Annual General Meeting

Minutes of the meeting held at the Bristol Hotel, Bristol Road, Gloucester,
Monday 15th August, 2005.

Present: *Jayl Gunner (Chairperson,)
Niki Gunner (Treasurer)
*Steve Helps (Home match tickets Officer)
Steve Titmus (Travel officer)
Paul Speller-Cain (Social events organiser and 5-a-side team manager)
Tim Lovesey (Vice-Chair, Away match ticket officer and organiser)
Gary Ballinger (Merchandising officer)
*Geoff Goring (General Secretary)

Plus 35 other attendees on the floor; a mixture of current members and guests.

*Act jointly as publicity officers.

The meeting opened at 19:15

Introduction and election en bloc of management committee
Jayl opened the meeting by thanking everyone for attending. He touched on the brief history of AGSC and announced there would need to be some formalities. The most important formality being that permission is sought from the gathered members for the self-elected committee to conduct the evening's proceedings and indeed to be elected for the forthcoming year in office. Geoff G asked for a show of hands for this and a unanimous return was recorded. This meant that Jayl is officially recognised and elected as the Chairperson of AGSC and the supporting committee as above.

Apologies
There were no apologies for absence

Overview and history of AGSC
Although largely covered during the introduction, Jayl described the formation of the club, alluded to the early teething troubles and described in detail how the club has successfully evolved over the last 3-4 months. He outlined also the importance of the ensuing discussions and reports.

Matters Arising
From the initial announcements there were no immediate concerns or matters arising.

Officers' Reports'

Chairman:

Jayl Reported on how tickets are obtained distributed and paid for. He iterated the importance of joining AFC as at least a Red member and the request that silver members put their numbers into the club. The website would form the main interface and it was promised to up and running by Friday 19th August. Ballots would be used for ticket allocation when demand outstrips supply. Priority is given to Silver members and these tickets are bought for these people 2 weeks before normal sale. There are many benefits to putting in ones silver membership - these are clearly documented but the main one is that points are awarded for using your membership number so, in the event that you cannot go, your number will still get used. These points will help towards getting priority to attend crucial games towards the end of the season. There is a need also to join the AFC travel club to enable tickets and travel to away fixtures. This is cheaper for OAP's and juniors. There is a 5-a-side team within AGSC to play in the local league. Anyone is invited to put his or her names down to join the team. Emphasis was put on the suggestion that all people travel together to away matches and we could forge new friendships and stick together. Members were reminded to try and attend matched being shown at the HQ pub.

Home ticket facilitator:

Steve Helps described the membership schemes at AFC in detail and it was pointed out that All people could get a red membership number. The meeting was reminded that junior members automatically become silver members at age 16. One can specify the area of Highbury that one sits in but the default will be the North Bank Lower Tier at £35. The members were reminded that they should put their names down for all games they are interested in going to as sometimes tickets are returned and extra become available. At this point, Bally's mobile rang even though Geoff had asked everyone to turn his or her phones off. He is excused though as his partner's baby was due any day…. Steve rounded off his report by reminding the meeting that he is to be paid direct for tickets as the cost is presently being borne by him. At this point Bill Mayling was introduced as a Season Ticket holder member of AGSC. He suggested we need to look into the smart card and interchangeability system of season tickets a little more.
Action: Steve Helps

Away ticket facilitator:

Tim Lovesey explained the need to join the travel club in AFC again and exactly how to do it. He had some application forms which could be picked up at the end if they wished. Credit was accumulated on one's travel club too. Applications are to be made to Tim in person for tickets. Wherever possible a coach would be organised and travellers were encouraged to travel on it together. Organisation and facilities varied at each away ground so don't expect the same everywhere Tim warned.

The travel facilitator:

Steve (Troggy) Titmus outlined the intentions to organise travel via coaches wherever possible. Numbers for home matches would mean a coach is extremely doubtful. A min-bus would be organised for away matches most probably. Lifts would be organised for people wherever possible so that all travellers are kept together and the number of cars going kept to a minimum. There would be no smoking on the buses but minimal alcohol would be allowed.

Merchandising and social events:

Paul Speller-Cain and Gary (Bally) Ballinger then outlined their intentions to organise social events and merchandise within AGSC. Heineken would be attending with 'female' reps and freebies on Champions League nights. The supporters' club magazine 'Gunflash' would be available after the Fulham game on the 24th. Polo shirts with the new and adapted AGSC logo would be available and be about £16 each including embroidery. There would be a choice of an anthracite coloured one and a redcurrant one. Paul is the player-manager of the 5-a-side team and Paul was thus the guy to see about signing on. They would think about a tour next year with the 5-a-side team, perhaps to the Amsterdam tournament. There would be many other trips organised. The visit to Highbury and the museum especially since this is the last season at Highbury. Fund raising events would be held at the HQ including Christmas and new season parties. Freebies would be obtained from AFC to auction or raffle off. We may even get a player down to 'launch' our club properly. Paul and Gary thanked everyone for coming as they were last up and thanked their committee colleagues for a lot of hard work and personal commitment to get the club back off the ground. They rounded off by advising everyone to carry their AGSC membership card to games as this is the vehicle that allows transfer of member's tickets within supporters clubs. Finally it was stressed that the supporters club bar right outside the corner of the North Bank and the East stand was a super meeting place.

AOB

The floor asked when regular meetings would be. Jayl answered by reminding everyone that this was the Annual General Meeting and that it would take place again in July 2006. Committee meetings would be held every month to keep abreast of business and club developments.
Another question / point was raised that a guarantee needs to be made as to the number of people likely to be attending matches at the HQ as it was strange to walk into a pub with 'colours' on ones own. We need to advertise more in the pub HQ of events coming up. The person asking the question was further assured that this is now an Arsenal pub so worries were minimised…
Members were encouraged to send in pictures and stories so that they could be included on the website.
If a member has no internet access then they are to state this on a registration form so that a hard-copy of key pages and a newsletter can be sent out.
Merchandise would soon be available to buy via the website and a secure payment system.
Jayl rounded off the meeting by thanking everyone for attending and that any comments or constructive criticism is welcome so that we can improve this great club still further.

With that the meeting closed at 21:05 for general chit chat, form filling and for Troggy to rid his fag and demolish a few prawn sandwiches…..

Minutes courtesy of Geoff Goring ... geoffgoring@arsenalgloucester.com