--- a/MHMC/2025-11-17/notes.txt	Fri Nov 21 14:28:21 2025 +0000
+++ b/MHMC/2025-11-17/notes.txt	Fri Nov 21 14:54:44 2025 +0000
@@ -33,34 +33,39 @@
            • money to be spent improving accessibility and ambience of
              foyer and Bow room. A ramp is needed for the Bow Room;
 
-     I've learned that Richard Williams (long-time member of LM, was
-     Assistant Treasurer way back, most recently member of Clerking
-     Team), has visited the Meeting House and informally discussed
-     possible improvements to the Bow Room with staff a couple of
-     times recently, and mehtioned that he himself might also want to
-     contribute.
+     We've learned that Richard Williams (RW, long-time member of LM,
+     was Assistant Treasurer way back, most recently member of
+     Clerking Team), has visited the Meeting House and informally
+     discussed possible improvements to the Bow Room with staff a
+     couple of times recently, and mehtioned that he himself might
+     also want to contribute.
 
-     I wrote to JH to say that I'd asked Majk Stokes (Assistant
+     I wrote to JH to say that I'd asked Majk Stokes (MS, Assistant
      Manager for Projects) to arrange a meeting with him and
      suggesting that he could act as an informal liaison between
      staff/MHMC and LM as we work to put a plan together for upgrading
-     the Bow Room [one way!]. (see item below).
+     the Bow Room.  This would not mean RW would be making decisions,
+     rather being someone responsible for keeping LM up-to-date on
+     planning and, eventually, works. (see also item below).
 
   * Defend our Juries
 
   SS and HST offered to staff the Meeting House if in the event it was
   needed as a fallback recovery venue for the planned actions in
-  support of Palestine Action on 18 and 29 Edinburgh.  
-* Finance report
+  support of Palestine Action on 18 and 29 Edinburgh.  Update
+  post-meeting: no arrests on the day, so not needed.
 
 * Managers' report
 
   * Fringe
 
   Email to Hartley saying he's got a place for three years, he's
-  acknowledged, no new document yet.  Building improvements?
+  acknowledged, no new document yet.  He would like so discussion
+  about possible joint-funded building improvements.
 
-  HK asked if we would ask Trustees about alcohol - finances, groups.
+  HK asked if we would ask Trustees about alcohol.  This would not
+  only improve the financial picture for CVenues, it would also make
+  the venue more attractive for (some) groups.
 
   SS suggests a week before the hire and and after the get-out with no
   bookings and no annual leave.  We *Agreed*.
@@ -72,9 +77,21 @@
   in the future, on the same basis as in the past (reference email).
 
   *Action* HST to look at the emails from last time to find out what
-  the expected donation was.  
+  the expected donation was.  Update post-meeting: Our minute *Any
+  other business* from 2024-12-09 reads in part:
 
-  Request for feedback about other venues after the upcoming visit.
+  "Young Friends General Meeting will be using the meeting house for a
+   weekend in 2025 and they have asked for a steer on what level their
+   donation should be at. The market rent for the space they’re using
+   would be in the region of £400. We agreed to ask them for a
+   donation of £250, if they can afford it.
+
+  "ACTION: Sammi and Andy to relay this information."
+
+  Unfortunately that message never got to YFGM.  
+
+  *Action* on HST: Ask YFGM for feedback about other venues after the
+  upcoming visit.
 
   * Staffing
 
@@ -82,47 +99,56 @@
 
   EG will also have two weeks of EAPPI training in June 2026
 
-  As discussed when Majk started his new position as Assistant Manager
-  Projects:  We *Agreed* to approve one month of unpaid leave in 23
-  March-19 April and one at either end of EG's, so that we have one
-  4-month gap to fill with a temporary hire.
+  Further to a request from MS when he started his new position as
+  Assistant Manager Projects: We *Agree* to approve one month of
+  unpaid leave in 23 March-19 April and one at either end of EG's, so
+  that we have one 4-month gap to fill with a temporary hire.
 
   * Meeting House closure
 
   Closed 22/12--3/1
 
-  21 Festive Lunch
-  25 MfW (John P)
-  28 MfW no lunch
-  4 Jan MfW and Lunch
+  21 Dec Festive Lunch
+  25 Dec MfW (John Phillips to be key-holder for the day)
+  28 Dec MfW no lunch
+  4 Jan Normal service is resumed: MfW and Lunch
  
-  HST to be on 'phone cover, dates TBD
+  HST to be on 'phone cover during Managers' absence, dates TBD
 
   * 2026 Prices
 
-  [Very good presentation, attached: We *Agreed* the details as given,
-  resulting in a 7.76 increase in income from changes in average
-  around the RLW increase, i.e. 7--9%]
+  The Managers gave us a very good presentation on this, attached.
+  We *Agree* the details as given,
 
-  Things for a strategy discussion:
+  resulting in an estimated 7.76% increase in income from the proposed
+  changes, which are all in the range 7--9%, near the RLW increase of
+  6.7%.
+
+  We noted the need to prepare the ground for this next year in more
+  detail, further in advance, with a strategy discussion aimed at
+  building a model for the decision, including considerations such as:
 
-    Who are the core customers/other parts of the customer base
-    What are the priorities/what's our mission/build a model for this
-     decision next year
-    Where are the opportunities:
-     Library; Bow Room; Creche
-    Products/Services vs Packaging
-    Calendar sensitivity
-    Vary meetings between strategy and operations
+    - Who are the core customers/other parts of the customer base?
+    - What are the priorities/what's our mission?
+    - Where are the opportunities:
+      Library; Bow Room; Creche?
+    - A distinction between Products/Services vs Packaging
+    - Do we need to vary pricing by time-of-year? 
 
-  Increase T/C and Biscuits from 1.20 to 1.50 (== 25%)
+  We will consider whether to vary the focus in our meetings between
+  strategy and operations
 
-  We *Agreed* to make that the increase to 1.50 for Concessions, Standard up to 2.00
+  Managers also proposed an increase for our Catering charge for
+  Tea/Coffee and Biscuits from 1.20 to 1.50 (== 25%).
+
+  We *Agree* to increase the charge
+    - to 1.50 for Concession-rate bookings
+    - to 2.00 for Standard-rate bookings
 
   * Monday bookings / Protecting Community Groups
 
-  Proposal for a weekly concession evening, attached, discussion via
-  email, aiming to approve a proposal in time for trial in January
+  The Managers presented a proposal prepared jointly with EG for a
+  weekly "Concession Evening", attached.
 
   Two hour slot at half-price for Community Evening on Mondays: by application,
   purpose and activities, chance to make a difference for their