Present

Alice Curteis, Averill Marks, Marie Robinson, Andrew Smith, Mary Popple, Susan Horsman (St Andrews University).

Apologies

Peter Robinson

Read previous Minutes of 29 October 2008.

1. Matters arising from last minutes          

·        (re. point 4 in previous minutes).  No response had been received to the question sent to the 'myth-busting' session at the Dundee conference (29.11.08) so MR will contact Fairtrade Foundation.  Discussion ensued re. reasons for big supermarkets getting into the fair trade market, and possibility of small local shops being squeezed out.

·       Aldi apparently currently have no Fairtrade products on sale.

2. Finances

·        MR reported on the current bank balance (c. £628).  A grant of £500 had been received from the SFTF, which should be used by the end of March 2009.

·        Suggestions for spending the money include: product samples and wine to be given away/ used at events; improved website provision; 2009 Finders; banner; new town certificates.

·        MP to approach Alasdair Popple to cost out provision of our website for one or two years.

3. Fairtrade Fortnight  23 February -  8 March 2009

 Evening event, Fri 27 Feb, 7 pm for 7.30 pm until c. 9.30 pm.

·        SH has booked the Lecture Theatre in the Arts Building from 7-10 pm, Fri 27 Feb., and will take care of provision of tea/coffee and equipment for a power point presentation.   Refreshments to be available 7-7.30 pm and after the Q&A session.

·        B. Reed (introducing) and Towera Jalakasi to speak from 7.30 until c. 8.30 pm, including questions and answers.  MR to ask BR for title of talk.

·        AC to contact members of university staff (e.g. in medicine, economics) with a particular interest in Malawi.

·        MR to forward TJ's c.v. to rest of committee.

·        MR to fill in event info form and return it to SFTF.

·        AM offered B&B for speakers if this is required either 26 or 27 Feb.

Other events and press/publicity

·        SH to produce a poster advertising the talk on 27 Feb, preferably to be available for distribution two weeks beforehand.

·        AC to send request to our contacts list asking for details of planned events, and telling them about 27 Feb talk.

·        Details of talk, and any other local events, once known, to be posted on our website (MP), Fifedirect website (MR), SFTF website (MR), and University website (SH).

·        Details as above also to be sent to D. Miller (Courier) and to the St Andrews Citizen (MR/AC to liaise).

4. Fairtrade Town Finders for Fairtrade Fortnight 2009

·        AS to email all possible contacts on supporters list to ask for up-to-date info on what they stock/use.  Remaining premises to be checked by committee (AS to divide up) by 15 Feb.

·        AS to send MP his list of supporters' names and addresses to forward info to FFTF.

5. University Sustainable Living Fair, Students Union, Fri 20 March 12 - 5pm

·        All to help on rota if possible.

·        SH reported on university project to be launched on 14 March, to make St Andrews a plastic-bag-free town.  Providing 600 free cotton fairtrade organic bags plus 800 to be sold around town.  Funded by various local businesses and associations including the R&A, Preservation Trust, Students' Association and the Merchants' Association.

 6. The Open 2010

·        Progress is being made towards use of Fairtrade food products wherever possible during the next Open.

·        MP and AC had been in touch with management to discuss further opportunities to use some Fairtrade products for staff and the members.

7. New Town Certificates

·        AS suggested producing new, slightly different certificates to replace faded ones for shops, cafes etc, while funds permit.

·        MR to take a new certificate to St Andrews Health Foods.

8. Fife Fair Trade Forum

·        MP and MR reported on progress with the Fife campaign, noting willingness of group to help, and in particular the support of Fife Council.

9. Talk by AC to Martyrs Church group, 9 Feb        

·        MR gave AC list of useful sections on FTF website; also can suggest use of Traidcraft catalogues; publicise 27 Feb talk by BR and TJ.

7. AOB    

·        Competition report in Lawhead PS column in Citizen, with a small photo.

·        Banner wording: should probably be vertical with simple wording/logos. MR to ask Iain Robinson to produce some ideas for circulation.

10. Date of next meeting

      Next meeting: tbc: likely in first half of April, 7.30pm at Woodlands, Blebo Craigs

ACTION. AC: 3(i),3(ii),5,9; MR:1,3(i),3(ii),5,7,10; SH: 3(i),3(ii); AM: 5; MP: 2,3(ii),5; AS: 4,5,7; PR: 5