The following report provides a brief update for members unable to participate in the Annual General Meeting. This report does not constitute an official record of the meeting and members should refer to the formal minutes which are published on the website.

The 37th AGM of the Council was held at 4.00pm on Sunday 17th June at St. Johnstone Football Club, McDairmid Park, Perth.

Business started with the retiring president, John Mackenzie in the chair.

Three amendments to the Minutes of the 2006 AGM were received from the Cairngorm and accepted by the Chair. The amended minutes are here.
The minutes of the 2007 SGM were also adopted.

The Annual Report was received and considered by the meeting. The Honorary Treasurer, Derek Edge, discussed the finalised accounts, which had been distributed to those present, and responded to a number of questions from the meeting.

Following the discussion, the President announced the winding-up of the unincorporated MCofS.

The first Annual General Meeting of the incorporated Mountaineering Council of Scotland began.

Derek Edge advised the meeting that 17 June was the first 'trading day' of the incorporated Council and discussed changes to accounting procedures which will be required due to the change to limited liability company status.

The appointment of an accountant was then discussed. The meeting decided that this should be left for the Board to decide at a later date, after some discussion with the incoming treasurer John Irving.

The meeting agreed that membership subscriptions would remain unchanged for the coming year.

Elections to the Board/Executive then followed. There were no names added to those already nominated. The following were elected unopposed: Chris Townsend – President; John Irving - Hon. Treasurer; Brenda Clough, Richard Spencer and Martin Middleton were elected and joined Mary Webster as Vice Presidents. John Leftley, Brian Linington, Bill Park, Ron Payne, Paul Russell, George Smart and John Wylie were elected to the Executive Committee. Susan Jensen and Peter Willimott each have one further year on the Executive.

John Mackenzie then handed the chair to the new President, Chris Townsend.

John Mackenzie hands over the presidency to Chris Townsend

Presentations were then made to new Honorary Members of the MCofS. John Mackenzie gave a citation about Mike Newbury, a long time volunteer with the A&C Committee. John Leftley then gave a short presentation about MCofS webmaster Duncan Gray. The speakers presented commemorative certificates to Mike and Duncan.

John Mackenzie also expressed the thanks of the Council to Nick Halls, whose post as Hon. Secretary no longer exists in the new organisation.

A long discussion then followed on the date and venue of the next AGM. There was support for the idea of moving the event to the autumn, and it was explained that the Articles of Association required that an AGM had to be held within 15 months of the previous AGM. Discussion continued on whether to hold a separate AGM or revert to linking it to a gathering with activities, which would potentially attract a larger attendance.

After a show of hands it was decided that the next AGM will be held in early September. The venue will be decided after further consultation with the membership, consideration on whether or not to hold a gathering, and will be dependant on availability of venues.

At the close of the meeting, the President, Chris Townsend, asked the meeting to recognise the hard work and contribution made by the retiring President John Mackenzie, who commented that it had been 'good fun'!.

Chris also wishes to express his thanks, and those of the current Board and Executive, to the retiring Office Bearers:

• Hon. Treasurer Derek Edge for putting our accounting procedures into the twenty-first century and dealing with the incorporation changes
• Beryl Leatherland who worked unstintingly as the Chair of the Access and Conservation Committee, picking up a great many extra tasks during the period when we had no officer.
• Susan Jensen who put in considerable effort during her year with Sports Development
• Nick Halls who has been a tower of strength during his years as Hon Secretary
• As usual we also thank all other volunteers for their quiet but effective help over the last year

Report by Duncan Gray / David Gibson