Members letter

The following is the letter and questionaire handed to our members on the coach yesterday. The questions raised in the questionaire presume that there will be new management in next year. The letter and questionaire will also go out to those members not at last nights match. The AGM will hopefully be held on Monday June 5th at 7.30pm - I will confirm this later in a separate message.

4th May 2006


Dear Branch Member,



The 2005/2006 season is a one to forget both on and off the pitch, I for one believe it is the worst season in the 40+ years I have supported the club. Hopefully with a change of ownership and new management things may change and I hope that like me you will still support the team through good and bad times; I know it’s been more bad times of late but here’s hoping things will change for the good.

It is a very sad statement to make but this season with the low number of members attending and using the coach we have made an overall loss on the coach expenditure. Due to this loss we cannot offer our members a free fare on this our last fixture of the season, I trust you appreciate the reasons why I have made this decision.

There are presently three solutions to avert a loss next season: -

1) Cancel the coach completely and fold the branch
2) Increase the fare
3) Look for a new coach company with a smaller coach that may have a cheaper running cost

I do hope that solution 1 will not happen, I personally want to attend the matches next season using coach travel and therefore hope that you will also support the branch by using the coach and travel to all next seasons home fixtures.

If we were to consider item 2 we may get members finding that it is too expensive to use the coach and therefore this would eventualy lead to reduced numbers on the coach and higher losses. I will leave this point for your input in the questionaire and discussion at our end of season AGM.



The solution 3 may be the best solution for next season. I can either discuss with our present coach company, who I believe have done us proud for a few years now and charge £165 per fixture; this is the best quote we have obtained in the past two seasons. However as they don’t have a smaller coach and the rising fuel costs may lead to an un-successful outcome trying to reduce the present cost. The other alternative is to enquire for a new coach company with a reduced number of seats.

We used Griersons recently for one of the cup matches and they provided a 29 seater for £100; they also have a 33 seater coach. As we have a good relationship with the Sedgefield branch, who use Griersons for all matches, we may get a better deal going through their secretary Clive Dent.

The obvious down side to this is if we use a 33 seater coach and things do pick up it will be regular members first and only if they confirm either on the coach that they are attending the next fixture or call me 48 hours before a match. Any other members or guests will be on a first come first served basis. This may lead to problems but at least the coach may be full and hopefully giving profit to the branch.

I am not looking for a solution today as all points above will be raised, discussed and voted on at our end of season AGM. I will be trying to hold this meeting either the last week in May or first week in June depending on the committees diary. I ask you all to attend this important meeting to be held in Coxhoe Workmens Club; I will contact you again when we have arranged a date for the meeting.

What I require from you today is an indication from you on your attendance and thoughts for next season. Please review the questions raised on the following page and give your answers as accurately as possible. I have asked that you give your names on the page to allow me to review pick up points and the names of the members that will regularily attend all home fixtures next season.

Thanks for your assistance


Jim Gilling
Secretary

1) Name …………………………………………………………………………

2) Will you be renewing your season ticket next year YES / NO


3) Will you be attending all home league fixtures next year YES / NO


4) If NO to question 3 will you be selecting the fixtures you attend next year
YES / NO

5) Will you be travelling on the coach to all fixtures next year YES / NO


6) Are you prepared to pay an increase in the fare next season YES / NO


7) If YES to question 6 what is the maximum you are prepared to pay bearing in mind this seasons fares were £5 adults £3 junior and OAP’s

Adults ………
Juniors ………

OAP’s ……….

8) Should the branch enquire for a new coach company and smaller seater coach i.e. 33 seater YES / NO

9) What pick up points would you prefer for next season.

Kelloe / Coxhoe / West Cornforth YES / NO

Kelloe / Coxhoe only YES / NO

Kelloe / Coxhoe plus another (please state village) YES / NO

Village ………………………………………