The Hydra ~ Caro rears her head again

[jackcass]

I spent a week in Townsville a couple of years ago and have never felt more at home at Cowboys headquarters as a visitor. They treat you like family. The pokies pay for it all. If you don’t like pokies then don’t play them. It’s your choice. I don’t see why the rest of us have to fall for the lowest common denominator of those who can’t resist the temptation to play poker machines.

Club has just divested itself of pockies so I'm pretty sure we ain't going back there.

I'm from a NSW-Vic bordertown community so fully understand the benefits and ramifications of pockies.

It's a hard pass from me.

[jackcass]

The way members are treated has NOTHING to do with poker machines. It has EVERYTHING to do with how a club views it’s members.

For too long our club has simply taken its members for granted. “It’s OK. We can treat them like crap because we know they’ll sign up again. We’ve got tens of thousands of the buggers. Who cares if some of them get peed off and throw in their memberships? Plenty more where that came from. As long as they pay their fees and keep quiet, we who know so much better and are so far superior in intellect and application will continue to run the place as our personal little play thing. Concerns of members? Ahhh…OK….We’ll put in a member’s phone number which we’ll staff so poorly that it will take them 3 hours to get through. Ultimately, they just won’t bother with it. And if they are determined enough to hold on and do get through, if they raise real concerns we’ll pat them warmly on the head and fill them full of baseless platitudes - ‘you’re the lifeblood of the club’, ‘we are so grateful for your continued support’, ‘we couldn’t survive without you’ you know, that type of crap. And we’ll decide who runs the joint, not them. After all, what the hell would they know about winning Olympic medals, barracking for other clubs, or running corporations? They’re too busy buying memberships and sitting in the rain screaming for their team. Election? What? What the hell is that? Pffftttt…. Let them eat cake…”

It’s all about the members. Neither the incumbent, nor the ghost challenger seem to get it. It’s not about you. It’s about the members. THAT’S why Rugby League club members are treated like royalty. Not because they have poker machines. But because they truly appreciate that without their members, there is no club. That’s not a catchy slogan worked up following yet another cynical survey. It’s the cold, hard truth.

So exactly how does that manifest for members?

[Lone Ranger]

My understanding is that Social Club is the thing that gets you voting rights. If you have Social Club but dont fit those categories I would definitely call the club

FWIW I was told that a 2021 season ticket qualifies you to vote at the 2021 AGM. If you go to the 1985 constitution it talks about ordinary members (who are entitled to vote) and honorable members (who aren't entitled to vote).

My understanding was that "Ordinary Member" = "Social Club Member".

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

The way members are treated has NOTHING to do with poker machines. It has EVERYTHING to do with how a club views it’s members.

For too long our club has simply taken its members for granted. “It’s OK. We can treat them like crap because we know they’ll sign up again. We’ve got tens of thousands of the buggers. Who cares if some of them get peed off and throw in their memberships? Plenty more where that came from. As long as they pay their fees and keep quiet, we who know so much better and are so far superior in intellect and application will continue to run the place as our personal little play thing. Concerns of members? Ahhh…OK….We’ll put in a member’s phone number which we’ll staff so poorly that it will take them 3 hours to get through. Ultimately, they just won’t bother with it. And if they are determined enough to hold on and do get through, if they raise real concerns we’ll pat them warmly on the head and fill them full of baseless platitudes - ‘you’re the lifeblood of the club’, ‘we are so grateful for your continued support’, ‘we couldn’t survive without you’ you know, that type of crap. And we’ll decide who runs the joint, not them. After all, what the hell would they know about winning Olympic medals, barracking for other clubs, or running corporations? They’re too busy buying memberships and sitting in the rain screaming for their team. Election? What? What the hell is that? Pffftttt…. Let them eat cake…”

It’s all about the members. Neither the incumbent, nor the ghost challenger seem to get it. It’s not about you. It’s about the members. THAT’S why Rugby League club members are treated like royalty. Not because they have poker machines. But because they truly appreciate that without their members, there is no club. That’s not a catchy slogan worked up following yet another cynical survey. It’s the cold, hard truth.

I didn’t mean to say there was any connection between poker machines and the way you get treated at rugby clubs. In fact I’m indifferent towards whether the Collingwood has poker machines or not. Doesn’t matter to me. Otherwise I agree with everything you’ve said. I object to members being treated like cash cows by the club. I’ve just returned my membership form back to the club with the box ticked to opt out of automatic payment deduction. I’m sick of contacting the club when they don’t heed what you say. Their attitude is that they’ve fixed up the football department so now all the members are happy and will obediently renew their memberships. I might add they screwed up the football department in the first place and just to remind them members are still forking out for full priced memberships for two seasons now that have been ruined by COVID.

[MJ23]

Funny thread - seriously comparing ourselves to NRL club members who average around 18k across the league. Highest have 32k and the lowest have 7k. And as has been said the bigger clubs rely solely on pokies and gaming revenue - Which given the board shake up we wont be moving back to ever.

Live in Syd and have conversations with league members - if you can actually find one. They bitch and complain about what they do and dont get as well.

As a member, all I expect from the board and CEO is access to a membership package that suits me and that my club is financially viable while protecting our history - something thats been done extremely well for two decades. What I expect from the football dept is a competitive brand of footy, ability to pay maximum cap and a continual strategic talent plan.

[Macattacks]

I spent a week in Townsville one weekend.

Boom Boom

[jackcass]

Funny thread - seriously comparing ourselves to NRL club members who average around 18k across the league. Highest have 32k and the lowest have 7k. And as has been said the bigger clubs rely solely on pokies and gaming revenue - Which given the board shake up we wont be moving back to ever.

Live in Syd and have conversations with league members - if you can actually find one. They bitch and complain about what they do and dont get as well.

As a member, all I expect from the board and CEO is access to a membership package that suits me and that my club is financially viable while protecting our history - something thats been done extremely well for two decades. What I expect from the football dept is a competitive brand of footy, ability to pay maximum cap and a continual strategic talent plan.

I'm not a member so I find this an interesting discussion. From my perspective, what you're suggesting is more akin to what I'd want/expect if I were to become a member. I'm not a huge fan of merchandise. I've got shirts and scarves and stuff, took a jumper on O/S travel, but just rarely wear it. I'm not a huge fan of social clubs. I recall ours at Vic Park, and the disco's at Moorabbin, Punt Road, Arden Street and the like. Didn't see the benefit to members then, don't now.

[Macattacks]

I recall ours at Vic Park, and the disco's at Moorabbin, Punt Road, Arden Street and the like. Didn't see the benefit to members then, don't now.

Oh there were benefits some nights

[MJ23]

Funny thread - seriously comparing ourselves to NRL club members who average around 18k across the league. Highest have 32k and the lowest have 7k. And as has been said the bigger clubs rely solely on pokies and gaming revenue - Which given the board shake up we wont be moving back to ever.

Live in Syd and have conversations with league members - if you can actually find one. They bitch and complain about what they do and dont get as well.

As a member, all I expect from the board and CEO is access to a membership package that suits me and that my club is financially viable while protecting our history - something thats been done extremely well for two decades. What I expect from the football dept is a competitive brand of footy, ability to pay maximum cap and a continual strategic talent plan.

I'm not a member so I find this an interesting discussion. From my perspective, what you're suggesting is more akin to what I'd want/expect if I were to become a member. I'm not a huge fan of merchandise. I've got shirts and scarves and stuff, took a jumper on O/S travel, but just rarely wear it. I'm not a huge fan of social clubs. I recall ours at Vic Park, and the disco's at Moorabbin, Punt Road, Arden Street and the like. Didn't see the benefit to members then, don't now.

I live interstate so Im lucky to see 2 or 3 Collingwood games a year. Im also a member of GWS but for a very different reason.

I have been a member for over 20 yrs from when I lived in Vic and just never changed it - Just feel its a way I can support the club.

Im happy with the membership polo and hat each year from a merch perspective. I wear both to any GWS game I attend as a spectator.

[Pies2016]

I recall ours at Vic Park, and the disco's at Moorabbin, Punt Road, Arden Street and the like. Didn't see the benefit to members then, don't now.

Oh there were benefits some nights

“ some nights ! “ You weren’t trying hard enough

[jackcass]

I recall ours at Vic Park, and the disco's at Moorabbin, Punt Road, Arden Street and the like. Didn't see the benefit to members then, don't now.

Oh there were benefits some nights

Other venues preferred.

[jackcass]

I recall ours at Vic Park, and the disco's at Moorabbin, Punt Road, Arden Street and the like. Didn't see the benefit to members then, don't now.

Oh there were benefits some nights

“ some nights ! “ You weren’t trying hard enough

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

Funny thread - seriously comparing ourselves to NRL club members who average around 18k across the league. Highest have 32k and the lowest have 7k. And as has been said the bigger clubs rely solely on pokies and gaming revenue - Which given the board shake up we wont be moving back to ever.

Live in Syd and have conversations with league members - if you can actually find one. They bitch and complain about what they do and dont get as well.

As a member, all I expect from the board and CEO is access to a membership package that suits me and that my club is financially viable while protecting our history - something thats been done extremely well for two decades. What I expect from the football dept is a competitive brand of footy, ability to pay maximum cap and a continual strategic talent plan.

Fair enough. There you are. Personally in my case for someone who's been a member on and off for over 20 years I would have expected better treatment from the club. Happy to compare my treatment to others. What I have taken in are the comments from Craig McRae quoting Leigh Matthews. Coaches coach. Players play and the admin administers. As far as I'm concerned I only now follow the fortunes of the football club. I have no interest in what the admin does any more.

[Macattacks]

[quote="jackcass"]

“ some nights ! “ You weren’t trying hard enough

[stoliboy]

Received an email from the club regarding the electoral process:

I’m a interstate member (and social club member) and based on this email would not be able to vote. Our membership category has changed over the years too e.g. Social Club County, Social Club Interstate.

Does anyone have a relevant part of the constitution?

The constitution won't help you. If you go to the website and look it up it's dated 1985. And if you ask the club and query the constitution they say it's been updated since 1985.

So I emailed the Club clarifying about my eligibility to vote in the election. They included a copy of the current constitution… located here: https://resources.collingwoodfc.com.au/ ... iation.pdf

There is also this document attached. A decision made by the board on 30th August 2016 on which membership categories are eligible to vote: https://p15.zdusercontent.com/attachmen ... 9IapU4o-NQ

Here is their reply:

“Hi

Thank you for your enquiry, and for your patience. We are working through a high volume of emails at the moment.

Unfortunately, Social Club access alone is not enough to meet the eligibility criteria to vote at an AGM.

The current minimum requirement is a membership that provides access to all 11 home games, as well as Social Club access. In effect, this is a Season Ticket General Admission (Home) package with the Social Club add-on.

I do know that the board is looking to expand voting rights at the upcoming AGM, so hopefully that gets voted through. The current criteria was brought in to comply with government regulations relating to our gaming venues, but since those venues were recently sold we can adjust the criteria.

You can view the current constitution here.

I have also attached a document from 2016, when the voting rights were updated.

If you have any further questions feel free to reply to this email, or you can call us on 1300 MAGPIE (62 47 43) between 10:00am and 4:00pm on Monday-Friday.

Kind regards,
Josh
Attachment(s)
CFC Members Entitlement to Voting at AGM - 30-8-16.pdf”