Report from Meeting House Management Committee

After the Fringe Society changed their minds about using the Meeting
House as Fringe Central again this summer, we have been fortunate to
find an alternative tenant to partly make up for the consequent loss
of much-needed extra income.  The CArts/CVenues production company
will be running "C alto at the Quaker Meeting House" [1].

We have been sent their proposed programme of shows, and will be
reviewing it for any possible areas of concern.

Their licence from us covers virtually the entire building, with the
exception of the office and the left-hand side of the foyer, for 7
weeks from 14 July.

We had explored the possibility of the Hideout Café on Upper Bow would
operate a pop-up café in the Foyer this spring, and into the summer,
but they have decided against that.  We are exploring other
possibilities, but nothing definite yet.

Local Meeting will have access to the Meeting Room only on Sundays 21
and 28 in July and Sundays 4, 11, 18 and 25 in August.  We can use the
Meeting Room on Sunday 14 July as well as the Hall for the
post-meeting shared lunch.  On all those Sundays we will have access
to the Kitchen to prepare tea and coffee, which will be served in the
foyer outside the Meeting Room.

Normal use of the Meeting House will resume starting with 1100 Meeting
for Worship on Sunday 31 August.

From Sunday 21 July through Sunday 31 August 0930 Meeting for Worship
will be online only via Zoom.

The benches will be removed from the Meeting Room, and a stage
installed at the eastern end.  Meeting for Worship will take place in
the western half of the Meeting Room, with enough chairs for 55--60
people.  The meeting space will separated from the stage by a
full-width curtain running across the room from just to the left of
the main doorway as you come in.

We're pleased to have gotten permission from the Scottish Wildlife
Trust for Midweek Meeting for Worship and Childrens Meeting to make
use of the Johnston Terrace Garden and, in inclement weather, the Palm
House.

On a less happy note, as reported to Area Meeting earlier this week,
our Meeting House Manager, Miranda Girdlestone, has decided to end her
time with us as of 1 July.  We are in discussion with her, Meeting
House staff and Trustees on a transition plan. Along with Trustees we
plan to take some time to review and perhaps restructure the overall
staffing structure of the Area Meeting, so will not be advertising for
a replacement right away.

[1] http://www.cvenues.com/cvenues/perform/venues#alto