[Archived] Planned open supporters meeting

[OJRovers]

Is the club representative going?

[Roost]

Some posters seem to have one.

The same detractors are at it again.

As you quoted me, was your remark aimed at me?

[BRFC95]

As you quoted me, was your remark aimed at me?

Your question merely begged for the response I gave.

Are you a detractor?

[Ste B]

Your question merely begged for the response I gave.

Are you a detractor?

Its a completely reasonable question to ask if the meeting has some sort of Agenda for tonight. What do the attendees expect to have to do / say.

Doesn't mean he's a detractor at all, why get shirty about it ?

[Roost]

Your question merely begged for the response I gave.

Are you a detractor?

If asking for an agenda makes me a detractor, then yes. If you feel you can fumble your way around a meeting without any organisation of time or topics, then tonight should be right up your street.

Ask the Mods to change the thread to read 'un'planned open supporters meeting - that would be more accurate.

[BRFC95]

Doesn't mean he's a detractor at all, why get shirty about it ?

I'm not getting shirty

[Roost]

I'm not getting shirty

Yeh, right.

[rovers11]

I live in Sussex so, unfortunately, I won't be able to attend tonight. Are minutes being taken?

[Ste B]

I'm not getting shirty

IMHO you are. As soon as somebody asks a reasonable question you come up with the "are you a detractor" line.

[glen9mullan]

I think you will find it's more a matter of people thinking about the whole situation, asking questions, formulating opinions and looking to stimulate the whole fan base to ask one question:

What is really happening in relation to everything at Ewood? - not just tonight's meeting or the protest movement.

This is exactly the idea for tonight, and I have been thinking about how to phrase it for an hour.

How it will work, I do not know, Gary Hickson was supposed to be Chairing the meeting but has had to cancel at the last minute (Late Last Night), which is a massive blow. I have spoken to Duncan and asked this afternoon if he could do it which I think he will do, unless someone else would like to?

Common ground is key, this is not a protest meeting and I'm hopeful that protest etc will be left out of the meeting and only mentioned in reference. I'm very interested in what the BRST has to say, whilst also interested what other groups like the FF have to say.

What as supporters we can achieve, i really do not know?, I'm open minded and hope someone somewhere has the answers or plan to find a way forward for the sake of the supporters and the club.

I have been asked countless times what the agenda/format is for tonight, I think it would be fair to say it would be pretty near impossible to put an agenda together with so much difference of opinion, of how we move forwards.

I just hope its nice and peaceful and come the end of it, people can take positives from their attendance

[Exiled in Toronto]

I would think if the coalition cabinet manages to have agendas and minutes for the running of an entire country, it might just be possible for a fan base who all think to a man that we have crap owners and want new ones.

[BRFC95]

IMHO you are. As soon as somebody asks a reasonable question you come up with the "are you a detractor" line.

Whatever

[Tom]

Whatever

Good response well thought out

[sharpysharps]

I would think if the coalition cabinet manages to have agendas and minutes for the running of an entire country, it might just be possible for a fan base who all think to a man that we have crap owners and want new ones.

Spot on

[Devon Rover]

This is exactly the idea for tonight, and I have been thinking about how to phrase it for an hour.

How it will work, I do not know, Gary Hickson was supposed to be Chairing the meeting but has had to cancel at the last minute (Late Last Night), which is a massive blow. I have spoken to Duncan and asked this afternoon if he could do it which I think he will do, unless someone else would like to?

Common ground is key, this is not a protest meeting and I'm hopeful that protest etc will be left out of the meeting and only mentioned in reference. I'm very interested in what the BRST has to say, whilst also interested what other groups like the FF have to say.

What as supporters we can achieve, i really do not know?, I'm open minded and hope someone somewhere has the answers or plan to find a way forward for the sake of the supporters and the club.

I have been asked countless times what the agenda/format is for tonight, I think it would be fair to say it would be pretty near impossible to put an agenda together with so much difference of opinion, of how we move forwards.

I just hope its nice and peaceful and come the end of it, people can take positives from their attendance

That all sounds very pleasant but does anyone know what the intended outcomes are? Otherwise the meeting may not be of any benefit (I attend a lot of meetings like that!!).

Glen- this isnt criticism of you as there is no reason why you specifically should be tasked with an agenda/minutes etc but it would surely make sense for any group organising an event like this to ensure it is appropriately set up to be of value. If it isn't a beneficial/useful meeting then it will only add to what seems to be a growing feeling of resignation and disenchantment and therefore may be more hinderance than help.

Very disappointing to hear the agreed Chair is not going.

I wish I could join up with those attending- but even if I were closer I would only go to a meeting of this kind if I understood the planned content and aims.

[PAFELL]

Was Ian Currie and Ian Battersby invited - has he been informed - to this meeting? After all they have been to over to see venkys also in light of the podcast.

[glen9mullan]

Was Ian Currie and Ian Battersby invited - has he been informed - to this meeting? After all they have been to over to see venkys also in light of the podcast.

i'm hopeful these would come, i do not have personal contacts for either person, but they will be aware of it, as you said one was on the podcast where the meeting was mentioned

[Billinge End Blue]

Forget worrying about a formal agenda, what draught ale has the Manxman got to serve up? This is not frivolous, we have to take whatever comforts we can in these straitened dark days around Ewood!

[darrenrover]

i'm hopeful these would come, i do not have personal contacts for either person, but they will be aware of it, as you said one was on the podcast where the meeting was mentioned

Glen I would initially like to wish you every success for tonight's meeting and hopefully it won't degenerate. Unfortunately I am unable to attend as a consequence of a prior commitment.

I think it is unfortunate that there is not some form of prior agenda or format for an intended outcome. Based on that, I really cannot understand what is hoped to be achieved but fully understand the frustrations of a need to do something whatever that may be.

I would strongly recommend anybody intending to attend to listen to Podcast 23 first and the subsequent answers provided to the questions raised. If they haven't, it may be opportune to play it at the meeting as many questions that may be raised are answered by someone definitely 'in the know' and that may generate a forum for the meeting in light of there being no agenda and any questions raised could be put to the 2 Ians. I can assure you they will be answered honestly and concisely as questions raised to date have been.

I hope the meeting is not 'more of the same' and we can move forward positively with a light at the end of the tunnel.

We Are The Rovers!

[Daniel Louis Grabko (Dan)]

Anyone with an update as to how this meeting is going, what the attendance levels are?

[Paul]

40 people and going nowhere.

[Billinge End Blue]

Paul is right on the numbers but not sure on the 'going nowhere'assessment; then again, I left at 8:45 to get to Darwen for a 9:00 rendezvous.

It was low key but personally I'm glad it wasn't chaired by any 'media personality'as had been proposed.

Unity is key seemed to be the message from the various ' official' speakers early on. Venkys as true target was another major theme. The need to avoid the move to scapegoating individuals and reconciling protester v non-protestor divisions was made repeatedly. Not sure if financials or the charitable trust proposal were discussed later.

The Supporters Trust speaker didn't really seize any opportunity to try and get the various disparate groups to affiliate and working collectively and effectively was not really covered while I was there. Thought the past BRISA experience might have been raised ( ironically this Independent Supporters Association from several years ago dissipated because there were too few axes to grind in those relatively halcyon days!).

No real ale but a reasonable pint of mild served.

[hesfromburn]

40 people is a classed as a 'division'

[Glenn]

Odd you mention BRSA, there has been significant pressure to reform it recently. Personally I'd like BRST to fill that gap, but I do find it odd that the first free BRISA meetings got way bigger turn outs, when almost everything was fine at the club, than similar attempts are now, when there a huge problems to address

[Paul]

but I do find it odd that the first free BRISA meetings got way bigger turn outs, when almost everything was fine at the club, than similar attempts are now, when there a huge problems to address

I was thinking exactly the same thing sat in the Manxman

One big thing is BRISA leafletted fans inside the turnstiles. This had no mass publicity.

It concerns me the majority of groups represented, excluding the FF and BRST, are web based.