Catch-up: Robins Trust Update - October 2023

30th November 2023 — 6 minute read

Below is the email that was sent out to Robins Trust members on 31st October 2023:

Join the Trust to receive news and updates before anybody else.

Dear Robins Trust Member,

Well, things are looking up since our last newsletter – this month’s update comes to you hot off our first away win of the season in which (checks notes) Sean Long scored a brace.

Welcome to yet more new members who’ve joined us over the past month – it’s great to see the Trust growing so quickly. You can find out who the board members of the Robins Trust are at the bottom of this newsletter, and if you have any ideas or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at: info@robinstrust.org

We’re currently holding elections to the Trust board, so if you want to get even more involved, you can find details below.

In this issue:

Update from Fan-Elected Director Dave Beesley
Fan's Forum, Robins Trust AGM and Board Election
New Podcast for Robins Trust members
Community Noticeboard
Who are the Robins Trust Board?

As always, thank you for your ongoing support.

Contact details for the members of the Robins Trust board are at the bottom of this email.

Update from Fan-Elected Director Dave Beesley

Hi Fellow Trust Members,

Our AGM and Board Elections are coming up on the 23rd November at Deya Brewery (with a free bar while the tab lasts, and a Fans Forum).

With this in mind, I wanted to draw your thoughts to next November.

The AGM/Elections in Nov 2024 will be the end of my third full term as FED - by then I will have been FED for six and a half years.

I am acutely aware of two things. One, I have been elected unopposed in all three elections. And two, I am not arrogant enough to believe I am always the right person for the job.

Whilst I believe I still have unfinished business, and offer a huge amount to the Trust and Club boards going forwards - I do encourage democracy in all ventures.

Why am I talking about this now then?

Well, to protect the FED position from exploitation by bad actors - there is a requirement to have served at least one year as a full Trust board member before becoming eligible. I don't want next year's FED election to be another walkover. Nor do I want those who are thinking of standing to become disenchanted by finding out this rule next September or October.

So I encourage you, if you feel you have something to contribute to the FED role, or the Trust Board as a whole - stand for election to the Trust Board this year (https://www.robinstrust.org/agm-elections/)

Fans' Forum, Robins Trust AGM and Board Elections

As Dave mentions above, we return to the Deya Brewery taproom for the 2023 Trust AGM and Fans’ Forum on Thursday 23rd November.

This will be the Trust's AGM - but far more importantly, it will then morph into a Fans' Forum with the CTFC board and coaching staff.

There have been lots of opinions raised in recent weeks and we would really encourage anyone who has questions, for either the Club, the Trust, or both, to come to the Forum.

And while the Forum will undoubtedly be the highlight of the evening, there is the small matter of the Trust AGM and elections too.

Anyone who is a member of the Trust can stand for election to the board and there are currently 12 places available on the board.

Board meetings take place online once a month, lasting around two hours, and we currently have board members in London, Cornwall and France, so geography is no barrier to membership.

Go to: https://www.robinstrust.org/agm-elections/ for full details of eligibility and the process to stand, and please do consider joining the board. The more active board members we have, the stronger the Trust can be.

The deadline to submit nomination forms is midday 9th November.

Even if you don’t know any other Trust Members who could act as your proposers, please don’t see that as a hurdle. Contact us at: info@robinstrust.org, and we’ll be very happy to give you more information about what’s involved in being a board member. It’s a great way to connect with other Cheltenham fans and learn about how the Club operates, as well as being involved in discussions about things we can do to make things run even more smoothly.

Call out to members with AV know-how: We are tentatively investigating live streaming options to allow as many as possible to participate: if you have expertise and (perhaps more importantly) equipment to help facilitate this, please contact info@robinstrust.org

New Podcast for Robins Trust members - Launching this November

This is a bit of an experiment (so buckle up for exciting teething problems...), but as a benefit of Robins Trust membership we're launching a brand new podcast series: Ornithology - providing a deep dive into the anatomy of our club. From the ownership, to the Club board, and across various aspects of CTFC, the series explores how the club works via discussions with the people who keep the show on the road.

This will be an exclusive podcast for Trust members, which will be linked to your membership.

More details will follow in the next couple of weeks.

The Cheltenham Town Community Noticeboard Thanks to Longmover on the Robins Nest for spotting this (original post here): this is a video from a Cambridge fan who followed that club's kitman on the trip to Whaddon Road, and provides an interesting look behind the scenes at the Completely Suzuki: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JSS2dTwVZc

Who are the Robins Trust Board?

Please come and say hi if you see us home or away, we're always happy to answer any Trust related questions, discuss your ideas or just chat CTFC:

We are: