The first STAR blog
By Jon Keen
Despite July being the close season, it's still been a busy time for everyone involved with STAR (Supporters' Trust At Reading). It's the time when we need to get ready for the new season, and in particular to sort out our membership renewals for the new season. And the bigger and more successful we become the more effort this is for an organisation staffed by volunteers.
With over 4,000 members, the task of printing and sending out personalised membership renewals to each has become quite a task. Last year, when we had around 3,000 members, printing alone took a whole weekend. Stupidly, I did this at home on my small, slow, domestic-quality laser printer, and by the end of the weekend the printer was almost completely burnt out - it's never been the same since!
But this year Kyocera came to the rescue - I spent an afternoon in their demo suite, with my laptop hooked up to one of their super-fast, industrial-quality laser printers, and the whole job was done in a fraction over two hours! So many thanks, Kyocera, for making a difficult job much, much, easier this year.
Then we somehow had to send out these renewals to our 4,200 members!, so we had what we call a "stuffing evening" - when various STAR volunteers meet to fold these forms, put them into envelopes, stick stamps on and bag them ready for posting. With enough people, it's quite a sociable time and not too much work, and we had around 20 people so we did it comfortably in an evening - our only problem was posting them all, but we each took a bag and filled post boxes across the Reading area between us.
As well as membership renewals, I've been working hard on merchandise for the new membership year. We've always given members a STAR-branded item - things like pens, season ticket wallets, key rings, etc, but this year we've got a lot more ambitious, with a much bigger and better choice for members.
So this means I've spent quite a few hours designing items, approving proofs, talking to suppliers and making sure that we get them all on time. Everything seems to have come together on time, so we can now give our members a choice of two items from a list of seven - a STAR pen or season ticket holder, plus one of a key ring, fridge magnet, tax-disc holder, mobile phone charm/cleaner or a STAR "bug".
I may be biased as I designed them, but I think the bugs are going to be snapped up like hot cakes - especially the limited edition "Leroy" version, with yellow boots!
At last count, we've already received over 1,500 membership applications, with the Burghfield Common postmen no doubt cursing us as sackfuls more arrive each day. Colin and Melanie Bishop, who look after STAR membership, have been rushed off their feet entering these into our database, and we're all set to have another "stuffing evening" - this time sending out membership cards and vouchers for STAR merchandise and for money off in the Reading FC Megastore.
As well as postal applications, we're also receiving lots of memberships in person, as we're now opening the STAR Unit behind the East Stand every Thursday evening between 7.15pm to 9pm, so anyone can come and join us - and book away travel at the same time.
FSF involvement
STAR is heavily involved in the Football Supporters' Federation (FSF), and I'm lucky enough to be on the National Council of the FSF. As my FSF portfolio includes the financial management and governance of clubs, I've spent quite some time this month discussing our views and policy both on the financial situation at Leeds United and the ongoing West Ham/Tevez/Sheffield United episode.
I've also been helping plan activities to raise the profile of the FSF - in the past, the organisation has been underfunded and run by well-meaning volunteers, but things are about to change. Additional funding and sponsorship has been secured, and the FSF is about to become a lot more high-profile and professional.
There are so many obstacles to being a football supporter in today's game that fans really must have a modern, professional, campaigning organisation to give us a voice, and I'm determined to do everything I can to make sure the FSF turns into that organisation.
The recent delay in the release of TV fixtures is such an obstacle. No doubt this is because two TV companies are now involved in these, but the four weeks extra compared to last season has been a real inconvenience to many supporters who have been waiting eagerly - often to book cheaper travel or even to arrange holidays around the August matches! Such a simple thing to many - but such a problem for supporters, and it's for things like this that I'm convinced that supporters must have effective groups like STAR and the FSF to give them a voice and to communicate with football clubs and the football authorities.
Brighton
Which links nicely to a great example of what can happen when fans work together. It was great last week to hear that Brighton and Hove Albion have at last been granted planning permission for their stadium at Falmer - after years of campaigning, and almost exactly ten years after having the Goldstone Ground sold from under them!
In this time, Brighton fans have had to endure playing matches 70 miles away in Gillingham, and at The Withdean Stadium, an athletics ground barely suitable for League football. But the way Brighton's campaign has been run is an inspiration to all. Throughout it's been positive and humorous, with creative and effective publicity stunts to catch the media's imagination - such as sending a giant Valentine's Day card to John Prescott!
So at half-time at our friendly match with Brighton, I was delighted that fellow STAR Board member Michele Law and I were able to present Brighton fans with a message of congratulations from STAR for all that they have achieved.
STAR is the independent group for Reading supporters.
