Hi
Thanks Nick
Hi Terry
The TB are far to indecisive to make a decision like that!
I suppose I have two views on volunteering... instinctively, coming from a very corporate background, I’d want to understand the reliance on volunteers. Are they an absolute necessity to survive? If so, I might well challenge that this shouldn’t be the case. On the other hand, i’m a keen volunteer myself - not just with ECFC but other organisations, as well. We’re a community focused Club and opportunities to become involved, to grow a sense of influence and ownership around that community is critical, i think, for the long term success of the organisation. Volunteering often offers an opportunity to do things that might not otherwise present themselves to us and so, typically, the volunteer gets as much benefit from it as the recipient. I think that’s fantastic. Personally, I think the benefit to the organisation is not so much financial, but is more indicative of how committed supporters are to creating something special about ECFC. So providing there is not an overeliance on volunteers, I only see good in the process for all concerned.
As i’ve noted in a earlier reply, there is a challenge facing the Trust in terms of transitioning Junior Grecians to full-on, paid up Trust members. This arises between the ages of 16 and 18, I think, though very possibly going into their 20’s. I recently volunteered for the Trust to man a stall at Exeter College and what was very evident was that tutors and other stall holders engaged more with us than the actual students! I spoke with another stall minder who was representing a bar (used to be the Timepiece in Gandy Street) and they were telling me how they had done some work with the Chiefs (I gave them a couple of scarves to hang up). So there are opportunities out there. As to what i’d do, well I think we probably need to venture beyond SJP more frequently, but also understand the nature of our existing members to see if there are groups we are obviously missing. I did some analysis very recently that demonstrated the majority of season ticket holders are not Trust members. That’s incredible, folk who are prepared to make that kind of commitment but struggle with the notion of an extra £2 a month! So I think I’ve identified two growth areas - young adults and non-Trust season ticket holders. In terms of making the Trust more appealing - how great is it that i’m able to engage directly with other Supporters, both Members and non-members through a popular social media outlet. If you’re not talking to people through the media of their choice then quite clearly, they won’t hear what you’re saying. That would be my first recommendation, to open ourselves up beyond the Trust WEB site and engage!
The thing that most troubles me about this is that it seems to have been an objective of the Trust for a very time, so what are the reasons for not achieving it? Is it too hard, not beneficial, or a case of ‘better off in the long grass’. Generally, objectives should be met or reasons provided for not doing so, and an agreement reached as to the next steps. Even if that means abandoning the process. As for whether I support the idea - well given that it was deemed important enough to be made an objective in the first place, then I would assume there is good value in it. My understanding, and this is an unqualified view, is that our current percentage share holding is actually far higher when translated into voting rights (on the basis that there are unidentifiable shares held in a suspended account who clearly, do not turn up to vote, etc! On this basis, perhaps the benefits need to be reviewed and re-established, refreshing the drive to push the project onwards.