Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce
Minutes of meeting held at the Isle of Mull Hotel on Monday 4th of Feb 2008
Present: Sandy Brunton, Michael Ackerley, Georgia O’Neill, John Carpendale, Derek Crook
In Chair: Sandy Brunton
Apologies: Brendan Walsh.
Minutes of the Last Meeting: Moved that these minutes be approved: Michael Ackerley. Seconded Derek Crook. Passed unanimously.
Matter Arising from The Minutes of the last meeting and not listed on the agenda: Calmac had accepted the offer of the How To Drive On Single Track Roads programme for use on its public display screens. Georgia was currently revising it in line with Calmac’s requirements.
AGENDA ITEMS
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS EVENT 20TH FEB O8 AT ISLE OF MULL HOTEL.
To date about 50 registrations had been received. Press publicity next week. Reminders to be sent to members to spread news of the event via their own databases, particularly Holiday Mull (AP Sandy)
Derek to talk to Glen Cato, Rob Jones, Erraid, Carla Lamont, Highland Services and John Rogers. Target to be 100 businesses attending.
Georgia expressed unease with the lack of display facilities for attendees but the meeting confirmed the event to be still a networking event with no samples ( except fop those providing food for the event.)
Food providers had so far promised trout, beef, lamb, cheese, pork, crab, oyster and venison. Georgia to contact Glengorm re bread and patisserie. Catering format was to be cold finger food from a central servery with identification/origin cards. Food to be delivered in morning. Food to be prepared by suppliers or by liaison with the hotel. Food providers need to attend from 11.30 am. Committed food producers to be emailed acceptance and copied to Hotel.
Registration: Late registration to take place in Foyer of hotel so that contact sheets could be prepared in time for distribution to attendees as they leave. Leaving pack to include membership application forms.(PayPal to be set up for subs asp). Registration would not be accepted by businesses with no island base. Georgia to remind registered businesses near the time.
AGM/Dinner.
J. Mather MSP probably not available. Norman Quinn (Glasgow CoC and Scotland CoC) to be contacted (AP Sandy). Date 28 or 29th of March and promotion to be available in time for inclusion in leaving pack at B2B event. Venue to be Glenforsa Hotel (AP Sandy to confirm with Brendan Walsh).
Travel Expo: no further news.
Royal Mail Delivery To Mull: proposed reorganisation
Sandy reported that RM will not seek approval from Postcom to vary the terms of its license until the proposed reorganisation has been approved by community groups. (AP) Sandy to write to Postcom supporting a change in the licence to allow RM to vary deliveries of first class mail to allow more advantageous reaction to EU regulations for road transport.
Affiliate membership of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce: Sandy to make enquiries.
Correspondence: Letter received from J. Vickers who is thinking of investing in a 12 seater fast ferry from Oban to Tobermory which would reduce the running time to about half that of the Clamac operation. Asks opinion of Chamber as to viability of such a service. AP Sandy to draft a reply to encourage the proposer to look also at a commuter service between Craignure and Oban.
Treasurer’s report: Annual accounts almost ready for audit. Michael to check with Clements Associates whether the previous auditor is still available and if not whether the complementary audit service for the Chamber would still be available. Suplus for the year would be about £300.00 with a balance of £4329.65.
Secretary’s Report. Letter from Mod asking for financial help for 70th anniversary. Georgia to investigate and email Board members. Calico a/c had been paid and the broadcasting programme was being worked on.. Georgia would be attending the Dervaig Woodland Company committee training event.
AOCB: Concern was expressed that the success of the tourist season was likely to be adversely affected by rumoured delays in completing the commissioning of the new linkspan at Oban. The Board expressed its exasperation at the lack of information on this currently available from Clamac. It was decided that the theme of the next meeting would be (again) Roads and Ferries.