Autism Argyll

Minute of Annual General Meeting held on 1stSeptember, 2013 in

The Lochfyne Hotel, Inveraray.

Present:Sheila Campbell, Steven Croft, Sue Croft, Jim Curnyn,Michelle Deeney, Fiona El Taweel, Gwen Gilmour, Anne Horn, Pete Laws, Alison Leask, Donnie Mackintosh, Maureen Mackintosh, Morag Martin, Fiona MacNeill, Michael McCreadie, Liz Miller, Carolyn Randall, Brian Reid, Janette Robb, Gina Stewart, Sharon Straub, Charlene Tait.

Apologies: Antonia Baird, Anne Berry, Cathi Bertin, Lily Butler, Jill & George Cameron, Caroline Clark, Fay Davidson, Lorna Davidson, Karen Grieve, Maureen Franks, Frances Halligan, Dee Hancock, Alison Hay, Anna Hendrick, Lucie Howard, Karen Jamieson, Margaret Kelly, Julie Kennedy, Annie Lloyd, Jane Macinnes, Fiona McClean, Karen MacFarlane, Allison Napier, Charlene Newman, Liling Payne, Lomond & Argyll Advocacy, Norma Ross, Mrs Shaw, Lisa Sturgess, Lorna Taylor, Jim Taylor, Alyson Turner, Brenda Wallace, John Williams, Robert Wilson, Ali Wright and Peter Wright.

Alison welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Minute of previous AGM: The minute from the previous AGM was read and approved.

Proposed: Gina Stewart

Seconded: Fiona El Taweel

Treasurer’s report: Copies of the accounts for year ending March 2014 were distributed. Alison informed the meeting that had been very grateful to receive a gift of £75 000 from the estate of a client of C & D MacTaggart lawyers in Campbeltown. This was very welcome and has secured funding for Autism Argyll for the next few years. Maureen informed the meeting that our current bank balance is £13 917.28 and we have £60 000. In a 1 year fixed saver account.

The accounts were accepted by the meeting.

Proposed: Donnie Mackintosh

Seconded: Alison Leask

Chair’s report: Alison presented her Chair’s report. A copy of this report can be found on the Autism Argyll website.

Election of committee members: Alison thanked committee members for their work and support over the year. The meeting was informed that Heather Chaplin had moved away from the area. Jim Curnyn, Fiona El Taweel, Sheila Campbell and Anna Cryans have one year left to serve. Alison Leask, Lorna Davidson, Gina Stewart, Alison McQuade and Alison Hay have completed their two year term and are eligible for re-election. .

Nominations were requested for members to the committee.

Chair

Alison Leask Proposed: Sheila Campbell

Seconded: Fiona El Taweel

Treasurer

Lorna Davidson Proposed: Donnie Mackintosh

Seconded: Fiona El Taweel

Committee members:

Gina agreed to be re-elected as a committee member and we will contact Alison Hay and Alison McQuade to ask if they are happy to remain.

AOCB:

Fiona El Taweel asked if the library could visit the smaller libraries such as Cardross. Maureen informed her that every Argyll and Bute library, including mobile libraries, should have a list of the Autism Argyll titles but that the actual library only visits the larger towns.

Fiona also asked about adult diagnosis in Argyll and Bute. Alison informed the meeting that a Dr Gordon Barclay is currently carrying out diagnoses in the area. However, he has a very limited time allocated to do this and there are lots of issues about diagnoses being carried out by one person and how referrals should be done. Alison said there was a great deal of enthusiasm and commitment from certain people for a full adult diagnostic service to be established but it also would need commitment at a strategic level.

Jim Curnyn asked if journal abstracts or contents could be put on our website. Mike McCreadie mentioned an open access online journal database called PLOS ONE. Maureen said she would look into this and see if it could be achieved.

There being no other business, the meeting closed at 11 a.m.

The AGM was followed by a presentation from Dr Michael McCreadie.