I hope we have fundraisers every year. $$ are always needed and support shows the club we do care.

The Foundation Heroes Dinner will be an ongoing function, trust me.

The Club benefit, the participants enjoy it and all in all it is one of the biggest of it's type, so it will continue. When our on field results improve it will get better and bigger; everybody loves a winner.

I only care because I want us to be able to pay 100% of the TPP without the need to resort to special fundraising from generous members.

Yes, as posted by diesel "we could" make cuts elsewhere to do so in the absence of such fundraising, but would we?

We can't win a flag without paying 100% and I'd like us to be funding this from recurring revenue not from discretional donations from generous members.

Apologies if this is hard to understand ....

But Old Dee, isn't buying a membership a discretionary donation. If anything these donations are better value for the club because they give nothing in return except a meal at Crown.

As a business they must rely on a multitude of revenue sources:

Memberships,

Sponsorships

Gate takings

Merchandise to name but a few. The fact that the club has started tapping into this previously untapped resource i.e. supporters who choose to give a little bit more is nothing but another stream of revenue and darn good business.

Last nights dinner raised somewhere close to what Geelong make each home game.

Worth remembering.

But Old Dee,

I stopped reading there.

I stopped reading there.

I was not necessarily meaning to use your user name of course

Mind you....

I was there last night and I tipped in a bit more than I usually do because I can and because I wanted too. I don't give a flying fig what they use as a reason I know they need the money so I contribute.

I would imagine that the majority who were there last night couldn't give a stuff either, they were asked to chip in and did. What I can't understand is why anyone that didn't put in or wasn't there really cares how they dress it up.

Well said and thank you to and all our foundation heros.

The Foundation Heroes Dinner will be an ongoing function, trust me.

The Club benefit, the participants enjoy it and all in all it is one of the biggest of it's type, so it will continue. When our on field results improve it will get better and bigger; everybody loves a winner.

Robbie I dips me lid to you. I put in a reasonable amount each year (obviously not enough to get to this dinner) and TBH when I contribute my money I'd like to know I'm supporting a well run club that has the right objectives and is being run efficiently. I don't want to think that I'm supporting a poorly run club that is just using my donation to cover up inefficiencies in the budget or what I would consider discretionary or speculative spending.

A bit like when I pay my taxes. I want to think that the money is being wisely used (but of course that is just silly). If our TPP in a current year is only 95% of the TPP and there are a few expenditure blowouts or revenue shortfalls during the year then I reckon the 5% will be under significant pressure. It's a very soft target and nobody will know. Good management would provide provisions for this expenditure and cut elsewhere but I don't have the confidence this would happen. TPP budgeting is done, we know before the year starts how much we will pay in the following year bar a few injury payments and incentives. If you genuinely saw this as a core expenditure why wouldn't you pay the 100% through the year rather than wait until the end of the year to make the commitment?

Accordingly I believe Don. He says he needed the money to pay the TPP and that's good enough for me. I've contributed to many a fundraising to provide gym equipment, other FD equipment and at one stage to allow us to have an extra rookie and it's always been itemised. Why would they start misrepresenting it now? It only makes them look bad to those that see it my way.

Anyway good on you and I hope it pays off.

Project players will be looked at to see just how long it will be before they are "potentially" going to be players and whether the 3 to 4 years is worth the wait and expense.

Music to your ears I would imagine...

But Old Dee, isn't buying a membership a discretionary donation. If anything these donations are better value for the club because they give nothing in return except a meal at Crown.

As a business they must rely on a multitude of revenue sources:

Memberships,

Sponsorships

Gate takings

Merchandise to name but a few. The fact that the club has started tapping into this previously untapped resource i.e. supporters who choose to give a little bit more is nothing but another stream of revenue and darn good business.

Think you mean old55

Up to this point I don't think I have said a word on this thread.

Now I will

I agree with you.

No problem with me only wish I had a spare $5000 to join.

Music to your ears I would imagine...

I wish it were otherwise.

I wish it were otherwise.

Sigh.

Yeah...

anyone hear who we will target via trade or free agency??

Music to your ears I would imagine...

its music to mine !!!

Music to your ears I would imagine...

I don't think it is a black and white issue rpfc

More about balance and how many eggs in the basket

I thought you knew all about nuance?

What I can't understand is why anyone that didn't put in or wasn't there really cares how they dress it up.

Because if it's true that we need to rattle the tin to pay 100% of the TPP like McLardy said then we're in dire trouble; that's something that should alarm every member and not just the Foundation members. It could be indicative of a huge problem because as we all know, fund raisers generally aren't a sustainable way of... well, raising funds.

My view is that I agree that he probably just said it to dress the point up (it sounds a lot better than "to help pay the senior executive" - who'd want to donate for that?) and I think that's a fair position to take. I reckon rpfc is right when he says it's just for general budget fattening and doesn't have a specific purpose. Equally though, I think taking McLardy's comment at face value is just as valid a position and in that case the questions being asked are fair and reasonable.

Cash is always needed. It would be dire if no one donated.

My MFC Membership is a donation. As an MCC Member i don't use it. But i know the club does.

I don't think it is a black and white issue rpfc

More about balance and how many eggs in the basket

I thought you knew all about nuance?

It's not. I just think we have a little too much potential and not enough proven.

Get Cloke and you don't have to worry about tall forwards for 7 years.

It's not. I just think we have a little too much potential and not enough proven.

Get Cloke and you don't have to worry about tall forwards for 7 years.

Yeh, get Cloke and you wouldn't have to worry about winning for seven years either.

Because if it's true that we need to rattle the tin to pay 100% of the TPP like McLardy said then we're in dire trouble; that's something that should alarm every member and not just the Foundation members. It could be indicative of a huge problem because as we all know, fund raisers generally aren't a sustainable way of... well, raising funds.

My view is that I agree that he probably just said it to dress the point up (it sounds a lot better than "to help pay the senior executive" - who'd want to donate for that?) and I think that's a fair position to take. I reckon rpfc is right when he says it's just for general budget fattening and doesn't have a specific purpose. Equally though, I think taking McLardy's comment at face value is just as valid a position and in that case the questions being asked are fair and reasonable.

I find it quite extraordinary and I wonder if we are the only supporters, who can turn a massive positive in to a potential negative.

Make no mistake we are in hard times, our sponsors are only temporary and our membership is down; the only way we can keep on track, and believe me I think we are, is to raise funds to keep the ship going. Now if that means some supporters putting their hands in their kick until we are self sustaining then so be it, as long as those that are prepared to do so, do and as long as the rest of the supporters don't feel that it's some sort of conspiracy to keep the executives in desks, then let's just accept it.

Didn't the club run a "give robbie flower one last chance to play in the finals" campaign?

It worked!

Maybe we can rebadge it as: "give Melbourne one last chance to play in the finals".

Now if that means some supporters putting their hands in their kick until we are self sustaining then so be it, as long as those that are prepared to do so, do and as long as the rest of the supporters don't feel that it's some sort of conspiracy to keep the executives in desks, then let's just accept it.

I appreciate all supporters who can afford to kick in and help the club financially.

It's true that bigger clubs don't have to promote these type of functions, they just reap the rewards of success.

As I am not in a position to financially contribute right now, I can however offer my services.

More than willing to 'buy in' and get on the Reality Bus™. I reckon I could get a kick in the forward pocket.

Plus I have some awesome goal celebrations.

Stunned that people do it, by memberships and stuff ok, but really, give my spare to the RSPCA and boat peoples, not to fill Col's pockets, to but flip another BMW.

A strange, strange world, but go on, PLEASE CONTINUE.

I appreciate all supporters who can afford to kick in and help the club financially.

It's true that bigger clubs don't have to promote these type of functions, they just reap the rewards of success.

As I am not in a position to financially contribute right now, I can however offer my services.

More than willing to 'buy in' and get on the Reality Bus™. I reckon I could get a kick in the forward pocket.

Plus I have some awesome goal celebrations.

I'm sure the club would welcome you aboard the bus, all supporters are important.

Stunned that people do it, by memberships and stuff ok, but really, give my spare to the RSPCA and boat peoples, not to fill Col's pockets, to but flip another BMW.

A strange, strange world, but go on, PLEASE CONTINUE.

Why do you bother? No one finds it amusing, it's purely boring tripe.