Trust Board Meeting, 26th February 2003
Present: George Howie, James Proctor, Blair White, Eddie Doig (departed at 9pm), Tom Phillips, Chris McFarlane
Apologies: Neil Langtree, Collas Pilmer, Alan Russell
Minutes of previous meeting
Meeting agreed they were a true record.
Treasurer’s report
£6,539.67 in the account with income of approximately £720 per month from standing orders.
Membership update
Membership at 107 – although Blair will check monthly statements against membership records.
Club Lottery
There is currently no overseeing committee. This may change after the appointment of a Commercial Manager. It may be worth exploring whether the Trust could become an agent for the lottery thereby receiving commission to increase funds.
IPS Return
Secretary (in absentia) left word that the information for the return was being collected and the job was in hand.
Issues raised with RRFC Board
No formal response has been made to the Trusts questions and comments. It’s believed that the club would like to expand the youth and reserve teams from next season. It was noted that the Supporters Club had not been asked to submit questions to the board at this time. Given that the Trust provided questions at the invitation of the club it was considered correct to ask the club to give the courtesy of providing a formal response.
Fans Survey
The survey is scheduled to go ahead on March 8th (home to Cowdenbeath) Ken Foster will take care of the survey production and deliver them to Stark’s Park before the match. We need 12 volunteers to distribute the survey. Two in the Raith Suite, two outside the Main Stand and eight in the South Stand. Volunteers to be confirmed in the week prior to distribution. Some pens will be available on the day – JP to provide. Volunteers will meet up at 1.45pm outside the office at Stark’s Park to be briefed.
Survey was being promoted in the Fife Free Press, by tannoy announcements at the game, in the club programme, on the club and trusts website and by a flyer at the Dumbarton game. Surveys will be collected in boxes (Collas to provide) on the day and delivered to Ken Foster for analysis ASAP.
Survey will also be put on the Trusts website to be downloaded and collected by post or at the Hamilton game if necessary.
Research had discovered that there was no problem with data protection so long as the info wasn’t passed on to unrelated third parties and that the surveys themselves were destroyed at some practical point in the future. The Trust board agreed to comply with these restrictions.
Raith Trust AGM
Agreed to put back the Trust AGM date to 29 May to allow sufficient time from end of financial year (31 March).
Initial mailing with nomination forms must go out by 17 April with a further mailing going out by 8 May containing report and accounts and possibly ballot papers if an election is required.
First Mailing will contain Covering Letter Share Certificate Nomination form Minutes of last meeting Reply paid envelope There can be up to 10 nominations without an election being required. If an election is required it will be run in-house with an independent returning officer.
Appointment of Auditor
JP to check qualification requirements of an auditor with regard to the IPS definition and rules.
Update on Supporters’ Trusts
Steady – over half Scottish league teams (SFL & SPL) will have a Trust by the end of the year.
Any Other Business
Didn’t feel it necessary to make a donation to the York City Trust at this time although the board will monitor events elsewhere and provide assistance where necessary.
The Board discussed the setting up of a pledge register and also ways to fund the trust in the future. JP will do a discussion paper on this and circulate.
Date of next meeting
Tuesday 8 April 2003 Betty Nicol’s