Burns Howff Club

Report on Annual General Meeting April 2010

One of the most successful seasons’s for the Burns Howff Club ended on 29^th April when John Caskie demitted office as president. 2009 – 2010 was a particularly busy year for the club which took in the Year of Homecoming and the 250^th anniversary of Burns’ birth.

A large gathering of members in the Globe Inn heard tributes to the retiring president for the number of events, visits and functions at which he represented the club with unfailing dignity and good humour during a very active period.

Welcoming members to the Annual General Meeting, the president introduced Mrs. Maureen McKerrow, the proprietor of the Globe Inn and an honorary member of the club and invited her to accept an engraved salver to mark the 400^th anniversary of the Globe Inn and the long association with the club which was instituted in 1889. Mrs. McKerrow thanked the president and members and hoped the association would continue for many years to come. Mrs. Jane Brown, manager of the Globe Inn was also thanked by the president for her support and that of her staff.

Presenting his annual report, honorary secretary David Smith covered a wide range of activities ranging from sporting, cultural and social. The annual outing saw a bus party visiting Ayrshire taking in the Bachelor’s Club at Tarbolton and Irvine Burns Club where members saw the amazing collection of manuscripts in their museum. The club also attended the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in August, 2009 which that year, had a Burns theme and in September, honorary treasurer, David Baird was elected senior vice president of the World Robert Burns Federation at the annual conference in Edinburgh at which the club was well represented. The programme of literary evenings was especially enjoyable with first class speakers on a wide range of subjects. The social programme in the Globe Inn was one of the best for many years and the 12st Anniversary Dinner on 25^th January 2010 was memorable with superb toasts from Professor Ted Cowan and Willie McDougall, supported by outstanding guest artistes and club members.

Honorary treasurer David Baird presented the Abstract of Accounts which, after some discussion, and acceptance from the auditors, was approved. The treasurer made no recommendation for an increase in the membership subscription for the ensuing year. As convenor of the 2009 Project Committee, Mr. Baird reported on the programme of events held to commemorate the 250^th anniversary. The club had made a significant contribution to the cultural life of Dumfries during the year. Highlights included a performance of “Tea with Clarinda” at the Theatre Royal, a concert by the famous group “Scocha” from Hawick and the magnificent Gala Concert at DG One, featuring Dumfries Male Voice Choir with guest artistes Nicky Spence and Roslin Agnew and D&G Constabulary Pipers. The concert was the culmination of the Scots Language Competition for schools. This resulted in over 600 entries from throughout the region and the prizes were awarded during the concert. The best 100 entries were published in a commemorative book, entitled “A Wee Kist O’ Verse” which has since been highly acclaimed. Updated reprints had been made of the series of four town heritage walks and these were available for tourists and visitors. The president congratulated Mr. Baird and his committee on the success of the 2009 projects.

Gordon Johnston, honorary librarian reported on acquisitions for the club library during the year and stated that an antiquarian book seller had agreed to provide a valuation of the library contents.

The stock contained many unique volumes and was a major resource tool for scholars on Burns. The librarian urged members to make more use of the library.

The club Webmaster, Neil Johnston stated that the Website was well used with over 90 thousand “hits” recorded per month. He was currently updating the content and commended the president for his regular “blog” entries which were read worldwide.

David Miller, the “200+ Club” organiser, reported on a profitable year with a good spread of winners and thanked members for their support. The draw for April 2010 resulted in a win for a member in Cumbernauld.

Before demitting office, the president reviewed his term in office which he described as one of the happiest years in his life and he was proud to represent the club at so many events. He was grateful for the support he had received and thanked members for affording his the honour. Neil Johnston, senior vice president was nominated for president for 2010/2011 and received the Chain of Office. He paid warm tribute to John Caskie and thanked him for his efforts. Mr. Johnston, an IT Support Technician with Dumfries & Galloway Council, and a director of Carlisle based computer company, Logic Business Systems as well as being a director of a local property development company, followed a family tradition as his father, Gordon Johnston occupied the Chair with distinction in 2003/4. Mr. Johnston thanked members for electing him and looked forward to upholding the high standards set by his predecessors. Frank Manson was elected senior vice president and Ian McIntyre elected junior vice president. Other appointments were David Smith, honorary secretary, David Baird, honorary treasurer, Gordon Johnston, honorary librarian. Robert Hastings and John Lauder were reappointed auditors. Executive Committee, Godfrey Bedford, John Clark, Kenneth Crookshanks, Bert Hastings, William Johnston, David Miller, Ted Murray, Kenneth McKinnon, Jim Nicolson, George Templeton, Robert Walker and Bill Welsh, together with past president John Caskie.

The president announced that the 122^nd Anniversary Dinner would be held in the Globe Inn on 25^th January 2011 when the toast to the “Immortal Memory” would be proposed by honorary member Peter Kormylo.

Following some other competent business, a vote of thanks to Mr. Caskie and Mr. Johnston for their chairmanship, was moved by past president David Miller.