The Ochils will be centre-stage in terms of world affairs from Wed 6 until Fri 8 July, when the G8 summit comes to Gleneagles Hotel. This is seen in some quarters as a controversial event, and in pretty much all quarters as a nuisance, given the levels of security needed to keep George Bush and Tony Blair (or his successor) away from the good people of Auchterarder and Muckhart. This newsletter isn't the place to debate the rights and wrongs of the G8, but it will be interesting to see how the Ochils are affected. Road closures will be rife, but will walkers be able to wander up Craig Rossie and stroll beside the Frandy Reservoirs as normal, or will they be taken to one side and interrogated by special agents wielding laser-guided rifles and night-sights?
There will undoubtedly be antiglobalisation protests, with "beacons of dissent" being lit and protesters using the Ochils as a back door to try and breach the Gleneagles cordon, so things are likely to be lively (to say the least) for a few days. There is loads about all this on the web, for example see www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos16060.html
It remains to be seen what will happen in terms of hassle to locals, be it from security forces (expect a lot of military activity), or from protesters turning the eastern and northern Ochils into a huge campsite. Readers are invited to write in with observations about access difficulties and the like.
The FotO accounts need to be independently examined annually to ensure that the treasurer's arithmetic is still up to the job and that all payments in and out can be properly accounted for. This is an important review of the books on behalf of the membership. It is also increasingly important, given the improved regulation of charities in Scotland, that we are able to demonstrate our probity.
We need a new examiner. No formal qualifications required - just attention to detail and basic arithmetic. It only takes one evening once a year, in late September. It's not onerous but is important for the continuing health of FotO. Committee members are not eligible: the examiner has to be independent of the running of the organisation. Please think about taking on this very occasional task and contact the treasurer, David Gordon (his address is on p3).
The selfsame David Gordon has been treasurer since 1996, having been shadow treasurer for the year before that. At some stage he merged membership secretary into the post. The jobs were so interlinked that this made sense (either that, or it was a case of the treasurer moving next door to the membership sec). He has now given us 18 months of advance warning that the 2006 AGM will see him step down.
Treasurer / membership is a key post for any organisation, and we hope that someone is willing to take on this task. Ideally, they would join the committee no later than the 2005 AGM with a view to taking over in September 2006 to coincide with the start of the FotO financial year.
Speaking of the 2005 AGM, this will be held in Alloa Town Hall on Tuesday 15 November 2005, at 7pm. The speaker will be from the Ochils Mountain Rescue Team and will talk about the team's work. Please be there if you can.