Page 55 - SV 3 2024

Scottish Branch AGM
Jim Williams
Scottish Branch President
Our Scottish Branch Annual General Meeting was held on Sat 16th March, The AGM was opened by our Chair, Frank Taylor who reflected on the sad loss of some of our Scottish Branch members. Frank also gave a health update on some of our committee members who were not well. We are thinking of you.
We started off with one vacant position of Sponsorship Manager further to Gareth Cameron having stood down, late 2023. Gareth remains a valued Committee member and is continuing to run the 200 club. Currently no one has stepped up
to take on this important role, so please contact a Branch Officer , if you are interested.
During the course of 2023, John Martin had volunteered to take on the new role
of Website & Events Officer, whist Jean Thomson volunteered to take on the new role of Minute Secretary. These two new positions were ratified during the AGM and I, for one am delighted with their support, thank you.
I am happy to report that all existing officers confirmed they were happy to
retain their roles and that all existing Committee Members confirmed that they remain on the committee.
Although the Dundee Food & Flower Festival has not been held since Covid times, the Scottish branch still has two reps available to attend the Dundee meetings. David Nelson and Bill Duff, who both confirmed they would continue as our Dundee Reps.
All other roles remained the same and whilst Frank Taylor remains as our second Trustee Rep, he reiterated the desire for someone else to take on this role which would again, help spread the workload going forward.
The Treasurer’s report highlighted that the Branch is in a good financial position and our D.A.’s were thanked for their prompt submissions of their accounts.
In closing, I would like to thank all of our officers and committee members for their support. You are all volunteers, and it is very much appreciated.
Fiona Shenfield
Scottish Branch Secretary
Alistair Gray Frank Taylor
Neil Muirhead Elizabeth Loudon Fiona Shenfield Jean Thomson Fred Stewart
Ian McPhee
Neil Muirhead Vacant
Fiona Shenfield John (Hoss) Martin
Honorary Vice President
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Branch Secretary
Minute Secretary
Membership Secretary
Show Manager
Show Secretary
Sponsorship Officer
SV Sub Editor
North of Scotland DA
So, I do not think a lot has changed unfortunately since our last update. The weather has been all over the place and like other areas we have suffered the four seasons in one day never mind one week. This has led to a delay in getting stuff out into our tunnels, however I am sure nature will help us catch up in due course.
Since my last update we have had our AGM in the Chieftain Hotel where the office bearers and committee were voted back on en-bloc. Hoss Martin ran through the photos and slides of the Scottish Branch Championships and National Championships. A special thank you to Fiona Shenfield for providing Hoss with the slides.
There was a healthy discussion amongst member regarding various exhibits
and none more that the discussion surrounding “Globe Beetroot” and how several varieties are sold as “Globe Beetroot” but are in fact not that globe in shape when grown. As is usual the NVS “judges guide” was referred to and consensus was
reach that it really did not matter what the seeds catalogue called the variety as for exhibition purposes the exhibit required to present the characteristics described in the judges guide.
At the AGM it was decided to hold our next meeting at “Dobbies” garden centre and just have a chat and a cup of tea , this took place on Saturday 6 April where
we confirmed the date for our DA show which is Saturday 7 September and will be sponsored by our hosts “Simpsons Garden Centre” Inverness. It was also agreed that we would create a Face Book page “ NVS North of Scotland District Association. This has recently been created by Helen Fitch and we hope to attract new members using the power of social media.
A few members have been out at local gardening clubs giving talks on veg growing and our own Peter Fitch was at Simpsons Garden Centre on Saturday 13 April giving a talk to the public on general veg growing and the benefits of gardening.
I trust by the time this is read that the weather has changed for the better and our gardens are in full production.
John (Hoss) Martin NoSDA
Website & Events Officer
Committee Members (in addition to those listed as officers)
Ian Archibald, George Bartling, Les Craib, Gareth Cameron, George Cumming, John Currie, Bill Duff, Doug Gerrard, Mary Gray, George Harrison, William Loudon, Jim Mercer, Melvin Miller, John Martin, Norman McBean, David Nelson, Arthur Provan, Jimmy Raeburn, Ian Simpson, George Scott, Linda Stocks, Jean Thomson, Jim Veitch, Alan Yates.
Dundee Flower Show Rep
David Nelson Bill Duff
Ian Simpson
FrankTaylor (temporary)
Dundee Flower Show Rep
Trustee Rep
Trustee Rep
Scottish Branch Championships
A note to all Scottish branch Members.
A copy of this year’s branch championships show schedule and entry form can be found with this edition of your SV Magazine. PDF copies are also now available, for all NVS members to download, via the NVS website, by opening the details within the events section. https:// www.nvsuk.org.uk/events/scottish- branch-championships-2024
The Branch Championships will be held in Aberdeen where we are helping the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen (RHSA) celebrate their Bi-Centennial.
Venue; Duthie Park, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen AB11 7TH
We look forward to seeing you there.
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