More Supporters Direct News…
SD Conference 2007: 19 October: Manchester
Yes, the SD Conference is on the move.
October 2007 sees Manchester Central, the new name for the Manchester International Convention Centre and GMEX venue, as the location for the annual event.
The conference will be held at the Charter Suites at the venue, with Culture Secretary James Purnell MP already confirmed to speak, and PFA Chief Executive Gordon Taylor joining him. If you’re a supporters’ trust, we’ll be sending out some more specific information to you soon. We will be taking online registrations, and you can also register by post.
And don’t forget to keep an eye on the website at www.supporters-direct.org and the SD news site at www.supportersdirect.blogspot.com – details will be up on Monday 17 September.
As usual, this year’s Conference will see the Supporters Direct AGM and Election Hustings.
As well as the usual things – approving the accounts and appointing the auditors – there will also be any resolutions for discussion and debate. Member trusts can submit resolutions for the AGM, which must be received in writing by September 28th. Each resolution must be proposed by two trusts, and must be in order, which basically means it must not commit the organisation to break its rules or the law. Trusts thinking of submitting any motions are advised to contact SD Secretary Dave Boyle in advance so he can clarify any issues about motions before they are submitted.
The AGM will be followed by the Question and Answer session with candidates for the board.
Those who cannot attend will have the opportunity to send in questions in advance, and the session will be recorded and transcribed, and distributed with the ballot papers. Anyone thinking of standing needs to make sure they are free to attend on the day, as well as submitting their statement of between 400 and 1000 words.
Candidates will need to be nominated by three trusts in order to get onto the ballot paper, and full details, including nomination forms, will be sent to all trusts and put on the SD website. Ballot papers will be sent out after the Conference, with the result declared at the end of November.
Only those Trusts in full membership of Supporters Direct can propose resolutions and vote at the AGM and nominate candidates and vote in the election. All Trusts will have been sent an application form for renewing their membership, but if you need a new copy of have any queries, contact the SD Office.
In case you need to book travel to take advantage of advance purchase discounts, the conference will start at around 9.30am, and formally close at around 5pm. However, there will be a reception afterwards for networking, so you might want to arrange a later ticket!
For more about Manchester Central:
For detailed travel information:
For location maps
For hotels & accommodation
SD Magazine Edition 27 is out next Monday…
In this edition, we’ve got David Conn and Dave Boyle on football finances and overseas investment: a fit and proper look at the debate and the solutions
News on one of the first CIC football clubs
Great news for Exeter City
Encouraging news from Glasgow Rangers and East Fife
Visit www.supporters-direct.org for more, including an electronic copy of the magazine from next week.
Til I Die Book Project Launched
The ‘Til I Die series is a brand new collection of books that tells many stories supplied by the full spectrum of football supporters and custom made to suit clubs of all shapes and sizes. This unique project has already been a resounding success at West Bromwich Albion, Brentford, Watford, Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, with many more clubs about to add their names to the list. The stories included are all supplied by the clubs’ die-hard supporters; some will make you laugh, others cry, but all will give readers an insight into what it really means to call yourself a football fan at each club and make fascinating reading no matter who you support: Real football stories told by real football fans.
The project has many potential benefits. As well as producing the book, it will create new relationships, encourage a sense of belonging to the club and its communities, promote the trust and also be a potential good revenue raiser for your trust.
If you are interested in finding out how your trust could get involved in an exciting book project of your own please contact Tom Hall on 020 72731657 or tom.hall@supporters-direct.org.
Football Fanatical Fundraiser
Grahame Lloyd is offering supporters’ trusts a fundraising opportunity. His widely acclaimed show – Football Fanatical: An A-Z of the Beautiful Game, is the freelance broadcaster and journalist’s brainchild. This mixed bag of commentary, quotation, poetry, prose and the occasional song – more-or-less 90 minutes long (depending on the amount of stoppage time added on for audience applause!) has received rave reviews across the country.
And it’s not just for the football fanatic either…
‘Football fans love it and non fans love it even more! ‘Hilarious from the kick off ’ – Newark Advertiser
Dependent on ticket sales of course, any trust who books the show can make money for themselves. If you need any more information, please contact Grahame Lloyd on: 01522 – 542555/07980 541899 or on grahame@celluloid.freeserve.co.uk
Kick It Out’s ‘One Game One Community’ Week of Action: 18th – 30th October
The week of action is an opportunity to use football to make a stand against racism and to celebrate the contributions of all communities towards kicking racism out of both football and society through a series of community activities.
This year Kick it Out hope to offer about 30 grants of up to £1,000 for events that raise awareness of this week and also highlight issues of racism, diversity and inclusion. There will also be a few grants of up to £2,000 available.
For further information visit www.kickitout.org or call a member of their staff on 020 76844884.
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