Having welcomed everyone to another year, Tommy Doherty gave very warm thanks to Roderick MacKenzie the outgoing president.

He thanked him for his dedication and hard work over the three years of his presidency and indicated the need and his desire to maintain the momentum gathered over the time of his tenure.

Tommy outlined his priorities as President which are to:

Continue to develop the profile of the association – ‘to get into the eye of the decision makers’. Good links have been forged with ADES and with LTS but need to further develop links with HMIE. Tommy will contact Graham Donaldson to take this issue forward.

Make early contact with the new Education Minister, Peter Peacock, to welcome him to his post and to express his hope that a productive working relationship may be set up. He will also be invited to our conference in March 2004.

Take steps to encourage executive members’ line managers to recognise the importance of attendance at executive meetings and to seek permission for release of staff to do so.

Raise the profile of the Association at all groups on which executive committee members attend.

He encouraged everyone to ensure that their role as a representative of AEAS is mentioned routinely at such groups.

Tommy Doherty (President), Janey Mauchline, Willis Pickard (Honorary President), Sheila Walker, Judy Rankine (Secretary) Jean Nisbet, May Boyd, David Waxman (NAEIAC), Roderick MacKenzie, Howell John (NAEIAC)

He wished it to be a matter of record that the non-appearance of the Keynote speaker Lindsay Patterson was the result of an error in the administration of the conference, and not Lindsay's fault. This apart -

• The high quality of the programme was commented upon by many delegates.
• Seminars were universally praised – Frank Lennon and Rod O’Donnell presented issues people most wanted to hear about; more children in attendance at future conference was requested
• After dinner speaker should be given guidance on the time limits of the speech
• ‘Invited guests’ worked well and helped to raise the profile of the association
• Facilities and food were somewhat disappointing, and the organization did not run as smoothly as the previous year, although management of the logistics of the Saturday morning was exceptional.
• People valued the exhibitions and sponsorship arrangements but comment was made that the exhibitions of predominantly classroom materials was felt to be inappropriate for the roles of those who attended.
• Evaluations were positive – a thoroughly enjoyable conference.
• Overall attendance up on previous years – 75 people attended of whom 10 were invited guests
• Gross income from conference just over £11,000. A net profit of £3,600 expected. This sum includes membership fees – everyone who attended the conference is a member for the year.

The residue of the conference account from last year of approximately £1,000 will be transferred to the main account. Tommy advised the group that a detailed breakdown of the conference account would be delivered by the new Treasurer (Tony Sellars) at the next meeting of the executive committee.

The members of the committee recorded their appreciation of Tommy's efforts over the last four years as conference organiser. Tommy indicated that he was pleased now to pass the task over to May Boyd and Janey Mauchline.

Janey and May gave an update on progress thus far:

• Venue – possible venues discussed were Dundee, Perth or Inverness. Tommy informed the group that he had received information from the new Apex Hotel in Dundee and had visited it. Janey asked that the information be passed to her and May. NAEIAC have kindly offered administrative support, if required
• Conference title was agreed ‘Education: a time of transition’
• Suggestions for speakers included –

Education Minister, Peter Peacock
President of ADES, Jim Anderson
Director of Education for the area within which the conference is to be located
HMIE

• Suggestions for seminars included –

There is a need to consider recruitment to the membership of AEAS, and to identify clearly those who are members.

There are currently three routes to membership of the association -

• Attendees at conference this year are automatically members
• Members of NAEIAC are all AEAS members
• Others

In order to identify those particularly in the ‘Others’ group, the executive committee are asked to distribute any relevant documents among colleagues who may be members.

Tony Sellars will update a database of membership of other advisory groups who will be made aware of the continued existence of AEAS.

A membership pack/certificate/evidence of memberships for the year from conference to conference was proposed.

Consideration should be given to the categories of colleagues who would be eligible for membership.

Consideration should be given to the name of the association given the roles and titles of the existing/proposed membership categories. This would require that the constitution be considered.

An AEAS newsletter was also suggested.

Howell John provided an update:

• There has been a significant increase in membership. The total is likely to reach 4000 by the end of the year. This is an indication that the association is meeting needs. Parent groups have expressed and interest in joining.
• There is a need to maintain the momentum of membership in Scotland
• Portfolio and stress leaflets which have been distributed to members have been very well received.
• NAEIAC training is being used by many local authorities.
• Support is being offered to members in Scotland
• Glasgow has sought help in setting up a branch.
• NAEIAC’s National conference is on 28 and 29 August to which AEAS members are cordially invited.

David Waxman tabled a paper outlining the work he is currently undertaking as a follow up to the publication of the document The impact of local authority educational advisory service in Scotland.

Willis outlined the need to have a strategy a ‘virtuous circle’, to assure publicity and to increase membership.

There is a need to develop a website to provide comment on current education issues which can be circulated to the media. Draft responses to such items should be emailed to Willis.

After some discussion, Tommy suggested that Willis be asked to use his expertise and experience to work on behalf of the association.

This suggestion was agreed by all present.

The principal of the VSC is to develop an online capability to offer CPD across a range of levels. ADES manage the initiative. John Christie is the VSC Development Officer.

AEAS are partners in SETT conference so first meeting arranged to coincide with SETT.

All meetings are from 10.30 to 2.30. Exact venues to be confirmed except for -

Salaries

Roderick gave an update on the current situation, as he understands it. Information to be confirmed, and NAIEAC to be kept informed. Howell suggested that John could write requesting that he be kept informed and be involved in discussion.

Once details are known, AEAS and NAEIAC members will be informed by letter.

John, Willis, Howell, Tommy and Roderick will meet to take this issue forward.

There being no other business the meeting was drawn to a close.