Fans' Forum

[STAR Liaison]

It seems there are 2 conversations running here, firstly aorund what happened with OP, and what is STAR's actual role (I have read their documentation, and to be fair, am not sure their actions echo their publicised remit).

In order to clear this all up may I suggest a "STAR forum" along the same lines of the fans forum, whereby STAR Board members can answer questions from existing STAR members, as well as those who wish to understand the workings of the organisation fully (be that as prospective members or merely RFC fans, who may or may not want to be members, but have questions)?

This happens every year when members can question the STAR board at the AGM, although non-members may not have the opportunity there they would be replied to if they contacted STAR direct rather than on here

[comeonyouroyals]

It seems there are 2 conversations running here, firstly aorund what happened with OP, and what is STAR's actual role (I have read their documentation, and to be fair, am not sure their actions echo their publicised remit).

In order to clear this all up may I suggest a "STAR forum" along the same lines of the fans forum, whereby STAR Board members can answer questions from existing STAR members, as well as those who wish to understand the workings of the organisation fully (be that as prospective members or merely RFC fans, who may or may not want to be members, but have questions)?

This happens every year when members can question the STAR board at the AGM, although non-members may not have the opportunity there they would be replied to if they contacted STAR direct rather than on here

Wouldn't it be wise when you have a route to speak to the fans such as Hob Nob to have a evening on here and answer the fans questions? This would save the hassle for alot of fans asking the same question and also allow alot of fans to view it.

[Cpl Jones Dont panic]

Cypry is not the messiah he is just a vey naughty boy

[Pseud O'Nym]

Also, if people don't like the way STAR is run then join it and work to change it.

On that basis I should join the BNP and Al Quada as well since I don't really agree with their ideals or the way they're being run.

Err, no. I said if you don't agree with the way it's run, nothing about aims or ideals.

[Big Foot]

I haven't checked their website for a while - I might go and have a nosey to see who holds what position these days - it's almost always the same people every year - I'm surprised there are no younger fans offering their services to be a board member.

Here you go


Gerry McGreevy - Treasurer

Isn't it funny how people tend to turn from rebels into respectable pillars of society (or at least pillars of STAR) as they grow older.

I can remember the days when Gerry McGreevy used to be one of 'the lads'. I can also remember a song dedicated to him at that time. To the tune of Moon River (IIRC)I believe one section went along the lines of 'You smell of rat stew that your mum fed to you'!

I'm not 100% certain that website is up to date as last time I knew Gerry (a highly comedic character) wasn't involved with STAR anymore. Could be wrong though, we're talking nearly 2 years ago now.

[Compo's Hat]

Not reading 16 pages of this but i saw plenty about the forum on Twitter which i doubt the dictators of the club can do anything about for once.

I like to think this is a middle finger salute to the those that run the club's media department who are completely over the top with what they post. The irony of social networking which they're so obsessed with has bitten them back.

[Green]

Having been involved in STAR I would agree with you wholeheartedly. The trouble is that although there is a lot of noise on here, the number of concerns actually brought to STAR were very few. My experience was that people were happy to sound off on here but that was the extent of the effort they were willing to make.

I've seen this argument trotted out time and time again from STAR, essentially you're taking silence (through 'official' channels - whatever that maybe, presumably people who've signed non disclosure documents or something) as an acceptance that everything is ok.

I know STAR will ignore the criticism they receive on here, feeling it's "non representative", but if the general view amongst fans (or to be fair, a large sub set of the fans) is that STAR do not represent them and are a hopeless organisation, why would people raise concerns with them? Realistically where else are you going to get a better critique of non members feeling towards STAR than on this forum?
You would think STAR would want to encourage all fans to feel they could be a part of their club, but it seems they'd rather keep the organisation as a closed shop. If you don't like it then you don't have to join and you probably won't like it anyway, kind of thing.

I guess the crux of it is that STAR are not, as has been pointed out, a supporters club. I think this is really what peoples gripes are. We obviously can't turn the clock back but it's a shame the old supporters club had to close in order to get STAR off the ground. One wonders if this hadn't happened how many people would've bothered to sign up for it.

[Green]

ease off the comments on the STAR members, it'll only give them an excuse to delete the thread and brush all this under the carpet

Agreed. It's about the regime not any individual member.

[Platypuss]

Great post up there green.

I'm sure STAR would also say that it's hard to use HNA as a benchmark for fan sentiment as due to its very nature it's difficult to separate the people with genuine issues from the WUMmers.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

What do people actually want STAR to do then? There is always a lot of moaning but are there any real things that you want doing?

Less in bed with the club seems to be a usual comment, so should they be more vocal, and if so why?

[Big Foot]

What do people actually want STAR to do then? There is always a lot of moaning but are there any real things that you want doing?

Less in bed with the club seems to be a usual comment, so should they be more vocal, and if so why?

I think a lot of people want them to be vocal, almost for the sake of being vocal. It seems to me (as a regular match attender, STH and ex-STAR member) that the only time STAR surface, it's to be some form of PR machine for the club. Point in reference - scarves day vs Leeds, those god awful clappers at the end of the season etc

That is surely going down "wimp lane" and pandering to the club's needs, ridiculous.

[The Rouge]

Having been involved in STAR I would agree with you wholeheartedly. The trouble is that although there is a lot of noise on here, the number of concerns actually brought to STAR were very few. My experience was that people were happy to sound off on here but that was the extent of the effort they were willing to make.

I've seen this argument trotted out time and time again from STAR, essentially you're taking silence (through 'official' channels - whatever that maybe, presumably people who've signed non disclosure documents or something) as an acceptance that everything is ok.

I know STAR will ignore the criticism they receive on here, feeling it's "non representative", but if the general view amongst fans (or to be fair, a large sub set of the fans) is that STAR do not represent them and are a hopeless organisation, why would people raise concerns with them? Realistically where else are you going to get a better critique of non members feeling towards STAR than on this forum?
You would think STAR would want to encourage all fans to feel they could be a part of their club, but it seems they'd rather keep the organisation as a closed shop. If you don't like it then you don't have to join and you probably won't like it anyway, kind of thing.

I guess the crux of it is that STAR are not, as has been pointed out, a supporters club. I think this is really what peoples gripes are. We obviously can't turn the clock back but it's a shame the old supporters club had to close in order to get STAR off the ground. One wonders if this hadn't happened how many people would've bothered to sign up for it.

[Reading4eva]

What do people actually want STAR to do then?

Let the fans run it

[Mr Angry]

What do people actually want STAR to do then?

Let the fans run it

You really have nothing of substance to add to the debate when you post something as ignorant as this.

[melonhead]

3
1
4
2

etc

3, 2 , 4 ,1 IMO[/quote]

but the bottom one looks like tommy cooper in a blonde wig


apologies if thats just what you are into

[Barry the bird boggler]

If people want to run it - or feel they can do better than those currently in the role - then join up and look to be elected to the board places when they come up for re-election every year. Largely these places go unchallenged as not many people seemingly want to get involved.

[TFF]

If people want to run it - or feel they can do better than those currently in the role - then join up and look to be elected to the board places when they come up for re-election every year. Largely these places go unchallenged as not many people seemingly want to get involved.

^ That's it really.

All bitchin', no action.

[The Rouge]

If people want to run it - or feel they can do better than those currently in the role - then join up and look to be elected to the board places when they come up for re-election every year. Largely these places go unchallenged as not many people seemingly want to get involved.

^ That's it really.

All bitchin', no action.

Rubbish. If you don't have any allegiance with the Conservative Party, the advice would not be to join it and try and change it on the inside.

[Mr Angry]

If people want to run it - or feel they can do better than those currently in the role - then join up and look to be elected to the board places when they come up for re-election every year. Largely these places go unchallenged as not many people seemingly want to get involved.

^ That's it really.

All bitchin', no action.

Rubbish. If you don't have any allegiance with the Conservative Party, the advice would not be to join it and try and change it on the inside.

Oddly enough, thats exactly what Militant did to the Labour Party in the mid 1980's.

That ended well.

[TFF]

If people want to run it - or feel they can do better than those currently in the role - then join up and look to be elected to the board places when they come up for re-election every year. Largely these places go unchallenged as not many people seemingly want to get involved.

^ That's it really.

All bitchin', no action.

Rubbish. If you don't have any allegiance with the Conservative Party, the advice would not be to join it and try and change it on the inside.

Poor metaphor, unless perhaps you don't have any allegiance with Reading supporters.

What exactly do you hope a rival organisation would achieve? What would it's aims be?

How would you ensure you were representing all Reading fans? (nobbers, Y26ers, upper west members would all want something different from you and from RFC)

Presumably it would have a board, probably elected, who would make representations to the club and attempt to set up a regular dialogue. Maybe at the management meetings. I expect you would need to charge a membership fee to cover your overheads (any surplus could be don8ted to the club's youth teams, or something) although the thought of paying a fee will dissuade many of your target audience.

Maybe people who don't agree with what you do will start bitching about how bad you are at it, perhaps we'll even see a thread about setting up a third rival group.