£5 A Month To BU

[Ace Face]

With BFC only trading because of BU. I can`t understand why we can`t get 2000 fans to give £5 a month to BU.

I know it has been said before and please I am not having a go at those who can`t afford it etc.

But I know fans who spend a fortune on take away food crap, but wouldn`t help BU save BFC by donating a £5.

Just thought I might bring this topic up for discussion again folks.

Why won`t they?

Will it need administration before the fans unite?

[City_Bee]

Bish,

I think you are preaching to the converted. I would be very surprised if the majority of grapeviners are not already contributing to BU. The real issue we do need to resolve is the hard core of c.3,000 who are not donating to BU. Clearly some of these are likely to contribute to the bucket collections, however this can be more hit and miss if supporters don't attend a game, leave before the end etc.
I do think that you post does touch on the one thing that could kill this club - apathy. Supporters for one reason or another don't appear to realise / care about the extremely perilious financial situation the club are in. The problem is that when they do realise it could well be too late as the club are in administration and the only asset, ie Griffin Park will have to be sold for considerable less than true value as it will be a fire sale.
The key is how to convert the 3,000 or so fans to BU members but I'm afraid I don't have the answer to that as I feel that BU already market themselves pretty well.

[eghambee]

The only way we will know how to get more people putting money in each month is to understand why they don't.
I have my views, but they are my view of the world and other people will have theirs.

To get people to do a lot of things you need to answer their questions and make the sign up as painless as possible.

Maybe we need to go to them, personally, rather than waiting for them to come to the information points etc.

This takes manpower, and we know that needs to be looked into as well.

May i suggest a brainstorming session, to determine a fresh approach?

Count me in.

[Ace Face]

Egham Bee - I will request to PJ that the next fundraising meeting is given a more public "open" approach as a one off brainstorming.

My own view, is we need to say the BU funding runs out on the 31st July (hypothetical) and on the 1st Aug the club will be placed in voluntary administration. Unless the fans can provide a sustainable level of funding for BFC to continue trading.

There is of course the fronting Ronald approach, but this is a big risk and I would like all the top finance guys to be certain this is the right road to take.

But we also need to make saving BFC with BU fun and that takes volunteers to organise events ... it can be done believe me.

[abee]

Bish if the situation is as desperate as I understand it then you can post on here until you are blue in the face, and get on my tit until I am forced to come round and shoot you to end your misery.

What it needs is a statement from the BFC Exec Comm to the effect that this is gonna be the last season of League Football for Brentford Football Club unless........followed by the exact targets that need to be hit. This statement must be sent to everyone on the Lifeline, BIAS, Bees United and BSA databases plus all season ticket holders.

This little lot can be financed by Lifeline since they are keen on having specific causes to finance I can think of nothing more important than this. What will it cost maybe £2,500 I dunno but it is no good you banging on about it 'cos it's like the boy who cried wolf.

So don't bother me any more with any of this crap unless and until the BFC Exec Comm are prepared to spell it out.

[Ace Face]

abee - Your tone towards me on this reply I feel is well over the top. As for coming round and shooting me - you fire blanks anyway.

This is a discussion thread, I am not bothering you, simply instigating a discussion. It may well be crap, but if we can get one sensible idea, it would be worth your accussations of posting crap.

I actually agree with the deadline approach and the comms to all members groups.

Why don`t you mention your idea to BB, when you meet him next?

You also seem to suggest that I think posting on the GPG will actually solve our frinancial strife, I don`t think that at all. I am simply communicating with other fans.

PS: Good to see the old gun-slinger abee is back on form, no more Mr Nice Guy.

[wanderingbee]

Now before the bullett is loading and gun placed next to my temple and the trigger pulled by everyone, this is something I overheard and thus placing the point of view this is not my point of view.

3 BU standing orders have been cancelled due to the people reading beesotted and a certain article published not so long ago.These 3 people were concerned on how BU were running the club and what the money that the fans were paying was actually going to?

this was followed up by rumours of the BU money being used to fund ground improvemtns to GP rather than funding for the new ground.

so these people have stopped donating as it were as they had no idea what they were donating to? I wonder how many bees fans stopped there orders or are unwillingly to donate for reasons such as these ?

[eghambee]

Bish,

I believe that this fundamental issue needs to be determined away from the fundraising meetings.
These are excellent forums but have busy agendas, with many things on the go.

As i believe ABee is saying, to get more people interested the approach has to be more 'in yer face' followed by well coordinated mission, with clear targets and clear 'rules' to ensure the same messages are being given.

If you tell 10 people something you will probably have 10 interprretations of it, just slightly different, but different enough to cast doubt in minds. So how is this to be manged ? etc.

[Boston Bee]

abee's absolutely right. I give (for me) substantially and I've no faith that I'm doing much more than pissing it away. No idea what the real targets are, no idea whether all these efforts are all pissing in the wind.

The financials come out at some point soon - I think it's sad that I'm waiting so eagerly for them because I feel that BU hasn't given me any real info. Like abee, I'm getting to feel like the Bish-esque crying wolf is all just rolling off me. And the next time I hear that instead of an actual answer from "our respresentitives", I should go ask Mr Burgess questions that should be public information, I'm going to buy the gun for abee.

For one glimmering minute I thought John Mac was going to start representing BU on here, where over a thousand of his constituancy get their news, but now all silent. Once again, so much for transparency.

Bish, your "I'm just a poor waif member of BU and if you want info here's the phone number" isn't cutting it for me, mostly because it's self-serving twaddle. Are BU too lazy or too afraid to come on here and inform/debate.

I understand as much as the next guy that there are hot-topic things that BU quite rightly doesn't share with us. But I should really be getting more information (from BU) and less hyperbole.

[abee]

Originally posted by Bish


1)abee - Your tone towards me on this reply I feel is well over the top. As for coming round and shooting me - you fire blanks anyway.

2) This is a discussion thread, I am not bothering you, simply instigating a discussion. It may well be crap, but if we can get one sensible idea, it would be worth your accussations of posting crap.

3)I actually agree with the deadline approach and the comms to all members groups.

4) Why don`t you mention your idea to BB, when you meet him next?

5) You also seem to suggest that I think posting on the GPG will actually solve our frinancial strife, I don`t think that at all. I am simply communicating with other fans.

6) PS: Good to see the old gun-slinger abee is back on form, no more Mr Nice Guy.

1) Bish I am trying to tell you as gently as possible that it does not carry the same clout coming from you as it would from the guys who are charged by Bees United with running the club on a day to day basis for the supporters. If they aren't exercised about the situation then you shouldn't be either.

2)Yes you are bothering me and this is your third and final warning

3)I don't care whether you agree or not. I'm telling you what I would do if I was on the BFC Exec Comm and the situation was as serious as you keep posting.

4)Not my place

5)You are not communicating with other fans you are re-cycling the same old stuff and driving everyone nuts.

6) No comment.

[Ace Face]

Egham

I agree with the comms to members groups on BU headed paper, spelling how little time we may have if the worst scenerios happen.

I also feel the misinformation and rumour, is a massive problem. The problem is and I haven`t got any answers, a lot of fans aren`t willing to find out the facts from JM. Wouldn`t it be great if JM was bombarded with fans questions and concerns, rather than listening to pub talk.

The stuff in BEESOTTED was a nightmare, which turned positive ambitious proposals from BU into something to be concerned about.

I would like more public info on our survival fight from BU, but I feel now it must be personally sent to homes.
If we lose at Telford and interest rates soar, how long can we continue? This is the stuff to be sent out to fans.

[Boston Bee]

Who's fault is the 'pub talk'?!? Wny no position papers and monthly statements (minimally) part of BU's policy?!?

Why does simple information, factual information need only be sent to homes? BU really is ****ing up lately in my mind.


Originally posted by Bish
Wouldn`t it be great if JM was bombarded with fans questions and concerns, rather than listening to pub talk.

[Ace Face]

abee - How am I driving people nuts? Don`t read the thread then. I already have one idea to put to BB from the thread.

As for your warnings, have I ever listened and I know you wouldn`t leave PJ & Stedders without their little helper by sending Ali Dubai round.

All I need now is to have Bee H join in and have a go and it will be like old times.;)

[Ace Face]

Please don`t blame me.

I hold no position within BU except stamp licker.:D

[Luton Bee]

Originally posted by Bish

I agree with the comms to members groups on BU headed paper, spelling how little time we may have if the worst scenerios happen.

Lets get it organised as a hand-out for a future home game then and have a big push on getting more standing orders

Originally posted by Bish
I also feel the misinformation and rumour, is a massive problem. The problem is and I haven`t got any answers, a lot of fans aren`t willing to find out the facts from JM. Wouldn`t it be great if JM was bombarded with fans questions and concerns, rather than listening to pub talk.

Perhaps John would be better running the day-to-day affairs of the club and having someone else answer the questions? But lets not go down the e-mail argument again!


Originally posted by Bish
The stuff in BEESOTTED was a nightmare, which turned positive ambitious proposals from BU into something to be concerned about.

Because BU didn't bother to answer the points raised in the article, prefering to adopt a "head in the sand and hope it blows over" approach?

[Ace Face]

Boston - I actually agree to a certain extent. PM Stedders and he will help to arrange a comm from BU. Give him your ideas and frustrations you have.

[Boston Bee]

You wrote that to drive me crazy didn't you. :D

Originally posted by Bish
Boston - I actually agree to a certain extent. PM Stedders and he will help to arrange a comm from BU. Give him your ideas and frustrations you have.

[Ace Face]

Listen, I don`t want to get into the role of defending BU - not down to me to do.

But why not start a thread about the financial information that the BFC Exec should communicate and go from there. Collate it and send to BB.

I know it is chicken and egg, but if you drive the issue then hopefully everybody can gain from the past mistakes.

I would love to have BU representatives mixing it on the GPG and hopefully Stedders will help with this.

[Bee H]

Originally posted by Bish
, but if we can get one sensible idea, it would be worth your accussations of posting crap.

but don't you think that abee's suggestion re the deadline approach and the comms to all members groups could be that 'one sensible post' from this thread because you did say ;

Originally posted by Bish
I actually agree with the deadline approach and the comms to all members groups.

And with regards to ;

Originally posted by Bish
Why don`t you mention your idea to BB, when you meet him next?

Why don't you refer your Dad JM ;) to this post and the Bees Utd/Lifeline one on Gen Bees Discussion, they're well worth a read !

[Luton Bee]

Originally posted by Bish
Listen, I don`t want to get into the role of defending BU - not down to me to do.

Right lads, we had better start by investigating who has been using Bishs' login for the last six months then!