Supporters Forum

coluka said:
Surely nobody at the meeting should be calling the shots! A fans forum is for and about fans issues, so surely all reps are their to discuss issues raised by fans.

Who decides the invites and who represents the fans? I appreciate the fact it happens is a good thing and I am not criticising the attendees, just wondering about whether all groups are represented or if it is representative of the fans as a whole?

Do fans have an opportunity to shape the agenda?

Are representatives deciding personally what they choose to ask to be placed on the agenda and is every proposal for an agenda item discussed?

How are reps held to account?

Should there be a mechanism to elect fans reps annually?

I think the fact this forum exists at all is excellent and seems really positive I do wonder how widely ordinary fans can shape discussions and have their personal issues addressed or at least answered by the forum as a whole rather than one rep on it. Some questions I have seen on here may seem petty, but I dare say to the individual may not always be. I also accept that some seem ridiculous mind.

Filming it in 2020 would help fans see what goes on, ensure greater understanding and some accountability of those in attendance. Is there an opportunity for ordinary fans to attend or put themselves forward as reps (When normality returns) or is it a closed shop. If not, should there be?

The above questions are to aid my understanding, hopefully the answers have already been considered by the forums reps. It is great that people are giving of their time for the benefit of the many and I for one see what is happening as a positive, but I am sure like everything it can grow and become an even better, more open vehicle than it stands today.
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I've asked similar questions in the past.

I agree that it's a positive we have the forum and have no intention of being critical of people but It seems odd to me that there are people on the forum who represent no particular body and therefore whose only view they can express is their own. The answer given is that they are long standing Boro fans......................

The other fans groups I have monitored (pre covid) what the Facebook pages etc posted prior to and after meetings and there appears to be no means of gathering opinions/issues or of any feedback (other than the official minutes)

I know the new chairman of the forum is aware of such issues and may have plans to improve things but the last few months won't have helped him in that!

Fair play to Rob, he always asks for people to raise issues ahead of meetings but usually ends up with a shopping list of complaints that would be impractical to even try and address half of them at a meeting.
 
DCI_Gene_Hunt said:
I've asked similar questions in the past.

I agree that it's a positive we have the forum and have no intention of being critical of people but It seems odd to me that there are people on the forum who represent no particular body and therefore whose only view they can express is their own. The answer given is that they are long standing Boro fans......................

The other fans groups I have monitored (pre covid) what the Facebook pages etc posted prior to and after meetings and there appears to be no means of gathering opinions/issues or of any feedback (other than the official minutes)

I know the new chairman of the forum is aware of such issues and may have plans to improve things but the last few months won't have helped him in that!

Fair play to Rob, he always asks for people to raise issues ahead of meetings but usually ends up with a shopping list of complaints that would be impractical to even try and address half of them at a meeting.
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Thanks for the reply Gene 👍

Yes, Rob is proactive in seeking questions and I appreciate some points are, shall we say less worthy of discussion than others. I think if the forum had a web page somewhere, maybe hosted by MFC, where people could raise questions or issues and that serious questions would always receive a response and where themes developed the forum discuss at their meetings and be a way forward.

The issue of attendees is a slight concern, especially if they are individuals who have been long standing fans and represent nobody other than themselves. I am not against having the odd person like that on the group but I do think there are probably a number of others who may like the opportunity to play a part at some point. Maybe those not representing groups should be time limited and new blood introduced to freshen up the forum from time to time and avoid it being ever seen as a ‘mates group’
 
coluka said:
Thanks for the reply Gene 👍

Yes, Rob is proactive in seeking questions and I appreciate some points are, shall we say less worthy of discussion than others. I think if the forum had a web page somewhere, maybe hosted by MFC, where people could raise questions or issues and that serious questions would always receive a response and where themes developed the forum discuss at their meetings and be a way forward.

The issue of attendees is a slight concern, especially if they are individuals who have been long standing fans and represent nobody other than themselves. I am not against having the odd person like that on the group but I do think there are probably a number of others who may like the opportunity to play a part at some point. Maybe those not representing groups should be time limited and new blood introduced to freshen up the forum from time to time and avoid it being ever seen as a ‘mates group’
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The Supporters Forum has its own web site - should be easy enough to add a page where people can leave "comments" which the owner of the site could then moderate - it's a good idea that. Only downside I can see is it's probably open to abuse and people adding endless comments?
 
There was supposed to be a meeting afterwards but the Warnock Q and A was really lengthy and so it was called off.
When I said I was a guest I was meaning it wasn't my decision about when/where minutes were published. I hadn't been involved in organising that meeting. I also didn't fancy transcribing nearly 2 hour recording. It would have taken me weeks. lol.

Sorry I didn't ask for any questions for Warnock from everyone. It didn't occur to me, stupid, I know. I had asked everyone on here for points to raise at the meeting.

I only asked one question because I get to question the manager at every pre-match press conference and I do sometimes ask if there are points you want me to ask. So, it is better to let others have the opportunity. But we do only get three questions each in press conferences and as I go last, so invariably someone before me (last week immediately before me) asks my questions. No point in asking it again because you will be able to hear the answer afterwards or read it in the Gazette, Echo or Hartlepool Mail.
You will notice everyone at that meeting was representing fans groups - except the interestingly named Ste Gibson, he contacted Supporters Forum asking if he could ask questions. So, Mark thought it would be good to invite him in to do this. Quite good that I think.
But yes if you look at all the people round the Zoom table they are all representing fan groups. One Boro, North American Boro are the latest in addition to MSS, Disabled Supporters, 12th man, Red Faction and Caroline representing equality, diversity and she does media releases (her profession). Rainbow Reds and Boro Supporters 2020 joined recently and are really active at meetings etc.
 
DCI_Gene_Hunt said:
The Supporters Forum has its own web site - should be easy enough to add a page where people can leave "comments" which the owner of the site could then moderate - it's a good idea that. Only downside I can see is it's probably open to abuse and people adding endless comments?
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Gene - there is supporters forum twitter and facebook pages and there is a big HAVE YOUR SAY on the front page of the Supporters website - click it and it is an email form.
The Supporters Forum website is linked from Boro official website also through Supporter Services
Here is the Forum website
Boro.Support
 
I did wonder about the Ste Gibson person - he was down just as a season ticket holder so can we all now have direct access?
 
Maybe someone else would like to represent the message board at the next meeting.
I dont think there is a date as yet.
 
rob_fmttm said:
Maybe someone else would like to represent the message board at the next meeting.
I dont think there is a date as yet.
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Rob, as Primus84 says, there is no negativity or criticism of you. I am sure everyone is grateful for your participation and the time you put into all this, I am sure it must seem a thankless task at times. You earn your seat at the table and i am sure fmttm members support your efforts on our behalf.
 
Oh no I wasn't taking it to heart.
I was just thinking maybe someone else would like to attend instead of me.
 
rob_fmttm said:
There was supposed to be a meeting afterwards but the Warnock Q and A was really lengthy and so it was called off.
When I said I was a guest I was meaning it wasn't my decision about when/where minutes were published. I hadn't been involved in organising that meeting. I also didn't fancy transcribing nearly 2 hour recording. It would have taken me weeks. lol.

Sorry I didn't ask for any questions for Warnock from everyone. It didn't occur to me, stupid, I know. I had asked everyone on here for points to raise at the meeting.

I only asked one question because I get to question the manager at every pre-match press conference and I do sometimes ask if there are points you want me to ask. So, it is better to let others have the opportunity. But we do only get three questions each in press conferences and as I go last, so invariably someone before me (last week immediately before me) asks my questions. No point in asking it again because you will be able to hear the answer afterwards or read it in the Gazette, Echo or Hartlepool Mail.
You will notice everyone at that meeting was representing fans groups - except the interestingly named Ste Gibson, he contacted Supporters Forum asking if he could ask questions. So, Mark thought it would be good to invite him in to do this. Quite good that I think.
But yes if you look at all the people round the Zoom table they are all representing fan groups. One Boro, North American Boro are the latest in addition to MSS, Disabled Supporters, 12th man, Red Faction and Caroline representing equality, diversity and she does media releases (her profession). Rainbow Reds and Boro Supporters 2020 joined recently and are really active at meetings etc.
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People in the Zoom group are the representing fans groups but the question I've asked before and having trawled the various Facebook/Twitter/Web Sites is how do the people at the meetings gather the views of the groups they represent and how do they feed info back except via the official minutes because there seems to be no info on how they do that.

Chris Joseph & Peter Martin maybe long standing fans but hey represent no one and present only their views.

Caroline Walker represents Diversity - what qualifies her to represent Boro fans on that matter? How does she interact with fans apart from the occasional retweeet of something on her Twitter account?

As I have said many times before I don't intend any personal criticism of anyone and would rather have the forum than not but those that attend must expect to have themselves put upto scrutiny at times by those they claim to represent?
 
rob_fmttm said:
Gene - there is supporters forum twitter and facebook pages and there is a big HAVE YOUR SAY on the front page of the Supporters website - click it and it is an email form.
The Supporters Forum website is linked from Boro official website also through Supporter Services
Here is the Forum website
Boro.Support
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I know there is a contact form Rob and you know I do as you have replied when I've used it!

In my post, following Coluka's comments, I was suggesting that the MSF web site could have a dedicated page for collating comments/issues that fans think should be raised at future meetings. An onlne visible action plan for all to see. I'm no web expert but I can't imagine such a thing would be hard to do. Once up and running it wouldn't take a lot of managing but would be benificial in that it would be very clear to see what issues have been highlighted and what outcome there was from raising an issue. (And it may well be that a lot of issues do not merit even being discussed at a forum meeting for various reasons and thats absolutely fine but at least who ever raised the issue would get some feedback )
 
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