A bit off-topic : Southern League

[Tom]

Epicrebel I would like to get involved with the Trust, but the fact that I will be spending the entire football season for the next 3 years at least in Portsmouth limits that somewhat - it would make it impossible to attend meetings etc.

 

I have tried my join. When the Trust was first created I gained little information about it and as such desided not to join, since then I have looked into it more and read the events with which it has organised with interest - the walk to Worthing and race night. I have made an attempt to join via the online form, but as that has not been made I have been unable to.

 

As a result I can only make my opinions based on heresay which I know I shouldn't do. But would this heresay arise if people were happy with what they were seeing/hearing?

[brighton_rebel]

Problem is Tom, people always moan about everything, and i reckon if people think something isn't working as well as it should then get involved (I realise that's hard for you being in Porstmouth, hard for me being in Brighton.)

Fundraising, raising the clubs profile, getting more supporters through the turnstiles, and helping to run the Trust are jobs for all Slough supporters.

[Dominic]

Quote:

Tom - STFC said:
One thing about the Trust that I have picked up is the lack of direction in which it wants to take itself and also a lack of organisation.

Tom, you have annoyed me a little with the above statement. What exactly do you want out of the trust? In my opinion, since the trust was formed, there have been many positive steps taken to try and achieve the goals set out in our aims. We may only have small membership numbers (compared to other Supporters Trusts) however we do well with the limited resources we have.

Going on to your thoughts on the lack or organization within the trust, I think this is a little unfair. Even though a few members of the board have 20 years experience through running the supporters association, everyone is still learning and taking on board new strategies and ideas to help to improve the running of the trust. I can assure you that a hell of a lot or organisation goes into setting up the fundraising events like the race night and creating community ties with the likes of the Slough Juniors.

Quote:

I get the feeling being on the outside that there is a lack of co-operation from within the Trust to a degree that not a lot gets done.

I know of a number of people who I won't mention here who feel they could run the Trust better than it is currently run and it’s hypocritical of me to think I could do better because I don't have the time to contribute in anyway

It is the responsibility of all members to contribute help and ideas in any way possible. Hopefully these people you don’t want to mention will be forthcoming with their great ideas.

Quote:

but I feel in its current state more needs to be done to prepare the Trust for if/when the club needs its help.

If the worst case scenario presents its self, it goes without saying that we currently would not be able to support the running of the club at its current level. All we can do is keep working hard in doing what we can to raise as much cash as we can and continue to forge links with the local community (we don’t play in).

[Ted]

Ask not what the Trust can do for you,rather ask what you can do for the Trust.

[Martin]

Now I used to be as guilty of this as the next Trust board member but why is it that everytime anyone says anything remotely critical of the Trust they/we all get so defensive?

 

"Our strategies" are not working - our membership is not increasing dramatically and our town profile is next to non-existent?

 

Loads of good ideas are suggested but whatever comes of it? What are we doing to resolve that?

 

What do the trust members want us to with their money? Some want it all ploughed into the club - will that lead to criticism if things go badly off the pitch? Others want us to build up a rainy day fund. Others want us to donate to good causes and promote the club and the trust generally. Others want a mixture of all three. So how do we go about pleasing all of the people all of the time?

 

Frankly what is the point?

[Don Juan DeMarcus]

I think this is an awkward one and i can see how both points are valid--- Yes the fact that the trust supports local charities and stuff is great for not only the charities but the prestige of the club too; but, also, I can see how some people are irritated at the idea that the money they put forward to help their club is being given elsewhere without their consent.

 

Its an awkward one and a decision I'm glad i dont have to make!

[brighton_rebel]

You'll never going to please everyone, someone is always gonna moan.

 

Ted is right "Ask not what the Trust can do for you,rather ask what you can do for the Trust."

[Ian]

I agree with your view Martin that much more could be done with the Trust although I feel uncomfortable being critical when others are putting in the effort and I'm not. Having been heavily involved in the launch I appreciate how much dedication goes into running the Trust. My disagreement was primarily with those who feel that using small amounts of money to raise the profile in the local area is wasted effort. I totally disagree with that view.

 

That said, I've suggested having a co-ordinator role (and would possibly even be prepared to do it) for the various fund raising activities but nobody (club or trust) has ever pursued that idea which is disappointing. How much longer will offers of help be forthcoming if nobody ever takes advantage of them? I think this thread, or the last few posts at least, demonstrates that many people's patience is wearing thin.

 

As for money being given elsewhere without people's consent, it isn't. The Trust board are empowered by their members to spend up to a certain amount without referral and as far as I'm aware that's adhered to.

[Roger Rebel]

I would like to go back to my original point, i said nothing about the trust it was more about Roy and Burnard not geting any sponsors.

[Dominic]

Quote:

Ian said:
That said, I've suggested having a co-ordinator role (and would possibly even be prepared to do it) for the various fund raising activities

I think you’ve got it spot on Ian, I for one think it's an excellent idea. Matt Webb and myself were discussing something similar but with advertising e.g. hitting local pubs and shops with flyers and leaflets. I know Matt had a few more ideas he was going to post on here later on.

[Ian]

I think it's fairly apparent that it's not the ideas that's lacking or even the people to do it but nobody is co-ordinating the logistics. Both the Trust and the Club are missing a big opportunity to capture people's willingness to help, in my opinion.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

i think the club and the trust missed out on a big opportunity about passing on the option of having a permenant advertising board in one of the shopping centres. from what i have been told it appears that they are in discussions about an advertising board at the ground.

[Barry Scott]

Quote:

A Rebel and a Saint said:
from what i have been told it appears that they are in discussions about an advertising board at the ground.

Is that the best the brain trust that are supposed to be running the club have come up with? "We need to advertise ourselves to the biggest audience possible? I know, let's set up an advertising hoarding at our temporary home ground where all our fans will see!" Just bloody typical. Whoever is supposed to be running the club couldn't fight their way out a wet paper bag.

[Dominic]

Quote:

A Rebel and a Saint said:
i think the club and the trust missed out on a big opportunity about passing on the option of having a permenant advertising board in one of the shopping centres

They haven’t! As I already explained to you, after you contacted the shopping centres in Slough, Mike Lightfoot got in touch about possible advertising and was told they were already dealing with the club directly.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

from what i believed the suggestion i made was going through the trust people

[A Rebel and a Saint]

from my msn message log:

 

"just to let you know, the trust did contact the queensmere but the club were alresdy dealing with them about some advertising like a board for the ground, so we had to leave it. I would of posted an update on that thread you made but obviously Roy didn't wasnt it splashed all over the forun before he had confirmed it."

[Barry Scott]

who gives a shiat? It hasn't happened yet has it? No so stop trying to get one over each other you big pair of pansies. In case you had forgotten, the club is still f*cked.

[Dominic]

Which is what i just said!

 

You made a very good suggestion so Mike(Trust) contacted the shopping centre and was told that the club (Roy or whoever sorts out advertising) had already been in touch and they were in talks about some sort of advertising like a board.

[Martin]

I am going to type this very slowly in the hope that it makes it clear to some of our slower readers.

 

The trust contacted the shopping centre. They were told to go no further because the club was in negotiation with the shopping centre for the shopping centre to advertise at the ground.

 

Did that help?

 

Personally I think the club has been woeful with regards to advertising and sponsorship this year. Perhaps it was not helped by the fact that they spent much of the summer trying to find somewhere to play instead of pulling in the cash. But having said that we have a woeful record year on year. The buck stops with the club on that one.

 

Back to the trust, whilst Ian makes a good point about a co-ordinator, should we not be able to find someone to do that from within the Board. There are nine members after all. In addition we have a fund raising sub-committee - is it not their role?

[Ted]

An advertising board in one of the shopping centres, and an advertising banner at the ground seem to be two totally different things. Why should one exclude the other/ That said a cordinated approach makes sense.