Since I had the priviledge of becoming a member of the Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club (close to 8 years ago), I have witnessed the diminishing numbers at every AGM I have attended. Numbers fall continuously year in year out, with the last AGM back in February, one of the smallest on record.

For a 100 year old Foundation club that still has a presence in every level that game has to offer from the Young Maggies of the Harold Matthews competition to the NRL via Wests Tigers, there should surely be enough interest and support where Wests fans are urged and encouraged to have a vested interest in their football club?

I spoke to a friend who I've had the pleasure of getting to know through the Joint-Venture. He is a Balmain Football Club member and i asked him how many members do the Tigers have? He replied saying close to 1,100 members. Now I was taken back by that considering, Western Suburbs would be lucky to have close to 350, with maybe a good 30 who turn up once a year at the Annual General Meeting.

Membership is obviously a major issue with many Magpie and Wests Tigers fans that attend NSW Cup and NRL Games, view this forum and the Wests Tigers forum are still probably unaware or do not understand the difference between Football Club membership, Leagues Club Membership and NRL (Season Ticket) Membership. In a time like the current environment Rugby League finds itself in Membership is vital to all clubs. Western Suburbs are no different.

Souths have a tremendous Football Club membership base, something that I envy. Their membership grew after they were omitted from the comp back in 1999 and is stronger than ever, yet our's has not changed and remains insignificant compared to our Joint-Venture partners and other football clubs. you'd think the old Western Suburbs fans would be wanting to have their say in the future direction of this football club. the events of Super League and the events of which transpired in 1999 motivated me to become a member.

An idea that has been on my mind for a while, and having the opportunity to ask a few fellow football club members at the recent NSW Finals games at Campbellown is that why haven't they attended or made the effort to make the last few AGM's? their replies were short and sweet. Poor scheduling in regards of time and the day it is on, which has been usually the first Sunday of the month of February at 9am-9.30am. And I could not only respect their point of view, but agreed with it.

Weekends present many people with the opportunity of rest from the working week. Individuals may also have prior commitments through sport, family, religious activities etc. Only the minority who are free will obviously make the effort to attend which has obviously shown in the past few years anyway.

Taking this into account, is there a possible chance that the Annual General Meeting of the Western Suburbs Football club, could be shifted to a new date, time and day of the week at the attempt to attract greater numbers to this very important and significant meeting? A Wednesday or Thursday evening at 7pm at either Leagues Club perhaps, where members could then have the option of having a bit to eat with the family or other members, enjoying a quiet drink, a flutter on the pokies etc. The later timeslot would allow members the chance to attend after work rather than getting up early hours of the morning to attend a 90min-2 hour meeting. It's more appealing and attractive to the Football Club member.

Your thoughts? Who of you are members and who of you are not. And how many would be in favour of a possible change? I'd be interested to know.

I'm a member and bt allows the majority of our membership baelieve it should be held at a time that allows the majority of our membership base to attend. When that is I don't claim to know.

To help boost membership, we should consider some sort of Members only merchandise. Like a special cap that only members can purchase etc etc

Make the exclusivity of becoming a member something special.

Get the Wests Tigers to send a membership form out with all there season ticket information. Put a letter with the form and title it "Dear Magpies fan" explaining the benefits of joining.

Hopefully it upsets a few bugs also.

How about signage/imagery (Similar to what Galah's has as his signature on the WT's forum, a hybrid picture of the Magpie and Wests Tiger's heads with the words stating 'A Pathway to Success' or something of the sort?) with football club membership forms available at both Wests Leagues clubs front desks??

AGMs of this level are NOT a Wednesday night event, they require a Sunday and thats Tradition.

Wednesday - how would people who live in Campbelltown get to Ashfield for the meeting when they have to work the next day? Sunday allows you to get up, get to Ashfield, not stress about getting home late.

I agree with the members only merchandise, but, it is tradition to hold the AGM on a Sunday in the morning. Thats how its been for as long as I can remember and thats how it should stay.

If you join a club and dont attend the AGM of it your a bloody idiot - because if the club goes arse up, YOU, as a member, are responsible for it.

Gobbsy - I welcome new thinking and not always doing things for the sake of the way it's always been done.

A week night after work would suit me better ;)

DALLAS I THINK THAT IS THE SMARTEST THING YOU HAVE EVER SAID ON THIS FORUM I AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY.
but gobbs your an idea's man and i love some off them but i think you got it a little wrong with this one.but keep the idea's coming mate. :magpies: all for the good of this great club. :magpies:

It's one of those things where you simply can't please everybody.

Sunday mornings work best because it gives the maximum number of members the best chance to attend, and also because it is the easiest time to secure a venue for.

We'd certainly appreciate as big an attendance as possible but people have their own reasons for not attending. I doubt the time is the most important issue.

Out of interest, how many board positions are being voted on this year?

The Agenda I received in the mail for the next AGM says :
To elect TWO (3) directors for the ensuing 3 years.
General Memberships (2)
Wests Ashfield Nominee (1)

I received ballot papers in the mail before Christmas but did anyone get their 2009 membership badge yet ?

I haven't got mine yet.

no badge....

Badges haven't been sent out yet.

So!!! when are they going to be sent out by chance before the footy season starts this year. B) B) :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :dunno: :magpies:

There'll be a mail out soon with badges and annual reports etc.

Good I cant wait. B) B) :magpies:

Can I get my '08 badge too?

Ajcarr, you'd probably be best to ring the office.




So who is going to the AGM? I know I will.

If its still set for the 7 FEB 09 at the Whitlam Centre for 9:00 Am I will be there for sure and rearing to go.

Um... 22nd February... Wests Ahsfield Leagues... 9:30am

Bummer I am unavailable that day.
Public transport the way it is in NSW is lowsy.

I dont start work till 4pm that day so I will be there :magpies:

Are the results of the AGM going to be sent to those people who cant make it for one reason or another.
If not can it be put on the forum for those concerned.
I know I would like to know the outcome of the meeting.

Regards.

Myself and others will give a run down of the meeting :correct:

So why did the AGM get moved from Sunday the 22/02/09 to saturday 21/02/09/.Is it an error on the site or is it actually on saturday? :dunno: Hoping for the latter as I will be unable to attend on saturday. :dunno:Is traditionally on the sunday.

This was posted by Galahs in the club news section

Please be advised of the postponement of the Western Suburbs AGM until Saturday, 21st March, 2009 for the information of members. The postponement has come about due to a delay in finalising the printing of the annual report.

The meeting will be 9am arrival for a 9.30am start at the Lounge Wests Ashfield Leagues Club 115 Liverpool Road, Ashfield.

The reason why we have scheduled the meeting for Saturday instead of the customary Sunday is to coincide with the Wests versus Balmain Ryde Eastwood clashes in all three grades.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Sorry just realized my mistake.I thought it was this saturday +missed the march bit :cstars: I think I will have to take the day off work that day for the agm +3 Magpie games against Balmain :cheers: .That 4 events I dont want to miss :magpies: :magpies: :magpies: :magpies: