Membership Issues Email.

[SainTas9]

Hi guys,

I usually just read posts for gossip or info. regarding the club and don't post as I am quite passive (or I have a life - you choose) but I thought I should post an email I sent to the membership department to get your opinion. Have I gone a bit overboard. Feel free to ignore the part about consecutive years of membership. I'm more looking for your opinion on the remainder but feel free to comment on anything (even my spelling and grammar if you're a spelling Nazi).
Cheers fellow Sainters. Here's the email.

Hi Saints,

I recently contacted the membership department regarding my renewal and was told to email the attached information as proof of years of membership. I hope I haven't left this too late as I was hoping to get this to you prior to the first payment being deducted however I've been very busy.

The letter I received indicated that the recognised years of membership was no longer just consecutive however I am noted as only having 7 years membership in total. This is incorrect. I was a member from 2002-2004 (3 years) and from 2007-2012 (6 years). Attached is a scanned copy of my membership cards as proof of this. I also believe I was a member for some years in the 90's however I haven't been able to locate any proof as yet. I will inform you if I can in the future. These years I may have had a child membership or something - I'm not sure. Hopefully you may have some records relating to this. Can you please let me know if you are able to chase this up because I've had no luck as yet.

I'd also like to comment on the constant changing of membership status. Being an interstate member, I was very happy with the introduction of an Interstate Social Club Membership however I was very disappointed a few years back when it was decided that the reserved seating arrangement was modified. A few years back all I had to do was ring up and let StKilda FC know that I was going to a game and a seat on level 1 was arranged at no cost. Now as a Social Club Member who pays a premium I am relegated to the bleachers and there is no option for an interstate member to have a good seat inclusive of there social club membership fee of $252 per annum. I generally only make it to 3 games a year and would think it's a better idea to maximise the amount of games an Interstate Premium Social Club member can attend to perhaps 5-8 games depending on some market research. Perhaps you could ask us all our opinion via a survey. I believe there is only about 150-200 of us. By maximising the number of games we are allowed to attend maybe then we could be provided with a Level 1 or 2 seat for the few games that we attend. I think it's a bit rich to ask us to pay an additional fee when we already pay $252 a year simply to sit on level 1 or 2. If I can only go to a few games a year I don't want to be sitting on level 3 so every game I attend I have to pay for a seat. I would think all Interstate Premium Social Club members would feel the same. Please don't disregard this because there must be a solution that will keep all parties happy. It is ridiculous for me to buy a reserved seat and leave it empty for 3/4 of the season.

Also, I am not impressed with people being classified as priority 1 or 2 grand final ticket access without notice simply based on where people choose to sit. Not good PR at all. I'm told that it won't affect whether or not we get a seat as there are more seat allocations than Social Club members. In which case a sly change in terms would have been better i.e. Group 1 and 2 rather than Priority 1 and 2. My main concern regarding this is that if we have more success in the future you will reintroduce something such as the 'September Saints' and you will end up causing loyal social club members to miss out on seats (as happened to a lot of people in '09 and '10) while the bandwagon jumpers end up with premium seats at a Grand Final. I want, and to be honest, demand a guarantee that this won't happen as I will seriously have to think about becoming an AFL member or something instead of a StKilda football club member. This would be massively disappointing as I have been a diehard Saints fan since the day I was born and had intended to be a member until the day I die. Please address this and provide a guarantee to all of us Social Club Members as I know I'm not the only one with these concerns.

Lastly, I don't know if you turn over new staff every year in the membership department or something that insist on a newer and better way to do things but please stop changing the way membership is done every year. Remember change for the sake of it isn't always better. It frustrates all of us more than you could possibly believe.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and please don't shrug it off as a rant from a disenfranchised idiot because I normally couldn't be fussed writing such an email and would just swallow it but my patience is wearing thin.

Thanks again and I await your reply or feel free to call me on my mobile (**** *** ***) if you'd prefer.

GO SAINTS - I LOVE THIS CLUB.

Regards