Newsletter 13

Dear Member,

As you quoted an email address on your application, this is a special edition of the electronic update of BairnsTrust activities.

You are cordially invited to attend the combined monthly BairnsTrust meeting at the Falkirk Community Stadium on Monday 17th April 2006, KO 7.30pm.

There will be a full agenda for discussion, but if you have any concerns you wish to raise, please respond to either BairnsTrustWS@aol.com or post your query on the message board at our website and we will try to cover on the night.

Feel free to convene after the meeting in the Amarillo Bar Bistro.

If you are unable to attend, the minutes from the meeting will appear on our website 7-10 days later for your perusal.
The BairnsTrust AGM on Monday 20/03/06 was well attended. Outgoing Chairman Steven Jackson's recounted the highlights of the past season for the Trust:

Our biggest frustration had been the inability to arrange a meeting with the manager and players to try to get them to join the Trust. The Little Kerse tragedy and subsequent moving of training facilities to Stirling had hampered such a move, and the latest attempt to meet the team in January was prevented by the increased activities of the transfer window taking up the manager's time.

The Falkirk Board of Directors and a few JV and FFC non-playing staff, several of whom are members of the trust, continued to be supportive of BairnsTrust and appreciated a presentation at a Board Meeting by the Chairman outlining our future aims.
With our two supporters' representative and access to the Managing Director via Saturday morning meetings, our communication with FFC is far superior to that of many other trusts.

We have also been in communication with other clubs, most notably Motherwell over issues of pricing for the September fixture. The recent "Maggie's Day" prices of £8 and £2 may well have been a result of our previous objections.

We have communicated with Glasgow Rangers over the half time flag parade at a fixture at Ibrox and other sectarian issues with the Scottish Parliament, and we also wrote to congratulate Heart of Midlothian for their sensible policy at the Boxing Day Tynecastle fixture.

We have also forged links with other Trusts including Dundee FC's offer of the use of Social Club facilities for BairnsTrust members at the Dundee United game and also being involved with an ArabTrust collection for Heather Hird, the 15yo Dundee United supporter who was paralysed in a road accident on the way home from the Kilmarnock v Dundee United fixture on Boxing Day.

Steven outlined how he had met the Match Commander to discuss concerns over away fans in areas reserved for Falkirk supporters, and that BairnsTrust will continue to be involved in discussions between the club and the police on such matters. A couple of season ticket numbers have been reported to the Club when away fans were found to be occupying them.

Our 4 Supporter's Liaison Officers at away fixtures has proved successful and will continue.

Steven regretted that we weren't in a financial position to increase the trust's shareholding this year, but were continuing to facilitate share ownership to Falkirk supporters via the ShareSave Scheme.

BairnsTrust had sponsored Craig Ireland's shirt this season and when received it will be framed free of charge by a BairnsTrust member and used at a future date as an auction item to raise funds for the trust.

We are committed to financing the Tom Jamieson Memorial Trophy 5 a side Tourney involving pupils from Carrongrange School again this year, including a goodie bag for all participants. The event was well appreciated in its inaugural year of 2005.

BairnsTrust will also be involved with the Craig Gowans Memorial Fund and will help to carry out the wishes of his family when final decisions are made.

A Former Players Association administered by BairnsTrust is in the embryonic stage and we hope to have this up and running for the start of the new season. There has been lots of interest from former players who have heard about it so far.

Andy Lawrie will have been with the club for 10 years this July and BairnsTrust is also involved in arranging events for his Testimonial. A dinner has been arranged for 05/11/06 in the Park Hotel Falkirk and plans are under discussion for a Fans Night; perhaps a night in Gala Rugby Club (his home area), an u-18 disco and a match against opposition such as Sunderland, Leeds or Newcastle.

The Social Nights organised by the Social Committee have also been well received and valuable sources of income. Steven thanked Brian Guthrie and his team and also Jimmy Black of Drew Norloch Ltd for his fantastic support and generosity towards the Trust.

The 4 headphones and transmitter have been well received by our blind supporters for matchday commentary and are sought early and eagerly on matchdays.

Fergus Caldwell and Bill Anderson were thanked for their work as Supporters' Reps over the last year for keeping us informed, as were the Committee Members who had served over the last year.

Bill Anderson took the chair when Steven Jackson explained the two amendments he had put forward, from the floor. Discussion followed before votes were taken.

1) On the proposal to allow under 16s free membership of BairnsTrust but no free promotional gifts but the chance to purchase any at cost price the result (including proxy votes) was For 45 Against 0.

2) On the proposal to limit Supporters' Directors to one two year spell with a break of two years before being allowed to stand again for a second term the result was For 26 (12 card votes and 14 proxies) Against 21 (19 card votes and 2 proxies).

Both proposals were duly accepted and subsequently adopted.

At a short Committee Meeting following the closure of the AGM the following Office Bearers were appointed for the next year:

Chairman - Bill Anderson
Vice Chairman - Steven Jackson
Secretary - Walter Sommerville
Treasurer - Peter Jack
Social Convenor - Brian Guthrie
Membership Secretary - Sandy Monfries

with 5 others joining the Committee, leaving 2 other posts vacant for any member wishing to join.

The BairnsTrust Annual Accounts for year ended 30/09/05 have now been ratified and are available for all interested parties.

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We still await a further reply from Rangers FC regarding their last response relating to the flag day parade during our previous trip to Ibrox. Their original reply was wholly unsatisfactory. Any further letter of such poor standard will see the Trust escalating the matter.

Unfortunately we also have had no response from fans regarding the penning of a new club song/chant/anthem! Subsequently we will close the matter, especially as the performances and results have picked up culminating in the historic first home league win.

Two of your Committee were involved in a bit of detective work at the recent Dunfermline game at East End Park. Once again the "crime" was the overcharging of away fans for seats in a comparable stand behind the goal, compared with home fans. The Bairns were charged £19 for adults versus £16 for the Pars. The matter was discussed with the Chairwoman of the Dunfermline Supporters Trust prior to kick-off and the "alibis" were dumbfounding ... Dunfermline's "case for" will be heard at our monthly meeting for consideration and debate! However, they do recommended that rather than us writing to the club, they well instead present our argument at their next meeting with the Dunfermline Board. We eagerly await that feedback.

Our Quiz Night on Thursday 06/04/06 at The Falkirk Stadium was a great event producing the Trust's second best Social fundraiser of the season. We were lucky to have a numerous players in attendance who preferred to form 3 teams. Liam Craig, Pedro Moutinho and Kenny Milne competed as Falkirk #1. Stephen O'Donnell, Mark Howard and partner formed the Arsenal Rejects.
There were 17 other teams entered ranging from the Falkirk Bowling Club, ShireTrust, Stenhousemuir Cricket Club, a team of Rangers Supporters from Polmont, Roman Bar FSA, North End Tigers, Dave's Demons from the Castings Club and the Probus Club.
The questions were compiled by River FM DJ, Falkirk FC's Matchday Stadium Announcer and fellow BairnsTrust member; Dave McIntosh and were of a good standard. It was competitive throughout with the shock of the night being the victorious team of ... Tiago Rodrigues, Densill Theobald, Karl Dodd and new BairnsTrust Committee Member Sandy Monfries, winning by 1 point. The rumour is that Sandy contributed considerably to the win! However, the prize fund of £100 was donated to the runners-up; The Senior Bairns Team.

The Raffle and Auction boosted the funds, helped in no small measure by Irishman Stephen O'Donnell bidding against himself for the signed Falkirk top!

BairnsTrust Corporate Sponsor Drew Norloch Ltd provided a pay bottle bar.

Our colleagues in BairnsAID had to unfortunately postpone the U2 Tribute night lined up for Fri 24/03/06 in the Park Hotel, Falkirk at the request of the group, following an injury to a bandmember. The event will be rescheduled fairly soon. Visit their website www.nu2.info/home.htm for up to date information. Please see members of BairnsAID or you can still purchase tickets at £15 (inc. buffet) from the Steeple Box Office for the rearranged date.

Following the success at the 1st Amarillo Cabaret Night, Colin McLeod, a paranormalist motivator has offered his services to the 1st team, with the only proviso that he can video tape for use towards his University studies.

The 3rd Amarillo Bistro Bar/Brockville Lounge Cabaret Night returns on Fri 14/04/06 with two top quality acts lined up featuring Irish singer Stacey Stewart and ventriloquist Harry Kidd. The Trust will again benefit from running a small raffle.

Amarillo tickets can be ordered/purchased in person direct from the venue or by telephoning 01324 673425. Details of which are:
o 4th Cabaret, Fri 05/05/06, 8pm @ Amarillo Bistro Bar/Brockville Lounge. £25, inc 2 course meal. Features stand-up comedian/musician Frank Robb and Geordie lass Brenda Collins.

A May Trust Social Night to round off the season is planned for Fri 26/05/06 - featuring Face-to-Face and one or two acts from "Rising Stars."

Details on these forthcoming events and more will eventually appear on our, the club's and Drew Norloch's websites.

If you have any topics or articles you wish to be included in future BairnsTrust Electronic Newsletters, please respond by your preferred contact method below.

Finally, the Trust received the following email from the grandson of former player Charlie McGuire.

"My Grandfather played for Falkirk alongside Patsy Gallacher sometime in the 1920's or 1930's. I was trying to trace some more information about him, the team he played in and even if there were any team photos of that era."

If any member can assist, respond by your preferred contact method below

Look forward to seeing you at the monthly meeting/AGM where there will be a chance to win a prize for attendees!

Peter Jack
BairnsTrust Joint-Treasurer
www.bairnstrust.com

Please support the Trust's Corporate Sponsors:
www.drewnorloch.co.uk / www.clubamarillo.co.uk


Contact methods:

a) Email to BairnsTrustWS@aol.com
b) Post your query on our message board
c) Visit the BairnsTrust stall located on the concourse in the Main Stand at home games.
d) Attendance at the monthly BairnsTrust meetings in the Players' Lounge at the Falkirk Community Stadium on the third Monday of the month, KO 7.30pm.