Newsletter 24

If you are reading our newsletter for the first time, welcome to BairnsTrust as a new member! we welcome back to the new season to our renewed members. If you wish to review some of our previous newsletters they can be visited at the following section of the website ...

www.bairnstrust.com/BairnsTrust/Newsletters/list.htm

The Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for joining for the new season and appreciate all those that have made a donation to the contingency fund, too many to mention individually, but all are very much appreciated. It has been assumed that all under 16s that have joined have done so with full parental/guardian consent.

You are cordially invited to attend the monthly BairnsTrust meeting in the Warm Up Area of the Falkirk Community Stadium on Mon 20/11/06, KO 7.30pm, where the guest speaker will be FFC Managing Director George Craig.

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

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

If you are unable to attend, the minutes from the meeting will appear on our website around 7-10 days later for your perusal, subject to web site status.

It has been busy past month for both Falkirk FC and BairnsTrust!

On Fri 13/10/06, two Committee Members of BairnsTrust met with a local Chartered Accountant to discuss the changes in the Charities legislation. As Members of Falkirk Supporters Society Limited (aka BairnsTrust) we are governed by the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and the Friendly and Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1968. The difficulties now encountered by ALL Trusts regarding the Annual Audit is causing some concern and Supporters Direct duly discussed at the National Conference at The British Library, Euston Road, London on the same day. The conclusion is the introduction of a new Independent Examination Process.

However, the key is that to use it, most Trusts will have to amend their rules to allow it. Then, having changed the rules to allow to not have an audit, Trusts need to pass a resolution every AGM to waive the audit in favour of the Independent Examination.

This is where ALL BairnsTrust members over 16 need to become involved. As our AGM is due in March 07, in order to have an Independent Examination next year, we need a resolution on the agenda to change the rules to allow us to waive the audit and an actual resolution to waive the audit. Your decision and vote will be required for this to progress and you will be contacted ahead of our AGM.

Subsequently if you wish to review this area further, Supporters Direct have put together a document which details:

- What audits are
- What IE's are
- How you choose an IE
- What the IE does
- How to change the rules
- How to pass the resolution

www.supporters-direct.org/docs/SDIndependentExaminationGuidev0-9.pdf

If you cannot access the document the software can be downloaded from the following link. However, Trust members do so at their own risk and BairnsTrust take no responsibility for any difficulties that may arise from doing so.

www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Keep up to date with all Supporters Direct notifications at:

www.supporters-direct.org/Scotland/index.htm

An extensive library of their own informative electronic newsletters can be found at:

www.supporters-direct.org/englandwales/library.htm#newsletters

A new initiative from SD is a "messageboard" type network where financial issues can be circulated by email amongst Treasurers' of Trusts for help and assistance. Already BairnsTrust have had contact from Rochdale Supporters Trust and the Tottenham Hotspur Trust. A similar scheme for Trust Secretaries will be rolled out in a few weeks time.

We had an enlightening and professional presentation by Ross Wilson the Club's Head of Education and Welfare at our last monthly meeting on Mon 16/10/06 which attracted even more members to our gathering.

Again at very short notice, BairnsTrust took on one of the Cabaret Nights originally planned by Drew Norloch Ltd.. This time it was back at the Castings Club, Etna Road, Falkirk on Fri 20/10/06 with the return of the fabulous Beatles Tribute Act ... Just John and Paul. The entertainment was superb once again and we thank the generosity of those that attended.

The following day Sat 21/10/06, we made the trip North for the Inverness CT match. BairnsTrust quickly became aware at the stadium of the discontent regarding the entrance prices being concessions at £15, with adults £20. The Trust pre-empted a backlash from our members and took the liberty of checking the prices for the ICT fans. However as per SPL rules so long as both sets of supporters are charged the same for "comparable seating" unfortunately there is no grievance that can be made.

The Trust's community project in conjunction with the Club is the "Show Racism The Red Card" event was held on Sat 28/10/06 v Dundee Utd. As always more volunteers would have been greatly received. Nevertheless BairnsTrust were able to provide Red Card coverage to 3 sides of the ground with the help of our Trinidadian Trust member who was delighted to meet Russell Latapy and family afterwards. A lot of the team posters and stickers were also eagerly snapped up. Falkirk FC have now to met 50% of our costs in producing the promotional materials. The event was a great success and has already been mentioned in fans' messageboard OneF, Falkirk FC's website, the media and Chairman Campbell Christie also congratulated our BairnsTrust Boardroom Reps on a fantastic display. We even had the added bonus of being able to brandish the Red Cards again in the 66th minute when United's Hunt was sent off! Spare posters can be uplifted from our stall on coming matchdays and you can keep up to date with the campaign at:

http://www.theredcardscotland.org/

On the same day we had invited as a guest Heather Hird, the Dundee Utd fan who was involved in a serious road accident, returning from their Boxing Day SPL fixture v Kilmarnock last year. Heather's family also attended and had a fantastic day at the Falkirk Stadium. Bairnstrust presented Heather with a signed Falkirk FC ball and a copy of our DVD and thanked us most sincerely. Please see the link below for further news:

www.arabtrust.co.uk/heathervan.html

Also in the Boardroom at this game was representation from the Dundee Utd ArabTrust. Due to the success of the above and fostering our already strong links between the two Trusts they have invited the BairnsTrust Committee to take part in a 10-second challenge on the Tannadice pitch at half time during our next fixture on Mon 01/01/07 versus the ArabTrust Committee! Some of your appointed representative feel they may not be fit in time, so we wish to open up to our under 16 members a competition for one lucky winner to join us on the park. You must be intending to travel to the game by your own method, be willing and able to take part and have full parental permission to do so. Please respond by your preferred contact method below to be entered into the draw!

The SPL sponsors Bank of Scotland have an intriguing competition of their own that you may wish to try:

www.5000thgoal.com/index.php

On Mon 31/10/06, BairnsTrust Committee met in the Amarillo to again liaise with the Club's new Sales and Marketing Manager Tony Smith. He made an exciting proposition to the Trust last month and after further analysis of the facts and figures, BairnsTrust are delighted to announce that in conjunction with Falkirk FC we will become sole agents for the launch of the new 1876 club. This will be a live, public, monthly draw for top prizes in return of a standing order of £10/month. The more members who join the bigger the prizes will become and the Trust will benefit financially as a result. We encourage you to join and application forms will be available at the BairnsTrust stall located on the concourse in the Main Stand at the next home games v Rangers on Sun 03/12/06.

The trip to Fife for the Dunfermline fixture on Sat 04/11/06 was memorable for all the right reasons. Following on from last season's pricing discrepancy, BairnsTrust checked the home supporters turnstiles again. Glad to report that the prices were advertised as the same for both sets of supporters for "comparable seating". The members of the Norrie McCathie Scheme may still receive a small discount.

Sun 05/11/06 saw the culmination of the efforts of the BairnsTrust Committee members who were also on the Andy Laurie Testimonial Committee with a very successful night in the Park Hotel. You may have noticed Andy's open letter of thanks published in the Falkirk Herald the following week.

CIS Cup, Celtic Park, Tue 07/11/06. What a night! It could be argued that BairnsTrust's continual haranguing of CelticTrust and Director Sean Hamil may have had some influence on the drastic reduction in the admission price. Sean was the only Scottish representative standing for upcoming election onto the Supporters Direct Committee and BairnsTrust have accordingly voted in favour of Sean and he has since been elected.

The BairnsTrust new Former Players Association is now up and running and as per the recent Falkirk Herald article is nearly 40 strong and the ex-players now eagerly await each fixture to meet up with the fans and share the hospitality. They were again on duty at the Hearts game on Mon 13/11/06.

Your 2006-07 membership card is now available. Trust members are now entitled to a 10% discount from the cost of meals at the 11 Restaurant in the Falkirk Stadium on Sundays to Thursdays and from 12.00noon until 6.00pm on match days on all a la carte menu items. To cut down on postage we asked members via the Falkirk Herald weekly article to collect their "welcome pack" from the BairnsTrust stall located on the concourse in the Main Stand at the match v Hearts on Mon 13/11/06. Thanks to all who duly collected. The remainder have now been posted out. We are now glad to announce the Amarillo as our second Corporate Sponsor of the season.

The Trust are willing to take advance orders for Falkirk FC AWAY programmes this season as well as any Scotland home and AWAY programmes. Please contact the Trust by your preferred method below, allowing sufficient time prematch for collating orders. We have also asked the club if they would be willing to supply our stall with a small stock of HOME programmes each game to help out the programme sellers.

Those who requested one of our new, eagerly awaited, BairnsTrust 2006-07 Polo/T-shirt, again the samples have been delayed due to illness at the printers in Manchester. This has prompted the Trust to now seek an alternative, local source and we are hoping to have stocks soon.

Our member who was willing to sell his 400 shareholding to any other members interested in purchasing has now been advised of interested parties and negotiations between the seller, buyers and the Club are now progressing.

The Trust was contacted by Mercat Press Publishers who have produced a new book out entitled "Scotland! Scotland! Complete Who's Who of Players since 1940". More than 470 players have represented Scotland on the football pitch since 1946. This comprehensive book profiles all of them. Each player’s Scotland record is explored in a mini-biography complemented by a full statistical record of every match he played. It includes legendary players like Jim Baxter, ‘Jinky’ Johnstone, Denis Law, Kenny Dalglish and Ally McCoist, as well as the most obscure players who ever played for Scotland and gained only one international cap. A vital collection for every football fan. A 480 page paperback, please visit their site for a great discount by buying online and if you mention BairnsTrust you could be invited to attend the book's launch at Hampden Park!

http://www.mercatpress.com/

www.mercatpress.com/Bookdetails.asp?ISBN=1841831034&Category=new

LATE NEWS:

You will note when you visit our website that it is now undergoing reconstruction. Please bear with us as it will be both fully operational and bang up-to-date soon.

Finally, 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.

One such "article" has been received. Following the success of the national team v France, always good to increase the volume on your computer and enjoy the following:

www.tartanarmynyc.com/tartanspecials/well-be-coming.html

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

Thanks.

Peter Jack, ACCA

BairnsTrust Treasurer

http://www.bairnstrust.com/

Please support the Trust's Corporate Sponsors:

Thomas Johnston Quality Butchers Limited -

www.realbutchers.com/butchers/index.php?ID=180&town=FALKIRK&county=Falkirk®ion=scotland

Amarillo Bistro Bar / Eleven Restaurant -

www.clubamarillo.co.uk/home.html

Links of interest:

www.the-wheel.net/Falkirk_Sports.htm

www.pieandbovril.co.uk/

www.football.bedsearcher.co.uk/links/falkirk_information_general.htm



Contact methods:

a) Email to bairnstrust@hotmail.co.uk

b) Post your query on the message board at our website:

http://users.boardnation.com/~bairnstrust/index.php

c) Visit the BairnsTrust stall located on the concourse in the Main Stand at home games.

d) Attendance at the monthly BairnsTrust meetings at the Falkirk Community Stadium on the third Monday of the month, KO 7.30pm.