Dale Trust committee monthly meeting

Dale Trust - Rochdale AFC Supporters Trust

It was proposed that Junior Dale should be re-launched. It was decided that membership of the Junior Dale would be free to anyone wanting to join, and youngsters could become members by joining online or on match days. The admin of the members would be done by the Trust in conjunction with the club.

On a Saturday, the FITC’s Saturday Club would be re-branded as Junior Dale and would be open to anyone of an applicable age. Further details still to be agreed include newsletters to members.

The Trust is delighted with the numbers who have already signed up for the 2013-14 season. Current membership totals for the 2013-14 season stands at 273 including 51 exiled members. A further four local businesses have agreed to become Friends of the Trust - taking the total to twenty.

Work will start soon on the club calendar, which is back in Trust hands for the first time in three years. In previous years, thanks to sponsorship, every penny from the calendars has been a profit for the Trust. If anyone is interested in sponsoring the calendar, please contact mailbox@daletrust.com.

Talks with the club about announcing a Fans Forum as a curtain raiser to the 2013-14 season have been put on hold due to the pre-season trip to Tenerife. However, the Trust hopes to make an announcement very soon on this front.

Following the purchase of the pitch covers, there remains a surplus in what is considered to be the 'Bowlee Fund'. A number of options have already been investigated, but The Trust is planning on holding a short meeting before the Fans Forum where supporter and member opinion will be invited. The money will not be spent without a vote of Trust members.

With Dale heading to Accrington at the back end of September, plans are being formulated to have a sponsored walk to the Crown Ground on the day of the game. It is hoped that around 100 people will take up the walk in a bid to raise £5,000. The walk proved to be very successful back in 2009 and it is hoped for a similar success - with much better weather. It is hoped that this walk will be to help raise funds for a specific project. Invitations will be made to Accrington supporters to join the walk.

The Trust AGM will be held on Thursday 10 October at a venue to be confirmed. Hosting an AGM is a legal requirement for the Trust and members will be invited to attend to approve the accounts and to discuss present and future Trust plans.

Work on the former Player Association is continuing with a view to tying its launch in with the 10th Anniversary Trust Dinner next year.

Discussions have taken place with the club with regards to the Ratcliffe Suite, and ways to boost its popularity. Following a recent visit to Fleetwood, Trust members were impressed by an initiative were team sheets were distributed in the club’s own bar, and were keen to see something similar implemented at Spotland. Following talks with the club, this is something that the Trust should be able to do for the new season.

The meeting concluded with representatives from the Trust keen to contact the Board of Directors for one of the Trust's regular meetings. It was hoped that this could be done before the Fans Forum.

The Trust has set up a scheme called ‘Fans bring Cans’. Supporters will be asked to drop off items of food at the Trust Table in the Ratcliffe Arms before they enter the ground. The Trust will highlight a shopping list - fans are asked to bring one item. Foodbanks provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK. All food is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers. Frontline care professionals such as doctors and social workers identify people in crisis and issue a food voucher. Foodbanks also make time to chat and to signpost clients to other helpful services. Foodbanks help prevent crime, housing loss, family breakdown and mental health problems. A simple box of food makes a big difference.

The next meeting would take place on Monday 5 August.