Clan Macquarrie Community Centre

CLAN MACQUARRIE REPORTS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR

2010 AGM

The Centre’s AGM was held on 8^th December and some changes to the make-up of the committee have taken place. Murdina Macleod has stood down as a Director after many years of service on the committee – most of this service as Secretary. This opportunity is taken to express the committee’s genuine thanks to Murdina for her help over the years.

The committee has been boosted by the election of 3 new Directors this year – Sally Bell (Galson), Iain (“a’ Bhillichan”) Morrison, representing the Young at Hearts and Murdo “Burns” Nicholson (Borve) all signing up at the AGM. It is encouraging that the community is willing to step forward and volunteer to assist the Centre in this way – new blood and fresh ideas are always welcome!

In his Chaiperson’s Report for 2010, Donald Macdonald commented on how quickly the 12 months since he had taken over as Chair from Elenor Macleay had passed by. He expressed the Committee’s thanks to Elenor for her huge efforts in the role of Chair and for her ongoing contribution to the Centre as Vice Chair.

Donald also commented on the huge effort that the Centre continues to demand from the Committee and all the community volunteers who help deliver the various events that take place in it. He also detailed some of the achievements over the last 12 months. These included:

Snagging work was carried out and the building Completion Certificate obtained;

All remaining grants were claimed and received;

Renewable energy systems were installed – ground source heat pump and two wind turbines;

Footfall was excellent – recently calculated approx. 5000 visitors since Centre opened;

Uniform/badges were introduced for formal events and were well received;

User groups increased in number and the range of attractions provided increased;

7 wedding celebrations of varying complexity were delivered;

Vatersay Boys were again successfully hosted;

Burns Supper was laid on in January – the first one in the new premises of course;

New Year event – successfully delivered;

Coastal Film Festival was hosted;

Website and online enquiries/bookings etc. were introduced. CMCC is now on Facebook too;

Volunteer commitment increased – the number of volunteers has increased significantly and the range of ages assisting the Centre has widened;

Financial viability is evident – the Centre has achieved sufficient self-generated income to demonstrate that it should be able to meet its ongoing running costs;

The Centre has continued its investment in equipment etc;

Registration has been submitted for Feed in tariff (renewable energy generation subsidy).

Donald also highlighted some areas for improvement:

Landscaping around the Centre;

Benches for the “garden area”;

Exterior lighting when entering/exiting the building;

Loft access - sufficient storage space continuing to be a challenge.

He was however able to give some reassurance on most of these points – they remain high on the Committee’s agenda for taking forward in the next few months.

Donald, in his Report, also acknowledged the contribution of many people for the success of the Centre over the previous 12 months. These included:

The community at large;

All the user groups;

The Secretary and Treasurer for their additional, and often unsung, ongoing contributions to the efficiency of the Centre

The Committee’s Wedding Planning team;

CnES, especially to Dorothy Morrison, David Macleay and all local Councillors;

Community Energy Scotland - especially to Kathleen Macdonald;

UOG;

Borve Grazings Committee;

Spike and Julie for their Big Butt Challenge (Harris to Butt of Lewis) which raised several hundred pounds for the Centre;

Sound specialists;

Heating Engineers – esp Alex Matheson and his team for renewables work;

Caterers, waiting staff, bar staff, cleaning teams, toilet attendants, seamstresses, pipers, musicians, donators to raffles, food preparers, stewards, official photographer !, car park attendants, recycling team, furniture movers/removers, dishwashers, joiners, electricians, stock controllers, Fios staff for advertising and event coverage, etc

Donald concluded his Report by expressing his personal view that the Centre was now almost like a small business and that it is generally accepted that no small business can survive without the commitment of its owners, With the owners of CMCC being the whole community, it was pleasing to note that, to date, there had been no lack of commitment evident. Donald thanked again all who assisted in many different ways to make 2010 a successful one. 

Battle of the Bands 2010

The Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre was the venue for one of the November 2010 Battle of the Bands events.  The Centre's facilities were used to good effect to create the right atmosphere for the four featured performers:  Chris Baker, Mountainforce, The Stuttgart Traffic and Irenie Mactaggart.  There was a wonderful range of young talent that we hope to hear and see much more of in the future.  The musical line-up for the night was completed with Dotjr making their first appearance at the Clan MacQuarrie, almost home territory for James Reeves, whose grandparents, the late Captain Angus and Annie Macleod (Aonghas mor a Chaolain agus Anna Mhurdo) came from Galson.

Santa visits Clan MacQuarrie - December 2010

The Clan MacQuarrie Community Centre was the venue for a host of festive fun and entertainment including Feisean nan Gaidheal Christmas Panto, Airidhantuim School Christmas Concert and Lionel School Christmas Concert, Youth Club Christmas Party, Sgoil Araich Airidhantuim Christmas Party and Parant is Paiste Bhuirgh Christmas Party.  Santa even managed to take time out of his busy schedule to visit CMCC (pictured above with David Nicolson and Stewart Graham).