Annual General Meeting – Glencairn Memorial Institute
7.30 pm, Tuesday, September 14th, 2021
GMI – Report from the Chair:
First of all, welcome back!
Owing to the covid closure of the GMI Hall – which went into effect March 21st, 2020, this is the first time that a formal AGM has taken place since November 12th, 2019. Throughout this period of lockdown, the Management Committee comprising of David Cooper, Anja Lyttle, Tim O’Sullivan & Alison Myles has been communicating – and more latterly meeting occasionally, as and when the need to make decisions has arisen.
GMI is now slowly re-opening to groups. The Institute was deep cleaned by Nith Valley Cleaning Services in late August and covid secure precautions have been put into place.
Towards the end of 2020, McGowan Millar Construction Consultants were commissioned to produce a Building Condition Report. The visual survey was carried out by Robert Richmond on December 23rd, 2020. His comprehensive 57 page report, (dated February 10th, 2021), was received and scrutinised by the committee. The report identifies quite a number of issues that will require attention, (and financing!), in the short, medium and long term. These have been prioritised with a view to having the various issues rectified as funding and timing permits. The most urgent issues are: the roof, heating, lighting and electrical, and refurbishing the toilets.
Towards the end of 2020, a broadband deal was secured with BT on a two year contract. Service commenced in January 2021 – and includes Free BT WiFi for Hall users. A telephone number is included with the package – so if the Institute ever has need of a landline phone, (incoming events booking, queries etc.), the assigned number is: 01848 200777.
The website is being updated and modernised. Three different quotes were submitted to the committee. The quote submitted by Emedias was accepted. This was seen to offer the best match and appeared to be the most cost effective when considering the Institute’s needs now – and into the future. Carl Warrent, Emedias’ owner will also take on the web-hosting and ongoing maintenance for the website.
The committee examined the current Hall charges – and then looked at them in the light of additional costs involved managing covid/cleaning requirements etc.
The following charges were posted on GMI’s facebook page in August
Revised Hall hire charges………
Whole building £20.-
Hall plus kitchen £17.-
Committee Room £15-
Snooker £5.-
Table Hire – by agreement of committee
Fundraising and community events – agreement with committee
Private Parties half day: £60.-
Kid’s parties £25.-
Windfarm meetings £300.- per day
Polling station £300.-
Weekend hire – by agreement with the committee
Throughout the summer, Jennifer Smith has been working jointly with the Moniaive Playgroup development group – and also with the GMI Committee as a facilitator/fund-raiser. She has been a great asset to the GMI Committee and so far, the following Grant Applications have been submitted:
£5000 Scottish Power – Energy Efficiency (boiler etc)
£1500 Tesco – additional sporting equipment
£250 War Memorial Grant – repair leaking pipe
£13,000 ANCBC, roof, toilet, project officer funding
CARES application in progress for funding for oilers/ solar pv etc.
ANCBC next stage – last Thursday morning Mark Tamborinni from Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) came to prepare his assessment which will help to inform the CARES application.
Ryan Johnstone (Electricians) starting work likely 15th October
Roofer is scheduled to arrive this Thursday – 16th – to quote for repairs
Plummer (Peacocks) came last week to repair the pipe
he will return this week to prepare a quote for the boiler / heating-system .
