Rural Science Association 2010 AGM.

Rural Science Association 2010 AGM.

The AGM of the RSA was held in Ballinakill, Co. Laois on Saturday November 20th, 2010.

Prior to the AGM, members visited a visitor attraction in the Cullahill Mountains where a local development group has established a trail for hill walkers. Members got to walk some of the route.

The AGM was then held in the Old School in Ballinakill

The Chairman Jim Maguire reflected on the activities of the past 12 months. A meeting was held with the NUI and Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Mr Maguire said the continuation of the B.Sc Rural Development Degree course was crucial but that there was a need to increase its value and give it a higher profile. He said the association needs to ensure that in working with the NUI and other agencies to adapt to current conditions and take account of rural life. With changes in rural societies, Mr Maguire said that the sense of community will be more important and funding will be a huge issue going forward which will create challenges for communities in rural areas.

In relation to the website, Mr Maguire said there is a need to make it more user friendly as it is not being used much. He said some tweaking of the website is needed to make it more accessible. He paid tribute to the secretariat Dermot Leavy, Kathleen Grennan and John Moran for their hard work during the year.

The meeting felt that there was a need to focus on some areas and make them relevant. Former Chairman Dermot Leavy highlighted distance problems for members and referred to the possibility of having regional cells of the RSA operating. A membership moratorium up to the next AGM was also discussed.

Michael Kenny, NUI Maynooth, told the meeting that the integrity of the RSA needs to be looked at and protect what it stands for. Mr Kenny said value needs to be given to the B.Sc programme.

Vice Chairman Neville Armstrong felt that the website has a role in sharing issues which he said would be relevant to members and it also needs to reach out to new members.

Paddy Fitzpatrick said he would investigate rebuilding the website.

The meeting also felt that free membership should be considered to encourage development of the association and increase members.

Michael Kenny suggested that the RSA should look at organising an event with the NUI.

Following the meeting, the election of Officers was held. It was decided to re-elect the officers en-block with the exception of Assistant P.R.O. Bernard Joyce unable to attend had expressed his wish to step down and Paddy Fitzpatrick was elected to fill this position.

Having concluded the meeting, members then travelled to Haywood Gardens in Ballinakill where they were given a tour of the grounds and an overview of its history.

They also visited a Fly Fishing and Hunting Museum in Attanagh.