29th of January, 2016
St Andrews Fairtrade Town Campaign – 27/01/16
Present: Mary Popple (MP), Marie Robinson (MR), Peter Robinson (PR), Julian Crowe (JC), Averill Marks (AM), George King (GK), Caitlin Price (CP), Anne Haselhurst
1. Apologies AC, Lynsey Smith (LS), Izzy Cordin
2. Matters arising
- Previous minutes approved
- MP welcomed Anne Haselhurst to the committee, from the Cupar Fairtrade Group
3. Financial Report - £113.28
- Funding could be sought from the Scottish FT forum, for specific projects
4. Fairtrade Fortnight, Feb 29th to March 13th 2016
- ‘Big Breakfast’ event organised for 3rd March 7:30-9:30 in the Committee Room, Students’ Association Building, capacity for 30. Martin Rhodes to speak about lobbying and trade justice
- GK to check food on offer and whether we can get it for free from the Students’ Association. PR has applied to Divine Chocolate and Liberation Nuts for freebies which we can use.
- PR to ask Martin Rhodes what the title of the event will be and to contact ex-MEP John Purvis, others welcome to contact local/other politicians
- Advertising (Facebook, posters etc.) CP has offered to advertise through Oxfam society, GK and CP to coordinate advertising with Environment and Ethics Committee (Students’ Association), University Transition and Environment Team channels. Cupar group to be invited
- GK to liaise regarding other events from University side
- Actions: GK, PR, CP
5. Other events
- Rector Catherine Stilher has invited colleague Linda McAvan MEP for Yorkshire/Humberside to speak at lunchtime St Andrews 7th April 2016. Linda chairs the Committee for Development at the EU, including a Fairtrade Working Group (more info here:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/deve/home.html)
- MP to confirm timings, GK to speak to University lecturers, Rector’s assessor to explore panel idea
- Town group 10th anniversary Pot luck – Sunday 6th March 6:30 at Alice’s (52 Hepburn Gardens)
- Actions: MP, GK
6. Guesthouse Campaign
- To be picked up at next meeting when AC returns from Nicaragua – AC or MP to contact Ray Pead to check progress of FT uptake by B&Bs (aim for 5 new houses to adopt FT)
- Actions: AC, MP
7. AOB
- FT directory – agreed to use stock before renewal in 2017. Action: all to distribute
- FT status renewal: MR needs signature from Fife Councillor, in progress
- FT event status from FT Foundation – ongoing, working with R&A
- Points of interest from MP: FT Advocacy Office (FTAO) http://www.fairtrade-advocacy.org/ work in the EU and globally for Fairtrade. Blog post from Edinburgh University about a ‘marathon’ to Brussels with the FTAO: http://www.sustainability.ed.ac.uk/blog/2014/a-fair-trade-advocacy-marathon-in-brussels/
- Next meeting: 9th March at Averill’s (40 Lawmill Gardens). To be rearranged to a later date if not needed as early as March