We’re back at the Shandon Snooker Centre (99 Slateford Road, EH11 1QY) for our June public meeting at 7.30pm on Mon 4 June 2018 with a speaker from the Living Rent campaign in Edinburgh. Maddie from Living Rent will speak on the campaign’s activity in Edinburgh followed by a Q&A discussion.
Author: gerry
Livestream: How to talk about Independence Audrey Birt Feb 2018
This was a very valuable meeting for us and Audrey’s advice is essential for all activists for Scottish Independence. Ultimately support for independence is increased and imaginings of a new nation are created, one conversation at a time. “People follow people”, Audrey said and ultimately it will be one-to-one conversations, which will shift the balance towards independence. Changing one’s point of view on an issue is a process which can sometimes ebb and flow, so listening to the fears and concerns of others in conversations related to independence is an important first step to establishing a relationship, where any cycle of change has room to proceed at everyone’s individual pace.
Watch what Audrey had to say in full in these livestream videos.
Livestream: Lessons the Yes Campaign must learn to win Indyref2 with Dr Iain Black
Yes Edinburgh West meeting minutes, Clermiston Inn, 7.30pm Mon 6 February 2017
- Ian Grant opened the meeting by welcoming everybody.
- Gerry Mulvenna posted a Livestream broadcast for the benefit of people who couldn’t make the meeting.
- There were 27 attendees. Email addresses given will be added to the mailing list unless anyone objects.
- Ian introduced Dr Iain Black, Associate Professor in Marketing at Heriot-Watt University, who spoke on the Lessons the Yes movement must learn for Indyref2 from a Marketing perspective – which is all about persuasion. He noted that over-zealousness doesn’t persuade – you have to allow people to make their own decisions. Continue reading “Livestream: Lessons the Yes Campaign must learn to win Indyref2 with Dr Iain Black”
Livestream: Social Justice with Dr Lesley Orr
Yes Edinburgh West meeting minutes
Clermiston Inn, 7.30pm Mon 9 January 2017
- Anne Donohoe opened the meeting by welcoming everybody.
- Gerry Mulvenna posted a Livestream broadcast for the benefit of people who couldn’t make the meeting.
- There were 20 attendees. Email addresses given will be added to the mailing list unless anyone objects.
- Anne introduced Lesley Orr (a member of the Women for Independence National Committee), who spoke eloquently on “Social justice in an independent Scotland” Continue reading “Livestream: Social Justice with Dr Lesley Orr”
December 2016 meeting: Andy Wightman on Land, Democracy and the Economy
For our final meeting of 2016 on Mon 5 December, we are delighted to have Green MSP, Andy Wightman, to speak on the extremely topical subjects of Land, Democracy and the Economy. A few days ago on Wed 30 Nov 2016 in the Scottish Parliament, Andy proposed the following motion on local democracy (with splendidly plain wording)
The Final Report from the Commission on strengthening local democracy was published in August 2014 and can be downloaded from their website. At the time it was widely endorsed by political parties including the SNP and the Conservatives. However both these parties put forward “wrecking” amendments to Andy’s motion on Wednesday. Continue reading “December 2016 meeting: Andy Wightman on Land, Democracy and the Economy”
A national anthem for Scotland – Bob Murray gets us all thinking
On the 28 November 2016 we gathered at the Clermiston Inn to enjoy a special performance of Bob Murray’s one-man show: A National Anthem for Scotland, in which Bob performs a selection of potential anthems for Scotland and examines the pros and cons of each one alongside discussion of more general issues around national anthems.
For instance what makes a good anthem? Can it be sung easily by amateurs with average vocal range? How will it sound in different settings, e.g. pipe band, small ensemble, a crowd at a stadium, orchestra? How will we choose our anthem? By committee, referendum, TV show? Is copyright an issue? Once you start pondering these questions, the whole concept opens up into a very thought-provoking area. Continue reading “A national anthem for Scotland – Bob Murray gets us all thinking”
Livestream: United Nations vote to begin negotiations on a global nuclear weapons ban: Janet Fenton Nov 2016
At our November 2016 monthly meeting, we welcomed Janet Fenton, Secretary at Scottish CND and the parliamentary liaison for the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Janet spoke about the United Nations resolution vote she attended in New York in October 2016 and put this into a context of what Scotland’s contribution can be towards a global ban on nuclear weapons. You can watch Janet’s presentation here.
AGM 2016 minutes
Yes Edinburgh West AGM meeting minutes
Clermiston Inn
7.30pm Mon 3 October 2016
- 30 people attended.
- Apologies: Ian Grant, Ann Rayner, Andy Fraser, Fergus Henderson
- AGM: Anne Donohoe chaired
- 2016 progress: We’ve made good progress since being re-convened (constitution, office-bearers, bank, social media, monthly meetings, Currency group). It was agreed to amend the Constitution to define Membership as “those who have given us their email details (as opposed to those who are on the email list). We have already had a request to join via the NYR Indy app – Bob Glen has responded, and will circulate a draft welcome letter for use in future.BG
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) preceded by a film screening – Mon 3 Oct 2016
The first AGM of the formally constituted Yes Edinburgh West group will take place next Monday (3 Oct 2016) upstairs at the Clermiston Inn, Rannoch Road, Edinburgh, EH4 7EG. Before the AGM business, we will be showing a rare screening of the recently crowd-funded documentary “London Calling”, with the film-make, Alan Knight, in attendance to engage in discussion after the film. The running time of the documentary is 70mins. Please begin arriving from 7pm for a prompt 7.30pm start.
Agenda for the AGM
- 2016 progress (constitution, committee, bank, social media, meetings)
- Treasurer’s report
- Election of office-bearers
- Vision for next year
- Suggestions for future events/speakers
- Venue for meetings
Livestream: Strategies for Independence: Robin McAlpine 5 Sep 2016
We filled the seats upstairs at the Clermiston Inn and Robin McAlpine spoke and answered questions for 2 hours on strategy with plenty to chew over. It was watched by an even bigger number at home.