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You'll have had your tea ...
and superb meals, a party atmosphere, great trips out and a warm Scottish welcome.

All provided at the Scottish Reel - the 2011 IAC AGM weekend hosted by the Scottish Association of Moviemakers (SAM) at the Stirling Management Centre, Stirling.


Jean McRonald's welcome smile. (Pic courtesy of Ken McRonald)

Venue

Around 120 IAC members and fans came together for the weekend at the Stirling Management Centre, a conference venue and hotel, located within the 300 acre campus of Stirling University. Our welcome from the SAM team was a model of efficiency, lightened with plenty of smiles. Tartan and heather in abundance provided the background to our Scottish experience.

Outings

The SAM team organised two days of outings, each with a choice of destinations. The weather did not favour those who had chosen the scenic tour or the sail on Loch Katrine but the visit to The Famous Grouse distillery was a definite highlight. The other tours offered more opportunities to escape grey skies: Stirling Castle, the Falkirk Wheel, Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament building. All great experiences. Those of us visiting Holyrood and the Scottish Parliament had the bonus of a guided tour of part of the Royal Mile by Neil Shaw a member of Edinburgh Cine and Video Society.

Fun and Games

Not content with an excellent raffle and dastardly anagram puzzle, the SAM team challenged us with a Haggis hunt. This had us all running round the Management Centre looking for haggis nests and clues, and led to me asking a puzzled barman if he had a secret message for me if I ordered a Famous Grouse. The Gala Dinner was followed by "Call My Bluff" where we had to guess who on the panel had given us the right meaning for obscure Scottish words. Pat Mahon ( www.snaphappymedia.com) and a SAM member) brought along a Photo Booth and a selection of dressing up clothes so that we could all have a photo souvenir to take home. You can see the booth photos plus Brian Saberton's photo record of the weekend on the SAM website.

Film and AV

The first evening's entertainment was provided by Brian Saberton FACI - an audio-visual show Elements of Scotland. The sequences gave us many views of Scotland ranging from street entertainers to the Falls of Clyde. The next evening Dr Norman Speirs FACI provided an excellent selection of films made by SAM members. On top of that Norman, prepared a DVD of more great films by SAM members (including my longtime favourite Highland Fling by Bruce Frazer) for us to take home.

AGM

The items of business went smoothly. John Owen was voted onto Council and Derek Mathieson stepped down. Due to timimg issues, Members Voices were heard before the AGM instead of afterwards. Hopefully the timing will revert to normal in future.

Mermaids

The Antique Dealer won the Mermaid and The Stray won the Mini Mermaid. A fantastic double win by XDL films, part of SAM. This is the second double win for SAM this century.

Janet McBain

Janet McBain is former Curator of the Scottish Screen Archive and she presented a show of archive material entitled From here to Posterity. Janet's relaxed and informative delivery and superb film choice made this a highspot of the weekend.

Off Home

With many happy memories and clutching our Samuel rabbits and tartan bags coutesy of Jean McRonald we reluctantly set off home. Many times throughout the weekend we had heard Dorothy Borrie, SAM Chairman, say "We have a wee surprise for you". As we waited in Waverley Station in Edinburgh for our connection to London, I'm sure I heard her say it once again when the luxury train The Royal Scotsman drew in for us to admire.

Sean Groat and Dorothy Borrie

Scottish Parliament

Ron Prosser on the Falkirk Wheel

Pat Adcock

Audience anticipation

Norman and Dorothy Speirs

Call My Bluff team

Annabelle and Reg Lancaster captured in the booth

Linda and Michael Gough make music

Thanks to Brian Saberton FACI for permisiion to use his photographs.


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Page updated on 10 November 2011
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