Board Meeting Minutes | 09 January 2010
Written by Administrator Sunday, 21 February 2010 22:00
PUBLIC RELEASE
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY SUPPORTERS SOCIETY LTD
MINUTES OF THE SOCIETY BOARD
Meeting held in The Dooley Lounge, SWFC, Hillsborough, Sheffield on 9 January 2010 at 2:30pm
PRESENT:
JOHN GATH (JG) (Chairman)
RICHARD DAVIES (RD) (Deputy VC)
PAUL HOLMES (PH) (Finance Director)
JEFF WILLIAMS (JW) (Services Director)
DAVE BARLOW (DAB) (Community Director)
DIANE COCKAYNE (DC) (Director)
IRMA KENNEDY (IK) (Director)
1. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Darryl Keys, David Blunkett and Peter Shaw.
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minutes of the board meeting held on 28 November 2009, which had been circulated prior to the meeting were approved.
3. COMMUNICATIONS & CORRESPONDENCE
David Blunkett has expressed his interest in the Dinner Event in March and asked to be kept informed of developments. A brief report on the meeting between JG/PH and LS/NP on 30th December had been circulated.
4. UPDATES / REPORTS
Volunteers - IK and DC were asked to help out with the match day Birthday event. IK has been contacting volunteers to see if they agree to having their contact details to ST at SWFC. It was confirmed that individual directors should contact volunteers who have shown an interest in their areas of responsibility. IK agreed to send an up-to-date list to directors
Web Site - RD trying to keep it up to date and is also posting announcements on Our Wednesday and the Wednesdayite Facebook page. He complained about 'John Fudder' posting lots of very negative spam. PH and JG also had been receiving similar material and have complained directly to the source. RD asked for directors to pass any news they have so that material can be posted. DAB said that he would be writing a community blog and would provide similar material.
We are having problems with the site switching between old and new versions. This seems to be due to issues with hosting / Domain Name registration / DNS pointers. We are trying to get this sorted as a matter of urgency.
Smile Tickets - DC reported that the scheme is working well and is getting good feed-back from those who have benefitted. It was agreed that we should investigate the possibility of getting a wheel-chair space allocated to the scheme for next season.
Away Coach - Going well with increasing numbers. The late cancellation of the Blackpool match resulted in a charge which was agreed as being fair. RD asked if he could be supplied with a list of all the remaining trips. It was suggested that it would be useful for coach bookings to have a dedicated director's forum - agreed to look at this. It was also agreed that for next season we should look at selling coach tickets on-line through the club shop as well as other cooperation between ourselves and the ICO. There was discussion on a number of issues which need to be considered. DB/JW were asked to develop a plan for next season to use in discussions with the club about away travel and to report back to the board.
Car Park - Working well. The club now need fewer spaces. We have a written agreement with the owners of the site about the operation of the car park for the time being. Discussions are taking place between various parties about the future use of the land. It was agreed that JG should seek a meeting with the club to clarify the latest plans for the car park land.
Lounge - Numbers are increasing now that we have a regular provision. There was some discussion about provision for away fans. It was agreed that it would be good eventually to make some provision for trust members from other clubs. We need to be discussing with SWFC about plans for next season.
C2C Funds - We do not yet have a final total for what was raised. We need to collect all the information and produce a total as soon as possible. RD to talk to PS about chasing up the figures. It was noted that SWFC Community had just received a mini-bus from elsewhere but there is still a need for more assistance. It was agreed that we need a statement of how much has been raised so that an announcement can be made.
5. EVENTS
RD is sorting out the administration of the Phil King Charity Event. Advertising announcements are to be made and efforts made to sell the tickets. RD to talk to JH about selling the tickets on-line through the club shop. DC will take leaflets and tickets around the SWFC lounges at the next match. IK reminded us that representatives of FBC Saronno would be coming to Sheffield for the Plymouth match. It was agreed to invite them to the Friday event. RD and JG to push it at the lounge and DB will try at the WOO lunch when Phil King is the speaker and also on the away coach. JG will produce and circulate a race grid to be used to sell the horses and riders.
JG will ask LS if he is available to take part in the members discussion meeting on 25 February.
6. WORKING GROUPS
In order to streamline meetings, JG asked for volunteer directors to take responsibility for getting a number of working groups under way. The groups would look at the specific areas identified, develop ideas and plans and then return to the board when decisions are needed and for approval before actions are taken.
JG circulated a list of potential groups with suggested board members to oversee them.
PH reminded members that the last survey included a request for volunteers in a couple of these areas and there were a number of responses and these people should be contacted.
It was agreed that bringing more members in to join active working groups could have the added benefit of encouraging members to think about becoming future board members.
7. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
IK will be attending the FBC Saronno centenary in May and asked if other Wednesdayite representatives could attend. Several directors expressed an interest.
A statement welcoming Alan Irvine and his staff to the club was agreed - with one abstention.
8. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
20 February 2010 at 5:00pm following the Ipswich match.
There being no other business, the meeting concluded at 16.50pm
Note that if any headed section includes ‘(abridged)’ then that section of the Minutes differs from the official Society version of the Minutes in order to protect confidentiality or sensitive information, where considered to be in the Society’s interests at this point in time.
