OSC statement for members

maccawozzagod · 09-01-2008, 23:24

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

southernred · 10-01-2008, 08:25

Macca,

Thank you this excellant and detailed reply.

I hope those than are questioning the reasons/ motives of the OSC and the exhibition will take the time to read it

Please keep promoting our Club

harwood red · 10-01-2008, 12:18

I have to agree with Southern Red..great post and hope it will clarify where the OSC stands

Stanleymad · 10-01-2008, 12:42

Here Here!!

To clarify the OSC are acting on behalf of the club & the fans with the same goal - spreading the word & promoting ASFC, as im glad people are interested in the OSC or least have an opinion about it & thats a start

We welcome anyone whom has least a little interest of what goes on or what we do, please come along to one our meetings, find out more & ask away or even have criticism or have an opinion, come along & help sort out a solution to it or give us your ideas. We have a formal format being a committee, but its a VERY FRIENDLY INFORMAL feel & you will be welcomed warmly

Next OSC meeting is scheduled for the 14th January at 7.15pm at the ASFC CLUB HOUSE - or you're welcome to come along to the launch on 19th January before the Brentford match 12.30pm

ukcowboy · 10-01-2008, 15:01

Cracking post Macca.

Ber999T · 10-01-2008, 15:24

Thanks for the information and the fullness of the reply. I wish you all well with the project and just wish I had some free time to help.

lindsay ormerod · 11-01-2008, 21:58

Great work Macca !

cmonstanley · 11-01-2008, 22:02

how can anybody criticise you .youve been trying the best for members and non members.you have to have a balance and you have balanced

maccawozzagod · 15-01-2008, 01:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

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.

sorry to bring this back up but it is necessary as one or two mis-contruences have been levelled at us at tonights meeting. Hazel has been informed (not 100% sure who) that the OSC has had a go at her through this forum. I will go on record right now as saying that none of the problems in my first post are her fault. She works damned hard at what she does and does put in long hours with ridiculously low back up from the club. When I placed that post I tried to do so with tact and decorum and without trying to blame or fault anybody. However if certain people want to persist with trying to use any given post to attack the OSC or me personally then I will come out fighting. The person who put the idea in Hazels head that we were trying to attck her through this forum want sectioning. I have told you to your face as you have me - if you have something to say then say it me, do not use other people as pawns in your game.

I won't speak for the entire OSC but pretty much everybody who attends meetings is 100% beind the efforts that Hazel makes for our club and if somebody wants to force us into a trench then I know where most of us will be going.

You have a mobile, home, work telephone numbers for me. You have three email addresses, Accy Web PM, or you could catch me at the ground at every home match and a goodly smattering of home matches. I look forward to the call.

Neil · 15-01-2008, 02:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

not always being able to get a drink....It is also winter and the bar is cold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

She works damned hard at what she does and does put in long hours with ridiculously low back up from the club.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

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.

Have you actually read your own posts?
In my opinion the last quote above is certainly true about what this thread has done.
I must ask, was it your intention to make the club look so bad and uninviting to others?
I always thought you were trying to promote the club, not slaughter it in this very public way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

sorry to bring this back up but it is necessary as one or two mis-contruences have been levelled at us at tonights meeting.

Should that not have been sorted out at the meeting then?

maccawozzagod · 15-01-2008, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

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.

thanks for the reply and interest Neil. It's all well and good picking out chunks of a post but if you re-read in context such as the above quote you can see where I have said that there is no fault and we are a victim of our own success to a degree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Have you actually read your own posts?
In my opinion the last quote above is certainly true about what this thread has done.
I must ask, was it your intention to make the club look so bad and uninviting to others?
I always thought you were trying to promote the club, not slaughter it in this very public way.

of course it wasn't my intention to make it look so bad. But if you think that is bad then think about what could be posted ..... Most of the regular fans know stories that could never possibly see print (not unique to our club by any means). I have not stated anything that has not been stated on here many many times, particularly in the 'why people don't go' type threads. All I have done is highlight why, for that particularly meeting/meetings we didn't want to use the clubhouse. I chose to bring the argument on to Accyweb to respond to a growing criticism from the whispering brigade and that began with concerns from the big man himself. It could have been sorted out with a phone call, it wasn't. I brought it up again as Hazel has received phone calls from people saying that we are haing a go. She was very upset about this as she does work hard and felt that she wasn't being treated fairly - this wasn't the case.

I don't want to knock anybody but if people want to make stuff up just to create more divides then I will defend myself first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil

Should that not have been sorted out at the meeting then?

yes it was. Hazel was upset to begin with but when the post was explained to her in more depth with its reasoning and cotext she was satisfied that nobody had slated her. I will print the post off and show it to her later today just to reinforce that. What wasn't sorted was that the person who had been feeding her these stories is still at liberty to do it with somebody else.

Neil · 15-01-2008, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

What wasn't sorted was that the person who had been feeding her these stories is still at liberty to do it with somebody else.

Unfortunately thats always the case mate. There is always a small percentage that like to moan about whats happening and say that you (as in OSC) are doing it wrong. I would be surprised if this person does much, if anything to help improve things.