Saints Diamond Member Event

[BringBackMadDog]

Just got the invite to Diamond member event at Linen House which includes an address from Matt Finnis and Richo. The event is at 3:30pm in the afternoon next Tuesday which makes it hard to get to for those who have to work.
I'll be attending, anyone else heading out to it?
Be interesting to hear the plans for the next few years

[Mr Magic]

Just got the invite to Diamond member event at Linen House which includes an address from Matt Finnis and Richo. The event is at 3:30pm in the afternoon next Tuesday which makes it hard to get to for those who have to work.
I'll be attending, anyone else heading out to it?
Be interesting to hear the plans for the next few years

I got one as a 'RED, BLACK & WHITE member a few days ago to that same event.
Unfortunately work commitments won't let me attend.

We expect a full report from you!!!!!

[saintsRrising]

Yes I got mine last week.

I will be heading down.

[Enrico_Misso]

I'm a Diamond Member.
Didn't get an invite to anything last year (despite the promise in the membership booklet).
Haven't had an invite to anything this year (despite the promise in the membership booklet).

[Junior]

I received one but am spewing as I can't get the time off from work. Also received an invite to watch the Sydney game at Linen House.

[BackFromUSA]

As a Red Black & White member, I shall be there too. My father is already up 50 year member board. Looking forward to going with him.

[BackFromUSA]

I'm a Diamond Member.
Didn't get an invite to anything last year (despite the promise in the membership booklet).
Haven't had an invite to anything this year (despite the promise in the membership booklet).

Invite came via post - check with club that they have your correct postal address.

[older saint]

got one but work and children's sports means a noi go unfortunately

[Bernard Shakey]

I'll be there as a Red Black & White member.

[Spinner]

Nothing as yet although I havnt checked my mail...

[ozrulestrace]

I'm there as a Red, White & Black member.

I'm just taking the day off.

[tony74]

Good crowd. Alan and Matt basically preached to the converted. But there is vision. I wii let some of the other members talk about the event as I was in and out of the gym due to other commitments.
P.S. The "I love Lenny" badge was in the third row, 2nd from the left of the middle passage! Must have been empty. ( people who were there will know what I'm talking about )

[saintbrat]

Good crowd. Alan and Matt basically preached to the converted. But there is vision. I wii let some of the other members talk about the event as I was in and out of the gym due to other commitments.
P.S. The "I love Lenny" badge was in the third row, 2nd from the left of the middle passage! Must have been empty. ( people who were there will know what I'm talking about )

can I have the prize

saw one report and they were most with all speakers
Kosi, Matt, Allan, and heritage display

[BackFromUSA]

OK I didn't take notes BUT here are things that stood out to me:

Kosi was MC:
- says the older players believe in Richo

Richardson
- losing our mid tier (geary, gilbert, armitage, steven) for huge chunks hurt our results round 6 onwards
- our kids are doing 33% more load during week (to get them up to AFL standards quicker)
- great having experience back in the side (last 2 games started to turn around)
- cohesion takes time (both defensive and attacking)
- keeps out of drafting (leaves it to Trout and his team)
- has input into trades but list management is chaired by Pelch ... with a committee deciding
- everyone in club working together on and off field (he has breakfast with Finnis every 2 weeks)

Finnis
- lobbying for even greater AFL compensation due to poor fixturing, poor stadium deal etc
- our community engagement needs rapid improvement
- sponsorship and sponsorship retention unacceptable (need more members and closer ties to community as sponsors need more value)
- having 30,000 members is completely unacceptable (plan to revise offer and drive for higher numbers)
- attendances unacceptable (plan to improve game day features)
- seaford facilities outstanding for training and administration
- moorabbin funding and plan exciting including our own VFL team (share footy hub facility with Southern Football league, Sandy Dragrons and the Umpires)
- junction oval is an AFL agenda item to clear up MCG for use and we are along for the ride if it comes together (like a free bonus) with Government funding
- new zealand - plan would be to get Auckland involved ASAP (2.3m people and 30,000 in kiwikick vs 400,000 people and 5000 in kiwikick)
- by end of the year the issue of our "home" will be settled but lots of talk re "port melbourne to portsea"
- philosophy at the club is that everyone is there to do a job and part of that job is making everyone elses job easier

All I can remember for now.

[SemperFidelis]

Thanks BFUSA; you'll be stuck with the secretarial gig from now on. Fine work!

Really pleased to read, amongst other things, of the commitment to memberships (and attendances and fixturing). Port to Portsea has a decent ring to it.

Training load on the kids is interesting also.

Mostly glad to hear us sounding like a vaguely professional outfit. No rabble required!

Go saints!

[saintsRrising]

Biggest thing that struck me was that the Westaway and Footyfirst era of treating us the members as mere consumers is dead.

There was a lot of emphasis as re-engaging members as members. RICHO mentioned how Kochy re-engaged their membership base as part of their revival including financial revival.

Members are back to being members again as the penny has at last dropped that if you turn a club into just a business thay consumers will and shift..

Westaway and Footyfirst were a huge disaster for Saints. They took an era when we were ripe to set ourselves up on a rock solid basis and instead turned us into basket case.

[linz]

Another thing that was raised at the meeting was the promotion of The Saints Bequest Society.
Neil Roberts was there to talk this through with anyone wishing to leave a few $ for the Saints when they die.
A lot of Private Schools do the same thing also as do several other organisations. Another good idea.

[Dave McNamara]

Another thing that was raised at the meeting was the promotion of The Saints Bequest Society.
Neil Roberts was there to talk this through with anyone wishing to leave a few $ for the Saints when they die.
A lot of Private Schools do the same thing also as do several other organisations. Another good idea.

Yes, a good idea.

But better still, if Coco pushes for the 'few dollars' being left before the Saints die...

[Dave McNamara]

Finnis
-- junction oval is an AFL agenda item to clear up MCG for use and we are along for the ride if it comes together (like a free bonus) with Government funding
- by end of the year the issue of our "home" will be settled but lots of talk re "port melbourne to portsea"

(Thanks from me also Simon.)

Interesting. I do hope those two points are linked. Got a sneaky suspiscion that they are. (Fingers crossed.)

Dust off the Juggernaut!



Auckland move a good idea also. As long as the two points above come to fruition, then there need be no fear that increased Kiwi games could be a precursor to an eventual shift there.

[Junction Oval]

To BackFromUSA - thanks for the notes. Some interesting reading.

Any mention about the hopeless state of the Social Club and the lack of benefits being dished up, at what is not a low cost to Members:?:

[Bernard Shakey]

To BackFromUSA - thanks for the notes. Some interesting reading.

Any mention about the hopeless state of the Social Club and the lack of benefits being dished up, at what is not a low cost to Members:?:

Finnis did mention that the social club at Moorabbin is to be revamped and he's also looking at membership providing better value!

Kosi managed to get his big question wrong!

[Heidelberg_Saint]

OK I didn't take notes BUT here are things that stood out to me:

Kosi was MC:
- says the older players believe in Richo

Richardson
- losing our mid tier (geary, gilbert, armitage, steven) for huge chunks hurt our results round 6 onwards
- our kids are doing 33% more load during week (to get them up to AFL standards quicker)
- great having experience back in the side (last 2 games started to turn around)
- cohesion takes time (both defensive and attacking)
- keeps out of drafting (leaves it to Trout and his team)
- has input into trades but list management is chaired by Pelch ... with a committee deciding
- everyone in club working together on and off field (he has breakfast with Finnis every 2 weeks)

Finnis
- lobbying for even greater AFL compensation due to poor fixturing, poor stadium deal etc
- our community engagement needs rapid improvement
- sponsorship and sponsorship retention unacceptable (need more members and closer ties to community as sponsors need more value)
- having 30,000 members is completely unacceptable (plan to revise offer and drive for higher numbers)
- attendances unacceptable (plan to improve game day features)
- seaford facilities outstanding for training and administration
- moorabbin funding and plan exciting including our own VFL team (share footy hub facility with Southern Football league, Sandy Dragrons and the Umpires)
- junction oval is an AFL agenda item to clear up MCG for use and we are along for the ride if it comes together (like a free bonus) with Government funding
- new zealand - plan would be to get Auckland involved ASAP (2.3m people and 30,000 in kiwikick vs 400,000 people and 5000 in kiwikick)
- by end of the year the issue of our "home" will be settled but lots of talk re "port melbourne to portsea"
- philosophy at the club is that everyone is there to do a job and part of that job is making everyone elses job easier

All I can remember for now.

Thank-you, very thorough.

Hopefully our "home" does get settled before end of the season. It's been too confusing for too long.

Really agree with exploring Auckland as well. The population is too vast to ignore.

[saintspremiers]

How can we play games in Auckland without a suitable oval Stadium?

Did anyone ask that question?

[older saint]

thanks for the update would have been good to have been there

[philtee]

Outstanding work BFUSA and many thanks.
Feel very confident from Richo's and Finnis's words that we have the right people in place.
Hope you had time to quaff a few in-between note-taking.