Page 56 - Microsoft Word - Guiding light final version 1812 1206.doc

‘With the advances in IT the scheme is now run far more efficiently with much of the log processing being automated. After eight years the scheme was well “bedded in” to the professional structure of the STGA, so only the logs of the new participants and a random sample of the established participants are vetted for compliance with the scheme. However, this still involves considerable time and effort by colleagues on the CPD Committee who do so on a voluntary basis out of commitment to maintaining the professional standards of the STGA.
‘Before I handed over the chairmanship of the STGA CPD committee to the capable hands of vice chairman Lyn Brown, I had the satisfaction of being approached for advice by some of the Blue Badge Associations south of the border who were seeking to develop CPD schemes of their own. The board was always happy for me to pass on the STGA CPD policy and attendant documents. Knowledge, as they say, is the one thing you can give away, but still retain yourself....
‘To those fellow members who ask, ‘Why should I do CPD? It brings me no extra work. It’s just ticking boxes,’ I would say, ‘There are far greater numbers of unqualified tourist guides out there than qualified. Why should the clients choose us? Answer: We stand out because we prove to the world that we are professionals by complying with all the recognised hallmarks of a professional association our Training Standards and Qualifications, our Code of Conduct, our Complaints/disciplinary Procedures and finally our CPD Scheme, so yes indeed it is by “ticking all these boxes”, that entitles us to say “We are the professionals!”
In addition to establishing the CPD scheme Norma reduced STGA's legal expenses over many years by drafting letters, agreements and documents, by scrutinising and commenting on legal contracts, and by researching legal issues pertinent to the Association's operation. The second decade of the new millennium was to see massive growth in Scottish tourism with more and more cruise ships landing off the country’s coast depositing thousands of visitors keen to see its historic sites and beautiful scenery.
VisitScotland capitalised on new feature films made partially or wholly in Scotland including the 2012 James Bond outing, Skyfall.
But arguably the biggest phenomenon was the TV series, Outlander, based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling books featuring the dashing 18th century Scottish heart-throb Jamie played by Sam Heughan complete with long hair and kilt.
Thousands of fans descended on Scotland to see the locations where the TV series was filmed providing much work for tourist guides.
One of the big challenges for the STGA was making sure there were enough qualified tourist guides to meet demand as well as supplementing or replacing colleagues who wanted to take on less work or just retire.
In 2010 a fresh batch of guides was produced and TV presenter and STGA honorary president Neil Oliver wore his STGA tartan kilt at the graduation ceremony and the then STGA deputy chair Maggie McLeod managed to secure the National Gallery of Scotland at no cost.
‘It’s amazing what can be achieved with little or no budget!’ said Maggie.
2010 also proved to be a significant year for Ros Newlands who was awarded the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Ros said she had been given the honour thanks to the efforts of STGA colleagues led by Doreen Boyle, Sally Spaven and the late Wilma Kelloe.
‘It was for services to tourism but really tourist guiding,’ said Ros.
‘We turned up at Buckingham Palace on a snowy day in December 2010. I remember very well the rehearsal with uniformed military officers teaching us how to curtsey.
‘I went forward – did my curtsey and Prince Charles asked me about tourist guiding – saying “it’s very important what you do – you give people their impressions of our country”.
Then he said: “I hear you keep all these guides in order”. I gulped, “I do my best” having expected some generalities about Scottish tourism but he was obviously well briefed – by the notes our dear colleagues had sent in with the application I guess!
The loss of the Parliament income dominated the work of the STGA board’s Finance committee as it looked ahead to 2010 and beyond.
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