Minutes:
TRUSTS FOR AFRICAN SCHOOLS
SPECIAL MEETING ON 30 MARCH 2006
Present: Norma Empringham, Heather Flint, Ben Howland, Johnnie Morris, Tom Marshall-Andrews, Gill Marshall-Andrews
Apologies: Will Jones, Luke Morris
1. Appointment of Tim Flower as Trustee
Tom Marshall-Andrews proposed that Tim Flower be appointed as a Trustee, Ben Howland seconded the proposal.
BH outlined Tim's credentials and the proposal was agreed unanimously.
2. Tim Flower joined the meeting and was welcomed to the Board of Trustees.
He agreed to undertake the role of Treasurer.
3. Charity Status
GMA confirmed that TAS has been registered as a charity - number 1113113.
4. Update on local trusts
Eburru Secondary School Trust is going well. A Danish tourist has donated 20,000 Euros direct to the Eburru Trust for refurbishment of the school buildings. The minutes of the Eburru Trust meeting on 27 March where this was discussed were distributed and will be posted on the website when this has been agreed by the local trustees. Also discussed and welcomed was the proposed TAS Project Management System. These matters will be discussed further at the next meeting of the Trust on 12 April.
Green Park School Trust is now established. Trustees from the school, the hotel, the golf club, and Green Park estate are signed up. A bank account has been set up and they are ready to receive the funds that have been accruing in various private accounts. This money totals around £1500 and will now be transferred to the Trust account. The Trust will meet again on 14 April and consider its priorities using the TAS Project Management System.
Asako School. A trust has not yet been set up but several trustees have been recruited. The logistics of getting things done in this very remote village are challenging. GMA will investigate how we might share some regular transport into the village with another agency eg AMREF the flying doctor service. A further visit is being planned in April.
Bishangari School. Discussions continue about how to establish a trust under Ethiopian law. The owner of the nearby ecolodge is now persuaded that this is a good idea so there is hope that he will be able to progress the matter. There is still around £4k sitting in a private account in Addis Ababa waiting to be used for the benefit of the school. It was agreed that this money does not need to come back to the TAS account unless there is a tax advantage in doing so.
5. Brochures
The new TAS leaflet will ready tomorrow - 1000 are being printed. GMA will send out as many as she can. TF and BK requested a batch which will be sent as soon as possible.
6. Website
TMA demonstrated the website which is now nearly ready to go live. A great deal of work has gone into it and the result is excellent. It will contain up to date information about each of the schools, the trust meeting minutes, news items and funding proposals. Donors will be able to 'shop' for what they would like to give and then pay on line. It was agreed that the cost of getting something to a school should include credit card and transport charges. These are (arguably) not administrative or overhead costs but are part of the direct cost of the item. GMA can now update the text and pictures on the website. Thanks to TMA.
7. Project Management System
JM outlined the system which can be used from the start of a project or proposal through to completion. An excellent system which we should require all 'franchised' school trusts to use if they are applying for funding from TAS. Thanks to JM.
8. Money and Gift Aid
NE handed cash to the value of around £400 to TF. This is to help pay for shelving and security for the wonderful library she is donating to trust schools. There are around 500 new children's books to be sent out. In addition there are books donated by Richmond Library Service to go out. Thanks to NE.
HF handed cheques to the value of around £1100 to TF. These are gifts to mark her retirement from Waldegrave School. Some have Gift Aid certificates. Thanks to HF.
GMA handed a cheque for £250 and some standing order donation forms to TF.
TF will pay the money in and claim Gift Aid when he can. He prefers to bank online and GMA will ask Barclays to send the necessary forms.
TF indicated that he will seek advice about Charity Commission accounting requirements.
9. Next meeting
6pm for a 7pm start on Thursday 25 May at Portcullis House.
