Page 65 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 0955 1006.doc

The day-to-day running of the WFTGA World Federation is the responsibility of the Executive Board whose members are elected biennially at the General Assembly of Delegates, which coincides with the WFTGA International Convention.
Even after she stepped down as President, Jane played a major part in bringing the WFTGA’s biennial (every two years) conference to Scotland in 2003. Jane was herself in poor health when the idea was proposed in 2000 but Ros Newlands, who was later to become a President herself, said it was her dearest wish that the WFTGA Convention would come to her home country. “I visited her home in 2000 which was the year she died to discuss our idea to bid for the Convention,’ Ros said. ‘She was delighted and devoted a lot of time to giving me advice and also to instructing me on how to be successful – even just one week before she died from her hospital bed.
‘We formed a committee and decided that we would present our bid at the Convention in Cyprus in 2001,’ said Ros who was accompanied by Jan Philip, Jack Kerr and Doreen Boyle. ‘I was privileged to make that bid. Our first task was to get the support of our Tourist Board and Convention Bureau. We did that and they agreed to sponsor part of my flight to Cyprus and to provide us with a presentation to take with me. It was my first experience at a WFTGA Convention and I was immediately impressed by the friendship and solidarity from our colleagues from around 40 countries. I had not realised how much we all had in common and how much we could support one another. I nervously made the bid on behalf of Scotland and I was delighted when it was accepted. Then I returned home and the hard work started and slight panic set in. What had we done? Scotland is a very small country with a population of 5.3 million and we only had 300 members.’
Doreen Boyle who was office manager of the STGA at the time said: ‘On our return the reality of the challenge ahead of us became apparent as we drew up a budget of the costs involved. ‘The Board insisted we set up a separate company and with the help of Scottish Enterprise and a new computer, this was done. Our membership of the Scottish Council for Development & Industry led to a chance meeting with a delegate from the Bank of Scotland who, at that time, were championing ‘Women in Business’. She set up a meeting with Moray Watson of the Bank of Scotland. Sally Spaven and I could not believe our luck when we left that meeting with a promise of £15,000 sponsorship.
‘To promote what we were doing and to make the daily task of finding more sponsorship easier, we arranged for the £15,000 cheque to be handed over to the STGA by Moray at the next VisitScotland EXPO with Philip Riddle, Chief Executive of VisitScotland present.
With a lot of hard work, major sponsorship deals then followed from Morrison Bowmore Distillers Ltd, Royal Burgh of Stirling Council and AILLST (Stirling Tourist Board) office amongst the many organisations in the tourism industry donating gifts and free entries to many tourist attractions for the event and pre and post tours, free coaches, etc.
‘Sustainable Tourism was the official theme of the Convention, but with the horror of 9/11 later that year, it was felt the Convention was in jeopardy when it became clear that the USA was going to invade Iraq. The Steering Committee, consisting of Wilma Kelloe, Sally Spaven, Ros Newlands, Mary Kemp Clark, Fiona McLaurin, Jan Philip and Doreen Boyle, worked tirelessly with Dot Wylie in the office. Tom Caskie looked after the finance.
After much deliberation, Dunblane Hydro was chosen as the base,’ said Doreen.
Speakers were invited, including Geoffrey Lipman of Green Globe, Bill Taylor of Scottish Natural Heritage, Bob Jones of the Forestry Commission, Ingvall Maxwell of Historic Scotland, Piers de Salis of the National Trust for Scotland, David Adams McGilp of Kilmartin House Trust, Dr Con Gillen of Edinburgh University and John Downes of the University of Abertay.
‘By coincidence the keynote speaker, Geoffrey Lipman, was brother of the actress, Maureen Lipman, and was greatly entertained to hear that STGA trainers used a BBC film featuring her as a guide as an example of ‘how not to guide’. He phoned to tell her during the Burns Supper - much to her amusement! Many of our guides and those attending from other countries also gave lectures and workshops. The event programme was finally established, and pre, post and spouse tours planned. At last the event was publicised and the bookings
65