OSC AGM last night

[maccawozzagod]

Chairman, Vice Chair, Treasurer all re-elected, Mel Mackie elected as new Secretary.

Beyond that we finished a few items off and decided a couple of things but I really can't be bothered to tell anybody anything other than that.

13 months ago there was much furore mentioned on here that people weren't willing to support a non-transparent OSC, they weren't willing to support a non-forwarding thinking OSC. Well where are any of you now? Tonight was the lowest attendance for around 30 months .... and it was the AGM.

let me remind you that we now have an OSC that is willing to stand up to the club (although we do want to work together and are currently striving to do so), we try to have the fans point of view at heart and will always back that view, we have tried (and failed due only to LCC) to launch the biggest Open Day this club has known, have organised the biggest post 68 organised away travel, have organised the largest Official vote for player of the years type thingies, have secured the largest independant grant for Stanley Orientated funding in the history of ASFC, kickstarted at the request of many but backed by few OSC merchandising range. I could carry on but can't be bothered

I'm sure you get the gist of what I am talking about, we had an artist booked for mid-October who was one of the best of his type in Lancashire certainly, but we couldn't guarantee that we would get anywhere near enough people to come ..... we had strippers nights planned for November but can't guarantee that people would come.

The OSC has in the last twelve months become what people were asking of it, the only reason it hasn't fully become that is because you the people ar enot backing it. WHAT MORE DO WE HAVE TO DO? ****e in the last few weeks such as the Buy-the-Club carry on should make you appreciate all the more what role our OSC can play in the future of ASFC, BUT DOES ANYBODY GIVE A DAMN? NO.

If you don't like the way the present OSC is run then make a point of saying so. If you don't think that a Supporters Organisation has any part to play in the long term strategy of our club then say so. If you think you can do a better job then say so, if you don't want to get involved but still think there are better ways of doing things then open your mouth please.

Much has been made in the past of the apathy that allowed ASFC to fold in 1962, much has been made recently (rightly or wrongly) of our lack of funds or interest or crap gates or poor revenue or crap merchandise range.... where are all you people who have something to say? watching Emmerdale? Corrie? Stenders?

There are many people on here, who live local enough, who have something to say when things ain't quite as they want them, but will they get off their arses to go to an oSC meet once a year? no.

Apologies received tonight from Nigel and Andrea. and Diane.



What I would really like, really really like, is for the higher profile members of this forum, - who don't attend meetings, who don't offer assistance if and when required, to please post via PM to me why. It's not a personal assault on you, it's more a fact finding mission, what would make you want to attend a meeting? could ASFC exist without an OSC (yes it could but should it?). I'd like at least 15 of the regular names to respond please and none of those that make a habit of posting crap to bother. There are about 10 people left who actually give a damn enough to get involved and try to do something contructive towards the future of our club (other than employees or long term donaters), are you one of them? or would you rather just waffle on about how things could be different?



Sickened by the apathy

[alan7554]

first of all i for one would just like to say a BIG THANK YOU to you R/R for all the hard work and dedication you and the commitee have done over the last 12 months,i follow your efforts on the message board and read the minutes of the meetings and yes it saddens me to think that all your hard work is going down the sh***er,you have been a credit to the OSC and i for one feel that your efforts have not been rewarded,sorry i cant get to the meetings until next march but i hope my donations of items will help your funds,just remember rob KEEP THE FAITH

[Willie Miller]

1. Lots of people hate meetings especially with a formal title like AGM
2. The OSC still appears to be a "closed shop" for the informed
3. The OSC ain't any more high profile at ASFC than they were (IMHO)
4. Lots of the comings & goings are only noticed by accyweb users (IMHO)
5. There is still no presence at the ground selling merch etc
6. Many folk still don't know what you are, what you do?
7. Although the committee seems to have got younger, the club doesn't seem to appeal to the younger element

Ideas
1. A newsletter to be handed out at the ground.
2. A member who travels on Official Away regularly to recruit away travellers on behalf of the OSC (Visible Presence).
3. Merch stall with the OSC name to it, colourful & with OSC emblazoned.
4. Promote ASFC as much as poss in press. Sponsored walks etc.
5. Push all ASFC events ie Quiz Night, Curry Night from newsletter, web, stall.
6. Actively seek out fans who don't know & spread the word.

& thats about it. I think you've done fantastic R/R! But thats what I sense/think. May be wrong but its what you asked for in your post.

Stick with it man! I would never again attend a formal meeting with chairman etc etc. (We used to as Stanley Ultras reps so to speak) but will always help with things ASFC. As I did on carnival, red & white fortnight etc etc

Its a hard job but somebody has to do it!

[Willie Miller]

Sorry

7. Reinstate Poker night (the greatest OSC event ever)
8. Function / Ents Committee Member !
9. One function per month

[Outback Ozzy]

Willie, as much as your ideas are good, therein lies the problem. The Poker nights you mention were attended by the same 12 or 14 folk week in week out. One of the last functions organised with a live artist, only 12 people turned up. As regards the merchandise selling, I think you may find that the chairman is dead against this as it would clash with official merchandise, which is a pity really, because it doesn't - Rob has tried his dammedest to complement what is sold in the official outlets and not be in competition. The Quiz night is regularly advertised on the fishy site at the Crown on Mondays, same problem - APATHY - Yes the committee and all the OSC members are pushing the ASFC brand in everybodies faces as much as possible, all to no avail. Hopefully, this lottery grant to highlight the history of the club both recent and pre '62 will raise the profile and get more folks involved, I hope so. This is not having a go at you personally, but even I am shocked with the offers of help we sometimes get. I personally try to get to most meetings even though I live over 40 miles away. This is because I love the club as I am sure most others do and we despair at the lows of the club and enjoy the highs. It is up to all supporters to raise the profile not just the few.

[Stanleymad]

I think you put forward some valid points to take note of Willie Miller - sometimes its hard to see outside the box when in it sort of speak, its good to get views, tips & ideas also feedback to improve & further the direction of the OSC to the fans & the club

Tho one problem lies in people volunteering or helping with various stuff needed & that needs more members to come to meetings which has certainly prompted macca's post.

[Willie Miller]

I agree to both. But some won't go to a meeting with chair & minutes (too formal) but if you said fancy organising a function Mr Miller. Then I'd say

No probs! as I did with the PS2 Games Nights. . . .

Just ask folk & don't think cause they ain't gone to a meeting they ain't an less "Red"

[shillelagh]

You will always get this macca - the same people turning up for meeting after meeting. Its the same in the organisation where i am secretary its always the same people time after time who turn up to meetings, who volunteer to run street stalls etc, turning up to the fundraisers. Then when something happens the rest complain big time and when they say that they werent told - all you can do is just say it was discussed at such a meeting. Me i am a member of the OSC - just a month, i wasnt there last night because i was on here, i was at home.

[Stanleymad]

Trouble is that you need a 'committee' heading to acquire various funds, funding methods & banking, without this the OSC couldn't really survive & is the request requirements of running a group with approx over 5 members [min 3 in some cases for smaller starter groups], thats the way it goes, things have to be paid for & costed to even run as we do - to put on events, merchandise costings, etc & to account finances. But come to a meeting altho it has formal format it is rather informal in feel than some meetings i've been to before

well a general gist of it approximately anyways for those that aren't au fay with group committees

[Willie Miller]

10. Notice board in club house with pics of committee upcoming events etc
11. Technophobe but Podcast?

[Gayle]

Some people are put off by committees and the official stuff but really that's no excuse.

I'm a member of quite a few groups, I'm also a member of OSC and of course I'm involved because of the exhibition. Committees are essential to get anything done but meetings are not that formal. Monday night's meeting was relaxed, friendly and a good opportunity to socialise and chat. The bar was open and the 'official' part of it was over very quickly.

I have to admit that I thought we'd be inundated with a response for the trip to Preston football museum and for volunteering for the project but it hasn't been the flood that I expected. The passion that you show on the terraces is still as relevant off the terraces.

You can still PM me if you want a place on the trip.

[Pendle Red]

I too am a bit put off by commitees, I am not a great public speaker and find it easier sometimes to sound off on here!
But eighteen months ago I became involved in something I had attended for years and it was a similar state of affairs numbers involved had fallen and fresh ideas and faces were needed to move it on. But what I quicky realised is it is a great way to meet like minded people who have the same interest at heart as yourself and as a group/committee whatever if you all have the same goal you really can make a dramatic difference and turn things around. I attended my first OSC meeting on Monday evening and it was as people who did attend have already mentioned very informal and a chance too put ideas forward and work together for the greater goal which is Accrington Stanley FC, with the Supporters Club the more people who become involved the greater the pool of ideas, the more chance of them becoming reality! I agree with some of the other posts with regard to perhaps people do not know who the OSC are and what they do and perhaps that does need to be addresed but I am sure what has been achieved by the OSC could be doubled or trebled if more people became involved!

[Stanleymad]

It was great to finally meet you Pendle Red & least its one way to meet stanley likeminded people in one place lol.

[maccawozzagod]

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

1. Lots of people hate meetings especially with a formal title like AGM

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]can't be helped unfortunately

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

2. The OSC still appears to be a "closed shop" for the informed

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

I've no idea where this comes from. The minutes are posted on the OSC site within a few days of the meet (not this month though). They are also regularly posted in some shape or form on here (although few other than those at the meet ever comment on them), most of us are also at the Crown or the Oaklea afterwards to discuss a bit more over more drink. We have one of the best (IMHO) OSC websites in the Country that contains more info than I have seen for an OSC (Except the Gallery which will take time to build up unfortunately. We feature all our events in the paper, and on at least three radio stations and they are usually announced over the tannoy and in the programme. We have also been represented at the Carnival as usual but also the Mela and Barrowford show for the first time ever on both occasions

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

3. The OSC ain't any more high profile at ASFC than they were (IMHO)

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]
will they ever be? not until we starting putting ten grand a year minimum into the club

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

4. Lots of the comings & goings are only noticed by accyweb users (IMHO)

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

probably, yeah. see next bit

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

5. There is still no presence at the ground selling merch etc

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

we wante dto sell in the clubhouse when the merchandise idea first come around. Rob Heys had agreed that we could have a table in the corner and have it reserved every week. When the clubhouse became 'closed' that obviously got knocked on the head. The Crown was then the next stop but Eric said we couldn't sell anything in there! so we went to the Oaklea. The problem with doing it from a pub is that we have to set everything up, then take it down, store it, get it back up again etc.... not to mention an abundance of away fans trying to shop lift and just generally making a nuisance. Also the smoking ban affects this as folk are wandering around more than they used to. People to man the stall, there are too few people willing to do anything to help with whatever we want to do. Last year I put out three separate requests for people to help with a simple leaflet handing out excercise (inc the player of the year vote) and ended up with only the usual two or three. If the same few people have to keep doing it all the time it affects you r enjoyment of your saturday afternoon out and you start hiding away and avoiding looking into my eyes in case you volunteer for something. When I was doing the memberships I was in the pub two hours before KO and an hour after the game whether I wanted to be or not, sometimes I couldn't do that because we had flyers to hand out. You can't be everywhere without the numbers. edit (we can now sell stuff in the Crown, and this may be trialled a few times but the large number of away fans in there from early will probably kybosh this)

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

6. Many folk still don't know what you are, what you do?

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

its obvious what we are!!!

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

7. Although the committee seems to have got younger, the club doesn't seem to appeal to the younger element

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

..... until younger people with younger ideas get involved!! there is nothing whatsoever to stop half a dozen Ultras (for arguments sake) doing Ultra based ideas using OSC money, provided the meet agrees that is in the interest of what we stand for. Can you remember the Ultra meet last year when we decided that we should put up advertising boards in key locations around the borough to advertise the next match? Nothing happened and for no real reason. If half a dozen peole came and had that idea next month then I see reason why we shouldn't stump up £100 or so to buy the materials. Its a gimme.


Ideas

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

1. A newsletter to be handed out at the ground.

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]
I prepared one for the start of the season and handed it around at a meeting. We have sponsorships kinda ready to roll to cover the costs but I just haven't really had the time to get back on it. It will be done though. Provided we can people to hand them out

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

2. A member who travels on Official Away regularly to recruit away travellers on behalf of the OSC (Visible Presence).

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

This was suggested to me by Rob Heys that if we could get someone from the OSC to help take bookings at the ground then they may benefit from free coach travel to the game. Nobody responded when I announced it the August (?) meeting

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

3. Merch stall with the OSC name to it, colourful & with OSC emblazoned.

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]
This might be the only way to go forwards with anything we do. I spoke with Lewis about it a month or so back and there is a possibilty of putting a structure of some sort under the rear of the roof on the Clayton End. We need a bit more money in the bank though before we start touting this around again to purchase a shed or summat. Again though manpower will play a part in whether this ever happens, and also what about the main stand?

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

4. Promote ASFC as much as poss in press. Sponsored walks etc

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]
media representation already happens, but not enough people again. I write letters to the letters pages of local papers and my last one won letter of the week, I have done the fans panels, I have had interviews on all four local stations in the past two months, we have Press Releases when we have good news. If more people, did more things, then we would get better coverage but it needs everyone regardless of their age or status to get on it. Everybody could ring the fans panel on radio lancs on monday nights and then they would have to talk about Stanley more than the other local teams, everybody can write a letter to the newspaper, or join in the Telegraph forum thingy that they quote after match reports.

As far as Sponsored events are concerned they are not a big thing to me for a couple of reasons. Mainly it is the people doing the event that gets each other to sponsor them, so I'd be sponsoring you for doing something that I am doing myself. For the effort involved in organisnig something that only a handful of people end up bothering with it would be easier to have a sponsored Put Your Hand in Your Pocket and Pull Out Twenty Quid event. The OSC has done walks and things for years and they are old hat that raise little money for the effort, the same thing over and over gets tedious so I have tried to shy away from them. The walk that the Ultras are doing will no doubt do well because there are enough of you doing it and it is reasonably new to most of those that will be on it, and also because you are doing it for Charity you can tap people up who wouldn't put money into Stanley.

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

5. Push all ASFC events ie Quiz Night, Curry Night from newsletter, web, stall

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]
Yes you're right we should have the events listed on our website, the Newsletter will obviously feature them (to fill space as much as owt!).

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

6. Actively seek out fans who don't know & spread the word

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

People power again! but we do what we can.

[quote=Willie Miller;479805] I would never again attend a formal meeting with chairman etc etc. (We used to as Stanley Ultras reps so to speak) but will always help with things ASFC. As I did on carnival, red & white fortnight etc etc [quote=Willie Miller;479808]

that's a shame as you would help to bring in the younger end that is needed, (for memberships if nowt else)

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

7. Reinstate Poker night (the greatest OSC event ever)

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

as mentioned though, numbers dwindled and UK Cowboy get tired of trying when there was little or no interest, especially from the Stanley end. It would be good to have a couple a year as special events rather than the once a month format that people may feel tied to. A good old fashioned big cash prize pot to draw (sorry) them in?

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

8. Function / Ents Committee Member !

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

I offered this post around for three months last year, the idea being to specifically identify and plan differing events. Eventually UK Cowboy took on the post but after another couple of kicks in the teeth numbers wise it faltered. The post is kinda still there and if anybody wanted to do it then they would be more than welcome.

)

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

9. One function per month

[quote=Willie Miller;479808]

not a chance. It is what we agreed though at the end of last season, but when you get 14 people turn up to an artist that has cost you nearly £200 you have to reconsider. I had two nights booked in tentatively for November to put strippers on (Gents evening and Ladies evening), we had a date booked for October for a well known Club circuit singer, but they got cancelled because of previous crap attendances and the fact that I am too busy to flap around organising and attending something that will probably flop. The strippers nights would do well if we had a few people who would go around car garages and pubs and other male dominated places to give out leaflets, same again with the ladie snight - we need people targetting the female typical environs such as Childrens nurseries. But we ain't got the manpower.

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

I agree to both. But some won't go to a meeting with chair & minutes (too formal) but if you said fancy organising a function Mr Miller. Then I'd say

No probs! as I did with the PS2 Games Nights. . . .

Just ask folk & don't think cause they ain't gone to a meeting they ain't an less "Red"

we're all as Red as one another Mr Miller. fancy organising a function Mr Miller.......

Originally Posted by shillelagh

Me i am a member of the OSC - just a month,

thanks for joining Shillelagh, and the extra one that you brought in as well. I just wish more people would join. But everybody wants something for their money (a fiver?) because just 'belonging' isn't good enough. But I would have thought the 15% off your pints at the Oaklea would've swayed a lot more.

Originally Posted by Stanleymad

Trouble is that you need a 'committee' heading to acquire various funds, funding methods & banking, without this the OSC couldn't really survive & is the request requirements of running a group with approx over 5 members [min 3 in some cases for smaller starter groups], thats the way it goes, things have to be paid for & costed to even run as we do - to put on events, merchandise costings, etc & to account finances. But come to a meeting altho it has formal format it is rather informal in feel than some meetings i've been to before

without the format we have to adhere to (kinda ), we wouldn't have the Lottery funding

[quote=Willie Miller;479853]10. Notice board in club house with pics of committee upcoming events etc[quote=Willie Miller;479853] definitely

[quote=Willie Miller;479853]11. Technophobe but Podcast? [quote=Willie Miller;479853]

technophobe but whats that do then? Do you mean like broadcasting the meeting?

Originally Posted by Gayle

I have to admit that I thought we'd be inundated with a response for the trip to Preston football museum and for volunteering for the project but it hasn't been the flood that I expected. The passion that you show on the terraces is still as relevant off the terraces.

You can still PM me if you want a place on the trip.

disappointing, its free for gawds sake!





If you have got all the way down to here and still reading then well done and thanks for bearing with me.

I was really miffed on monday night because it was the AGM and it is only a once a year 'main' meeting. It is one that folk really should make a little more effort to get to. I have had a few PM's of people apologising for their absences but a lot of these were from people outside of Lancashire!

Anyway we soldier on regardless. Every year there are a few people who put their hand up for nearly everything, but a year or two later they don't even come anymore because they have been put on by doing nearly everything and it becomes a bind to the extent where they feel obligated. If we had more numbers then everybody could get involved with a little something and peole could get a break then. I actually feel redundant now that Harwood Red and Pendle Red are doing the memberships, Red Osbornello the website, Gayle managing the Exhibition and the wife certainly notices me around the house a little more now! Little does she realise that the 'free' time will enable me to try to concentrate on a couple of other things.

The functions that we have had, and will have again, are not particulary fund raisers for us (although it woul dbe nice to make more than we spend for once), if it costs us £200 to hold a function but the bar takes £205 then it is a success, of sorts. But if we are still losing money after we have held a raffle, auction and bar takings then that is taking the p....... so we don't do it. The next function will be the Christmas do and I sincerely hope we can make a good amount of money here because that will enable us to host another function a little later.

The merchandise was one big hope we had to get the tills ringing again. Many people on here had intimated that they would buy more if a)there was more choice of goods and b) if the prices were more realistic. But, as John Timmins said a couple of weeks ago, other than the OSC members involved in the project who had actually bought anything? we have sold stuff around the place but nowhere near what we expected to judging by the opinions of this forum. There are some reasons for this failure but it still comes down to not enough people wanting to contribute. Out of all the regular readers on here, have you all seen the list of things we do?

Anyway, thats it from me for today, the whole point of the thread was just to give that little push that we do need you all. We need your ideas, we need your criticisms, we need your numbers and above all we need your encouragement and involvement.

Thank you very much to all those who PM'd me their words of encouragement and thanks Willie for being the only one (other than attnedee's) to respond

[John_Timmins]

two eric whalleys....theres only two eric whalleys