THE SOCIETY SECRETARY
The role of a supporters’ trust secretary is different from that of other elected or co-opted members of its board. It is in fact the only position that a trust must legally have.
The functions and responsibilities of a secretary include:-
- acting as secretary to the Society Board;
- summoning and attending all general meetings of the Society and keeping the minutes;
- monitoring the conduct of the Society’s affairs to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with the Rules;
- arranging for members of the Society Board to obtain independent legal, accounting, tax or other professional advice if considered appropriate and
- preparing and sending all returns required to be made to the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
In practice my role as Society Secretary mainly entails taking and typing up minutes of meetings, dealing with the FSA by ‘phone and in correspondence and HM Revenue & Customs, in particular in submitting the annual tax return that all Industrial and Provident Societies have to make. I occasionally represent the Fleet Trust at meetings, for example with the CEO of the Club. I am a member of the Supporters’ Direct Trust Secretaries Forum which is a useful way to keep in touch with developments and to contribute and make suggestions to those who raise queries about particular problems that relate to other trusts. I aim to attend at least one training course each year which is relevant to the role of a trust secretary. I hope to attend the Supporters’ Direct National Conference later this year.
I was approached to take on the role of Society Secretary because I have a legal background, but also because I am a life-long supporter of the Fleet. I take part in activities at most home games and have sold golden goal and raffle tickets and Fleet merchandise purchased by the Trust and also helped out in the Trust Hut. If any Fleet Trust members have any matters that they wish to discuss please approach me at any home game. Alternatively please write to me. The address is located on the contact us page.
