play off final....star membership

[warrpp]

wonder if anyone at star can help ?

not currently a member of star (have been in past) ,so could i book a place on one of the coaches to wembley, and pay to join star when i get on the coach (is it still £10 membership ?)

[Blue Heart]

Anyone wishing to travel with STAR has to be a member, we can still join you up it's not a problem. But please note that membership will expire on the 30th June as normal. Membership for the new season will commence on the 1st July.

[Red]

Charging a full years membership for one trip on the coach?

How do you sleep at night?

[Sarah Star]

You have to pay for your share of the Trust. That's the rules, legally, for all Trusts.

[Blue Heart]

STAR membership runs from the 1st July to 30th June. We are a members club we can only take members. We are legally bound by the rules of a Trust. Membership has always been available, whether people choose to join or not is a matter for them.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

I don't think anyone has a issue paying a membership fee however £10 just for 1 trip is a little steep.

Before I get shot down, I can see the arguements from both sides and am just a casual observer however have STAR considered potentially reducing the membership fee to say £5 for new members who just wish to book a coach ticket to the final?

[Sarah Star]

The short answer is yes, TROLI. Still against the rules apparently.

[Blue Heart]

We did look at it, the rules are explicit, there is nothing we can do.

[Sarah Star]

RFC coach = £20 (+ £1 handling fee for card transactions)

STAR coach = £12 (+ £10 for adult membership)

Not that much difference, plus you get the STAR membership.

[warrpp]

thanks sarah

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

RFC coach = £20 (+ £1 handling fee for card transactions)

STAR coach = £12 (+ £10 for adult membership)

Not that much difference, plus you get the STAR membership.

Better get a fans forum set for June then, makes it a bargain.

[T.R.O.L.I.]

We did look at it, the rules are explicit, there is nothing we can do.

Fair do's. As I said, was just a question as a casual observer.

Having answered it now, you'd hope that it should stop you receiving the same question 20+ times. However, having seen yesterday's webchat, I very much doubt that will be the case

[Blue Heart]

C'est la vie.

However, I would like to point out that those who have joined STAR, for what ever reason, will now enjoy the benefit of travelling for £12.00

[Red]

Seems to me it's another argument against being a trust rather than a traditional supporters club then.

To just say "Sorry it's the rules there's nothing we can do" seems a bit feeble, bordering on arrogant. There must be a way - like having one coach for non members or something. Or why can't membership be pro rata? What a wasted opportunity to try and get new members on board who would more than likely renew next season anyway.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

How about free membership, could that be done?

[Sarah Star]

It's something to do with buying your share and tbh if you're expecting everything to be free that's never going to happen. Things have to be paid for. As it is, STAR do recognise that people aren't going to want to pay £10 if they don't want to travel on the coach or go to the forums so there are moves to arrange things so that you can just register an interest but keep in touch with what STAR does without being a fully paid up member and anyone can contact STAR about anything that affects supporters and receive advice and representation. That's what I understand is the case anyway.

The benefits of being a Trust are set out here

[Red]

Fair enough. Of course the money has to come from somewhere but at a time when football is becoming more like a business (and an expensive one at that) there will be some fans left disappointed that supporters organisations are going the same way.

But that's progress for you, or as blue heart so elegantly put it "C'est la vie".

[Sarah Star]

It's also a fact of life that people don't value anything they don't have to pay for, Red.

[Maquisard]

Seems to me it's another argument against being a trust rather than a traditional supporters club then.

Well obviously it has to be a Trust, otherwise the acronym would be SCAR

[Blue Heart]

How about free membership, could that be done?

The point seems to be missed that we can only serve our members, those are the rules of a trust.

There is also the point that when people have paid their money and joined an organisation and travelled on the coaches or attended fans forums etc, would it be right to then give free membership to people who up to now have never considered STAR or wanted to use the facilities on offer? I appreciate that organisations clubs etc might not be everyones cup of tea but for those that have decided to join, the majority of whom joined at the beginning of the season they will now reap the benefit of that investment in their supporters Trust.
Offering 'free membership' even if it were possible would be betraying them.