LOCH AWE COMMUNITY WEBSITE ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Lochawe Village Hall, 30 May 2007

1. OPENING REMARKS/APOLOGIES

J. Kerr, Chairman, welcomed those present and thanked them for attending the meeting. Apologies were received from R. Macpherson.

2. DEVELOPMENTS SINCE MAY 2005 AGM

· Site maintenance In the course of 2005 the community took over maintenance of the site. S. Nicholson reported that because of the way the website had been set up there were still some areas of restricted access. However, for the time being workarounds had been found and there had been no major problems. Although some parts were in need of updating, the fact that new sites and links had been added proved that the website was used and lively.

· Local telephone book Sales of the local telephone book, produced by K. Craig in 2005/6, raised £264.50 for website funds. There was general agreement that it was a useful book, that a revised edition should be planned for early 2008 and that the process of gathering updates/corrections should start in the next few months, by, inter alia, enlisting help of all local post offices. K. Craig agreed to coordinate/produce the revised edition.

· The Ken Baird Memorial Trophy presented by LACWA for the best photograph on a specific topic in the children’s section at the Dalmally Show was inaugurated in 2005. The first year it was presented to Hannah Macfarlane-Barrow (A Landscape) and in the following year to Callum Scott (A Farmyard Animal). Efforts to secure copies of the winning photos had so far proved unsuccessful, but it is hoped that the 2006 and future photos will be forthcoming and will be included in a special page on the website.

· New business links Cruachan Power Station, Clyde Cottage (McNulty), Portsonachan Hotel (hotel and self-catering), Dialemma Designs.

· New community sites Loch Awe Weather, Community Council.

Special thanks were expressed to S. Nicholson for taking over the maintenance of the site and to K. Craig for, particularly, production of the local telephone book.

3. ACCOUNTS

It was noted that in addition to maintenance fees, income over the last two years included

£264.50 from the Local Telephone Book, £83.35 H&I Broadband Grant and £350 from the Access Point.

It was noted that the Access Point provided a needed service (internet access, photocopying, fax) for visitors and for the community and should feature more prominently on the website. The possibility of upgrading to wireless was discussed and J. Kerr agreed to look into the matter.

It was agreed to keep maintenance fees at the level pertaining since 2005 (£32.50 per site, £20 per link) and 2007 invoices will be sent out shortly.

4. COMMITTEE

It was agreed that composition of the committee remain unchanged:

Chairperson: John Kerr

Vice-Chairperson: Kate Craig

Secretary/Treasurer: Frances Baird

Members: Sandra Boardman, Mary Johnston, Rena Macpherson, Sal Nicholson

It was further agreed that the committee should have some visibility on the website, perhaps as a separate Community item to which minutes, notices of meetings, etc. could be appended.

5. SITE UPDATING / POSSIBLE NEW SITES

Committee members were urged to contact business and community sites/links in their areas for updates and amendments and remain alert for new businesses or community activities that could be included on the website.

Although not exhaustive, following was noted with regard to site updating/new sites:

· D. Fellowes reported that the Loch Awe Improvement Association wished to be included as a business site (a revamping of the current Fishing on Loch Awe page). New photos and text to be provided; also text for ticker tape/page re open day (D. Wilson/C. Rose/F. Baird).

· Ardbrecknish (J. Kerr/S. Boardman)

· Golf Club and tearoom (M. Johnston)

· Glenview Stores (S. Boardman/S. Nicholson)

· Community Trust (K. Craig/J. Burke)

· Health Centre (possible link to Taynuilt Surgery - J.Kerr)

· Car scheme (K. Craig/S. Boardman)

· Dalmally Pharmacy (S. Boardman)

· LACWA committee (see above)

· Access point (see above)

It was further agreed to give thought to the feasibility of a page for posting business cards of smaller businesses/local trades people, for which a reduced maintenance fee would be charged, and to a page listing local events (S. Nicholson et al.)

6. NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING

A committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 12 September at 7.30 pm (F. Baird will host).

fb/31.5.2007