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said the answer seemed to be to base rates on historical data relating to guiding fees, which STGA would draw up from information provided by its records and members. Any general indication on pricing could then be based on these historical rates and the general rise in the published inflation rates.
In 2007 Doreen Boyle announced she was resigning as general manager but planning to take up active guiding once more. Stewart Noble paid tribute to Doreen saying she had worked tirelessly for the Association for over eight years as General Manager, and her loyalty and devotion to it had been outstanding.
‘She has helped to see the Association out of a period where it faced major financial difficulties, and these were not easy times for her. The success of the Parliament contract has been in no small measure due to Doreen's endeavours and to the good working relationship that she built up with Parliament’s staff.
‘Prior to becoming General Manager Doreen had also served for a period as a director, and I have heard her say that the Association has been her baby and so she will find it a wrench to leave. All members owe Doreen a tremendous debt of gratitude and wish her all the best for the future.’
Elaine Magee was appointed as the new General Manager and had joined the company at the beginning of March and would take over her new job when Doreen left at the end of the month. However, after just 14 months Elaine resigned. Toni McPherson was chair at the time and Maggie McLeod was her deputy.
‘This was a difficult time for the office staff as they had recently moved into new premises, and the guiding season was well underway, said Maggie in an article in Guidelines. ‘The office was seriously under-manned, the annual list of guides had to be prepared, the new STGA website needed attention and numerous other projects were in the embryonic stage – as well as recruiting a manager. Toni pulled the Board together and a rota system was organised. It was an eye-opener for the directors who spent many hours answering e- mails, phone calls, stuffing envelopes, organising budgets and greeting visitors.
Later Stewart Daniels who had spent 30 years working for Strathclyde Police with his last five at Senior Management level was appointed as the new manager.
‘Under Toni's leadership, and with much badgering, in 2009 the STGA received official recognition and endorsement from the National Boards and Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Tourism. VisitScotland stated it was delighted to endorse the Scottish Tourist Guides Association as the professional membership body for fully trained and accredited tourist guides in Scotland: ‘STGA accredited guides are passionate ambassadors for Scotland and in providing our visitors with information and inspiration, help deliver a memorable experience for them,’ it said.
‘VisitBritain also stated it was ‘pleased to recommend Blue Badge Guides, Britain’s official professional tourist Guides.’ Toni put her personal life on the back-burner’ Maggie continued, ‘and was always on hand to react to the latest crisis and give advice. She always put the STGA first and we owe her a great deal of gratitude for her dedication, endurance and patience in often very difficult circumstances.’
On March 6, 2006 the STGA held an event celebrating the tenth anniversary of the formation of the Company for MSPs and the travel trade in the Garden Lobby of The Scottish Parliament. A new corporate video on the STGA was launched at the event to demonstrate the diverse types of work guides could undertake.
The Association marked its 50th anniversary in 2009 with the commissioning of a bespoke STGA tartan from Kinloch Anderson, the Royal Kilt Makers, for exclusive use by the membership. The idea was born when STGA Vice Chair Maggie McLeod had a chance meeting with Deirdre Kinloch Anderson of the eponymous kilt making dynasty and asked if she could do something for the STGA on its limited budget.
‘At the time we had just appointed the Scots born broadcaster and archaeologist Neil Oliver as the STGA’s first Honorary President and we planned on giving him a kilt. The idea for inviting Neil Oliver came from Mary Kemp Clarke, at one AGM,’ Maggie explained. ‘Neil Oliver's appeal was then in the ascendance for some, and as he had excavated and worked with Mary when both were archaeologists, she approached him to ask if he would take on
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