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4 <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta name="copyright" content="Copyright (C) 2007 Henry S. Thompson"/><meta http-equiv="Content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/><style type="text/css">
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27 </style><title>Future of 7 VT working group: Ninth meeting</title></head><body style="font-family: DejaVu Sans, Arial; background: rgb(254,250,246)">
28 <div style="text-align: center">
29 <h1>Future of 7 VT working group: Ninth meeting</h1>
30 <div class="byline">This informal summary by Henry S. Thompson, Convenor</div>
31 <div class="byline">Held at 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh on 24 April 2009, 5:30 p.m.</div>
32 </div>
33
34 <div>
35 <h2>1. Attendance</h2>
36 <p>Present: Alison Burnley, Madeleine Harding,
37 Phil Lucas, Brian Mayes, Laurie Naumann, Rufus Reade
38 Eileen Schott, Henry Thompson (in the clerk's chair)</p>
39 <p>Prevented: Eileen Schott</p>
40 </div>
41 <div>
42 <h2>2. Status of form distribution/collection</h2>
43 <dl>
44 <dt><b><a name="Financial_experts">Financial experts</a></b></dt><dd>LN has sent email summarising his telephone
45 interviews with Paul Kenny, Caroline Evens and John Phillips.</dd>
46 <dt><b><a name="Lettings_comparison">Lettings comparison</a></b></dt><dd>ES has done this, discussed last
47 time. Some more info to come re out-of-town sites.</dd>
48 <dt><b><a name="Quaker_groups">Quaker groups</a></b></dt><dd>MH sent email with interim results, has now
49 gotten 12 replies, will re-circulate an updated tabulation</dd>
50 <dt><b><a name="Central_Edinburgh">Central Edinburgh</a></b></dt><dd>HST has a substantial number of completed
51 forms, will tabulate and circulate this evening.</dd>
52 <dt><b><a name="Midweek_meeting">Midweek meeting</a></b></dt><dd>AB has tabulated the 8 returns she has received.</dd>
53 <dt><b><a name="Local_meetings">Local meetings</a></b></dt><dd>PL has had replies from S. Edinburgh and
54 Central Fife</dd>
55 <dt><b><a name="MH_staff">MH staff</a></b></dt><dd>PL has only just received the individual
56 responses. He also has a "discerned corporate response" from a meeting of MH staff.</dd>
57 </dl>
58 </div>
59 <div>
60 <h2>3. Additional input from the Meeting House Managers</h2>
61 <p>We considered the question of whether we needed further input from the
62 Meeting House Managers. They have conveyed a concern that we do not yet fully
63 understand the nature of their work and the work of Meeting House staff. We
64 agreed that HST will invite the MHMs to our next meeting, at the beginning.</p>
65 </div>
66 <div>
67 <h2>4. Financial experts interviews</h2>
68 <p>LN summarised. Overall answers were fairly similar, although they were
69 arrived at by differing routes. All were enthusiastic about the property,
70 albeit in one case in part because it offered such an attractive proposition as
71 a rental property itself. None thought that selling was a good plan. Renting
72 for ourselves was judged to be beset with difficulties. Minimum lease would
73 likely be five years.</p>
74 <p>A point which came up was that more use means more cost to offset wear
75 and tear. The Festival is a particular case in point.</p>
76 <p>This is to some extent subject to manipulation: by stopping the
77 consumption of hot drinks in the Meeting Room, the wear and tear is reduced,
78 but the Library gets more use as a breakout room, thereby reducing the
79 opportunity for letting.</p>
80 <p>There was not complete unanimity on the question of whether we should or
81 could increase income by raising our letting rates.</p>
82 <p>The question of strategy: maximising income versus maximising utility for
83 Quaker use, comes up again. PL reminded us of the history of AM's decisions in
84 this area.</p>
85 <p>The proposition that we are subsidising groups by default was clarified:
86 we do charge a low rate to some groups, which means that <i>if</i> no-one
87 else was in the building by the time that group meets we end up losing money as
88 against the cost of opening the building.</p>
89 </div>
90 <div>
91 <h2>5. Responses from Quaker Groups</h2>
92 <p>Although not dependent as such, many groups expressed a sense of
93 ownership wrt 7VT. Overseers did feel dependent on 7VT as their base.</p>
94 <p>"The atmosphere can be felt when you walk into the place" like any other
95 religious place, so it's appropriate to meet here.</p>
96 <p>The opportunity to plan in advance, and thereby had access to resources,
97 was welcomed.</p>
98 <p>Groups were willing to meet elsewhere. In particular, study groups were
99 happier meeting in homes, for greater intimacy, and because it addresses
100 childcare needs.</p>
101 <p>Facilities generally liked, one or two niggles.</p>
102 <p>Parking and, at least for the time being, access on foot a bit of a
103 problem, but public transport good.</p>
104 <p>Availability was characterised as 'good'. Some asked about the
105 possibility of there being particular designated Quaker slots in the diary.</p>
106 <p>Big meetings (e.g. Scotland GM) needed the whole building.</p>
107 <p>Our ability to host young people's events was discussed in some detail</p>
108 <p>The value of being a central venue was remarked on a number of times.</p>
109 <p>Car parking will of course always be an issue for a central venue, but
110 the impact of that on those with physical disabilities has to be managed.</p>
111 </div>
112 <div>
113 <h2>6. Planning for open meetings</h2>
114 <p>[Note that the date of the 1st meeting was changed following consultation
115 to Sunday 26 April.]</p>
116 <p>We agreed to have the meeting in the hall, and to start as early as we
117 think feasable.</p>
118 <p>Aim for 2:30 finish</p>
119 <p>HST suggested opening with an introduction</p>
120 <p>BM suggested that we had to include the basic outline of the financial
121 difficulty that provoked the establishment of our group.</p>
122 <p>LN wanted to be a bit less explicit, focussing on the broad picture, 20
123 years on, 10 years with balanced books, 10 years during which a gap has opened up</p>
124 <p>MH: The questionnaires and a lot of our fact-finding to date have been
125 about the nature of our current (and immediately past) situation: now we need
126 to look to the future.</p>
127 <p>Focus on "What is your vision for the Quaker presence and witness in
128 Central Edinburgh for the <i>next</i> 20 years." Offer an
129 opportunity to stay behind afterwards for more focussed questions to the group.</p>
130 <p>Is it appropriate to make notes during a worship sharing session? Yes,
131 if it's made clear at the beginning, and explained as based on the special
132 nature of the meeting itself.</p>
133 <div>
134 <h4>6.1. Meeting on 26 April</h4>
135 <ul>
136 <li>HST to introduce</li>
137 <li>PL to take notes</li>
138 <li>MH, BM, RR will also attend.</li>
139 </ul>
140 </div>
141 <div>
142 <h4>6.2. Meeting of 4 May [subject to revision]</h4>
143 <ul>HST to introduce</ul>
144 <ul>LN to take notes</ul>
145 <ul>PL, MH, BM will also attend.</ul>
146 </div>
147 </div>
148 <div>
149 <h2>7. Actions review and new actions</h2>
150 <p>ES to get some costs of out-of-town units </p>
151 <p>HST to get publicity out about the vision input meetings. [done]</p>
152 </div>
153 <div>
154 <h2>8. Next Meetings</h2>
155 <p>Our next meeting will be at 7 Victoria Terrace at 5:30pm on Friday 1 May
156 [RR apologies]. We
157 tentatively agreed on Friday 15 May 5:30pm and Friday 29 May 5:30pm [apologies MH] for our next meeting after that.</p>
158 </div>
159
160 </body></html>