Schools Convener while Angus Middleton had been installed as President of the RBWFL.  Joe said that he had thoroughly enjoyed being President and thanked his Committee members especially.

The Secretary reported that there had been another good year for AABC with an average of 33 people attending meetings in Irvine, Kilmarnock, Dundonald, New Cumnock and Dalry.  She thanked Mauchline BC for organising and paying for Ayrshire Schools Competitions and West Kilbride BC for hosting the annual Quiz and added, that though all Ayrshire wreath-layings had been well attended by AABC members, there had been fairly low numbers at the Church Service and at the Festival Winners Night. 

Since the last meeting, correspondence sent had included a letter to Rev Whiteman, Maybole Baptist Church asking if AABC could attend their Church Service on Sunday 28th January 2007.  The minister had replied that they were all looking forward to our joining them and that the people of Maybole saw the Service as the beginning of the year of Burns celebrations in the town.  Those attending were invited to remain after the Service for a reception, which would include a light buffet lunch.

Correspondence received included:

  1. Two more e-mail addresses with the result that 19 sets of Minutes had been e-mailed saving the Association postage.   However, 28 were still being sent by post; 
  2. A copy of the latest OSCR (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) publication entitled ‘Guidance for Charity Trustees – acting with care and diligence’ had been received and dealt with duties such as ‘Collective and Corporate Responsibility’, ‘Acting in the Interest of the Charity’ and ‘Financial Records and Reporting’;
  3. Details of the Burns International Conference 2007 to be held at the Mitchell Library on Saturday 13th January 2007 from 9.30 am – 5.00 pm;
  4. A leaflet from the School of English and Scottish Language and Literature in the Faculty of Arts detailing lectures on Burns and Edwin Morgan to be held in Glasgow University.

 

The Treasurer went over the Financial Statement for 2005-06 before taking questions.  Following discussion, a vote was taken and it was agreed that subscriptions be raised to £12 for 2006-07.   
                                   
The following members were elected unanimously as AABC Office-Bearers for 2006-07:

                                    Position                               Person Elected            
                                    President                               Angus Middleton           
                                    Senior Vice-President            Jim Thomson                 
                                    Junior Vice-President            Lesley Diack                 
                                    Hon Secretary                       Margaret Skilling           
                                    Hon Treasurer                       Craig Anderson             
                                    Auditor                                 Ian McVey                    

The out-going President congratulated Angus Middleton on his recent appointment as President of the Robert Burns World Federation and wished him well before presenting him with his chain of office.  Speaking highly of Joe’s commitment and of the great respect in which he was held, Angus then presented Joe with his Past President’s badge.  Lesley Diack thanked everyone for their support, recalling her first attendance at an AABC meeting, and promised to work hard for the furtherance of the Association in her new position as Junior Vice President.  Angus reminded the meeting that Margaret Skilling would be Secretary for only one more year and encouraged everyone present to consider who might replace her in a year’s time. 

Elected as Ayrshire representatives at meetings of the Robert Burns World Federation were:
Ray Connal, Bill Duncan, Brian Jackson, Joe McGinty and Hugh Monahan.

The President suggested that those interested in serving on the Schools’ Sub-Committee meet at 7 pm prior to our next meeting.  Following discussion, it was agreed that the dates for our Ayrshire Schools Competitions previously agreed and booked by Mauchline BC stand, ie 10th and 17th March 2007.  It was noted that there may be a clash with a Federation meeting and it was agreed to bear this in mind when finalising details next year.

Ray Connal reported on the recent RBWFL Conference held at Renfrew from 8-10 September highlighting Angus’s appointment as President, Margaret’s becoming Schools Convener, the good representation from abroad, the successful seminar and the launch of the Burns board game.  Next year’s Conference is to be held in Winnipeg and Ray felt that more information on this would be available at the forthcoming meeting in Kilmarnock. 

The Secretary went over the draft Syllabus she had prepared for 2006-07 highlighting details still to be finalised.  It was noted that since our Quarterly Meeting, normally held in August, would clash with the Federation’s Conference in Winnipeg, the date would be changed to July.     Finalised copies of the 2006-07 Syllabus would be available at the next meeting.
                                                                                                                          
Under AOCB, Bob McWilliam wondered if AABC would give consideration to the renaming of
Glasgow Prestwick Airport, changing it to Robert Burns International Airport as a project for 2009.  Several members explained why they thought the airport owners would not consider the proposal this time either.  It was, however, felt that at least changing the printed saying ‘Pure dead brilliant’ with ‘A man’s a man’ could only be an improvement.                                                                                                                                                    
Robert Barr informed that several Burns Clubs in his area had combined to organise a joint venture for 2009 and recommended that other clubs consider joining together. 
Irvine Lasses invited those interested in attending their St Andrew’s Night at Wellwood on 7th December to order their tickets - price £5 – as soon as possible.

The next meeting of the Ayrshire Association of Burns Clubs will be a Quarterly Meeting and will be held on Thursday 14th December in West Kilbride at 7.30 pm.