D&G Outdoor and Woodland Learning (OWL) Group

AGM - Minutes for 6thth Oct 2015

Learning room @ WWT Caerlaverock

Present: Ian Lund,Judy Baxter, Robin Fuller, John Wheeler, Lesley Smith, Elizabeth Tindal, Sara Pintado, Faith Hillier, Kirsty Griffiths, Alison Murfitt, Jessica Shackleton.

Apologies: Keith Walker, Cecilia Franklin, Lusi Alderslowe, AliceCampbell, Emma Platt, Anna Johnson, Nic Coombey, Jenny Paterson, Bonnie Maggio.

Welcomes: The group welcomed Ian Lund who is anindependent drum circle facilitator.

(2) Last year’s AGM minutes approved.

(3) Chairs’ Report - 2014/2015

“Thank you to everyone who has supported the group over the last year, especially Lesley for taking care of the group’s accounts, Jessica for producing minutes, and Cecilia for keeping the website up to date.

There has been a steady increase in membership over the year, and we now have good representation from most of the major environmental organisations in the region, as well as various groups and a number of individuals.

Although there have been no D&G OWL funded projects this year, the individual members are all active in their own right, and so outdoor learning in the region is being well supported through a range of initiatives.

Activities and developments that the group can be proud of this year:

  • We delivered an outdoor learning networking event in Dumfries to raise awareness of OWL Scotland and the local group.
  • We attended World Ocean’s Day celebrations, and the Dumfries and Galloway Environment Fair.
  • Another cohort completed the D&G Council/Forestry Commission Scotland ‘Outdoor Skills’ training. One attendee from the first round of training used her experiences to acquire her professional recognition for outdoor learning. A booklet has also been produced to accompany the course which will include the OWLS logo.
  • Our skills share sessions this year have included leave-no-trace awareness; campfire cooking; activities with eggs; making nettle cord; wild flower identification; Christmas forest fun; and OPAL activities.
  • We have maintained close ties with D&G Council’s Outdoor Learning co-ordinator to share updates, ideas, and opportunities for partnership working.
  • Members of the group attended the OWL Scotland Chair’s meeting, and the National Launch event at the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.
  • We now have a dedicated email address and Facebook page to share our news and keep in touch with members.

In the coming year we will continue to utilise the venues and skills of our members to deliver meetings, skills shares and training, and to encourage others to join our network and promote outdoor learning. Once again we would like to thank everyone who has given their passion, creativity and commitment to the group, putting us in a strong position for developing plans next year.”

Robin and Elizabeth

(4) Treasurers report: £872.90 in group’s RBS bank account. Annual accounts can be found at the end of these minutes. Authorised signatories are now John Wheeler, Robin Fuller and Elizabeth Tindal. Online banking not fully operational yet.

(5) Election of Steering Group members

Chair: Robin Fuller was re-elected. The role of co-chair is now no longer necessary.

Secretary: John Wheeler nominated to take minutes long hand. Ian Lund to take the role of secretary for minutes write up and distribute after they have been checked by Robin. Further discussion of the role of secretary(s) to access social media ie. Facebook page and coordinate OWL membership forms for the group.

Treasurer: Kirsty Griffiths nominated and appointed.

(6) News and updates from OWL Scotland

The latest OWL Scotland bulletin is now available on the website

National OWL Scotland Networking event at Kindrogan (near Pitlochry) will be held on 19th to 21st February 2016. One free place available to each OWL group, additional places available £50. The event focuses upon outdoor learning and is a chance to meet up with members of other local OWL groups from around the country. It is an opportunity to share skills and learn skills from others, and also to network with individuals working in the field. Interested parties to contact Robin – shared transport options will be considered.

Upcoming training courses/workshops posted as bulletin on OWL website.

(7) Plans for year ahead.

Polices comments:

Payments for group business. The group can apply for an annual administration grant from OWL Scotland of £500. This can pay for venue hire if necessary (suggested price range of up to £40 if host organisation requires payment). Skill share workshop presentation approx. £50 per session or possibly an hourly rate of £15. Payments could be dependent upon whetherthe workshop leaders costs are covered by the host organisationor whetherthey were freelance. Travel costs incurred 0.49p/mile with a distance cap of about 22 miles.

If a skills share/workshop costs needed further coverage then further funding maybe sought. Overall the workshop had to be deemed as of benefit to OWL members.

Invoices must be submitted before payment.

For any new projects/workshops to be put forward then a proposal form needs to be completed indicating learning outcomes and description of what the workshop is about.

Fair processing of enquiries. Membership forms to be completed by members of the group in order to explain their skill set, leadership expertise etc. in order to potentially produce a database of woodland learning and associated learning practitioners. The group discussed whether to have separate forms for individuals skills represented on behalf of a host organisation or a freelance individual. Conflict of interest was looked at but in the end it was decided that the data-base would be presented to any enquirer to OWL for possible workshop and leader requirements and what prices/location and what workshop options may be available to them ie. host organisation providers, freelance individual etc.

Membership information to be updated yearly. With a long-term aim to set up a searchable database if deemed necessary.

OWL Badges in the process of design for the use of OWL Members when representing the organisation.

(8) AOCB

Mobile phone purchased for the group. Robin to hold phone which will be diverted to nominated members on a rolling basis. The number is 07444175685.

(9) Date of next meeting Tues 8th December NTS Threave (Countryside Centre).