Minutes of the Bairns Trust
Meeting
Monday 17th October 2005
at the Falkirk Stadium
Present:
S Jackson, W Sommerville, W Anderson, P Jack, S Adam, M Fraser,
S Wilson, E McIntyre, J Gardiner, M McIntyre, B Guthrie, M Allan,
M Paterson, J Dick, S Monfries, B Robertson, I Smith, M Cattanach,
S Williamson.
Apologies:
F Caldwell, K Adam, D Robertson, J Williamson, J Toft, W Toft.
Welcome
Steven Jackson welcomed everyone, especially Bill Anderson, returning
after his spell in hospital, to the meeting. Bill took the opportunity
to thank everyone for his or her kind concern during his absence.
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Had been published on the website and were adopted by Stewart
Wilson, seconded by Brian Guthrie.
Matters Arising
All matters arising related to specific agenda items on the night
and were dealt with at the appropriate places within the agenda.
Secretary’s Report
- A letter has now been sent to Motherwell FC about the cost
of entry and admission gate concerns raised after last month’s
SPL match at Fir Park. A copy can be viewed here
and any answer we receive will appear on the Trust website.
- Correspondence:
An invitation was received for BairnsTrust representatives to
attend the November meeting of the Board of Falkirk FC to outline
the aims and work of the Trust. This has been accepted.
- An invitation to the Supporters Direct AGM, to be held in London
on 31st October was also received. Agreed that the Scottish version
would be more relevant, with attendance at the UK version a long
term aim of the Trust. A BairnsTrust Committee member has attended
the London event on a couple of occasions and was able to supply
feedback.
- An email from fslife.co.uk invited the Trust to comment on the
Police, Public Order & Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill and
can be viewed here for interested
parties.
- Fergus, who is on holiday at present, informed us that various
commitments would prevent him introducing a member to The Boardroom
Experience until the Aberdeen game on 26th November.
- Membership is now over the 230 mark, with the last few still
to be issued with a welcome pack.
Treasurer’s Report
- Since the last meeting £130 had been received from memberships
(12 Full and 2 Concessions) with a further £55 in contingency
fund donations and £84 from white T-shirt sales. Club shop
handed over £22 for miscellaneous BT merchandise sales.
£565 profit was made overall from the first BairnsTrust
Social event with Silly Connolly & Venus. Expenses had been
paid to the Secretary and Social Convenor.
- The financial year ended in September with a healthy balance
of £2665, but approximately £1500 of that was earmarked
for immediate maturing Sharesave members and most of the rest
for remaining Sharesave applicants. A query was raised concerning
whether member Robert Smith was included in the current batch
of maturing sharesavers, as he hasn’t received a share certificate
to date, but in the absence of Fergus no answer could be given
at the meeting.
- The half-year tax instalment was “due” 30/09/05.
The Trust forwarded the tax return to the Inland Revenue in good
time and the Trust has since been notified that we have no tax
to pay.
- As reported last month Peter still needs to be added as an authorised
signatory for cheques. There are outstanding invoices for T-shirts
and printing costs.
- There is also a question over whether the website registration
cheque has been received and cashed or gone missing between posting
and delivery. The next bank statement should answer the question.
Social Committee Report
- 124 people attended the First BairnsTrust Social Night (with
Silly Connolly/Venus) and this brought in over £1100 in
ticket sales. Expenses were £825 and the raffle/bingo etc
brought profits to £565.
- The Second BairnsTrust Social is a Comedy Night on November
11th in the Castings and tickets for all events including the
Christmas Dance in Grangemouth Town Hall on December 30th will
be on sale at the BairnsTrust table at the stadium.
All voluntary help and donations of raffle prizes, from the membership
would be much appreciated
- .The Social Convenor expressed his disappointment that the BairnsAid
function on Friday, featuring the Legendary Fingal McCool Band,
has so far not been so well supported as the BairnsTrust event.
Discussion followed covering such diverse topics as the variety
of social events on offer and what people really want, to whether
BairnsTrust had actually formally agreed to be linked with BairnsAid
at any point.
- BairnsTrust is continuing to seek space in the Matchday Magazine,
but we will continue with other media, e.g. The Falkirk Herald,
Fanzine and email communication.
Board Members Report
There has been no FFC Board meeting since the last BairnsTrust
meeting. The next one is Thursday 20th October. Fergus will miss
this by being on holiday, but Bill is hoping to attend and will
report back at the next Trust meeting.
Saturday Meetings
There had been no Saturday meeting with the club since the last
Trust meeting. The 2 o’clock kick off for the Hearts game
didn’t allow enough time before the game and the meeting
was cancelled. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday morning
before the Dundee United match.
Boardroom Experience Draw
Fergus intimated that he couldn’t be involved in the Boardroom
Experience until the Aberdeen game, but Bill Anderson’s
return allowed us to make the draw for the next 3 home games.
The lucky winners, who will be contacted soon, are:
Dundee United – Andrew Prentice. (Has been contacted and
accepted).
Livingston – Stuart Knox. (Has been contacted and accepted).
Celtic – Stan Antzac.
Two substitutes were drawn out in case any of the above could
not manage or wished to decline the opportunity. They will be
contacted if required.
Long and Short Term Priorities
- The proposed contact with FFC Shareholders will take place
soon. A letter has been prepared and it will target those with
less than 400 shares in the Club asking them to donate these to
the Trust or sell them at a much-reduced price. This would save
the club costs on AGM printed materials and postage etc. but the
Board would have to ratify any share transfers. It is also hoped
to contact larger shareholders thought to be sympathetic towards
the aims of the Trust with a view to receiving their proxy votes.
The Trust holds about 3% of shares at present, and many members
are also shareholders in their own right. In the short term our
aim should be to accumulate 5% and gain entry to the Major Shareholder
Group, with a longer-term aim of 30-35%.
- Hopefully, now that the team again has a settled training ground,
a Trust representative can meet with the players as soon as possible
to encourage as many of them as possible to join us as members.
There is a general feeling that this would encourage more supporters
to join the Trust.
- The Former Players Association has attracted a couple of volunteer
helpers, but it is important that a proper committee be formed
as soon as possible to get it off the ground. Nadine should be
approached to become a member of this committee (and the Trust)
as her knowledge and help would be invaluable. Noted that the
new Amarillo Bistro propose a former player to attend on Matchdays.
- The request for funds by Tom Elliot for the provision of medals
and juice at a community football festival in November was considered.
The general feeling was that £250-300 was more than we could
afford at this time as we need to be aware of financial requirements
if we are to be in a position to purchase shares or underwrite
possible losses in any of the events to which we have already
committed ourselves. We are also committed to the continuation
of the Tom Jamieson Memorial Trophy inaugurated earlier this year.
- We require better cashflow projections for future Social Nights.
- Communication has improved with around half our members receiving
the electronic newsletter by email. Hard copies would be made
available at the Trust table on Saturday. A form would go in with
the election materials mailing allowing members without access
to the Internet to request a hard copy on future occasions.
AGM Arrangements
The AGM will be on 20th March 2006 and elections will be on a
first past the post basis. Last years returning officer was Ian
Soutar, who has since moved house, and will be approached to see
if he is willing to take on the job again this year.
Anyone wishing to stand for election, as a Falkirk FC Board Rep
or committee member must be a BairnsTrust member by 1st January
2006 as must be his proposer and seconder.
We will aim to send out the election materials in December and
include a seasonal newsletter.
Andy Lawrie Testimonial
Andy has been approached and several possibilities have been suggested
for events to mark his testimonial. The exact date of signing
his professional contract is being investigated.
Suggestions so far include:
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