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date Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:19:51 -0400
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1 <?xml version='1.0'?>
2 <?xml-stylesheet type='text/xsl' href='../../../lib/xml/doc.xsl'?>
3 <!DOCTYPE doc SYSTEM "../../../lib/xml/doc.dtd" [
4 <!ENTITY pound '&#163;'>
5 ]>
6 <doc>
7 <head>
8 <title>Future of 7 VT working group: Ninth meeting</title>
9 <author>This informal summary by Henry S. Thompson, Convenor</author>
10 <date>Held at 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh on 24 April 2009, 5:30 p.m.</date>
11 </head>
12 <body>
13 <div>
14 <title>Attendance</title>
15 <p>Present: Alison Burnley, Madeleine Harding,
16 Phil Lucas, Brian Mayes, Laurie Naumann, Rufus Reade
17 Eileen Schott, Henry Thompson (in the clerk's chair)</p>
18 <p>Prevented: Eileen Schott</p>
19 </div>
20 <div>
21 <title>Status of form distribution/collection</title>
22 <list type="defn">
23 <item term="Financial experts">LN has sent email summarising his telephone
24 interviews with Paul Kenny, Caroline Evens and John Phillips.</item>
25 <item term="Lettings comparison">ES has done this, see above.</item>
26 <item term="Quaker groups">MH sent email with interim results, has now
27 gotten 12 replies, will re-circulate an updated tabulation</item>
28 <item term="Central Edinburgh">HST has a substantial number of completed
29 forms, will tabulate and circulate this evening.</item>
30 <item term="Midweek meeting">AB has tabulated the 8 returns she has received.</item>
31 <item term="Local meetings">PL has had replies from S. Edinburgh and
32 Central Fife</item>
33 <item term="MH staff">PL has only just received the individual
34 responses. He also has a "discerned corporate response" from a meeting of MH staff.</item>
35 </list>
36 </div>
37 <div>
38 <title>Additional input from the Meeting House Managers</title>
39 <p>We considered the question of whether we needed further input from the
40 Meeting House Managers. They have conveyed a concern that we do not yet fully
41 understand the nature of their work and the work of Meeting House staff. We
42 agreed that HST will invite the MHMs to our next meeting, at the beginning.</p>
43 </div>
44 <div>
45 <title>Financial experts interviews</title>
46 <p>LN summarised. Overall answers were fairly similar, although they were
47 arrived at by differing routes. All were enthusiastic about the property,
48 albeit in one case in part because it offered such an attractive proposition as
49 a rental property itself. None thought that selling was a good plan. Renting
50 for ourselves was judged to be beset with difficulties. Minimum lease would
51 likely be five years.</p>
52 <p>A point which came up was that more use means more cost to offset wear
53 and tear. The Festival is a particular case in point.</p>
54 <p>This is to some extent subject to manipulation: by stopping the
55 consumption of hot drinks in the Meeting Room, the wear and tear is reduced,
56 but the Library gets more use as a breakout room, thereby reducing the
57 opportunity for letting.</p>
58 <p>There was not complete unanimity on the question of whether we should or
59 could increase income by raising our letting rates.</p>
60 <p>The question of strategy: maximising income versus maximising utility for
61 Quaker use, comes up again. PL reminded us of the history of AM's decisions in
62 this area.</p>
63 <p>The proposition that we are subsidising groups by default was clarified:
64 we do charge a low rate to some groups, which means that <emph>if</emph> no-one
65 else was in the building by the time that group meets we end up losing money as
66 against the cost of opening the building.</p>
67 </div>
68 <div>
69 <title>Responses from Quaker Groups</title>
70 <p>Although not dependent as such, many groups expressed a sense of
71 ownership wrt 7VT. Overseers did feel dependent on 7VT as their base.</p>
72 <p>"The atmosphere can be felt when you walk into the place" like any other
73 religious place, so it's appropriate to meet here.</p>
74 <p>The opportunity to plan in advance, and thereby had access to resources,
75 was welcomed.</p>
76 <p>Groups were willing to meet elsewhere. In particular, study groups were
77 happier meeting in homes, for greater intimacy, and because it addresses
78 childcare needs.</p>
79 <p>Facilities generally liked, one or two niggles.</p>
80 <p>Parking and, at least for the time being, access on foot a bit of a
81 problem, but public transport good.</p>
82 <p>Availability was characterised as 'good'. Some asked about the
83 possibility of there being particular designated Quaker slots in the diary.</p>
84 <p>Big meetings (e.g. Scotland GM) needed the whole building.</p>
85 <p>Our ability to host young people's events was discussed in some detail</p>
86 <p>The value of being a central venue was remarked on a number of times.</p>
87 <p>Car parking will of course always be an issue for a central venue, but
88 the impact of that on those with physical disabilities has to be managed.</p>
89 </div>
90 <div>
91 <title>Planning for open meetings</title>
92 <p>[Note that the date of the 1st meeting was changed following consultation
93 to Sunday 26 April.]</p>
94 <p>We agreed to have the meeting in the hall, and to start as early as we
95 think feasable.</p>
96 <p>Aim for 2:30 finish</p>
97 <p>HST suggested opening with an introduction</p>
98 <p>BM suggested that we had to include the basic outline of the financial
99 difficulty that provoked the establishment of our group.</p>
100 <p>LN wanted to be a bit less explicit, focussing on the broad picture, 20
101 years on, 10 years with balanced books, 10 years during which a gap has opened up</p>
102 <p>MH: The questionnaires and a lot of our fact-finding to date have been
103 about the nature of our current (and immediately past) situation: now we need
104 to look to the future.</p>
105 <p>Focus on "What is your vision for the Quaker presence and witness in
106 Central Edinburgh for the <emph>next</emph> 20 years." Offer an
107 opportunity to stay behind afterwards for more focussed questions to the group.</p>
108 <p>Is it appropriate to make notes during a worship sharing session? Yes,
109 if it's made clear at the beginning, and explained as based on the special
110 nature of the meeting itself.</p>
111 <div>
112 <title>Meeting on 26 April</title>
113 <list>
114 <item>HST to introduce</item>
115 <item>PL to take notes</item>
116 <item>MH, BM, RR will also attend.</item>
117 </list>
118 </div>
119 <div>
120 <title>Meeting of 4 May [subject to revision]</title>
121 <list>HST to introduce</list>
122 <list>LN to take notes</list>
123 <list>PL, MH, BM will also attend.</list>
124 </div>
125 </div>
126 <div>
127 <title>Next steps and next time</title>
128 </div>
129 <div>
130 <title>Actions review and new actions</title>
131 <p>ES to get some costs of out-of-town units </p>
132 <p>HST to get publicicity out about the vision input meetings. [done]</p>
133 </div>
134 <div>
135 <title>Next Meetings</title>
136 <p>Our next meeting will be at 7 Victoria Terrace at 5:30pm on Friday 1 May
137 [RR apologies]. We
138 tentatively agreed on Friday 15 May 5:30pm and Friday 29 May 5:30pm [apologies MH] for our next meeting after that.</p>
139 </div>
140 </body>
141 </doc>