Here we are again, a new boating season on the horizon!
We would like to bring the following important information to your attention.
1. Caledonian Canal Customer Forum
2. GGCUA AGM 2011
3. GGCUA Membership Renewal 2011/12
4. GGCUA Committee News
Caledonian Canal Customer Forum
Many of you will be aware that the annual “Caledonian Canal Customer Forum“, hosted by British Waterways, was postponed from Saturday 27th November last year due to the dreadful weather.
The Forum has now been rescheduled to take place on Thursday 14th April between 1-2.30pm at the Ramada Jarvis, Inverness and has been billed as “a stimulating and thought provoking event”.
If you want to attend the Forum and have not received your invitation from British Waterways, please contact them at the Canal Office, Seaport Marina on 01463 725500 or email to enquiries.scotland@britishwaterways.co.uk
GGCUA AGM 2011
This year’s AGM will take place on Saturday 9th April commencing at 6.00pm. The venue will be aboard the barge, “Loch Ness”, moored at the entrance to the Seaport Marina, Inverness. Refreshments and parking will be available.
We will be sending out your personal invitation soon and we very much hope you will be able to attend. It should be “a stimulating and thought provoking event!”.
GGCUA Membership Renewal 2011/12
You will shortly receive your membership renewal form for the coming year to April 2012. We are pleased to announce there will be no increase in membership fees and you will continue to enjoy your membership discounts with Caley Marina and McEwan of Inverness.
All new members will receive a complimentary GGCUA burgee as part of their membership package (worth £4.50 cost price). All in all, joining the Association represents great value!
GGCUA Committee News
For a time near the end of 2009 there was some doubt as to the future of the Association, but the year gone by has been one of much consolidation.
Association membership has increased significantly over the last twelve months and currently stands at 15 Individual memberships, 23 Family memberships and 1 group membership.
We have made considerable improvements to our administrative systems, streamlining general administration tasks as well as opening up the GGCUA Blog Site as a full access “notice board” and “voice” for Association members.
In response to your views and opinions, we have successfully campaigned with British Waterways, most notably to raise awareness of the issues of speeding craft. This resulted in speed awareness banners being designed by British Waterways and fitted to the lock gates at Dochgarroch, and we hope that British Waterways will consider placing similar banners at other sites along the canal.
We also campaigned for changes in the way the canal embankments are managed at Dochgarroch. This was directly in response to the majority views of local residents and local boat owners who wished to see a more wild flower and wild life friendly environment, but without compromising British Waterway’s operational need for a managed look at places where appropriate (eg. areas by the lock gates and picnic sites etc.). We look forward to the return of a profusion of wild flowers and plants this year and the changes made will help ensure the safer migration of the many thousands of frogs and toads that emerge from the lake adjacent to the canal.
Thank you again to all who came to last year’s Gala Day and made it such an enjoyable event. We look forward to arranging further events during the year ahead.
And finally we must announce that at this year’s AGM the positions of GGCUA Chairperson and Treasurer will become vacant; both David Bird (current Chairperson) and Paul Homer (current Treasurer) would like to stand down in order to pursue other commitments.
The Association is in good health. It has all of its necessary systems and procedures firmly in place and in all respects is ready to be handed over to a new Chairperson and Treasurer who can give some time and commitment to steer and further develop its aims and objectives.
If you are interested in taking on either of these roles and would like some more information, please do not hesitate to get in touch either by email at ggcua2003@yahoo.co.uk or by telephoning David Bird on 0798 628 2184.
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