Minutes of the Bairns Trust Meeting
Monday 15th August 2005
at the Falkirk Stadium

Present:
S Jackson, W Sommerville, F Caldwell, P Jack, S Adam, M Fraser, M Cattanach, S Williamson, J Williamson, S Wilson, E McIntyre, J Gardiner, M McIntyre, B Guthrie, J Jamieson, M Allan, M Paterson, J Hay, G Neary, I Batt, T Paterson, J Dick, R Smith & D Hill.

Apologies:
W. Anderson, K Adam, S Bird , Prof. R Ball, J Toft, W Toft & Lewis

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Steven Jackson welcomed everyone including several new faces to the meeting. Apologies to those who had to stand throughout!

Guest Speakers

Tom Elliott & Pauline Hamill, addressed the meeting outlining their role with FFC in the community. After an informative question and answer session it was agreed to meet with them to discuss how the Trust can help and be more involved in this worthwhile area.

Minutes of Previous Meeting:

Had been published on the website and were adopted by Robert Smith seconded Brian Guthrie.

Matters Arising:

• The equipment for blind supporters had now been tested and purchased and would be in operation from the Hibs game this Saturday. It will be used by one fan in the wheelchair section and the club had supplied seats for 3 blind fans and their carers for the other units.
• The Trust’s donation of fundraising prizes will be handed over on Thursday 18th Aug at 9.40 am at TFS when the group visiting all Scottish & English league stadia briefly make their 3rd stop of 134 (inc Wembley & Millenium) on their marathon fundraising tour for Mavisbank School in Airdrie.
• A Bairnstrust sign to fit the space above the double advertising boards at the east side of the stadium is being costed.
• Stuart Adam, whose idea it was, is keen to be involved with the Former Player’s Association. Nadine from FFC will supply up to date names and addresses. Other helpers will be required.

Secretary’s Report

• To date 112 members (75 or so first time members) had been processed and sent their membership cards. Some existing members may be unaware of the change to an annual Aug – July membership and those who have not yet renewed (approx 110) would be contacted by letter in time to receive the benefits of joining before the Aug 31st deadline. The membership drive would continue at the Dumbarton/Hibs/Partick Thistle home matches and volunteers to man clipboards would be welcome.
• The first of the T-Shirts/Polo shirts would be distributed to members at the Hibs game on production of membership cards.
• Correspondence by E-mail had been received from :
  1. FFC Interactive outlining developments on the FFC website.
  2. Our website host with annual renewal costs (Fergus will deal with this).
  3. The Scottish Federation of Football Supporters regarding membership of that body.
  4. 42 in 24 – another charity (British Heart Foundation) to benefit from a group visiting all 42 Scottish senior clubs in 24 hours. It was agreed to donate £20 to this cause.
  

  Treasurer’s Report

• Peter Jack outlined the income from new memberships and £100 in donations received. Other members had offered help and ideas or raffle prizes and Steven Jackson would follow these up ASAP.

• Fergus estimated that our capital had been about £5000 but payments were required for maturing Sharesave members, the blind equipment; Craig Ireland’s shirt sponsorship; T-shirts & polos; £100 voucher for the Free Prize Draw; website renewal fee and costs associated with fundraising ventures. A clearer indication of our remaining resources should be available next month.

Social Committee Report

• Various Fundraising/Social Nights have been organised in the Castings Club as well as several in conjunction with BairnsAid (details to appear separately on the website). Tickets are now available for these as well as the Christmas Dance in Grangemouth Town Hall on December 30th. It is hoped that Trust members will help and support these ventures, as well as the general public, as each promises to be good entertainment.
• The Quiz Night/Referees Night/Race Nights etc would be kept until the Bar/Bistro was up and running in the hope that we could use that as a venue and help that venture grow in its infancy.
• The possibility of the Trust running the bar at one of the BairnsAid functions is to be explored.
• XXXL sizes of T-shirts and polos are now available. It was agreed that although the free T-shirt for members was to remain unique by not going on public sale, members would be able to purchase them at £10 each by ordering (along with payment) from Brian.
• The Chairman commended Brian Guthrie for all his efforts and organisation and hoped that we could all help to make the events successful in bringing in much needed funds to the Trust.

Board Members Report
The next board meeting is on Thursday 18th August.
Fergus covered the points from the July board meeting, details of which can be found on the Trust website at http://www.bairnstrust.co.uk/B20050803.htm

Saturday Meetings

A report from the Saturday meeting before the ICT game can be found on the Trust website at: http://www.bairnstrust.co.uk/N20050815.htm and the next meeting is this Saturday before the Hibs game.
Several points were asked to be raised this Saturday, including:
Shoddy workmanship/settlement – what is the JVC doing about his with Mowlem?
Complaints from fans about the state of the toilets at the South end of the concourse & general cleanliness issues.
The Celtic ticket allocation and arrangements and restricted view issues.
Stewarding at the Celtic game (and football matches in general).

Open Forum

• Trust members who help at the Blind Club (which is affiliated to FFC) asked the Trust to announce that there would be a collection at the Hearts match for the club and request that fans give generously to this worthwhile cause.
• A suggestion was made that the Trust should consider sponsoring a set of strips for a young FFC team instead of a first team player for the season.
• The question of ticket stubs with player pictures from last season was to be investigated as the club had indicated some time ago that they would be available for collectors.
• Euan answered questions concerning the relocation of the club shop/the opening of the Westfield branch and how the internet shopping was coming along.
• The issue of re-affiliation of the supporters group known as the Shuttle was raised, particularly the suggestion from FFC that other supporters groups should have a say in this matter. It was strongly intimated by members present who represent other groups that this is a matter for Falkirk Football Club to resolve and that they would not be participating in any proposed vote on the issue.
• It was suggested that the recently appointed JVC person should be invited to a future meeting.
• Several BairnsTrust members have expressed an interest in joining the proposed Andy Lawrie Testimonial Committee.
• A suggestion was made to invite FFC Directors to travel in a supporters’ bus to an away game to share the experience from an ordinary supporter’s point of view. Motherwell Supporters’ Trust had already done this and the Directors were reportedly appalled at the costs involved and the way that fans were treated by police and stewards etc.

AOCB
Time for further discussion being limited it was agreed that several issues previously unresolved would be circulated to committee members to try to firm things up before the September meeting. (These include setting our short and long term priorities, the Trust website, Junior Bairns, certification of members, communication and procedures).

Next Meeting
The next meeting of BairnsTrust will be at 7.30pm on Monday 19th September at the Falkirk Community Stadium when we hope to have more chairs to accommodate all those wishing to attend.