Minutes of the Bairns Trust Meeting
Monday 21st August 2006
at the Falkirk Stadium

Present:
W Anderson, S Jackson, P Jack, B Guthrie, F Caldwell,S Wilson, S Monfries, M Fraser, M McIntyre, J Gardiner,R Stirling jnr, L McDaid, G Forster, S Williamson, J Dick, M Paterson, M Watt, E Johnston,S Johnston.

Apologies:
W Sommerville, David Robertson.

1. Welcome/Opening remarks.

2. Apologies – Walter Somerville, David Robertson.

3. Tom Elliot gave an entertaining and informative speech using the latest presentation techniques, assisted by R Fox – Working in the Community.

4. Previous meetings minutes moved as read.

5. Matters arising:
1.Junior Bairns were asking for £5,000 and have now received the sum.
2.Share Save – 21 applications, £5150 to club, 13 still on go, £176 per month. 1 still to be located and to receive shares.
3.Letter to Dunfermline – agreed no further action.
4.Can we have a tray for any mail, etc., for the Trust, at the club?
5.Red cards – prices £90-£100 for 3,500-4000 cards. Ask the club if they can pay half.
6.Tom Jamieson trophy – awaiting a date.

6. Appointment of Secretary and co-option of new members:
Walter Somerville has resigned as secretary, Liz McDaid has agreed to take on role, proposed by Bill Anderson, seconded by Brian Guthrie.
Robert Stirling Jnr elected new Committee member – proposed by Stuart Wilson, unanimously elected.

7. Treasurers Report:
A Dawson has new email address.
Letter sent to Mrs. Judd - husband died 19/5/2006, letter of apology to be sent to her.
I McFarlane will no longer be able to do the audit and have resigned as auditors.
A Thomson suggested.
Registered office has been changed to Steven Jackson from M White, but official form has to be completed.
Invoice for £350.00 plus V.A.T. player sponsorship payable mid July, but was not received. Copy to be obtained. 1st team jersey 175.00 plus V.A.T. Have got the goalkeeper’s jersey @ 375.00 plus VAT
Share save scheme – lots of admin involved.
New recruitment - £100.00 from first corporate sponsor – T Johnston the Butcher.
£740.00 from Adult Members
£140.00 from Adult Concessions
Money paid out in Sharesave refunds £443.00. £176.00/month from current contributors.
2 people cannot be contacted.
6 people to get refunds but cannot contact them.
Miscellaneous income from DVDs, Ties, Spot-the-team-cards and our new sale of old programmes £51. Advance T-shirt orders £122.00.
Bank interest £2.61!
431 members have joined since Trust set up and each entitled to £1 share in Trust.
£2000.00 to be set aside to cover various things.
Cost of printing app. forms £151.49 for 3,000; £29.38 for another 500. Most went out with season tickets.
Committee to target potential Corporate Members. Letters away.
Wreath sent to Craig Gowans funeral cost £35.00.
£5130.00 paid to Falkirk FC in share save.
Supporter’s Direct questionnaire form was completed. £50.00 cheque sent in June but not cashed! Sent email but no response.
£2019.73 in bank.
Outstanding costs – Shirt sponsorship, T Jamieson Tournament and £100 Trust Prize Voucher.
Newsletters #18, 19 and 20 sent out.
June meeting – grant application Supporters Direct not going ahead.
Robert Stirling Jnr to help with website.
Agreed to write-off small outstanding sums from 3 of Social Nights.
Will not progress Grant Application with Supporters Direct.
Norwegian Falkirk fan and Trust Member is coming over for the Dunfermline Athletic game – this would be an interesting story for the Falkirk Herald. Treasurer to progress.

8. Social Convenors Report:
Grangemouth Town hall hire – no refunds given - caretaker contradicted what happened at the town hall at the Christmas show.
T-shirt company samples – available at this or next home game at full price.
Principal fundraising for this year?
Merchandise branded in time for Christmas – rainjacket (not F.F.C.), cushion for seat, and children’s item?
Entertainment – quiz night? Prize bingo?
Drew Norloch situation could stop booked acts from appearing at the stadium. Could they appear somewhere else?
Would need people to help with prizes, etc.
Approached garages – car at cost price? Prize draw over one year. £12,000-£14,000 car could get for £6000. Doubts raised we had enough volunteers to do this. Brian Guthrie to get more costings and come back.
Event at end of season on park? Could get the stadium free as Community Company.
Suggestions of three-day event – rock event on the Friday, tribute acts on the Saturday and a family day on the Sunday. This could cost £20,000 but could make £60,000. Costs could be split. The Bairnstrust would get a cut. A decision to be made August/September.
Visits to be made to see various kinds of acts available.
Junior Bairns – professional entertainment at Christmas.
Stock could be auctioned off. Auction evening? Contact other clubs for donations.

9.Board/Saturday meeting report:

Holland trip was regarded as a success.
Dutch keeper signed.
Denzil disappeared, not back after World Cup. Disappointing.
Barrett looks like a good player.
Looking at several others, perhaps loan deal?
Andy Lawrie testimonial – letter needed from committee requesting game.
George Craig – problems re Holland. Meeting set up to discuss the problems and fans attitude to Falkirk F.C. people.
Collar and tie strictly enforced in the boardroom.
Children allowed in ok.
1 guest per director.
There will be a fox mascot – it will be for the children.

10. Former players - Individual not handing out addresses re contact has caused problems so has been halted at the moment. Steven Jackson and George Craig to meet and make decision. Bistro to be base for ex players for making draw, meeting fans, etc. In time for the Aberdeen game? Letters to go out a.s.a.p. £0.00 membership fee. £100 from FFC as per George Craig for Trust expenditure re this.
Memberships – get as many in as possible. Corporate members not too interested, £100 too high? £50 membership? £40 adverts?

11. Boardroom draw:

Following draws made:
16/9 Aberdeen – S. Reid, Edinburgh
£100 draw on park
01/10 Celtic Trust member to be invited to see how you should treat the fans!
14/10 H. Surgeon, Aberdeen
26/10 R. Menzies, Bridge of Allan
11/11 A. Thomson, Falkirk.
Reserve A. Kidd, Grangemouth

12. Andy Lawrie – Committee meeting next week. Park Hotel booked, Sunday 5th November, £50 per ticket. Tables of 10, 2 tables gone already, 4 speakers. Rooms available at discount

13. Problems with website. Needs 1 other person to back up on site. Robert Stirling Jnr to do? Need to relaunch site, 2/3 people needed. It was wrongly put in the Falkirk Herald that they needed someone else to run the site. Steven Jackson wanted it noted he thinks Kirstie has done a lot of good work on this site for a number of years. Access is required from Kirstie.
T. Paterson would like to help too and offered an alternative. Cost would be £15 to transfer site, £50 p.a. host site. Costs £294 season 2004.

14. Purchase of Banner:

Problems with Rangers Auchinleck flag. If Bairnstrust have advert at North Stand – logo and website address? – Rangers flag could not be put over it. Police unable to move flags normally but would have to if it covered Bairnstrust advert! S Jackson to get price for 2 banners.

15. A.O.B.

SPL2 – Cowdenbeath F.C. phoned re demo against this. Contacted Falkirk F.C. if someone could go on park at half time to back demo. Could not guarantee this. Trust could not back this up just now. Decline offer.

Batteries will be fully charged for headsets for the blind fans. A B.T. member will handle this.

Peter Jack says similar hospitality should be offered as offered to BairnsTrust by Dee4Life. Pennies Lounge is available. Alchemy Inns Ltd contact to confirm.

Fans liaison officers – need some more members, 2 lost to the Board Room. An ex police officer has been approached re this.

I.Graham has collection of film of Falkirk games over years he would offer to Trust. Steven Jackson to get a price for this.

Programme Fairs – 24/9 – held on concourse, lots available to sell from Trust.
Junior Bairns can have a stall there. From 11-3.

16. Date of Bairns Trust next meeting – Monday 18th September 2006.