DR,
Would be interesting to have a beer with you to talk through your issues further.
However, whilst you are, as your state, silently protesting, how do you expect to be heard, encourage change etc, if you are not a member. Whilst recognising you can't vote for a CEO (or indeed a board member, at least not without a convoluted process) the club gives members an opportunity to have their say. There is no guarantee that the suggestions will be implemented, but at least you can be heard and expect a response.
Not being a member takes this opportunity away.
DR, I admire your persistence but must echo the other thoughts. Little can be achieved with one fan refusing to get a membership. Especially when they then attend games anyway.
At the end of the day a silent protest is just that. Silent.
DR, I echo what youve said and feel exactly the same way with all the points youve raised.
Linanne and Boxa,
check this post out first. Both Cooper and Macca can verify the validity of the story, as well as a number of others on the site. This tends to be what happens when you stand up to get counted. It also speaks to why I am about to say the following.
Whilst I agree that not doing anything doesnt allow your voice to be heard at all, it does at least spare you the frustration of something like what I went through.
The issue with the clubs management is theyre old hat, and they all want to keep control due to the money. Theres very few in the administration with the clubs best interests at heart (Robert Stone was one of the last; May he rest in peace) from a soul point of view. They try to keep the club working financially, that I have no concern over, but even then they dont do a great job and theyre not looking ahead properly in order to give me a sense of comfort that in 100 years St George Leagues Club and St George Illawarra will still be operating with the same success as they have always done so.
The issue with taking on the administration is not enough people get involved. The 80/20 rule is more like 80/5, and those who grumble and complain the loudest are often the most reluctant to get off their ass and do something.
I have all the respect in the world for the likes of Cooper-Man, R2K, Macca and a few others because they not only give a sh*t about our club but they ALWAYS stand up to be counted. For anything to be done, we ALL need to stand up, but sadly this very, very rarely happens and I think the SOS days and first R2K campaign is the only time it happened.