We are pleased to announce details for the 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Hull City Supporters’ Trust:

• Venue – Minster Suite, Royal Station Hotel, Ferensway, Hull
• Date – 12th March 2016 (prior to the Hull City vs MK Dons home fixture)
• Start Time – 10:30am

The agenda for the meeting has been prepared to meet the requirements of the Trust’s Rules, and can be found by clicking here.

The Trust’s annual report, which sets out the work the Trust has done during the 2015 calendar year and summarises the Trust’s financial position, can be accessed by clicking here.

You will see that Item 5 of the Agenda includes the election of at least 3 new Board Directors for the Trust. It is a Trust Rule that a third of the Board Directors are re-elected every year. It is important that the Board of Directors attracts new and diverse people to help guide the work of the Trust for many years into the future. If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors then please let me know at mike.scott@hullcityst.com by sending through some basic details:

1. Your Name and Address
2. Your Phone and Email Contact Details
3. Details of Your Two HCST Shareholder Nominees (I can help you with this if necessary)
4. A personal statement setting out what you hope to bring to the HCST Board (no more than 1000 words)
5. Please confirm that you comply with the requirements set out in para 21 of the Election Policy, which states that no person can be a member of the Society Board:

• who is subject to a bankruptcy order or has in place a composition with his/her creditors.
• who is subject to a disqualification order made under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
• who has a conviction for an Indictable Offence (other than a spent conviction as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974).
• in relation to whom by reason of their mental health, a court makes an order which wholly or partly prevents them from personally exercising any powers or rights which that person would otherwise have.

While there is an element of formality about the AGM, the Board is also eager to ensure that the meeting is interactive and provides shareholders with the opportunity to have their say about the Trust’s business. This can be achieved in two ways:

• Formally, through a member’s resolution (agenda item 6), as per Trust Rules 26, 49 and 50. A member’s resolution is an idea for the Trust’s future work that you wish to place on a formal footing. It requires you to submit a draft written resolution in advance of the AGM, which sets out the resolution you wish the Trust to adopt and explains why you believe adopting the resolution is important. The resolution will be debated and considered by all those present at the AGM before a vote is taken on whether to adopt it. If adopted, the Board of Directors must carry out any actions contained within the resolution; or
• Informally, through the discussion of the HCST priorities for 2016 (agenda item 7), which will be a less formal way to bring ideas to the AGM. These priorities will not be debated formally, although a discussion amongst those present at the AGM will be encouraged. There will be no formal vote or adoption of these priorities at the AGM, but those that receive general approval will be taken forward by the Board of Directors in due course.

If you wish for the AGM to consider your Member’s Resolution then please let me know as soon as possible at mike.scott@hullcityst.com. I will let you know the format that the resolution should follow, and I will happily give you some help with wording your resolution, if required.

There is no need to submit a suggested HCST priority to the Secretary in advance of the meeting. Just stand up when it’s time for Agenda Item 7 and say your piece.

The HCST Secretary is currently busy compiling an Annual Report on behalf of the Board of Directors. This will be made available on our website prior to the meeting, and will be presented to the meeting by relevant Board Directors on the day.

Two final matters for you to consider:

• The Trust has standing orders that relate to the business of Annual General Meetings and the conduct of those attending the meeting. You can read these standing orders by clicking here.
• You can choose someone to act as a proxy and vote on your behalf at the AGM. This is in accordance with Trust rules 52 and 53. You can choose a friend to vote on your behalf, or you can ask either myself or the Chairman to cast your vote on your behalf. If you want to choose someone to act as your proxy and vote on your behalf, you MUST let me know by email at least two days before the AGM.

The Board of Directors look forward to welcoming you to the 2016 AGM on the 12th March 2016. We hope that you can make it and contribute to work of the Trust in the future.

Note 1: This invitation references the Trust’s Rules at a few places, you can find the full set of Rules along with accompanying standing orders and policies by clicking here.

Note 2: An Election Management Group (EMG) has been formed to oversee the election of new Board members at the AGM, in accordance with the Trust’s Rules.  The EMG members are Peter Forster, Chris Johnson, Mike Scott (HCST Secretary), Jackie Smith and Richard Weatherill.