Very true, if it aint broke then dont fix it!
Didnt go down to the fun day myself as we were too busy!
I am glad I didnt now.
Why did they stop the Santa's Grotto anyway??
It will be appearing. Unfortunately suffering some of the same problems as us at TTIA and had to get a few last minute unexpected paperwork issues tidied up
In this litigous society groups have to all be very careful, volunteers are great but protection now has to be built in to protect everything from the volunteers to the people /public who attend things. We dont all have solicitors in our groups who can do these things so have to seek advice
Its a shame but is now essential after all the horrendous things that have happened in the world but im sure you would rather we were all doing these thing legally rather than wing and a prayer
We get some ridiculous things though like an entertainments licence for a bouncy castle, thats why TTIA had to pull a lot of the planned entertainment at our funday in the summer
One other thing i hope i havent come across defensive in my answers
As an organiser within TTIA i make sure that we fully address all feedback and comments as my colleagues know and if it is possible we try to produce the events that the public want.
However there are reasons why things happen and things do not happen
Its not about groups not getting on its usually about extortionate pricing from the South or unavailability of the things we try to get .
Believe me all these groups try their damndest to give the public the town the things they want and can be proud of but sometimes they dont come off - its just a fact of life but we do take the sensible points and do canvas the public.
I happen to know the organisation who does the sleigh every year have been struggling for manpower to build it - -these thing dont just appear in an hour - -due to extra work with their employers, Im sure it will appear on our streets soon though as they are a very good organisation and know it is important to the town
I believe the Rotarty wanted to park last years idea for a period as it possibly was unsustainanble on a yearly basis for cost but thats not to say all these organisations wont work together again on this event
These organisation work together constantly
TTIA worked with the Rotary club at the gala.
We discussed at length the many entertainment options we were proposing to bring up for the Friday night Switch On and to be in action on the Saturday at the Funday with the Traders who now have a representative on our committee.
We also worked during the summer very succesfully with the Traders Association in getting the Continental Market here and will again for next year Market
We recently were involved in projects with The Thurso Pipe Band and expect to do more work with them soon and we supported the Taste Of Tartan group for the last couple of years. We are currently in discussion with Thurso Beyond 2000 about a few things
So contrary to some misinformed rubbish that may be circulated i can confirm that the voluntary organisations work together most rely on each other to help them and an interchange of ideas and support is what will benefit all the community
Again I emphasise all these groups of full of unpaid volunteers trying to inprove their commuity. We know in this community there are many people who could do these roles better and come up with better ideas and we are desperate for you to come forward to help us benefit the community
New blood is need on them all and New idea and a New approach
So please even if you can only contribute a little it would be a benefit
Information on getting involved can be found on the Caithness.org pages but for Thurso Town Improvements it is www.thurso.org email
[email protected]
Anyway thats enough from me on the logistics of doing some of these events
We try to make them everything we can and try and put on the thing the community want
I will keep an eye on the comments and report them back at our next meeting and we shall see what influence it has.
Its good that people take the trouble to comment so atleast we are being noted
Less than a year ago due to some unfortunate financial decisions and a reputation as a gala only committee TTIA was almost bankrupt and a nonentity in the community. The gala was in real danger of not happeing for the first time in about 50 odd years
We are now building a good solid fund for diabled friendly play equipment to refurbish the play parks, we are averaging atleast one event a month and not all to make money, some like the Switch On to just put on for the community and improve our profile so we have come along way in a short time and who knows with public support can get this organisation back to its best and leading the way with a high profile and finances that can really make a change to all our lives
But we will not stupidly risk the money we have as it is the publics purse not ours!