The Twe12th Man Website

Minutes of Twe12th Man Meeting : 8 January 2009

Venue: Ironopolis WMC, Bright Street, Middlesbrough

Meeting convened 19:45 hrs

Members present:
J Donovan; D Dyson; P Taylor; T Johnston; M Johnston; T Byng; P Cronesberry;

Apologies received:
C MacPartland; P Brock; A Glover; J Umpleby;

1. Minutes from Dec Meeting

Matters Arising:
Items reviewed/discussed included:
Finance Report - Treasurer's Report accepted as a true record.
New Twe12th Man website- PT advised group of website usage since the launch, and statistical data on user traffic to optimise content/population. Regular update would keep the site fresh, and members to be encouraged to advise fans of website availability to promote registrations, which are gradually on the increase.
# PC asked about changing the size of Forum screen to be more 'readable'. PT to advise at Feb Meeting.
E-mails,correspondence and AOB -
Review of Peter Chaney's attendance to discuss merchandising opportunities for the group, and offer suggestions of product viability.
Disappointment expressed with non response from MFC re: suggestions for Barrow FA Cup R3 game;
12M to organise "face painting for kids" pre-match to help with positivity for the game.
Programme notes - Volunteers to ensure an article submitted for each home game
Meeting concluded @ 22:30 hrs

2. Finance Report
Overview - Treasurer reported favourable balances on Current and Deposit Accounts.
No payments outstanding currently.
Report accepted as a true record.
Financial Year End - It was nominated that YE would be in line with Tax Year, ie: April, and that
AGM - would subsequently be held on the date of May meeting annually (14 May this year)
Both proposals agreed unanimously.

3. Feedback on FA Cup activity
- Face painting for youngsters very well received by Boro and Barrow fans in the Ironopolis Club, and at the Navigation pub. Song sheets and 'In The Blood' flyers distributed in both venues also.
Some photos of the day were to be uploaded to website.
- The group agreed the atmosphere was very good, and thought Barrow's fans, if being limited with their songs repertoire, contributed greatly to the occasion.
- The drum in the E Stand unsurprisingly received a mixed reaction; if the drummer was more rhythmic, the response may have been more favourable..!! Not regarded as something the 12M would be interested to pursue at this time; there could be safety problems incurred with MFC also?
- 'All Nations' Flag - new pole acquired.

4. Future Events
- Proactivity by the group in the promotion of the website imperative for its' success. Members can help by contributing ideas and submitting articles, photos, blogs, etc
- Discussion took place for thoughts/ideas on encouraging the atmosphere in the N Stand, now accepted as Boro's 'Kop. General agreement reached that a dedicated 'Singing Section' would be conducive to lift the atmosphere. Concerns discussed were (a) how to organise this without compromise to those S/T fans already in the designated blocks mentioned and (b) would the proposal encourage more antipathy towards 12M from the existing killjoys on the messageboards, etc.
JD volunteered to contact MFC to sound out their thoughts on centralising the vocal support in N Stand and any possible relocation problems forseen.
Suggestion made from the floor that other fans groups be approached for feedback on the topic.

5. A.O.B.
- TB asked the group for thoughts on the "extortionate costs of away match tickets." Cases in point were Man United (C C Cup) and Chelsea; both midweek games (with the consequence of travel prices this incurred also), and both costing more than £40. He had asked for this topic to be on the Agenda of the next Regional FSF Meeting, 17 February @ S.O.L., Sunderland

6. E-mails and correspondence
- No outstanding responses were due for correspondence.


Meeting concluded @ 22:30 hrs

Next Meeting scheduled for 7:30pm, Thursday 12 February 2009

PJC/12M/21.01.08