Meetings Page
The 1st shiretrust AGM
The meeting patiently awaits the arrival of Ramz
The notice calling the meeting was proposed by Sandy Nimmo and seconded by Scott Fraser.
The acting treasurer's report is self explanatory and covers the period to 31st Octobeer 2004 and therefore does not include the £350 raised by the bucket collection by John and Kevin Watson at the 1st free entry game as sponsored by Littlewoods Pools.
The Acting Treasurer's
Report
Report proposed by Scott Fraser and secionded by ~Mark Martin.
Launch Meeting
We had a very successful launch last night and thanks to the speakers, Dennis Canavan MSP, David Alexander Falkirk Councillor in whose ward Firs Park resides and James Proctor from Supporters Direct. Dennis is also a shareholder in theShire.
Dennis and David expressed strong support for the trust and its aims with David expressing the view that the Scottish Parliament should require football clubs to be more accountable to the supporters as the current model of being completely business orientated is clearly not working. David also informed us as to how the proposed sale of Firs Park for housing fits, in general terms, with the current planning regime in Falkirk. He cannot divulge any details due to his position as a councillor but has promised to let the trust know when and if an application is raised.
From the body of the meeting their were several interseting questions which were well fielded by the speakers. The only thorny issue lies around the voting of shiretrust members at Shire FC AGM's or EGM's. There are 2 views; 1; that of the working group, in which we require all members to vote as per the majority view of the trust as voted at a meeting, such meeting may be physical or canvassed by e-mail telephone etc depending on timescales imposed by timing of the calling of such EGM's by the Shireboard and 2; that of one person in particular, which to be fair has also been expressed to me by another Shire shareholder, that Shire shareholder members of shiretrust should be free to vote as they wish.
The latter view, whilst passionately held and understandable, would in the view of the working party seriously erode the status of the trust in taking a stance in opposition to the Shire board as we could never be confident as to our position prior to the vote being counted.
Those who have attended Shire AGM's recently will recall, some 4 years ago, where the majority of the body of attending members at the AGM opposed almost every proposal put forward by the club board only for every vote being subsequently being put to a pole of the number of shares and proxies whereupon Mackin and his cohorts overwhelmed the numbers available to the body of the meeting. This is how business works. The only way for shiretrust to tackle the board is to build a united body of opposition with sufficient votes to thwart their ambitions.
Having said that, other than the rules governing the mutuality of shiretrust, the current rules can be changed. It only requires a majority of members to vote for such change and it will happen.
There is nothing wrong with having opposing views as long as we can come together and vote with the majority wishes of the trust and together we can do our utmost to be the vehicle for change at the Shire that we so desperatley need.
Minutes of 2nd Meeting of shiretrust Working Group
Gordon Lounge, Falkirk
6th July 2004
Attendess
| Tadek Kopsyzwa | Drummond Calder | John Watson |
| Sandy Nimmo | Brian Stocks | Ian Ramsay |
| Scott Fraser | Ian Fleming |
Apologies
Richard Matthews
Kevin Watson
Constitution
The secretary read out the amendments to the Supporters Direct “Model Constitution for a Supporters Trust” as proposed by the sub committee set up at the first meeting. These amendments consisted of the name of the company “East Stirlingshire Supporters Society Limited” trading as shiretrust and operating in Stirlingshire. It was also proposed that all shareholders in East Strilingshire FC who wish to join shiretrust must give proxies for these shares to the trust. Other proposals were that the board will have a minimum of 5 and maximum of 12 and a minimum of 1 co-opted members who will serve for a period of 2 years with a 2/3rd majority required to expel a member or vote a board member from the board.
These amendments were unanimously approved by the meeting and the completed constitution will be forwarded as soon as possible to Supporters Direct for registration.
Bank Account
The treasurer has obtained information from the Co-op bank who have a preferential account specifically set up for Supporters Trusts and he proposed that shiretrust adopt this account. It was also proposed that there be 3 signatories for the account with 2 of these being required to sign any cheque or order. This proposal received unanimous support from the body of the meeting. It is unknown whether or not the trust would require to be registered before the bank account could be opened and the treasurer will make further enquiries to get the account open as soon as possible in order that shiretrust can begin taking in memberships as soon as possible.
PO Box
The treasurer proposed that shiretrust adopt a post office box to receive mail. The reasoning being at this would be a more secure method of receiving monies through the post than use of an individual’s mailing address. The cost of operation of a PO Box would be £53 per annum. Again this proposal was unanimously approved. The treasurer undertook to make enquiries as to who could be authorised to pick up the mail from the PO Box.
Web Site
The secretary explained to the meeting the reasoning behind his belief that a dedicated web site for shiretrust was imperative in bringing in new membership from outside the local region and also for communications with other Supporters Trusts and other bodies. There not being a web site designer in the meeting Ian Fleming undertook to approach a friend who has the necessary expertise to enquire as to whether he would be prepared to help with the setting up of such a web site.
Aims of shiretrust
The meeting agreed the adoption of the following four aims for inclusion in publicity leaflets etc to inform prospective members as to the purpose of shiretrust.
1) To ensure that East Stirlingshire FC continues to survive as a full member of the Scottish Football League.
2) shiretrust aims to have an active role in the decision making of East Stirlingshire FC
3) To provide all of those with East Stirlingshire FC at heart with a meaningful voice in the football club
4) To promote football in the local community
ACOB
It was decided that it would be beneficial to publicise the progress that has been made in progressing the formation of the supporters trust as soon as possible. A new thread in the Shireshout website was seen as the most effective method in accomplishing this objective.
The chairman undertook to progress the selection of the launch date for shiretrust bearing in mind the availability for attendance of potential speakers and the booking of a suitable venue. The meeting unanimously approved that the launch date should not be later than the last day in August 2004.
John Watson
Secretary
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