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AGM 2008

New committee required - or SWLG will wind up The Scottish Wild Land Group seeks new people to run the organisation. If no-one comes forward for the main key posts on the Steering Team, then SWLG shall be wound up. This is the chance for the organisation to become rejuvenated with new blood and enthusiasm. If the organisation is wound up, the assets will be distributed to like-minded charities Background information

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
29 November 2008

The Annual General Meeting of the Group will be held on Saturday 29 November 2008 at 7.30pm at the The Golden Lion Hotel, 8-10 King Street, Stirling, FK8 1BD - Location

• Welcome, introductions & apologies
• Co-ordinator's report Alistair Cant
• Treasurer's report Tim Ambrose
• Background to the Office-holders not seeking re-election / possible winding up of the organisation. Discussion time. Alistair Cant
• Election of Steering Team for 2008-09
  The Steering Team can be 6 - 12 people. The key posts are as follows:
  1. Co-ordinator
  2. Treasurer
  3. Membership Secretary (has been combined in past with Treasurer)
  4. Wild Land News Editor
  plus a further 2-8 ordinary Team members. The Constitution provides for a Chairman as a post-holder but we have not held or filled such a post.
  All posts are open for nominations.
• Motion: That the Scottish Wild Land Group shall be wound up forthwith and that all remaining funds or assets, after payment of outstanding debts, be transferred to one or more charitable bodies having objects similar to the SWLG.
  [The exact bodies and the split of assets to be transferred between them, to be agreed at AGM]
  {This motion requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting}
  
• Close of official business

1. INTRODUCTION

   The current post-holders for SWLG have been in post for over 15 years on average, and are not seeking re-election at this AGM. It is hoped that new Steering Team members will come forward to continue the organisation but if this does not take place then a motion to wind up the Group will be proposed.

2. THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUP

   The Group is sound financially, with membership and other income paying for 3 issues per year of Wild Land News, and other small incidental expenses. Although membership has dwindled in recent years, Wild Land News is a well-respected journal that is widely circulated and complimented by many. However, articles of original research have been reducing in number and much of the thrust of the organisation has been to give an overview, context and analysis on current trends and issues in the conservation of wild land.

   All members of the Steering Team are volunteers (and have been since the Group founded). The current members have little spare time for attending meetings, seminars and events that are available on issues affecting wild land. Team members have full time jobs or commitments, and families.

   We continue to be active members of Scottish Environment Link (LINK) and have been closely involved in the Task Forces established by LINK over the years on issues such as Wild Land, Access, Upland Areas, Landscape, Forestry, etc. Our presence has been appreciated as representing a constituency which overlaps with other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) but also has a clear and focussed identity. We have in particular lobbied on Land Reform issues in a consistent and forceful way since the formation of the group.

3. THE CONSERVATION ENVIRONMENT

   Since the formation of SWLG in 1982, there has been a huge and welcome shift in attention on issues of wild land, conservation, sustainability and land reform. Many existing organisations have raised the profile of these topics, e.g. the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, Ramblers Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland. We have seen the creation of new groups, such as the John Muir Trust; new academic bodies such as the Centre for Mountain Studies (Perth); new legislation such as Land Reform (Scotland) Act; and continual changes to the government / bureaucracy / policy environment - Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA, Scottish Parliament, etc. Very few organisations now exist with no paid staff and no formal office base. SWLG has resisted such moves, partly to remain true to its volunteer, independent, radical roots, and partly to avoid having to commit to continual fund-raising etc to maintain the cost of such structures.

   We are delighted to see many committed NGOs engaged seriously in conservation and wild land, backed up with qualified and dedicated staff and resources. The policy and legislative scene is integrated at the UK, European and International levels and high-calibre people are needed to maximise opportunities.

   Although the committed volunteer is still a key component, SWLG has perhaps relied too much on verbal/written/email reports from members/supporters and has not built as good a supporter base founded on local contacts, as perhaps it could have done. We have not engaged as well as others in publicity/promotion/media work and as a result perhaps attract fewer potential members.

4. OUR MEMBERSHIP

   We have retained for many years a core membership, of around 450 - 500 people, many in Scotland but a proportion in England & Wales, all spread across urban and rural areas. The number has now dwindled to approximately 375. We estimate our membership has grown old with us and so there are perhaps fewer younger people who could step in.

   We also circulate Wild Land News to a wide range of organisation and bodies, to engender debate, to promote our cause and publicise the issues.

5. THE HAND-OVER PROPOSAL

   We, the current post-holders, recognise that we have dedicated a long enough time to the Group and that new blood and energy is needed to build the membership, develop the activities and expand the horizons.

   The current post-holders wish the organisation to continue, so we propose a hand-over period of 3 - 6 months to new post-holders, to enable a smooth transition, and so the current service to members can continue. The main elements in place which will be handed over include:

   • Arrangement for type-setting and printing Wild Land News;
   • Treasurer's elements, including bank account, standing order system, etc
   • Membership system including label printing, etc.
   • Governance matters including ongoing registration with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator
   • Email and website based on swlg.org.uk
   • Liaison/membership of LINK
   Some of the individual members of the Steering Team may continue to serve on the Team, as individual members. They do not wish to take over any of the post-holder roles.
6. THE WINDING-UP OF THE ORGANISATION

   The Steering Team feel that unless there is a significant injection of new Steering Team post-holders, then they do not wish to continue with the organisation in 'tick-over' mode. The proposal to wind-up may be stark but it will be done if no-one comes forward.

   The wind-up needs a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. If this is approved then a decision will be made immediately thereafter at the AGM as to which organisations will receive any assets left over. Examples of possible organisations include the John Muir Trust, the Cairngorms Campaign, Scottish Environment LINK, Reforesting Scotland, etc.

7. WHAT HAPPENS IF…

   there are no new post-holders but the AGM does not obtain a two-thirds majority to wind-up the organisation?

   If this is due to a body of people wishing time to coalesce into a Steering Team, then that could happen and a further General Meeting of all members called to then confirm/elect a Steering Team.

   If there seems no alternative solution seems likely then a further General Meeting shall be called and the wind up resolution shall be proposed again.

8. SO

   To help the SWLG continue, please consider standing for a post-holding position / working with others to enable the positions to be filled.