[maccawozzagod]

In light of recent 'almost accusations' I will issue a reminder that all activities are discussed at meetings held on the second monday of every month in the Sportsbar. Most of the members who attend meetings are also active on this messageboard and the OSC messageboard (see link). We discuss many ideas in a little more detail on there and everybody is completely aware of what is happening at all times. There are five forums on the site but not all are accessible. OSC events accesible to all, OSC ebay accessible to all, The club that wouldn't die - accessible only to activated members (of the forum) as this contains information on the exhibition that we dont want all and sundry to read, stanleys' merchandise range accessible only to people hand picked to serve on the committee regarding new products.

Due to the number of spammers who try posting porn and the fact that we can't be on the site all day we elected to have people who register unable to post until activated. I check the list of new members almost daily but if you do want to register and require activation then post me a PM on here just to make sure you don't slip through the net.

The forum is in no way designed to replace Accy Web (unless it goes down for some reason then feel free) as a chatting forum but is designed to be used for OSC needs by OSC people. Any useless none related chat will be deleted.

Furthermore, as a retort to various people including our esteemed chairman (although not to my face as I asked 3 months ago) deciding to have a go about the use of the Oaklea as opposed to the clubhouse for our recent meeting, I would like to explain why. The clubhouse is indeed a vehicle that should be used wherever possible to put money over the bar. In recent months the OSC general meetings have encountered various problems specifically, not always being able to get a drink and meetings running late due to the Weight Watchers' (who don't spend anything at the bar) weekly meets. We are also forced to rush meetings sometimes if Hazel has to man the bar because she has to be back at the Crown to make the butties for the quiz. We are also squashed into the front lounge more often than not whilst the Weight Watchers meeting winds down and packs up. It is also winter and the bar is cold.

The steering group for the Exhibition meets at the Oaklea as it has a private room, a direct overhead heater that doesn't need to go on four hours earlier and has a bar that is already open anyway. As there are only ever half a dozen of us on this committee it suits our needs perfectly. We can't use the Crown as it is apublic bar that is unsuitable for private meets.

For the volunteer meeting that we held last monday we didn't know how many people would turn up. It could have been nobody, it could have been a hundred, the ycould have been teenagers, they could have been pensioners. I would not liked to have booked the clubhouse and have a busload of pensioners having to walk along the dark lane on their own, or having to negotiate the steps from the Crown, or the large puddles that have unfortunately gathered. For people who may not have been to the ground for many years it might not have left a good impression and that is part of what we want to create.

None of these problems are anybodies fault, none of them are easily rectifiable. As a club we took the best place available to us 40 years ago and it still suits us now. But it does not lend itself naturally to things such as this. In years or months to come we may have better lighting outside for the cold and dark months, we may have puddle/mud free car parks, but either way we will still endeavour to satisfy the needs of everybody and still act in the best interests of Accrington Stanley.

It was nice to see some fresh faces on monday night by the way and I thank all those that made the effort and sincerely hope that they continue to help us with this potentially great project. If anybody didn't make the meeting on monday but would still like to get involved then I suggest that you attend the Official Media launch on the 19th of January at around 12:30pm in the clubhouse. As part of the project we had budgeted for venue hire for an official launch and we suggested that we should sponsor a match therefore still fulfilling our needs and also putting much needed revenue back into the club. We asked for the bar to be opened up to fans for this event and maybe that prompted the decision to re-open the clubhouse every week. Granada and Sky TV cameras are more than 90% certain to attend, as are the local newspapers and radio, local Civic dignitaries and hopefully a smattering of pre-62 pro's and maybe a special guest or two. There will also be a buffet laid on.

Keeping the faith, spreading the word, On Stanley On

Rob Russell
Chairman, ASFC OSC