HELLO EVERYONE,

I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR RECENT 2011 AGM IN NOVEMBER AT THE OBAN LIBRARY. I HOPE TO SEE MORE MEMBERS AT THE MEETING NEXT YEAR  AS ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO RECRUIT MORE MEMBERS. WE DECIDED, AS A UNIFIED BOARD, TO FOCUS OUR FUTURE GOAL TO FEWER, MORE MANAGEBLE PROJECTS. WE WOULD STILL LIKE TO RUN SEVERAL COFFEE MORNINGS DURING THE YEAR AS A FUNDRAISING EVENT. WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO SOLIDIFY LINKS WITH OBAN HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY TO HELP THEM GET STRONGER ALONG WITH SUPPORTING  LOCAL ART GROUPS SUCH AS THE THREE WEE CROWS. ANOTHER GOAL IS TO PROMOTE READING THROUGH WORLD BOOK DAY IN FEBRUARY AND TO SPONSOR AUTHOR WORKSHOPS AND THE LIKE. AS ALWAYS, HELP AND SUGGESTIONS ARE VERY WELCOME. WE HAVE HAD A SUCCESSFUL YEAR, BUT IT CAN ALWAYS BE BETTER WITH YOUR HELP.

THIS YEAR WE HAVE OUR WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING; NOTICE BOARDS HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE ENTRANCE WAY WITH ANOTHER ONE, DEDICATED TO THE FRIENDS, SOON TO BE ADDED ABOVE THE COPY MACHINE. THE CHILDREN'S AREA HAS BEEN PAINTED WITH PLANS TO FOLLOW FOR THE READING ROOM.  THE WINDOWS HAVE BEEN WASHED AND WILL BE REGULARLY ON A SCHEDULE NOW. WE HAVE HAD A PRESENCE AT WORKSHOPS AT THE LIBRARY INCLUDING THE CIRCUS AND CHILDREN'S WORKSHOPS. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ATTENDED OUR FIRST COFFEE MORNING YOU WILL KNOW THAT THAT WAS ALSO A SUCCESS. MY THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED AT THE AFOREMENTIONED ACTIVITIES. WE HOPE TO START UP A BOOKSELLING BUSINESS WITH AMAZON SOON. THE LOGISTICS SEEM TO BE TAKING FOREVER, BUT WE ARE GETTING THERE! ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO RAISE MONEY TO BUY COMFORTABLE FURNITURE FOR LIBRARY CUSTOMERS AND TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE LOOKS OF THE LIBRARY.

 PLEASE NOTE THAT MARIEKE STUEUBEN IS OUR NEW TREASURER. THANKS FOR VOLUNTEERING FOR THE NEXT YEAR MARIEKE! CAT NEWSHELLER REMAINS THE CHAIR WITH ELIZABETH CLARK AS SECRETARY. FOR FULL DETAILS ON AGM PROCEEDINGS AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES PLEASE CONSULT THE RELEVENT AREA ON OUR WEBSITE.

THANKS.

CAT NEWSHELLER