Post by Marky on Sept 23, 2005 8:20:46 GMT
Minutes from WESTA monthly meeting – August 2005
Attendance: Jim Brown, Glenn Hays, Gerry Brady, Hamish Husband plus 33 others.
Apologies: Tam Coyle, Greg Fisher, Neil Harper, David Alexander.
Chairman JB welcomed all in attendance and went through agenda for August meeting.
No Secretaries report from GH. Also, there no minutes from the July meeting to read through.
Treasurer GB reported a total of £2325.11
As Travel Convenor GF was away on holiday there was no report however JB to discuss Slovenia trip during meeting.
JB first discussed the arrangements for the home game against Italy. He said that the Iron Horse will be open at its ‘regular time’ with upstairs opening as soon as possible. With the pub bound to be busy it was decided that we would arrange vouchers for all members so that no problems should occur when trying to get in. JB explained that several members had raised issue with getting in as ‘regulars’ on match day and with agreement from Eddie we would use the voucher to ensure entry, with the vouchers being retained at the door by security. A list was passed round for members present interested in having a voucher sent out to them. GH to organise posting and emailing to those not present. JB also stated that a DJ had been arranged through Eddie to be on from 10am until 4pm (when the WESTA bus to Hampden was leaving) then back on again at 8pm (when bus returns from game) until closing time.
Nancy Dowie raised point regarding the car park pass for the bus and if we had organised it? JB said he couldn’t give a definite answer on that but would check with GF once back from holiday if had arrange the pass before leaving.
Nancy, Alistair and Jean agreed to organise and run bus from Iron Horse to Hampden with costs being £1 for members and £2 for non-members. JB advised all to get tickets as soon as possible.
JB went on to discuss the qualifying game against Slovenia starting first with match tickets. JB said that tickets will be ‘strictly’ ticket based even if applying as a group and that demand will out way supply. However, JB said that the Norway game was meant to be 2,000 tickets but 2,600 applied and received tickets. JB then followed on by confirming that WESTA will be running a bus from Ljubljana, where the majority of fans will be staying, down to Celje for the match and back again. GF would be arranging the bus and JB asked those present if they are going and interested they should put their name down on the list being passed round. JB took quick head count and 23 members raised their hands saying they were wishing to have their name included. JB said the cost of the bus would be around £200 but cost to the individual would depend on numbers going. While on the subject of numbers going somewhere JB quickly took a head count of members present who were going over to Norway. 15 members raised their hands.
Mark Adams, along with a few other members raised the point concerning the tickets for the pre-match get together for the Italy game at The Shed and how they hadn’t yet been distributed from TC. JB stated that he would chase up but assured everyone that they would get their tickets well before Saturday.
GH went on discuss the football team. GH said that the game against the Wash Hand Basins had been pencilled in for Sunday 25th September to coincide with the monthly meeting. GH encouraged all present to lend their support and come along to the game. Details of where the game was to be played would be circulated nearer the time due to booking restrictions in Glasgow with football pitches but likely destinations would be either Firhill Complex or Glasgow Green. GH also went on to say that after speaking with Eddie it was agreed that The Iron Horse would sponsor the football team and help with supplying new strips. GH to pass costs to Eddie and strips should hopefully be with WESTA for the afore mentioned game.
JB asked Nancy and Alistair Dowie to discuss the Walk For Wallace. Nancy said that it was an excellent and enjoyable day, with the main ceremony in the church very moving. However, the walk itself could’ve been better organised as many of those taking part were split up and there was some confusion as to where everyone was going. With only a few of the WESTA members present at the walk Nancy still stated it was all in all a worthwhile event to be part of.
JB then moved on and asked organiser Billy Biggar to discuss the golf day out up at the Killin Golf Club in Perth. Billy said that poor weather hadn’t stopped those few members playing in the event having a good day. Billy was the winner of the first WESTA golf competition with Mark Adams winning nearest the pin.
JB went on to talk about introducing an Associate Membership, primarily aimed at kids with pricing set to be £2 but this could be opened up everyone in the near future. JB put this forward to the members present and the motion was carried.
JB stated that we still had some merchandising remaining from the past year including a batch of 16 back-packs. JB asked the members if we should keep these for future use or if any members were associated with a club and could put them to good use? Dot Wilson mentioned that the Sunshine Appeal could use these for the trip to Slovenia in October although transportation to the yet unknown drop-off point is still waiting to be confirmed. JB put it to the floor that we should hold on to the back-packs just now and decide at the September meeting when discussing the Slovenia game.
With details of the POTY night still to be finalised JB mentioned that the pub Oran Mor had spoken to Lesley Ingles who had passed on the information to the committee. GB would be in discussions with Oran Mor in the near future to see if their venue would be suitable for WESTA but no decision on the venue had been taken yet, or any venue for that matter. This was due to the possibility of a World Cup play-off for Scotland if the impossible was to happen?!
JB followed this up by asking the members present if they would want a formal event for a POTY night? Moira Brown asked if there had been a vote yet on where the venue could be held? Dot Wilson queried if we could organise the event with the timescales we have? HH said that we always have a guest at the POTY but not always (never!) the player who in fact was voted best. Stuart Scott suggested that he would like the POTY to be there before we go ahead with a ‘big do’. All points were noted and considered.
Jimmy Cormack raised the point of the state of fans getting into Hampden for the Italy game with it being a 5.30pm kick-off, possibly leaving the stadium half-empty if everyone who had over done it doesn’t get in. A few members replied that some fans are usually well on by the time kick off is due so an extra hour or so wouldn’t make the difference!! Jimmy also said that he was looking for a spare North Stand ticket but no replies came forward from anyone.
HH asked if anyone had any points that they would like raised at the next ATAC meeting due next month. No replies came forward from the floor but Moira Brown did raise the question about the finances of the SSC. HH said that ATAC had did this early doors in their meetings but normally it wasn’t the ‘done thing’ during an AGM and that the money brought in by the SSC was incorporated as part of the SFA finances. HH also went on to say the constituted clubs like ours have to put their finances forward to the members but the SSC is only a club in name. Moira then asked that her proposal be put forward in asking if the SSC is or isn’t a constituted club?!
JB stated that the SFA have their finances available on the website for all to see and he would happily print out copies to those members wishing to see then that don’t have access to the internet.
Nancy Dowie said to everyone that she had the flashing saltire and lion rampant badges, £2 cost.
Stuart Scott asked the members present if anyone would be interested in a sprae Norway ticket. HH said that he would take it.
New member Sam Goudie said that he had a flight and ticket going spare for £220 for the Norway game. Anyone interested was to contact Sam direct.
JB stated that Jen Blackwood would be going ahead with merchandising t-shirts for the Slovenia game. Update on design, cost etc would be discussed at next meeting.
Finally, HH asked if anyone knew the whereabouts of the WESTA flag as it had been missing for sometime. Conclusion was that it was last seen in The Iron Horse but where it is now know one has any idea?! An investigation is to take place, everyone is a suspect!!
JB thanked all for attending and to enjoy the Italy and Norway games.
Next meeting is arranged for Sunday 25th September at 7.30pm.