So where has it been, this RST?

[maineflyer 0]

All new requests for joining are being denied at present , and for very good reason too.

 

........ unless someone already there will vouch for you.

[Frankie 8,182]

As this is my first post on here do feel free to harass and harry me I wont take it personally

 

If the fans are never going to get together to provide a united front (and that hasnt happened even in what we would call our darkest days when we werent sure what was happening at the start of the season even up to January) then the enemies of the club find it easier to write their usual crap. I have just joined the site today but I am a long time poster on FF and its safe to say that many posters on there dont think a lot of this site and vice versa. The ideaologies might be different but we all want the same thing. The absolute best for Rangers.

 

For me, the RST lost a lot of the respect of outsiders looking in by jumping in with this Duffy character, it smacked of a bit of desparation and the implications if it had went tits up (which it did and pretty quickly) hadnt really been thought through properly.

 

I had hoped that the Ellis bit would maybe have lit a fire under more interested parties but as yet, that hasnt happened and I confess I am rather disappointed at that.

 

Hi mate,

 

Welcome to Gersnet!

 

As others have said, I don't think there is any anti-FF sentiment on here whatsoever. Most use that forum and most will agree it is arguably still the most influential one out in the community. Similarly, I don't think there is all that much anti-Gersnet sentiment on FF - most posters there probably don't even know of our small (but finely formed community).

 

Not sure, if you have us confused with RM where there is a bit more conflict between there and FF? However, you're certainly right in that the lack of unity between the support (online or offline) is disappointing to say the least.

 

The RST are far from perfect and the Duffy incident showed that to be the case. However, this situation is an unique one for us all so difficult to judge the intentions/credibility of anyone with any real confidence without ensuring the whole picture is available.

 

As it stands I don't think it is. That's why we can only hope we find a bit of improvement as this situation is not just vital for the club but a chance of genuine representative improvement for the support.

[Super_Ally 0]

I am also a member on FF EvoX, so perhaps that mutual animosity is not so great as you believe.

[Frankie 8,182]

Welcome Evox. As a long time FFer with probably the lowest post count going i find that Gersnet offers a little sanctuary from the constant uber egos that FF has. Quality over quantity is the key and generally a feeling that the debate is generally well thought out and constructive. FF is still my first port of call on a daily basis but it's more like a giant videprinter of gers news and views. Gersnet IMO is more challenging and thought provoking.

 

On Frankie's points:

 

Communication

I think in most developed cultures we're now moving into a next phase of 'consultation' or 'engagement'. This might be controversial but i think the next step is that RFC think about paying people for their time. Lots of bears all over the world follow follow through love and passion but the current RSA/RST model of non-paid volunteers coping lots of flack more often than not for trying to the best of their abilities is a dead horse.

 

Now i'm not suggesting that club blazers, comfy seats and salmon sandwiches be made available but how about a little courtesy and compensation of time for 'project' based work that benefits Rangers FC. This then leaves the participant with options on what works for them be it kudos/money/benefits etc. If you provide a professional service to Rangers FC then the club 'pays' for it but you also have the option of off-setting this against season ticket cost, merchandise vouchers etc

 

Innovation

 

What kind of ideas could take these organisations to the next level? Could they contribute research into development of Ibrox? Can they provide finance/investment via new independent vehicles? How can they involve the wider support?

 

Another controversial statement but simply Rangers FC think they are bigger than they are. The 'brand' is king but we lack presence. Presence comes from people, not the brand. Presence is not measured in units sold, dvd's etc It's time to get back to the simple art of storytelling. Give people a platform to listen to real Rangers men (and women) tell their stories to their own. We live in an instant world with lots of technology available to reach a wider audience yet we manage, market and put a price on it before we've even told people what it is. I've done sales before and i think it's simple, people buy from people. Rapport, wit, good humour, honesty and truthfulness. We Are The People.....let's share our stories and get people back in love with Rangers FC and in particular let's have a really good and interesting variety of match day experiences.

 

Improved Representation

 

As it stands we have three main organisations - each working together but each markedly different in tactics, reputation and funding. How can this be improved? Can they work together better under the Assembly banner to pressurise club into more official/in-depth/regular dialogue? Is the Assembly a dead duck? How do we engage the club in a way to keep them interested while ensuring organisation members are happy

 

The RST has a working share-buying model, but poor ongoing communication with its members. The RSA/WWA in a sense has the 'numbers' and the club's backing and i'm afraid i don't know too much about the Association to speak about them but it seems like a favourite old uncle who's shunted in the corner, given the paper to read and fed tea and biscuits.

 

The simple answer is one we talk about most: The Rangers Family. Ask every supporter to be part of the Rangers Family. No family i ever known always gets on, but we're family. That simple rhetoric might just be the starting point for the future debate of fan representation. Let's grow our family based on a share understanding of what our family stands for. We'll have a few skeletons in the closet like every family but we unite under a new banner that knows where it's from, where's it's going and how it's going to get there.

 

Off to bed now as it's 1am here...hope this adds to the debate.

 

Thanks for taking the time to make that constructive contribution and also thanks for kind words about the site - your $5 is in the air mail...

 

To take your points in order:

 

1. Paying people for their contribution is an interesting idea as it would take the apathy aspect out the equation for a lot of people immediately. Unfortunately, dangling such carrots may only result in people being more competitive with each other - as opposed to working together. We've all seen what happened with the founding of the Assembly or the recent offer of a seat on the board by SDM.

 

I think if we're honest, the calibre of people we want to be involved as the pinnacle of supporters reps will have the kind of background that will negate financial reward. It shouldn't be the rule, but I'd have thought it better that experts - proven people with dedicated backgrounds - would be the most credible for taking our ideas to the big table. Of course, there should always be room for those of us (myself included as an example) without the big bucks , without the business record and without the honours degree to influence proceedings but with the time to put in that the others may not have. Generally though we need to find experts right across the spectrum and I doubt we'd have the budget to actually pay them per se - so the task will and should remain a voluntary one.

 

2. 'We Are the People' is a great bit of branding for the club or any potential investor to build around. We have a huge fanbase and yet we do little to accommodate it in terms of club support and welcome. Look at NARSA at how to organise annual events which attract thousands. We should be building the same community and spirit here in Scotland but instead we have three main organisations - the oldest of which is dying before our very eyes - and various online groups often trying to outdo each other instead of working together . We're all guilty of allowing this division/apathy to happen. The divorce between the fans and club is bad enough but to have the very support fractured is even worse!

 

3. Your last suggestion of an improved, singular organisation is quite correct. All of the 3 main organisations have their positives and their foibles. It is no disgrace to admit problems or failure. Criticism has to be accepted and challenges acted upon instead of huffs deepened and splits broadened. Just because people have moan and groan sometimes doesn't mean you withdraw into your shell. Take it on the chin and come out fighting. We've seen the false dawns from each organisation - time for them to really show some leadership and find a solution interested fans want.

 

I'm still waiting on further contributions to this thread. I know all organisations are aware of it. Why not get involved?

[OnlyOneAmoruso 0]

All new requests for joining are being denied at present , and for very good reason too.

 

This was about 6 weeks ago, I applied.

[wabashcannonball 0]

Unfortunately, an open internet doesn't bring any freedom. How do you keep your website free of people who wish only to destroy it? How do you achieve the freedom only to correspond with honest people?

 

Your smile can be as wry as you like but many people register and post on Rangers websites who are not Rangers supporters. Some are supporters of other clubs, some are club officials, others are from the media, many have decidedly unfriendly intentions. Some arrive en masse with the express purpose of loading the dice and manipulating opinion. Paranoia - nope, it happens all the time.

 

So should the people who created VB or any other website be free to choose who joins? Probably, but how do you make it happen? You tell me. If you want to see what happens without controls, there are obvious examples where genuine Rangers supporters can sometimes be in short supply.

 

Then there are websites who allow you to join freely and post what you want .... but if they don't like your opinion they simply ban you without warning ot appeal. Is that the freedom you refer to?

 

Personally, I find VB a little too defensive of its borders but there again, VB is involved in actively challenging the anti-Rangers activities of some thoroughly nasty people. In any case, shouldn't they be free to run their website as they choose?

 

The reality is somewhat more simple, internet forums are places where people can agree or agree to disagree, places for exchanging and putting up opinions, they as in the case of our clubs multitude of sites have absolutely no bearing on what happens within the Ibrox board room. Some people really do attach an importance that is way beyond the effect that boards have, fragmentation divide and conquer call it what you will, but we have to many boards pulling in different directions, a little Glasnost would go a long way.

[Super_Ally 0]

Take it on the chin

 

"Gersnet's Frankie has a Tony Mowbray head"! :box:

[Frankie 8,182]

I consider them politicians with egos. They operate under the guise of what you describe, when really it appears to me and others to have little to do with what they do.

 

I have no doubt they are Rangers fans, but I believe they consider their own organisation more important than the club.

 

FF and RM staff have a similar kind of problem.

 

Sorry to cherry pick your post Danny but I'd rather we didn't concentrate on such stuff and kept the thread constructive as indicated in my initial musings. I don't think it is fair to generalise in such a way as I know good people in every group I've worked with.

 

There is no doubt there are also failings in some/all of the groups that may be causing problems as opposed to solving them but I doubt any of us could could comment objectively in that regard because of the experiences we may have had.

 

By all means discuss these failings but lets avoid the kind of needless (and often inaccurate) personal stuff we read elsewhere that often spoil debates that should be useful ones.

 

I think when it comes to folk posting personal allegations, it detracts hugely from the often valid point being made and gives excuses to people not to take part in such debates. I won't allow that to happen here.

[Frankie 8,182]

The reality is somewhat more simple, internet forums are places where people can agree or agree to disagree, places for exchanging and putting up opinions, they as in the case of our clubs multitude of sites have absolutely no bearing on what happens within the Ibrox board room. Some people really do attach an importance that is way beyond the effect that boards have, fragmentation divide and conquer call it what you will, but we have to many boards pulling in different directions, a little Glasnost would go a long way.

 

While a post, a challenge, a project or a protest may not influence the club's direction in a complete sense, I think it is naive to suggest the club don't not only take notice of opinion online but often act on it.

 

Not to the degree some will suggest - and the club are much more clever in how they manipulate the situation - but online forums do have their place in the food chain.

[Frankie 8,182]

"Gersnet's Frankie has a Tony Mowbray head"! :box:

 

Much more of an Frankenstein's monster heid than a monkey's! Not sure if that means I'm further forward Darwin-wise or not?