Minutes of the meeting of 29
December held at the Saddlers Club Bescot Stadium.
WALSALL SUPPORTERS’ TRUST
DATE -: 29th December
TIME -: 7.00pm
Saddlers Club Bescot Stadium
Attendees Apologies
R. Hall D.Roe
P.Sturgess P.Geiss
R.Rowley A.Winnall
J. Winnall
B.Barnard
J.Forster ( Supporters
Direct)
RH
introduced Jacqui Forster, a development officer with Supporters Direct, to the
committee.
Jacqui
outlined the concepts of regional forums being started up and the issue of
conversion to Industrial & Provident society (IPS) by Supporters Trusts.
She
also touched on the risk to direct funding of Supporters Direct and that a cost
for the Newsletter may have to be introduced. This would probably be £1.50.
She
recommended that the WST should convert to an IPS which is a mutual, not-for-profit
part of the Co-operative movement and is regulated by the FSA.
IPS
status should contribute to a better organisation with a constitution which is
more democratic and accountable to members.
It
is regulated by the FSA and not Companies House, although she did indicate they
are harder to deal with, and Supporters Direct were working to improve the
problems being encountered. An annual fee of £ 40.00 was required to register
an IPS. It was accepted by Jacqui that the present W.S.T. constitution was not
much different to the I.P.S. version and that full Legal costs could be paid by
Supporters Direct for converting. A draft copy of the I.P.S. rules were
circulated to the committee members present.
Action: all committee members to comment to RH re: proposals
to move WST to IPS status. RH and PS to draft a resolution for the WST AGM.
Jacqui F to circulate a copy of some pros and cons of IPS status for the AGM.
The
Trust and Supporters Direct were very disappointed with the response from the
Club to the Questions submitted at the AGM. No clear answers were given and the
overall meeting is not conducive to a good club-shareholder relationship.
BB
mentioned the fact that the minutes from the previous AGM are not available
until the next AGM, therefore eliminating the chance for raising any matters
arising which is normal at most organisations. In fact there are no
matters arising or actions from one meeting to the next.
It
was agreed to write to the Club for them to give their written response to the
W.S.T. questions.
PS
suggested that a WST newsletter be issued with the clubs response to the
Trust’s questions so that the membership could see what the Trust was up
against. Attempt to get ready for the Coventry game.
Action: PS/RH to develop a one-side newsletter for 17
January.
RH
to write to the club requesting a copy of the minutes and the written answers
to the Trust’s questions.
BB/RR
to investigate taping next year’s WFC AGM.
Trust
AGM should be on the 10th Feb 2004, at the Saddlers Club, starting
at 7.30pm.
Room
needs to be booked and WST members informed.
Action: RH to book the room. PS and DR to organise letters
to members with proxy forms, resolutions and election nominations.
A
membership drive is planned for the 17th January 2004. All committee
members to make themselves available and any other interested parties would be
welcome to help.
Notices
to cover the AGM for new members to be handed out at the same time P.S
requested that any articles for printing needed to be completed ASAP to give
sufficient time to the printer.
Action: All Trustees to meet at the Pets World end of the
retail park at 1.30pm on 17 January.
RH/PS
to organise printing membership forms.
DR
to organise float.
RR/DR
to investigate a half-yearly (?) standing order to the Trust.
RH
reported that PG, through Wolverhampton University, had organised a survey to
be carried out on the reasons why people of Walsall were not attending the
matches. Analysis was due at the end of January 2004.
Action: PG.
RH
apologised for not passing on the paperwork to PS for the transfer to be
finalised this to be actioned immediately, R.R agreed to keep on searching.
Action: PS/RR
Following
the Clubs refusal to do a joint Community Buildings Project with the Trust, it
was decided to contact Mick Kearns to see what they had bid for but again no
reply has been received.
Raffle:
Issues arising from the raffle last year were discussed namely
·
Poor press coverage
·
Wider range of prizes
(more non-football related prizes)
·
More involvement from
WFC Re: Prizes
·
More corporate prizes
This
to be discussed in more depth at a future meeting
Jacqui
Forster suggested that due to the issues facing the Trust in dealing with the
Football Club that we should investigate the possibility of affiliation to the
FSF, contact was Malcolm Clarke (Chairman).
A
Regional West Midlands Supporters’ Trusts forum at Coventry City Supporters
club, has been arranged for the 26th January 2004 at 7.00pm. A maximum
of 6 trust members from each trust can attend. RH to attend.
Action: trustees to let RH know if they wish to attend.
RH
thanked Jacqui for attending and the meeting was closed.
Meeting
closed 8.35.pm