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+<doc>
+ <head>
+  <title>Future of 7 VT working group: Ninth meeting</title>
+  <author>This informal summary by Henry S. Thompson, Convenor</author>
+  <date>Held at 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh on 24 April 2009, 5:30 p.m.</date>
+ </head>
+ <body>
+  <div>
+   <title>Attendance</title>
+   <p>Present: Alison Burnley, Madeleine Harding,
+Phil Lucas, Brian Mayes, Laurie Naumann, Rufus Reade
+Eileen Schott, Henry Thompson (in the clerk's chair)</p>
+   <p>Prevented: Eileen Schott</p>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Status of form distribution/collection</title>
+   <list type="defn">
+    <item term="Financial experts">LN has sent email summarising his telephone
+interviews with Paul Kenny, Caroline Evens and John Phillips.</item>
+    <item term="Lettings comparison">ES has done this, see above.</item>
+    <item term="Quaker groups">MH sent email with interim results, has now
+gotten 12 replies, will re-circulate an updated tabulation</item>
+    <item term="Central Edinburgh">HST has a substantial number of completed
+forms, will tabulate and circulate this evening.</item>
+    <item term="Midweek meeting">AB has tabulated the 8 returns she has received.</item>
+    <item term="Local meetings">PL has had replies from S. Edinburgh and
+Central Fife</item>
+    <item term="MH staff">PL has only just received the individual
+responses.  He also has a "discerned corporate response" from a meeting of MH staff.</item>
+   </list>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Additional input from the Meeting House Managers</title>
+   <p>We considered the question of whether we needed further input from the
+Meeting House Managers.  They have conveyed a concern that we do not yet fully
+understand the nature of their work and the work of Meeting House staff.  We
+agreed that HST will invite the MHMs to our next meeting, at the beginning.</p>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Financial experts interviews</title>
+   <p>LN summarised.  Overall answers were fairly similar, although they were
+arrived at by differing routes.  All were enthusiastic about the property,
+albeit in one case in part because it offered such an attractive proposition as
+a rental property itself.  None thought that selling was a good plan.  Renting
+for ourselves was judged to be beset with difficulties.  Minimum lease would
+likely be five years.</p>
+   <p>A point which came up was that more use means more cost to offset wear
+and tear.  The Festival is a particular case in point.</p>
+   <p>This is to some extent subject to manipulation: by stopping the
+consumption of hot drinks in the Meeting Room, the wear and tear is reduced,
+but the Library gets more use as a breakout room, thereby reducing the
+opportunity for letting.</p>
+   <p>There was not complete unanimity on the question of whether we should or
+could increase income by raising our letting rates.</p>
+   <p>The question of strategy: maximising income versus maximising utility for
+Quaker use, comes up again.  PL reminded us of the history of AM's decisions in
+this area.</p>
+   <p>The proposition that we are subsidising groups by default was clarified:
+we do charge a low rate to some groups, which means that <emph>if</emph> no-one
+else was in the building by the time that group meets we end up losing money as
+against the cost of opening the building.</p>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Responses from Quaker Groups</title>
+   <p>Although not dependent as such, many groups expressed a sense of
+ownership wrt 7VT.  Overseers did feel dependent on 7VT as their base.</p>
+   <p>"The atmosphere can be felt when you walk into the place" like any other
+religious place, so it's appropriate to meet here.</p>
+   <p>The opportunity to plan in advance, and thereby had access to resources,
+was welcomed.</p>
+   <p>Groups were willing to meet elsewhere.  In particular, study groups were
+happier meeting in homes, for greater intimacy, and because it addresses
+childcare needs.</p>
+   <p>Facilities generally liked, one or two niggles.</p>
+   <p>Parking and, at least for the time being, access on foot a bit of a
+problem, but public transport good.</p>
+   <p>Availability was characterised as 'good'.  Some asked about the
+possibility of there being particular designated Quaker slots in the diary.</p>
+   <p>Big meetings (e.g. Scotland GM) needed the whole building.</p>
+   <p>Our ability to host young people's events was discussed in some detail</p>
+   <p>The value of being a central venue was remarked on a number of times.</p>
+   <p>Car parking will of course always be an issue for a central venue, but
+the impact of that on those with physical disabilities has to be managed.</p>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Planning for open meetings</title>
+   <p>[Note that the date of the 1st meeting was changed following consultation
+to Sunday 26 April.]</p>
+   <p>We agreed to have the meeting in the hall, and to start as early as we
+think feasable.</p>
+   <p>Aim for 2:30 finish</p>
+   <p>HST suggested opening with an introduction</p>
+   <p>BM suggested that we had to include the basic outline of the financial
+difficulty that provoked the establishment of our group.</p>
+   <p>LN wanted to be a bit less explicit, focussing on the broad picture, 20
+years on, 10 years with balanced books, 10 years during which a gap has opened up</p>
+   <p>MH: The questionnaires and a lot of our fact-finding to date have been
+about the nature of our current (and immediately past) situation: now we need
+to look to the future.</p>
+   <p>Focus on "What is your vision for the Quaker presence and witness in
+Central Edinburgh for the <emph>next</emph> 20 years."  Offer an
+opportunity to stay behind afterwards for more focussed questions to the group.</p>
+   <p>Is it appropriate to make notes during a worship sharing session?  Yes,
+if it's made clear at the beginning, and explained as based on the special
+nature of the meeting itself.</p>
+   <div>
+    <title>Meeting on 26 April</title>
+    <list>
+     <item>HST to introduce</item>
+     <item>PL to take notes</item>
+     <item>MH, BM, RR will also attend.</item>
+    </list>
+   </div>
+   <div>
+    <title>Meeting of 4 May [subject to revision]</title>
+    <list>HST to introduce</list>
+    <list>LN to take notes</list>
+    <list>PL, MH, BM will also attend.</list>
+   </div>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Next steps and next time</title>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Actions review and new actions</title>
+   <p>ES to get some costs of out-of-town units </p>
+   <p>HST to get publicicity out about the vision input meetings. [done]</p>
+  </div>
+  <div>
+   <title>Next Meetings</title>
+   <p>Our next meeting will be at 7 Victoria Terrace at 5:30pm on Friday 1 May
+[RR apologies]. We
+tentatively agreed on Friday 15 May 5:30pm and Friday 29 May 5:30pm [apologies MH] for our next meeting after that.</p>
+  </div>
+ </body>
+</doc>