Hammers United EGM Meeting Minutes
Venue: King Edward Public House Saturday 31st August 2019
I. Call to order
Paul Colborne, Chairman,called to order the Extra-ordinary General Meeting of Hammers United at 1110hrs at The King Edward Public House, Broadway, Stratford London
II. Roll Call
Joint Secretary Stephen Cross conducted a roll call and the following were present:- Lee rogers (Joint Secretary), Paul Colborne (Chairman) in the chair. Committee Members, Gary Marling, Sanjai Patel, Andy Payne, Gavin Redknap, Mark Telling.
There were a further fifty-seven Hammers United Members in attendance.
The Chairman read out apologies received from committee members Andrew Byrne and Gary Penfold and a large number of member apologies received due to travel disruption.
III. Approval of minutes from last meeting
Paul Colborne read the minutes from the last meeting. The minutes were approved as read.
IV. Open issues
a) Stewarding Initiative – Initiative launched on-line and leaflets being distributed to West Ham Fans to raise awareness. HU have written to the club regarding lack of action taken with Man City Fans in the home end. A sub-committee will be formed to drive this forward.
b) Season Ticket Waiting List – A letter has been sent to the club. A number of members again raised their frustration at this situation. We have a number of examples that we have asked the club to discuss with us and hope their swift co-operation will avoid having to escalate to regulatory bodies and news organisations.
c) Supporter Liaison – A series of letters are being reviewed by our legal advisor and will shortly be sent to both governing and government bodies.
d) Membership – We continue to grow as an organization with our membership standing at four thousand six hundred and ninety two (4,692) as at today’s date. Our goal is to achieve ten thousand (10,000) members by January 1st 2020.
e) Socios – Further to our initial letter to the club (to which we still await a reply) an on-line campaign has been created by a number of supporter’s groups, forums and social media outlets. We will be following up with a further letter to the club and update our members accordingly.
f) GDPR Compliance – We will shortly be undertaking a campaign with all of our members encouraging them to opt-in so we may directly forward them information regarding events and information pertinent to them.
V. New business
a) Ratification of Hammers United Constitution – Unanimously approved and ratified unanimously by all in attendance.
b) New Committee Members – The following were formally proposed, seconded and approved by the members present:- Andrew Byrne, Sanjai Patel, Gary Penfold, Gavin Rednap, Gary Marling and Andy Payne.
c) The Chairman highlighted that we still have two positions vacant on the committee and sought nominations from the floor. Michael Campbell was subsequently nominated, formally seconded and elected unanimously.
d) Stadium Seating – A project is to be led by a HU sub-committee to understand the current state on progress made and investigating alternatives in line with member requests.
e) Committee & Sub-Committee Project Alignment – Sub-Committees to be created to lead on Hammers United initiatives by 7th September.
f) Press & Media –
i) Social Media (Facebook, Twitter & Instagram) presence needs dedicated attention to raise HU profile in line with membership goals. Sub-committee and officers to be appointed.
ii) News/Press Coverage – A number of initiatives involving local newspapers, on-line journalists and the BBC were discussed in line with current initiatives. These will be coordinated and managed moving forward by a sub-committee group.
VI. Any Other Business
a) OSB – Frustration at their positioning by the club continues – suggestions for HU members to join individually for insight discussed and dismissed. A number of HU Members and some committee members sat on the previous incarnation (SAB), and its felt by our membership and committee that it wouldn’t be a productive use of time.
b) WHUSIA – Further to initially encouraging conversations with the reincarnated supporters group WHUISA over joint initiatives, and their disappointing public withdrawal of support for Hammers United’s Stewarding Initiative (created in conjunction with the FSA for the benefit of all West Ham supporters), we will not be working collaboratively together at this time.
c) Away Season Tickets – This was raised by several members as an area of immense frustration, with particular emphasis on the recent away cup match at Newport County, where the current system saw the allocation appear only half taken. Accordingly, it will become an initiative and we will create a sub-committee to drive this forward.
VII. Adjournment
Paul Colborne, Chairman, adjourned the meeting at 1215hrs thanking all for their attendance and wishing them a good game and a safe journey home.
Minutes submitted by: Stephen Cross
Minutes approved by: Lee Rogers & Paul Colborne
