Sky Blue Trust Board Meeting 25/07/2012
Sky Blue Trust Board Meeting
The Squirrel Pub, Greyfriars Road, Coventry.
Wednesday July 25th
Attending
John Fletcher, CJ Joiner, Rachel Brown, Kev Kelly, Gary Stubbs, Moz Baker, Steve Brown, Michael Orton, Lionel Bird, Jan Mokrzycki
Apologies
Andy Turbitt
Minutes from Previous Meeting
There were none arising.
Board Introductions
All members of the newly elected board introduced themselves and provided details of their respective backgrounds and what skill set and qualities they felt they could bring to the board.
Correspondence
There was no correspondence to discuss.
Board Membership
All members of the board were in agreement that Andy Turbitt should be co-opted onto the board.
Election to Board Positions
After some discussion with regard to suitability and the skills that individuals felt able to bring to the respective board positions. The following appointments were agreed by the board.
Chair John Fletcher
Vice Chair Steve Brown
Secretary Moz Baker
Membership Secretary Michael Orton
Treasurer Rachel Brown
Media Spokesman Jan Mokrzycki
Website Manager John Fletcher/Gary Stubbs
Finance
Bank Account signatories agreed as John Fletcher and Steve Brown
Working Groups
The Board discussed the need for dedicated working groups in 5 key areas and for assistance in these working groups to be sought from trust members with specific skills in the respective areas. The Board agreed to appoint a lead(s) person who would take ownership in each of these areas with all board members contributing to at least one of the working groups. It was also agreed that there would be an element of crossover between all groups and that it was the responsibility of each lead contact to communicate all key developments/progress to other board members at regular intervals.
The Working Groups were established as follows;
1) Buying a stake in Coventry City Football Club
Lead Michael and Kevin. It was also agreed that Andy should be asked to be a member of this group.
This group would look to provide a briefing paper on other known trust models in place at other clubs and produce a proposed action plan.
The board also agreed to appeal for members with financial /legal expertise to assist the board further.
2) Increasing Membership
Lead Gary and CJ. Moz would also assist this group. The group would look to devise and implement a plan to increase individual and corporate membership and also identify and recruit individuals with required skills/expertise.
3) History of Club
Lead Lionel and Rachel. This group would look to write a factual account of ccfc finances over recent years and also a history of the Sky Blue trust.
4) PR- Media and Publicity. Lead Jan. Moz and Michael would also support in this area. This group would look to devise and implement a PR strategy for the trust.
5) Supporter Services
Lead John Fletcher. This group would look to develop a suite of supporter’s services. Gary and Steve would support this group.
Admin and other actions
Rachel agreed to take forward the initiative to regularise trusts relationship with Supporters Direct and would also enquire as to the requirements with regard to the formal constitution.
Michael would take lead responsibility for sorting out membership records including historical members of trust.
John agreed to write letter to former members held on historical database once a cross referencing exercise had been undertaken.
The Board agreed to ask the Squirrel Pub management for permission to use there establishment as the Trusts head office in order for the Trust to be able to facilitate a PO Box. Rachel agreed to contact FSA regarding changing Trust registered address. Gary agreed to make enquiries with Post Office as to precise procedures involved.
SCGRepresentation
Steve attended the last meeting which he felt was a good meeting but which he personally felt would benefit from having the input from younger members. After some discussion it was agreed that Steve would remain as the lead representative from the Trust but that a combination of Jan as well as Gary and CJ should attend whenever possible so as to get a cross section of representation on the group.
The chairmanship of the SCG was also discussed and the Trust was in full agreement with Steve who had voted for Kevin Heffernan for this role.
AOB
The board agreed to produce a press release to be circulated to local media detailing our recent upsurge in membership and highlighting our key aims. Michael would prepare this.
Lionel had prepared an open letter asking questions of the club with regard to certain areas of finance including the sale of players during the summer and if/how this money would be reinvested.
The board agreed that the coaches for away games that Gary had been booking privately should, subject to Gary’s agreement, now be done as a Trust initiative through the club accounts with the option of a reduced charge for Trust members to be looked into.
The board agreed that any press releases produced by individual members of the board should be copied to all board members for information purposes. Anything considered contentious should be approved by the board before issue.
The Recruitment group advised that they would be at the Nuneaton FC friendly on July 28th looking to recruit new members and were also looking to arrange roadshows in Rugby and Leamington.
James Raffell. Editor of Twist and Shout fanzine to be contacted by CJ with a view to a regular page in each issue to be written by Jan with an update on Trust activity.
CJ advised that he had conducted a mini survey as to who fans would like as a patron for the trust. A number of names were identified. Contact to be made with these individuals as well as Dave Bennett who was former patron. Lionel agreed to seek Bennett’s views on continuing in the role. CJ would look to contact other potential patrons.
Rachel agreed to look to obtain ACL accounts.
Date of Next Meeting
It was agreed that the Board would now meet every 3rd Monday of the Month.
Next Meeting August 20th The Squirrel Pub 7.30pm
New Members Draw
The draw for the 3 main prizes of the New Member initiative was made. The winners were as follows;
Season Ticket Danny Evans
Home Shirt Bruce Walker
Away Shirt David Archer
