Club Website...18,000 members pre Christmas

[RBnW]

Posted on the club site yesterday.....they were talking about this yesterday when I was in at the shop...
great work in 4 or 5 weeks to have 18,000 members before Christmas...

http://saints.com.au/tabid/5315/News/Ne ... wsId=54470

Thanks and Merry Christmas
5:29 PM Fri 21 December, 2007 | Back


for saints.com.au

News
On my last working day of the year, I’ve just attended a BBQ with our playing group, coaches and support staff and there’s an unquestionable excitement in the air! This isn’t because there’s no training for two weeks but it’s largely driven by you – our members and supporters. I think we’re lucky enough to have the best supporters in the league and everything we do here at the Saints is focused on exceeding YOUR expectations.

The response to our membership drive has been outstanding and the additional benefits that we’ve offered have obviously hit the mark. We’ve just reached 18,000 new members before Christmas and we are still counting - this is already 10% more than the same time last year. Our all time record pre-Christmas is 18,200, which was the year after the Preliminary final against Port. We may well beat that number once we have entered and processed all the forms over the next few days.

So let’s not stop here. In the New Year I encourage you all to rally your friends and family that support the Saints and get them on board as a member for the 2008 season. With our first five games of the 2008 season at the Telstra Dome (and 11 home games throughout the season at the Dome) all members get immediate value for joining. Let’s not just break our membership record – let’s smash it!

We’ve had a big year in 2007 and our new Board committed to driving more value back to you our members and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’ve got some exciting new recruits, made key football appointments, our club is in great shape and our team is looking fitter, stronger and more focused than ever.

On behalf of all of us here at the Saints thank you for your support and have a safe and fun filled Christmas break. We’re all pumped for a big 2008!

Cheers and Go Saints!

Archie Fraser, CEO and on behalf of the whole team here at St Kilda

[fonz_#15]

fantastic news hopefully we will have no trouble breaking 40,000 members

[Enrico_Misso]

OR

Maybe it's because people like me who normally rush round and renew in a panic in March, were seduced by the DVD Xmas cut-off offer ?

[chook23]

OR

Maybe it's because people like me who normally rush round and renew in a panic in March, were seduced by the DVD Xmas cut-off offer ?

Think it could account for 10-12% that we are up compared to last year.

This is also supported by Archie/Membership dept.

40,000 I think a little too high an aim

35,000 more likely going well

if the percentage of new/lapsed members is low it is just members renewing earlier

[saintbrat]

there is a target on the membership tally- which is VERY realistic and breaking it would be very sweet- THEN aim higher.

[Huzzad]

Not sure if it is because of the DVD. I am a new member myself for the first time, thought i was a great time to finally jump on board. That and the new job helped. I think, like archie said, there is alot of buzz around the club at the moment and the supporters don't want to miss out.

[Saints Premiers 2008]

westaway makes a big point about spending a bit of the dollar through scarves, hats, dvd's...coupling it with membership to entice new members...it looks to be working

[Solar]

It's so important to get these members in early on a couple of fronts...

1) get the money in early to be able to construct budgets

2) create hype

3) good crowds early when getting on a roll in the first month will be important.

awesome effort especially since the club started a couple of weeks behind most others because of the change of board. Just shows what happens when slight change for the better happens.

[woooosaints]

ive never been a saints member how do i join?

[saintbrat]

see the sticky at the top of the page- you may yet get in for 2007
But you've missed the DVD
saints.com.au and follow the links

[Solar]

you can call 1300 734 134

or go to http://www.saints.com.au/Membership/tab ... fault.aspx

2008 will rock, get on board

[Armoooo]

Good work guys, with the payment plan there is really no excuse to be on board IMO, all things seem to be flying off the field hopefully we can match that on the field...

[joffaboy]

It's so important to get these members in early on a couple of fronts...

1) get the money in early to be able to construct budgets

Umm, I don think so. 2008 Budgets would have been done and dusted by now.

Mabye it helps to revise forecasts if trend analysis indicates a higher than expected uptake, however the Revenue and Expenditure budgets would have been done on NFI membership totals of between 32-35k.

The membership incentives such as scarfs and dvds would also have been factored in to arrive at the expected membership figure.

Early membership is more useful for cashflow issues.

However 18k is still a healthy figure this early on.

The text message is a great idea BTW.

[JeffDunne]

It's pleasing to see that the club hasn't imploded because Rod's gone.

Bet there's some people around here feeling a little silly over their hysterics.

[joffaboy]

It's pleasing to see that the club hasn't imploded because Rod's gone.

Bet there's some people around here feeling a little silly over their hysterics.

Yeah agree JD those people must feel pretty silly

Still this admin has achieved exactly the same as every other one so far in St.Kilda's history except for the one in 1966.

Has been a terrific start by the new Admin, the announced move to Frankston, the appointment of some very credentialled off field football staff, the remodelling of the Saints/Scorpians relationship, the new multi-million sponsorship, and the much appreciated NO COMMENT on the ongoing saga of Thomas and is parasitical cash grab.

Personally I didn't ever think the place would implode if Rod went. I was more concerned about the agitators and fith columnists within the club and the damage they were willing to wreak on the club if Rod stayed. In the end Butters had no option and we were all glad to see the guy go. A true Saints man who put cash into the club as opposed to trying to milk it for all it was worth like other supposed Saints men.

That period is ended and we move on, and so far the moving on has been excellent by Mr Westaway and his board.

[i_luv_nick_riewoldt]

i'm hopefully going to sign up as a new member in the new year and hopefully add another 3 people to the tally!

promising signs for the club with that tally so far! I would love to see a break down of stats, to see whether the new member tally is greater than years gone by.

[stinger]

ive never been a saints member how do i join?

get on board mate.....no excuse not to............

[4theluvoftheclub]

[Personally I didn't ever think the place would implode if Rod went. I was more concerned about the agitators and fith columnists within the club and the damage they were willing to wreak on the club if Rod stayed. In the end Butters had no option and we were all glad to see the guy go. A true Saints man who put cash into the club as opposed to trying to milk it for all it was worth like other supposed Saints men..

Perhaps you should just stick to the facts? RB was good for the club , no doubt...but he never put in one cent himself except at a few auctions. Ask him or any of the directors who were on during his time. The truth is that for many years , he was great for the club, but on occasion he used the club towards the end to look after himself and his mates ,which as a lifelong member I think was really wrong. 1. such as Sheldon's appointment after sheldon lost his job at nylex; ;2. his $30000 cash he told the CEO to pay casey (10000 per month for one day per week of "consulting",) that was never disclosed or approved by the board, (again- ask any director with access to the minutes, or ask the CEO- rather than choosing to ignore the facts) which was a deal that just happenned to coincide with Casey losing his job at Nylex, and having no cash flow while he and Rod were getting their well publicised Transition Group together. 3. And it's common knowledge now that Butterss and Casey's invovlement in the company Concept sports ( casey now ceo and butterss shareholder), had been producing all the clubs attire in China for Skins- again, to the annoyance of the new board- without any disclosure to the previous board. There is talk of legal action . Talk about conflicts of interest and breach of directors duties.
Let's acknowledge what he did for the club, and he did a lot ,but not let history and truth go out the window and create an image of him that is far from the truth. And before you start suggesting he paid out Blight, that again is not true. Ask a director, or the ceo at the time. Ask Thomas. They will tell you. It's a myth . I am not sure what your conection is to him, but you have tried pushing this line a few times on this site. Let's simply either stop discussing him at all, or if you want to talk about history, stick to the facts.
I for one think he should be remembered for being the right guy to turn around the club, and give heaps of time , thought, energy and committment for 8 hardworking years, that brought modern thinking, cleared the debt and set up the club for the future. It's a shame that his last year was starting to look a bit like him treating it as his private company, not as one owned by us , the members. Lets remember that he was tipped out in a landslide, and it was not because people loved what he was doing for the club at the end.

[saint66au]

I for one think he should be remembered for being the right guy to turn around the club, and give heaps of time , thought, energy and committment for 8 hardworking years, that brought modern thinking, cleared the debt and set up the club for the future. It's a shame that his last year was starting to look a bit like him treating it as his private company, not as one owned by us , the members. Lets remember that he was tipped out in a landslide, and it was not because people loved what he was doing for the club at the end.

NIce summary imho

[saintspremiers]

4theloveoftheclub.....that is a brilliant analysis no doubt based on fact with little bias attached to it, many thanks!

Re the membership drive, no doubt the free scarf and DVD are winners, and I know for a fact from a club source that the scarf cost price to the club is absolute peanuts......think about it - 30,000 odd scarves made in bulk in China!!

I can only assume the DVD's were dirt cheap also to produce.

If you do a cost/benefit analysis, surely inclusions such as a free scarf are a no brainer......18,000 members in next to no time after such a crap season, after the Saints had been sliding for 2 consecutive years is a terrific effort.

Great marketing, great iniatives by the new board.

Speak to anyone in the club, the excitement does sound GENUINE, not spin!

[plugger66]

[Personally I didn't ever think the place would implode if Rod went. I was more concerned about the agitators and fith columnists within the club and the damage they were willing to wreak on the club if Rod stayed. In the end Butters had no option and we were all glad to see the guy go. A true Saints man who put cash into the club as opposed to trying to milk it for all it was worth like other supposed Saints men..

Perhaps you should just stick to the facts? RB was good for the club , no doubt...but he never put in one cent himself except at a few auctions. Ask him or any of the directors who were on during his time. The truth is that for many years , he was great for the club, but on occasion he used the club towards the end to look after himself and his mates ,which as a lifelong member I think was really wrong. 1. such as Sheldon's appointment after sheldon lost his job at nylex; ;2. his $30000 cash he told the CEO to pay casey (10000 per month for one day per week of "consulting",) that was never disclosed or approved by the board, (again- ask any director with access to the minutes, or ask the CEO- rather than choosing to ignore the facts) which was a deal that just happenned to coincide with Casey losing his job at Nylex, and having no cash flow while he and Rod were getting their well publicised Transition Group together. 3. And it's common knowledge now that Butterss and Casey's invovlement in the company Concept sports ( casey now ceo and butterss shareholder), had been producing all the clubs attire in China for Skins- again, to the annoyance of the new board- without any disclosure to the previous board. There is talk of legal action . Talk about conflicts of interest and breach of directors duties.
Let's acknowledge what he did for the club, and he did a lot ,but not let history and truth go out the window and create an image of him that is far from the truth. And before you start suggesting he paid out Blight, that again is not true. Ask a director, or the ceo at the time. Ask Thomas. They will tell you. It's a myth . I am not sure what your conection is to him, but you have tried pushing this line a few times on this site. Let's simply either stop discussing him at all, or if you want to talk about history, stick to the facts.
I for one think he should be remembered for being the right guy to turn around the club, and give heaps of time , thought, energy and committment for 8 hardworking years, that brought modern thinking, cleared the debt and set up the club for the future. It's a shame that his last year was starting to look a bit like him treating it as his private company, not as one owned by us , the members. Lets remember that he was tipped out in a landslide, and it was not because people loved what he was doing for the club at the end.

Some of that is true but at least 2 directors(Rod and Casey) put their own houses up so the club could get a loan. Also Rod on many occassions paid for all the after match functions for the players in his first couple of years so that is indeed putting money into the club.

[Teflon]

[Personally I didn't ever think the place would implode if Rod went. I was more concerned about the agitators and fith columnists within the club and the damage they were willing to wreak on the club if Rod stayed. In the end Butters had no option and we were all glad to see the guy go. A true Saints man who put cash into the club as opposed to trying to milk it for all it was worth like other supposed Saints men..

Perhaps you should just stick to the facts? RB was good for the club , no doubt...but he never put in one cent himself except at a few auctions. Ask him or any of the directors who were on during his time. The truth is that for many years , he was great for the club, but on occasion he used the club towards the end to look after himself and his mates ,which as a lifelong member I think was really wrong. 1. such as Sheldon's appointment after sheldon lost his job at nylex; ;2. his $30000 cash he told the CEO to pay casey (10000 per month for one day per week of "consulting",) that was never disclosed or approved by the board, (again- ask any director with access to the minutes, or ask the CEO- rather than choosing to ignore the facts) which was a deal that just happenned to coincide with Casey losing his job at Nylex, and having no cash flow while he and Rod were getting their well publicised Transition Group together. 3. And it's common knowledge now that Butterss and Casey's invovlement in the company Concept sports ( casey now ceo and butterss shareholder), had been producing all the clubs attire in China for Skins- again, to the annoyance of the new board- without any disclosure to the previous board. There is talk of legal action . Talk about conflicts of interest and breach of directors duties.
Let's acknowledge what he did for the club, and he did a lot ,but not let history and truth go out the window and create an image of him that is far from the truth. And before you start suggesting he paid out Blight, that again is not true. Ask a director, or the ceo at the time. Ask Thomas. They will tell you. It's a myth . I am not sure what your conection is to him, but you have tried pushing this line a few times on this site. Let's simply either stop discussing him at all, or if you want to talk about history, stick to the facts.
I for one think he should be remembered for being the right guy to turn around the club, and give heaps of time , thought, energy and committment for 8 hardworking years, that brought modern thinking, cleared the debt and set up the club for the future. It's a shame that his last year was starting to look a bit like him treating it as his private company, not as one owned by us , the members. Lets remember that he was tipped out in a landslide, and it was not because people loved what he was doing for the club at the end.

Some of that is true but at least 2 directors(Rod and Casey) put their own houses up so the club could get a loan. Also Rod on many occassions paid for all the after match functions for the players in his first couple of years so that is indeed putting money into the club.

Thanks Plugger - its amazing how some purport to know all facts and have no agenda only to have this turned on its head when some further light is shed on the topic.

Putting your house up so the club could get a loan AND funding numerous after match functions out of your own pocket is absolutely putting your own hand in your pocket......untill Rod bought him one Grant probably didnt have a house to put up.....

4theluvofhimself..........maybe Joffa has put forward his views on Butters contributions to the club or "peddled his agenda" as you put it ........but its patently obvious what YOUR agenda is having read your posts over the last few months.....

At least the occasional condescending..."Rod did some good things..." is an attempt to soften up your audience - congrats on that.

What I can categorically say is - unlike the departed coach - I have NOT heard Rod Butters since he left in the media bagging the club, slinging mud at the new Board whatsoever...theres a fact many seem to miss that probably says more about the the 2 men than any words/adulation will.

[Teflon]

It's pleasing to see that the club hasn't imploded because Rod's gone.

Bet there's some people around here feeling a little silly over their hysterics.

What a sad indictment on the type of person you clearly must be that we as a club cant be happy with a great membership result without slagging off at an ex Prez who did his best over 8 years? or degenerating a good thread into another "look at Jeffdumb debate"

Do you even follow the St Kilda FC ? or just peddle misery?

Must be a hoot round your joint over Xmas....

[saintspremiers]

What I can categorically say is - unlike the departed coach - I have NOT heard Rod Butters since he left in the media bagging the club, slinging mud at the new Board whatsoever...theres a fact many seem to miss that probably says more about the the 2 men than any words/adulation will.

Yes that is true and it's good that RB hasn't resorted to those low life tactics like GT has.

RB in that respect alone is only acting as any person should given the circumstances.

On the other hand, RB was ousted in a democratic way by a massive margin, whilst GT was sacked........

[saint66au]

It's also pretty funnyt that peple take gossip and info from an "inside source" as Gospel when it backs their agenda or opinions, but anything that goes against it is automatically garbage

Teffers, I trust you arent distancing yourself from any agenda-pushing here...you and b4e are the two biggest GT-bashers on the site..and of course you believe the "inside info" that supports your cause whilst dismissing out of hand as mud anything that you disagree with.