Havent seen the minutes but a bit concerned about lack of discussion re fundraising. That is the only way the fans can have power and it may be only the fans that can save the club or revive it in another form. I think that is a separate issue from £10 membership which will raise peanuts in relative terms. On a previous post I raised the issue of starting a financial vehicle where supporters can pledge as much or as little as they like, whilst ensuring it doesnt go into the pockets of current Directors. Sheff. W did it and raised over a million. I reckon we could raise half that at least. It wouldnt pay off the club's debts but would increase the fans influence massively.

There is an option on the membership form to donate as much money as you like on top of the membership fee. There's also going to be a fund raising sub committee set up.

When?

Havent seen the minutes but a bit concerned about lack of discussion re fundraising. That is the only way the fans can have power and it may be only the fans that can save the club or revive it in another form. I think that is a separate issue from £10 membership which will raise peanuts in relative terms. On a previous post I raised the issue of starting a financial vehicle where supporters can pledge as much or as little as they like, whilst ensuring it doesnt go into the pockets of current Directors. Sheff. W did it and raised over a million. I reckon we could raise half that at least. It wouldnt pay off the club's debts but would increase the fans influence massively.

There is an option on the membership form to donate as much money as you like on top of the membership fee. There's also going to be a fund raising sub committee set up.

Does anyone have to be a member just to donate?

Shouldn't we make it easy for anyone to contribute the the fighting fund? Fans of other clubs may even wish to contribute, who knows even Newcastle fans might help?

Make it quick & easy to give. Simples.

Havent seen the minutes but a bit concerned about lack of discussion re fundraising. That is the only way the fans can have power and it may be only the fans that can save the club or revive it in another form. I think that is a separate issue from £10 membership which will raise peanuts in relative terms. On a previous post I raised the issue of starting a financial vehicle where supporters can pledge as much or as little as they like, whilst ensuring it doesnt go into the pockets of current Directors. Sheff. W did it and raised over a million. I reckon we could raise half that at least. It wouldnt pay off the club's debts but would increase the fans influence massively.

There is an option on the membership form to donate as much money as you like on top of the membership fee. There's also going to be a fund raising sub committee set up.

When?

Anybody interested in joining or helping a fund raising committee were asked to contact them. I'm sure any ideas or offers of help will be listened to.

It doesn't necessarily mean raising the millions needed to buy a majority stake. Having the money to either buy a 5-10% share in the club, or encouraging current individual shareholders to donate their proxy to the Trust, could mean that the Trust develops either a good 'blocking' vote to stop things happening that members think is bad for the club, or it means that an incoming investor may need that 5 or 10%, meaning that the Trust will be in a good position to have a say in what happens going forward.

To do all that takes time, support and money. It starts with individual fans donating their tenner, or whatever they can afford over and above that. It starts with the Trust using its numbers and its members' time and skills to raise awareness of the issue both in Plymouth and in the wider football community. It starts with re-establishing the connection that says that a healthy club is an important part of a vibrant and culturally diverse city. It starts with establishing more of a presence in the town centre on match days, getting kids interested in the club, providing a fun reason to go over and above the football.

It starts, ultimately, with small steps.

Bang on the nose Gareth.

Why £10 though... It seems a bit low to me. At City our membership is £2 per month.

Still low, but...

Jon,

We discussed the membership fee long and hard. Eventually, on the advice of Supporters Direct, we set it at what we hope is an affordable £10 per year (free for under 16s).

It's all about getting the numbers up, especially in these initial stages - this is how we will demonstrate our strength and acquire a voice and influence.

Then we stand a chance of being listened to - not only by the Club, but by the Council and by the business community also (including potential investors).

The current sub is intended to cover running costs: that is the advice. There is nothing to stop people giving more than the £10 MINIMUM requested.

I dont disagree with the membership fee at all - after all we are all experiencing hard times and belt tightening and we are in a low income area of the country.

My concern is that the Trust will have no real voice, numbers or not, because ultimately in football, cash is king, and the Trust is not in a position to have influence through its riches.

An example - the Trust may have a voice through numbers but so did PASOTI when raising funds for the staff. Newsworthy in the short term, just as the Trust is, but will it last?

Example 2 - that internet supporters who bought a football club £35 each a year. Year 1 lots of interest, Year 2 virtually none. If we survive this year will the Trust have as many members (and ultimately, such a voice) next year?

It doesn't necessarily mean raising the millions needed to buy a majority stake. Having the money to either buy a 5-10% share in the club, or encouraging current individual shareholders to donate their proxy to the Trust, could mean that the Trust develops either a good 'blocking' vote to stop things happening that members think is bad for the club, or it means that an incoming investor may need that 5 or 10%, meaning that the Trust will be in a good position to have a say in what happens going forward.

To do all that takes time, support and money. It starts with individual fans donating their tenner, or whatever they can afford over and above that. It starts with the Trust using its numbers and its members' time and skills to raise awareness of the issue both in Plymouth and in the wider football community. It starts with re-establishing the connection that says that a healthy club is an important part of a vibrant and culturally diverse city. It starts with establishing more of a presence in the town centre on match days, getting kids interested in the club, providing a fun reason to go over and above the football.

It starts, ultimately, with small steps.

I'd like to think that a Fans Trust holding up to 10% of the shares would ask how the hell £12 Million pounds has been swallowed up in so-called "other operating cost" over the past three seasons, and ask to be allowed to see the books.

unfortunately not quite as simple as that...although a shareholder in PAFC myself,the shares are,apart from novelty value, worthless as an investment and with the board controlling I believe around 70% of the share holding anyway they would simply block any motions from other shareholders.The shares to get hold of are shares in the holding company which at this moment in time are tightly held by the current directors.

Could there not be a 'make a donation' button somewhere on the Fanstrust site? I know Paypal take a small percentage of the donations, but the shear convenience of this option to floating viewers of the site could generate a fair bit of income.

I know back when I used to help run a Championsip Manager fan site we used to make a fair amount off a similar button. This was without us publicising it or linking it to any specific cause(it was just at the bottom of the homepage out of the way). I should imagine a similar button, well advertised, and linked to a cause(e.g. save Argyle) could yield a fair amount of money.

I also wonder if there are any plans for an option to fill in and submit (including fees associated with) online? The convenience of this would be a boost.

Whilst the donation button and an online application process are excellent ideas these things take time. I know time is of the essence but I wouldn't like to see these alternative methods rushed into - and then cocked up. An email to the Trust with your ideas might be worthwhile.

Whilst the donation button and an online application process are excellent ideas these things take time. I know time is of the essence but I wouldn't like to see these alternative methods rushed into - and then cocked up. An email to the Trust with your ideas might be worthwhile.

One was already sent.

Not to worry, plenty of time eh. Just hope all the publicity will continue.

Meeting minutes

So, no debate or discussion on the aims and objectives, just a vote on what was already agreed.

Seems a strange start, the most important thing is to get agreement on what the trust is all about, not just rubber stamp a load of waffle.

Inspirational. Not.

So, no debate or discussion on the aims and objectives, just a vote on what was already agreed.

Seems a strange start, the most important thing is to get agreement on what the trust is all about, not just rubber stamp a load of waffle.

Inspirational. Not.

There was the time to ask questions/make suggestions regarding the aims and objectives and they were voted on by all present.

I know it's early days, but any news yet on how membership numbers are looking?