T
Tim Chown
Guest
Posted for Gareth.
Trust Board update, 20th April
The Board would like to update members on where we are with various activities. We will be producing updates on a regular basis. If you have any questions, or wish to offer your help, please contact our Secretary Laura Starr at secretary@argylefanstrust.com.
The 20% share offer
The Trust Board is looking forward to meeting James Brent next week to determine the details of the 20% share offer that was announced at the Guildhall meeting earlier this year. This is a potentially historic opportunity for Argyle fans to be able to take a stakeholding in their own club. We hope to be able to release a statement in the very near future with some more information about the offer, and how the consultation with the membership will run over the coming weeks. To help inform that process, the Trust Board has already been talking to Supporters' Direct and other Trusts who have a part-ownership of their club, including the Swansea Trust. A decision on the offer needs to be made by the end of September.
We are planning an A5 flyer for the Cheltenham game to raise awareness of the offer with all supporters. Volunteers will be needed to distribute the flyers. Please contact us if you can help.
GAS Board
There was a second Green Army Supervisory Board (GAS Board) discussion meeting on 31st March at Home Park, led by Professor David Wheeler of the University of Plymouth. The Trust Board has since been consulted through a teleconference with Prof Wheeler. At this stage it appears that accountability is viewed by the supporter groups as the GAS Board's most important role, but the Prof has made it clear he sees the GAS Board as an evolving body, that would be able to be steered in the future by those who are elected to it. The next GAS Board discussion meeting is on Saturday (21st April) in the city, at which the Prof will present his proposals arising from the discussions and consultations. The Trust, and other supporter groups, will then be able to report back to their members on the proposals and invite comments towards a final decision on the GAS Board structure which will be taken at a meeting on May 5th.
Kiosks
The Trust now has a new kiosk (desk) in the Mayflower stand at the top of the stairs. This is open on match days from around 1.30pm to kick-off, and then again at half-time. There was a lot of interest in its first running at the Aldershot game. The Mayflower presence adds to the other four kiosks in the newer part of the stadium, meaning anyone attending a match now has a place to give feedback to the club or to find out more about the Trust, or join or renew their membership. We are also selling the Argyle vs Man Utd Legends tickets at our kiosks on behalf of the Green Taverners.
We have also produced a summary of the kiosk feedback from the previous six home games.
New volunteers to staff the kiosks are still welcome. Volunteers are offered free entry to the match in return for their help.
AGM
The Trust has completed and returned its first financial audit, and is now planning its first AGM. It is likely that the AGM will be set for the end of May, possibly the same day as the Argyle vs Man Utd Legends game, or early June. More details will be announced next week.
New Model Rules
The Trust is studying the New Model Rules that have been produced by Supporters' Direct. The Rules include some new options that may assist the Trust with fundraising towards purchasing shares in the club. Some Board members are attending an SD event this week to find out more information.
Renewals
Postal reminders for renewals for those due up until April will be going out soon. There have been some problems with the InTouch email system supplied by Supporters Direct, so some emails have had to be resent; apologies if you received renewal emails twice as a result.
Board Meetings
The minutes of the meeting held on 31st March are available online in the Meetings section of the web site. The next meeting is on Saturday 21st April.
Advertisement posters in stadium
The Trust recently placed an advertisement in the 150 or so A4 advertising boards around the stadium. You can download your own copy of the poster here.
We are planning further advertisements to reach out to the "offline" supporters, particularly to raise awareness of the 20% offer. We are always on the lookout for members how can help with artwork and designing flyers. Please contact us if you are interested in helping.
Injured Suppliers
The Trust is beginning to contact the injured suppliers from last year's administration. In part this is to raise awareness of the impact of the administration on other businesses, which totalled around a £3m loss. But we are also focusing on the local businesses that were affected, and - for example - offering to produce flyer(s) advertising their services to Argyle supporters, who can then chose to deal with those suppliers if they wish.
Trust Twibbon
For all tweeters out there, the Trust now has a Twibbon. Visit http://twibbon.com/join/Argyle-Fans39-Trust, log in to your account, and off you go. Your Twitter picture can then carry the Trust logo!
Postage costs
The Trust notes that the price of a second class stamp is rising from 36p to 50p at the end of April, which is a 38% rise! We will thus be pre-buying a quantity of stamps with a view to reducing future postage costs.
If any fans wish to donate to the Trust, a very effective way to do so is to buy a book of second class stamps and pass them to us at the gazebo outside the Devonport end (up to 30 mins before kickoff) or at any Trust customer service kiosk/desk inside the stadium after that. Your donation grows in value by 38% in May!
Ladies Match
The Trust sponsored the Ladies match against Tottenham on Sunday 15th April. Unfortunately the Ladies went down to a 4-1 defeat, but with a few hundred supporters there to cheer them on they enjoyed the match experience. Thank you to everyone who came along and we wish the Ladies all the best next season.
Trust Board update, 20th April
The Board would like to update members on where we are with various activities. We will be producing updates on a regular basis. If you have any questions, or wish to offer your help, please contact our Secretary Laura Starr at secretary@argylefanstrust.com.
The 20% share offer
The Trust Board is looking forward to meeting James Brent next week to determine the details of the 20% share offer that was announced at the Guildhall meeting earlier this year. This is a potentially historic opportunity for Argyle fans to be able to take a stakeholding in their own club. We hope to be able to release a statement in the very near future with some more information about the offer, and how the consultation with the membership will run over the coming weeks. To help inform that process, the Trust Board has already been talking to Supporters' Direct and other Trusts who have a part-ownership of their club, including the Swansea Trust. A decision on the offer needs to be made by the end of September.
We are planning an A5 flyer for the Cheltenham game to raise awareness of the offer with all supporters. Volunteers will be needed to distribute the flyers. Please contact us if you can help.
GAS Board
There was a second Green Army Supervisory Board (GAS Board) discussion meeting on 31st March at Home Park, led by Professor David Wheeler of the University of Plymouth. The Trust Board has since been consulted through a teleconference with Prof Wheeler. At this stage it appears that accountability is viewed by the supporter groups as the GAS Board's most important role, but the Prof has made it clear he sees the GAS Board as an evolving body, that would be able to be steered in the future by those who are elected to it. The next GAS Board discussion meeting is on Saturday (21st April) in the city, at which the Prof will present his proposals arising from the discussions and consultations. The Trust, and other supporter groups, will then be able to report back to their members on the proposals and invite comments towards a final decision on the GAS Board structure which will be taken at a meeting on May 5th.
Kiosks
The Trust now has a new kiosk (desk) in the Mayflower stand at the top of the stairs. This is open on match days from around 1.30pm to kick-off, and then again at half-time. There was a lot of interest in its first running at the Aldershot game. The Mayflower presence adds to the other four kiosks in the newer part of the stadium, meaning anyone attending a match now has a place to give feedback to the club or to find out more about the Trust, or join or renew their membership. We are also selling the Argyle vs Man Utd Legends tickets at our kiosks on behalf of the Green Taverners.
We have also produced a summary of the kiosk feedback from the previous six home games.
New volunteers to staff the kiosks are still welcome. Volunteers are offered free entry to the match in return for their help.
AGM
The Trust has completed and returned its first financial audit, and is now planning its first AGM. It is likely that the AGM will be set for the end of May, possibly the same day as the Argyle vs Man Utd Legends game, or early June. More details will be announced next week.
New Model Rules
The Trust is studying the New Model Rules that have been produced by Supporters' Direct. The Rules include some new options that may assist the Trust with fundraising towards purchasing shares in the club. Some Board members are attending an SD event this week to find out more information.
Renewals
Postal reminders for renewals for those due up until April will be going out soon. There have been some problems with the InTouch email system supplied by Supporters Direct, so some emails have had to be resent; apologies if you received renewal emails twice as a result.
Board Meetings
The minutes of the meeting held on 31st March are available online in the Meetings section of the web site. The next meeting is on Saturday 21st April.
Advertisement posters in stadium
The Trust recently placed an advertisement in the 150 or so A4 advertising boards around the stadium. You can download your own copy of the poster here.
We are planning further advertisements to reach out to the "offline" supporters, particularly to raise awareness of the 20% offer. We are always on the lookout for members how can help with artwork and designing flyers. Please contact us if you are interested in helping.
Injured Suppliers
The Trust is beginning to contact the injured suppliers from last year's administration. In part this is to raise awareness of the impact of the administration on other businesses, which totalled around a £3m loss. But we are also focusing on the local businesses that were affected, and - for example - offering to produce flyer(s) advertising their services to Argyle supporters, who can then chose to deal with those suppliers if they wish.
Trust Twibbon
For all tweeters out there, the Trust now has a Twibbon. Visit http://twibbon.com/join/Argyle-Fans39-Trust, log in to your account, and off you go. Your Twitter picture can then carry the Trust logo!
Postage costs
The Trust notes that the price of a second class stamp is rising from 36p to 50p at the end of April, which is a 38% rise! We will thus be pre-buying a quantity of stamps with a view to reducing future postage costs.
If any fans wish to donate to the Trust, a very effective way to do so is to buy a book of second class stamps and pass them to us at the gazebo outside the Devonport end (up to 30 mins before kickoff) or at any Trust customer service kiosk/desk inside the stadium after that. Your donation grows in value by 38% in May!
Ladies Match
The Trust sponsored the Ladies match against Tottenham on Sunday 15th April. Unfortunately the Ladies went down to a 4-1 defeat, but with a few hundred supporters there to cheer them on they enjoyed the match experience. Thank you to everyone who came along and we wish the Ladies all the best next season.
