ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Association held at the Isle of Skye Hotel, Perth on Saturday 12th June 1999.

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

The Earl of Dundee, Chairman of the Association, opened the meeting and welcomed all of those present. He commented that this was the largest gathering ever, so large that there were not sufficient chairs at Birkhill. Well done to everyone for braving the rain.

The Chairman also expressed an especially warm welcome to members from overseas who were present:

The sad news of the deaths of Bert Scrimgeour of Dundee (our auditor and "man in Dundee") and Joan Scrimgeour of South Australia was noted. Their friendship and enthusiastic involvement over many years was remembered. A minute's silence was kept.

Numerous apologies and best wishes had been received, including those of Rev Douglas Scrimgeour (Vice Chairman) who was on duty as the Moderator at the United Free Church of Scotland Assembly and Murray Scrimgeour who was at a family wedding.

2. MINUTES OF AGM JUNE 1998

The draft minutes of the meeting on 6th June 1998 had been published in the Skirmisher and were available at the AGM. The members present unanimously adopted these minutes as an accurate record of that meeting.

3. TREASURER'S REPORT - Tom Scrimgeour

The Financial Statements for the year to 31 March 1999 were distributed to the members present. Tom noted that the deficit during the year (£907) was entirely attributable to expenditure at Dudhope Castle and Kilneuair Church, which was paid for out of the Dudhope Fund. Excluding this item the accounts therefore show a small surplus of £93 which is satisfactory given the breakeven objective of the association. Tom therefore recommended to the members that the current subscription rates should remain unchanged. The auditor (Larry Scrimgeour) expressed himself content with the accounts and confirmed his report that they "... have been prepared from the books and records and I confirm that they are in accordance therewith." A copy of the accounts signed by Larry was passed to the Secretary to be held with the minutes.

Questions - What would we do if we received a legacy £100,000? - answer: we would accept it and find way to use it - probably on rebuilding Kilneuair!

Why is there no depreciation of the Word Processor this year? - answer: the Word Processor has now been fully written down, therefore no further depreciation is required.

The accounts were adopted unanimously by the members present.

The Chairman and members present expressed thanks to Tom for his work as Treasurer.

4. SECRETARY'S REPORT - John Scrymgeour

John noted the following:

* Margaret Dean (Council Member and Clan Goods Organiser) has been appointed Lord Lieutenant of Fife (the Queen's official representative in the County). John expressed congratulations and good luck on behalf of members and asked that Margaret pass on our greetings to the Queen.
* There were 97 members and guests present at the gathering, making it the largest gathering ever, which is good indicator of the future health of the Scrimgeour Clan Association.

* Chrissie Scrimgeour of Dundee celebrated her 90th birthday in April. It was good to see how strong the Scrimgeour women are, and our congratulations were offered to Chrissie.

* A letter from Jack Scrimgeour (overseas Skirmisher editor), thanking Catriona Scrimgeour (UK Skirmisher editor) for the publication of the Overseas section of the magazine. He also appealed to those present for contributions of family stories, genealogy information and family trees.

* The Scrimgeour Clan now has a website (the address is:- http://www.scrimgeour-edin.freeserve.co.uk), set up by Graham Scrimgeour of Edinburgh. John expressed gratitude to Graham and his wife Catriona, for their excellent work and interesting contributions to the Scrimgeour website during the past year. John considered that this undoubtedly puts us into the same league as the large Clan Societies.

* Membership
June 1998 147 Family and individual members
7 New members
(7) Deaths and leavers
June 1999 147 Family and individual members

John noted that these members represented over 200 individuals.

The Chairman and members present expressed thanks to John for his enthusiasm and hard work as secretary.


5. DUDHOPE CASTLE, DUNDEE - John Scrymgeour for Murray Scrimgeour

Dudhope is coming to a very satisfactory conclusion. At the AGM in 1998 it was agreed that a legal document would be drawn up between the Scrimgeour Clan Association and the University of Abertay, Dundee (the tenants of the building) to safeguard the contents of the Scrimgeour Room. A minute of agreement had been drawn up which had been signed by the University and would be signed by the Earl, as Clan Chief and Chairman of the Association, later in the evening.

Questions: - A member had gone to the Castle and asked to see the Scrimgeour Room and been told that there was no such room. It was agreed that this was a poor performance by the University and agreed that the Secretary should write to the University to ensure that staff is aware that there is such a room. It was also noted that it is advisable for members to contact the University in advance to arrange to see the room and it's contents.

6. KILNEUAIR CHURCH, LOCH AWE, ARGYLE - John Scrymgeour for Murray Scrimgeour

This is a ruined church in Argyll, near Fincharn Castle. Murray's report is as follows:-

* The site was visited earlier this year, first-aid repairs are preventing further serious deterioration, although the Church South Wall is precarious.
* Plans for roofing-over the oratory, to house grave slabs and font has been agreed with Historic-Scotland.
* Charitable trusts are being approached (but no money received so far).
* Interest has been kindled with the Director of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland and the expert on medieval grave-slabs at the new Royal Museum of Scotland. Stressed that Kilneuair has been scheduled since 1928 and Murray's first aid is the first attention that it has received.
* Hope is that Historic Scotland will grant aid work at Kilneuair - however they do not usually provide 100%.
* Donations received over past year - £150.

Thanks were expressed to Murray, in his absence, for his efforts at Kilneuair.


7. SKIRMISHER - EDITOR'S REPORT - Catriona Scrimgeour

Catriona asked that members do make contributions to the Skirmisher, either to Catriona or Jack, and expressed thanks for the contributions, which had been received.

Questions:- Circulation? - 200 printed, 150 sent to members with 6 being sent to the various libraries which receive all publications and around 20 to other destinations, by Murray.

Popularity of the website? - there have been 90 visitors in the month since the counter was set up. As noted above the address is http://www.scrimgeour-edin.freeserve.co.uk or the site can be found using the Altavista or Yahoo search engines.

The Chairman and members present expressed thanks to Catriona and Jack for their enthusiasm and hard work in preparing and publishing the Skirmisher.

Tom, the Treasurer commented that one of the reasons for the improvement in the income and expenditure of the Association was that Catriona had successfully reduced the cost of printing the Skirmisher, through being able to provide the material to the printers ready typed.


8. CLAN GOODS - Margaret Dean

Margaret proposed that given the weather she would investigate umbrellas in the Scrimgeour tartan.

Margaret also reported that she now had 16 copies of the Scrimgeour history book (from the original printing of 150 copies), 9 copies had been sold during the year. It was agreed that the Council would discuss the need for a further printing at their next meeting.

Thanks were expressed for the hard work put in by Margaret through the year.

9. ROYAL STANDARD AT THE OPENING OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT

Margaret stated strongly that she was disappointed that the Earl of Dundee would not be at the opening of the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years, carrying the Royal Standard of Scotland. Margaret proposed that the Scrimgeour Clan Association should write to the First Minister, Donald Dewar and to the Presiding Officer, David Steel, stating our "Disappointment that the Royal Banner of Scotland would not be carried at the opening of the first Scottish Parliament in 300 years, and that we consider that the Royal Banner of Scotland should be borne at future openings of the Scottish Parliament".

The Earl responded that he carried the banner every year at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, that this was a matter for politicians to decide and that the importance of Scrimgeours as Royal Banner Bearers and their place in Scottish history did not change because of politicians.

Margaret considered that the presence of the Earl of Dundee carrying the Royal Banner was of importance to all of Scotland and not only to Scrimgeours. After all heritage and tourism is now one of Scotland's largest industries.

Margaret therefore proposed that a letter should be sent (as above), the Earl did not object to such a letter being sent to the First Minister and Presiding Officer, but asked that it should not be sent to the Press, as he had already suffered from being misquoted on this subject.

The matter was put to the vote, proposed by Margaret Dean, Seconded by Anne Scrimgeour and passed with one vote against.

10. (RE-) ELECTION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS AND AUDITOR

Larry was asked if he was content to remain as auditor, he agreed and was unanimously appointed by the members present.

The Earl proposed that the existing members of Council are re-elected, they all agreed to remain in office, and the members agreed.

John Scrymgeour reported that he wished to stand down as representative for South of England, due to his workload as Secretary, but that his son James was willing to take his place.

The representatives from Northern England - Fred Scrimgeour of Hull and of the Midlands - Robert Scrimgeour of Stoke-on-Trent were asked to stand and received a clap from the members.

Thanks were expressed to Margaret for her hosting of the council meetings.


11. VENUE FOR 2000 AGM AND GATHERING. - Events Organiser - Elizabeth Stevenson

Betty suggested that on the basis of the previous year's questionnaire the Scottish Borders were popular and proposed Traquair House, near Peebles, for the Gathering and that the date would be the first Saturday in June - 3 June 2000.

It was suggested that we should all pray for good weather next year.

Thanks to Betty for her organisation of this year's gathering were expressed by the Chairman and members.

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting and thanks were given for his conduct of the chair.

12. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

* James Scrimgeour of San Diego, California, reported that he had presented photographs from the 1995 Gathering and a Scrimgeour Clan Crest to the House of Scotland, in San Diego.
* Catriona noted that the Junior Gathering had gone ahead, with 3 brave Skirmishers cycling across Perthshire in the rain. We would try to organise something similar next year.
* John (Secretary) displayed a photograph and information, donated by John Scrimgeour of Corby, Northants, about a World War II spitfire, flown by a Flight Lieutenant George Scrimgeour, which had shot down the last Japanese aircraft before the end of the war.


13. CLOSE

There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting and thanks were given for his conduct of the chair.