1. Chairman’s Welcome

Mark Kelly opened the meeting by thanking everyone for their help and support over the last 12 months.

He reported that there has been a big increase in merchandise sales in the last year - mainly generated by our Trophy Final success. This has obviously assisted greatly towards the donations that the Association has been able to make to the football club.

Mark was also very pleased to be able to report that the Association has been successful in forging closer links within the football club. This was an area in which our members voiced their concerns at the last meeting and asked that the committee continue in our efforts to improve communication with the football club. We have been so successful in doing this that we now receive regular contact from the club to request equipment and donations.

2. Annual Accounts

Treasurer Stewart Bratherton presented a detailed breakdown of the accounts for the last financial year. He advised members that our accounts are open for viewing by any member on their request. He also pointed out that as well as the money we currently have in the bank account, we also hold a large amount of stock at present which should be noted.

The accounts were approved by show of hands from every member present and postal approvals that were received prior to the meeting.

The accounts will be published on Ciderspace and in the next issue of the Association fanzine.

Action: Stewart to publish accounts in next issue of fanzine

3. Donations

Stewart went on to confirm that the following donations have been made by the Association in the last year to the benefit of the club, players and supporters:

1. Glass Washer - £350 was donated to purchase a new glass washer for the supporters club bar, therefore benefiting not just the Association members but all supporters who use the bar.
2. County Council Database - The Association after a request from the Commercial Office purchased a County Council database of all local businesses which would hopefully help them in their day to day quest of finding sponsorship to support the club.
3. 24 Towels - The Association purchased 24 new towels and donated them to the players of YTFC.
4. Good Luck Message - The Association had a good luck message printed in the Yeovil Express to the manager and team for the FA Trophy Final.
5. Industrial Washing Machine - The Association donated £1000 to the club to offset some of the costs of a new industrial washing machine that is needed to ensure that all the laundry is done within the club.
6. Sponsorship of the Jolly Green Giant - The Association sponsored the Jolly Green Giant to the sum of £50 on one of his numerous charity events.
7. Training Equipment - £432.02 was spent on sports equipment which was handed over to Manager Gary Johnson who had approached the Association to ask for the equipment which he felt was needed to assist in training.
8. Fireworks - The Association paid £100 to enable the club to have fireworks for the opening game at Huish Park this season against Woking; a game that was also shown live on Sky TV.

Due to improved communication with the football club, we now wait for them to contact us to ask for items of benefit rather than contacting them to offer donations. This means that either the football club purchase the item(s) and we reimburse them, or, we purchase the item direct and obtain a receipt for it.

On the subject of donations, a question was raised as to how the database that we purchased for the club is used and whether in fact it is used at all.

Action: Sara to contact Dave Linney to query

4. Membership

The total number of YTISA members now stands at 160 life members. We have gained 52 new life members in the last year. Considering the fact that we have limited ‘perks’ to offer our members it is considered a great achievement to have gained so many new members.

It was also noted that we have several members who are also members of the Green and White Supporters Club. This can only be of benefit to the association as it will hopefully make it easier in the future for both supporters clubs to interact with one another.

It was agreed that a Data Protection Statement should be added to our membership forms to confirm what information will be held by the Association and to confirm that it will not be divulged to 3rd parties without prior consent of the member concerned.

Action: Stewart to amend membership form

5. Constitution

Members were advised that some changes were required to the Association constitution in order to make it more water tight and bring it up to date with matters such as life membership. It was also felt that there was a need to clarify the voting rights of the Junior Members of the Association. It was agreed that Juniors could not vote at an AGM/EGM until they had attained the age of 16.

As the constitution can only be amended at an AGM by approval from members, this is the first chance we have had to put forward the proposed amendments.

The constitution will be published on Ciderspace.

The amended constitution was approved by show of hands from members present and also postal votes received prior to the meeting.

6. Committee Elections

Stewart and Sara both resigned from their committee posts by rotation this year and put themselves forward for re-election.

Both were voted back on to the committee by show of hands from members present and also postal votes received prior to the meeting.

A further committee member was being sought as we require 7 members on our committee but we have been running with 6.

Roger Brimble was proposed by Tony Gale and seconded by Steve Sowden. Members were advised that Roger has given great support to the Association over the past 12 months. He ran one of our coaches that we took to the Trophy Final and has sold hundreds of pounds worth of merchandise on our behalf.

Roger was voted on to the committee by show of hands from members present.

7. The next 12 months

Members were asked for their ideas on what they would like to see happening in the next 12 months.

Adrian Gleave brought up the question of the proposed new social club bar. This is a project that was launched a while ago but seems to have been put on hold, although the reasons for this are unknown.

Members agreed that we should look into this and ask the club whether this project can be put back on track.

Whilst talking about this issue, Colin Turner advised members that himself and Tony Elbourn (who is a YTISA member and has also recently been voted on to the Green and White Supporters Club Committee) had looked in to the possibility of forming a Supporters Trust. This is a Government Funded programme that helps everyday supporters take a more positive role in the running of a football club and it has to be legally recognised by the Football Club. It requires a representative from every supporters association within the club who then form the Trust. The Trust would report direct to the football club but takes it’s direction from supporters.

Colin proposed that we approach Tony Elbourn to clarify whether this is a project he would like to help take forward.

Action: Mark to speak to Tony Elbourn

8. Any Other Business

Stewart commented on the great support that the Association has had from the administrators of the Ciderspace website.

The YTISA would like to acknowledge Ciderspace and thank them for their support.

Finally, members were advised that the Association does not currently have a President. Members were asked whether they would like to have a President and they reported that they would. Several names were thrown into the hat, and after some discussion and by majority vote it was decided that Brian Moore should be approached and asked whether he would like to become the President of the YTISA. If Brian does not wish to take up this position, Ian Botham, Len Harris and Ernie Emmons were also suggested.

Action: Sara to write to Brian Moore

Minutes Submitted by:

S.Brimble
Secretary YTISA
December 2002