QMYOU Alumni Magazine QMYOU 87 Issue 11 | Page 30

GR ADUATES’ A S S O C I AT I O N NEWSLETTER By Elaine Acaster, Graduates’ Association President Queen Margaret University Graduates’ Association, founded in 1914, promotes friendship among graduates and salaried members of staff of the University and its precursor institutions. We welcome members to all our events, and hope to attract new members during 2020. Despite the power of social media, our members also enjoy meeting in person and joining in activities through our annual programme of events. Annual General Meeting Our Annual General Meeting in June 2019, held at 5 Atholl Crescent Edinburgh courtesy of Gillespie MacAndrew, was not only well attended, but a trip down memory lane for several members who had studied there as students of the Edinburgh College of Domestic Science. QMUGA Our agenda included the Annual Report of Queen Margaret University, while a presentation on the future viability of Madras Lodge was followed by approval of a sustainability plan. It was pleasing to be able to thank members of both QMUGA and Madras Lodge committees who were standing down, and to welcome new committee members. Such was the delight in returning to our roots in Atholl Crescent, the 2020 Annual General Meeting will be held there again. President Elaine Acaster E: [email protected] T: 07816 661561 Events Our new initiative ‘Let’s Get Together for Coffee’ has been very successful, normally meeting at 11am on the second Tuesday of the month at Burr&Co coffee shop, George Hotel, Edinburgh EH2 2PB.  Please join us! In September Pat Denzler (QMUGA past president, and past Master of the Royal Company of Merchants of the City of Edinburgh) hosted a visit by QMUGA members at The Merchants’ Hall and gave an interesting talk on the rich history of the Company and its wide-ranging current activities. It was also a wonderful opportunity to view the hall, the exquisite silver in the vault, the paintings and a very comprehensive archive. Christmas Lunch at the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School is an enjoyable fixture in our calendar, while supporting the work of students in the early stages of the BA International Hospitality and Tourism Management course. CONTACTS Membership Secretary Sylvia Northcott E: [email protected] T: 01968 674161 Treasurer Anne Scagell T: 01259 214668 Social Secretary Cecilia Young E. [email protected] T: 0131 445 1718 QMUGA membership If you are a graduate of QMU or any of its precursor colleges, or a salaried member of staff of the University, you are most welcome to join the Association. The cost of life membership is £45 or £35 in the year immediately following your graduation. The Association depends on participation by members at our events and also in booking Madras Lodge, which relies on income from rental by members who must be in residence for the entirety of the booking.  If you have not received recent Newsflash emails from the Association (via Sylvia Northcott, Membership Secretary), please ensure we have your current email address and that you are GDPR compliant. All membership and communication enquiries should be directed to sylvia@ thenorthcotts.net. I look forward to meeting Members at our events, and suggestions for future events would be most welcome. Future events: EVENT: Let’s Get Together for Coffee DATE: Resumes on Tuesday 11 February, 10 March, 7 April (due to Easter we are meeting on the first Tuesday in April), and 12 May.TIME: 11am LOCATION: Burr&Co, George Hotel, George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PB. BOOKING: Booking essential. Please come along and join us. 30 EVENT: New Register House DATE: Tuesday 11 February or Tuesday 10 March TIME: 2pm LOCATION: 3 West Register Street, Edinburgh EH1 3YT. DETAILS: A behind-the-scenes visit. COST: There is no charge for this visit. BOOKING: Note option of two dates due to limited capacity - book by 4 February or 3 March via Cecilia Young, Social Secretary, [email protected] QMYOU / Graduates' Association Newsletter An email NEWSFLASH will provide details of the following events: • Dinner, prepared by QMU students at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School – 24 March • J apanese Garden, Cowden, near Dollar, visit to beautiful historic garden - May TBC  • A nnual General Meeting, 5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh - Friday 5 June