marinermick
Well-Known Member
That’s why I post on the forum, so the spelling nazi’s have something to do
Dibo hasn't been on here for a while.
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All about the CCMFCOSC
- Thread starter Hammo
- Start date
Dibo hasn't been on here for a while.
MagpieMariner
Well-Known Member
If you want someone, I'll take over.
My kids and my grandkids all call me "grammar nazi." I'm sure the kids use other words when the grandkids aren't present.
FFC Mariner
Well-Known Member
In all seriousness, if an organisation cant point to its web page/facebook etc and say "this is who we are, this is what we do and this is why you should join us" they might want to go back and think about their purpose and how they communicate it.
The Marinators had no such issues - we all knew what they were about and why. Agree with them or not, no one was ever in any doubt about them and what they did for fans.
The Marinators had no such issues - we all knew what they were about and why. Agree with them or not, no one was ever in any doubt about them and what they did for fans.
marinermick
Well-Known Member
I haven’t weighed into this thread yet but in all seriousness, if you can’t formulate a response within five days, then you are impotent as an organisation.
I work in a large multinational that is very conversative, and our decision making is quicker than this.
I work in a large multinational that is very conversative, and our decision making is quicker than this.
Apologies for the delay in providing this response but I got called away unexpectedly with work last week, meaning I couldn’t get it finalised before now but here it is for those that care to read it:
As there appears to be a lack of clarity about the role and activities of the Central Coast Mariners Official Supporters Club (CCMOSC or OSC), I have been asked to provide the following information to those of you that frequent the CCM Fans Forum.
As has already been mentioned within this thread, the OSC was formed in 2012 out of an initiative by CCM under its then Community Ambassador Lawrie McKinna. From an initially loose collective, the group subsequently coalesced into the A League’s first Official Supporters Club, which subsequently became endorsed by both the Mariners and recognised by the FFA. Whilst the initial composition of the OSC included elements from across the fan base, it proved difficult to maintain that balance as committee members withdrew for various reasons.
The OSC’s core objectives have always primarily been to provide a link or conduit between Mariners’ fans and CCM, in order to ensure that fans’ views on any number of issues are clearly understood by the Club. At times, this has involved holding CCM to account on divisive issues, such as moving games from CCS, poor on field results and the coaching situation to name but a few. The OSC has always taken the view that more can be achieved through reasoned discussion than threats or abusive tirades and the fact that both CCMmanagement and Mike Charlesworth have always been willing to receive the OSC’s counsel, suggests that this approach is the correct one. Whilst many may believe that much communication can be made through the various media channels that exist, there will always be a need for face to face discussion on sensitive or divisive issues.
In positive terms, the OSC is also often called upon to providea sounding board on initiatives that CCM might wish to seek Fan input. One such example of this is that the OSC has been in discussion with CCM management for some months regarding the Fan Advisory Board initiative that has recently been floated by the CEO, in terms of what form this might possibly take and how to ensure proportional representation from all fan segments. Whilst the OSC considers that it tries to represent the majority view, it does not purport to represent all fans, only its Members directly. That said, whilst OSC membership does contain a reasonably broad demographic, it is clear that there are a number of diverse fan perspectives, some of whom have very specific aims and desires, which in turn drive their opinions. Given the range of potential views on any one topic, it would obviously be difficult for any single body to represent every individual or every specific viewpoint.
There has been a lot of comment as to why the OSC charges for membership and some have suggested that all Mariners members should automatically become OSC members at no cost. Whilst some might think it desirable for the OSC to have thousands of members, the challenges of managing that many people’s expectations, with a relatively small voluntary committee, cannot be underestimated. Further, when something is conferred at no cost and not a deliberate choice, this is almost certain to devalue that product. The OSC therefore took the conscious decision to charge for membership for two key reasons; firstly to ensure that members wanted to deliberately choose to take their CCM involvement to a higher level by having the opportunity to actively voice their opinions on key matters and secondly, to cover the overhead costs of running Member-related events and having appropriate insurances in place to limit any liability exposure. In addition, charging membership means that the OSC can remain an independent group that is not beholden to CCM or any entity other than its members. Whilst we are always happy to collaborate with CCM on any initiative that might potentially bring benefits to Mariners’ fans in general, we are not CCM’s mouthpiece, as seemingly perceived in some quarters and value our independence fiercely.
It should also be noted that the OSC does not make any form of profit and the intent has always been to run on minimal costs and the membership fee has accordingly not risen in the time since it was introduced.
As to the benefits of OSC membership, we work hard to ensure that these are maximised wherever possible and those Members that renewed or joined this season were provided with one free GA ticket per member, a free raffle ticket to win a signed season 18/19 shirt and the chance to win a family membership (all thanks to CCM’s generosity), as well as a small gift paid for by the OSC. Therefore, any Member receives more than the $20 membership fee in outright value, simply by virtue of the GA ticket price alone, before the other aspects are considered. In addition, the OSC also runs a number of events each season as a give-back to its Members.
As to the issue of utilising sponsorship to fund the OSC’s needs, this has been explored in the past, to the extent that sponsorship packages were drafted. However, in the modern business age, any potential sponsor would need to be provided with a clear benefit before committing funding. The OSC committee therefore took the considered view that being self-funding removed the risk of a sponsor pulling out or not renewing an existing agreement, thus leaving the group potentially under-funded. Sponsorship remains an option going forward but the amount required even for basic compliance requirements is not likely to be met by a single sponsor and this must then be maintained year-on-year. If membership was to be offered freely, then administration costs are likely to increase exponentially, which would in turn require yet more sponsors, potentially creating a greater reliance on external parties and possibly risking the sustainability of the OSC. In lieu of direct sponsorship the OSC has sought the support of some local businesses, with discounts or donations to assist with our various events.
There also appears to be a significant amount of confusion about what benefits the OSC brings more generally, although this is more likely due to the fact that the group tends not to overly promote its achievements outside of its membership. There are two key reasons for this; firstly, some of the contentious issues that the OSC has become involved in could be used to paint CCM in a poor light by external interests and so the group does not see the benefit of airing dirty laundry publicly. Secondly, being seen to self-promote any outcomes that might have been achieved could open the group to criticism from some quarters, even within our own group of fans (as has already been the case). Simply for the purposes of avoiding doubt, here are a number of examples of things that the OSC has had direct involvement in:
• Attendance of the FIFA Congress Review Working Group on behalf of CCM (at which the OSC was the only non active support group present).
• Direct representation to CCM on numerous occasions in relation to unacceptable coaching performance and both on and off-field issues.
• Representations to the CEO and Owner regarding the negative effects of ongoing under-investment on and off the field (further discussions on this issue are planned with MC later this month).
• Ensuring CCM fully understood the level of fan discontent with previous plans to move home games away from Gosford.
• Conducting Member surveys on key fan issues and providing results to CCM.
• Grandfathering of seat pricing where existing season ticket holders’ seats were upgraded arbitrarily by CCM.
• The opportunity for Members to vote for the CCMOSC Player of the Year, with a trophy awarded at the Mariners Medal dinner.
• Discussions with CCM management regarding the make-up and purpose of the proposed Fan Advisory Board and consideration of potential Fan Ownership Models.
In addition, the OSC runs, or participates in the following events:
• Presence at the CCM Family Day event.
• Pirate Day (open to all)
• Tour of Duty (typically one interstate game chosen annually according to the draw)
• Stadium Tour (held biennially). This was held recently, giving Members the opportunity to mix with a group of players and question Alen Stajcic.
• Breakfast or Dinner with the Mariners, one of which is held on alternate years to the Stadium Tour.
Mention has also been made that the OSC somehow bears a responsibility for improving the ‘Game Day Experience’ and whilst the group is happy to (and frequently does) provide the Club with feedback on this, the reality is that this is a CCM responsibility. With regard to the fan experience within the stadium, this is something that is typically driven by active support groups. Whilst all fans should contribute to creating atmosphere, driving this has always been the domain of active support and as this is something that was already in existence prior to the establishment of the OSC, it has not been a central role of the group.
The OSC already maintains a pre-game presence on Dane Drive / Palm Tree Parade / Western Warm Up Field, with a raffle, merchandise and a kick-a-goal at every home game. In addition, there was a pre-game children’s treasure hunt before the Adelaide home game as part of Pirate Day. All of this requires a great deal of commitment and effort by the OSC committee members, more often than not meaning that they do not get to enjoy the team warm up or any other pre-game activities themselves. There is no doubt that CCM needs to do far more to improve the Game Day Experience and we continue to provide ideas and feedback in relation to this on a regular basis. The OSC is also currently working to raise funds (separately from Members’ subscriptions) to construct a replica pirate galleon that can also become part of the Game Day Experience, as a photo opportunity for fans on Dane Drive and to also be positioned within the stadium during games. This is proving to be a major challenge in terms of bringing together the necessary constituent parts but steady progress is being made.
Above all though, the existence of the OSC is about driving support for our local club, the Mariners and it would therefore be ideal if all of the various fan groups could support each other in a spirit of kindred interest. Fans are strongest when they are a united voice and our supporter base will only ever be able to achieve the best outcomes when all parts of that group are working collectively, not divisively.
Sorry if the foregoing has sent some of you to sleep, however, it is very difficult to provide a short answer to what the OSC is and what it does but hopefully this post has provided some clarity around this.
Furthermore, this response might hopefully encourage more fans to become Members themselves, particularly those that want more of a voice on fan-related issues. Whilst some quarters may choose to paint the OSC as an exclusive group, membership is open to any and all Mariners’ fans and any Member is also welcome to apply to be part of the committee itself, as we will always be open to more input at that level.
As there appears to be a lack of clarity about the role and activities of the Central Coast Mariners Official Supporters Club (CCMOSC or OSC), I have been asked to provide the following information to those of you that frequent the CCM Fans Forum.
As has already been mentioned within this thread, the OSC was formed in 2012 out of an initiative by CCM under its then Community Ambassador Lawrie McKinna. From an initially loose collective, the group subsequently coalesced into the A League’s first Official Supporters Club, which subsequently became endorsed by both the Mariners and recognised by the FFA. Whilst the initial composition of the OSC included elements from across the fan base, it proved difficult to maintain that balance as committee members withdrew for various reasons.
The OSC’s core objectives have always primarily been to provide a link or conduit between Mariners’ fans and CCM, in order to ensure that fans’ views on any number of issues are clearly understood by the Club. At times, this has involved holding CCM to account on divisive issues, such as moving games from CCS, poor on field results and the coaching situation to name but a few. The OSC has always taken the view that more can be achieved through reasoned discussion than threats or abusive tirades and the fact that both CCMmanagement and Mike Charlesworth have always been willing to receive the OSC’s counsel, suggests that this approach is the correct one. Whilst many may believe that much communication can be made through the various media channels that exist, there will always be a need for face to face discussion on sensitive or divisive issues.
In positive terms, the OSC is also often called upon to providea sounding board on initiatives that CCM might wish to seek Fan input. One such example of this is that the OSC has been in discussion with CCM management for some months regarding the Fan Advisory Board initiative that has recently been floated by the CEO, in terms of what form this might possibly take and how to ensure proportional representation from all fan segments. Whilst the OSC considers that it tries to represent the majority view, it does not purport to represent all fans, only its Members directly. That said, whilst OSC membership does contain a reasonably broad demographic, it is clear that there are a number of diverse fan perspectives, some of whom have very specific aims and desires, which in turn drive their opinions. Given the range of potential views on any one topic, it would obviously be difficult for any single body to represent every individual or every specific viewpoint.
There has been a lot of comment as to why the OSC charges for membership and some have suggested that all Mariners members should automatically become OSC members at no cost. Whilst some might think it desirable for the OSC to have thousands of members, the challenges of managing that many people’s expectations, with a relatively small voluntary committee, cannot be underestimated. Further, when something is conferred at no cost and not a deliberate choice, this is almost certain to devalue that product. The OSC therefore took the conscious decision to charge for membership for two key reasons; firstly to ensure that members wanted to deliberately choose to take their CCM involvement to a higher level by having the opportunity to actively voice their opinions on key matters and secondly, to cover the overhead costs of running Member-related events and having appropriate insurances in place to limit any liability exposure. In addition, charging membership means that the OSC can remain an independent group that is not beholden to CCM or any entity other than its members. Whilst we are always happy to collaborate with CCM on any initiative that might potentially bring benefits to Mariners’ fans in general, we are not CCM’s mouthpiece, as seemingly perceived in some quarters and value our independence fiercely.
It should also be noted that the OSC does not make any form of profit and the intent has always been to run on minimal costs and the membership fee has accordingly not risen in the time since it was introduced.
As to the benefits of OSC membership, we work hard to ensure that these are maximised wherever possible and those Members that renewed or joined this season were provided with one free GA ticket per member, a free raffle ticket to win a signed season 18/19 shirt and the chance to win a family membership (all thanks to CCM’s generosity), as well as a small gift paid for by the OSC. Therefore, any Member receives more than the $20 membership fee in outright value, simply by virtue of the GA ticket price alone, before the other aspects are considered. In addition, the OSC also runs a number of events each season as a give-back to its Members.
As to the issue of utilising sponsorship to fund the OSC’s needs, this has been explored in the past, to the extent that sponsorship packages were drafted. However, in the modern business age, any potential sponsor would need to be provided with a clear benefit before committing funding. The OSC committee therefore took the considered view that being self-funding removed the risk of a sponsor pulling out or not renewing an existing agreement, thus leaving the group potentially under-funded. Sponsorship remains an option going forward but the amount required even for basic compliance requirements is not likely to be met by a single sponsor and this must then be maintained year-on-year. If membership was to be offered freely, then administration costs are likely to increase exponentially, which would in turn require yet more sponsors, potentially creating a greater reliance on external parties and possibly risking the sustainability of the OSC. In lieu of direct sponsorship the OSC has sought the support of some local businesses, with discounts or donations to assist with our various events.
There also appears to be a significant amount of confusion about what benefits the OSC brings more generally, although this is more likely due to the fact that the group tends not to overly promote its achievements outside of its membership. There are two key reasons for this; firstly, some of the contentious issues that the OSC has become involved in could be used to paint CCM in a poor light by external interests and so the group does not see the benefit of airing dirty laundry publicly. Secondly, being seen to self-promote any outcomes that might have been achieved could open the group to criticism from some quarters, even within our own group of fans (as has already been the case). Simply for the purposes of avoiding doubt, here are a number of examples of things that the OSC has had direct involvement in:
• Attendance of the FIFA Congress Review Working Group on behalf of CCM (at which the OSC was the only non active support group present).
• Direct representation to CCM on numerous occasions in relation to unacceptable coaching performance and both on and off-field issues.
• Representations to the CEO and Owner regarding the negative effects of ongoing under-investment on and off the field (further discussions on this issue are planned with MC later this month).
• Ensuring CCM fully understood the level of fan discontent with previous plans to move home games away from Gosford.
• Conducting Member surveys on key fan issues and providing results to CCM.
• Grandfathering of seat pricing where existing season ticket holders’ seats were upgraded arbitrarily by CCM.
• The opportunity for Members to vote for the CCMOSC Player of the Year, with a trophy awarded at the Mariners Medal dinner.
• Discussions with CCM management regarding the make-up and purpose of the proposed Fan Advisory Board and consideration of potential Fan Ownership Models.
In addition, the OSC runs, or participates in the following events:
• Presence at the CCM Family Day event.
• Pirate Day (open to all)
• Tour of Duty (typically one interstate game chosen annually according to the draw)
• Stadium Tour (held biennially). This was held recently, giving Members the opportunity to mix with a group of players and question Alen Stajcic.
• Breakfast or Dinner with the Mariners, one of which is held on alternate years to the Stadium Tour.
Mention has also been made that the OSC somehow bears a responsibility for improving the ‘Game Day Experience’ and whilst the group is happy to (and frequently does) provide the Club with feedback on this, the reality is that this is a CCM responsibility. With regard to the fan experience within the stadium, this is something that is typically driven by active support groups. Whilst all fans should contribute to creating atmosphere, driving this has always been the domain of active support and as this is something that was already in existence prior to the establishment of the OSC, it has not been a central role of the group.
The OSC already maintains a pre-game presence on Dane Drive / Palm Tree Parade / Western Warm Up Field, with a raffle, merchandise and a kick-a-goal at every home game. In addition, there was a pre-game children’s treasure hunt before the Adelaide home game as part of Pirate Day. All of this requires a great deal of commitment and effort by the OSC committee members, more often than not meaning that they do not get to enjoy the team warm up or any other pre-game activities themselves. There is no doubt that CCM needs to do far more to improve the Game Day Experience and we continue to provide ideas and feedback in relation to this on a regular basis. The OSC is also currently working to raise funds (separately from Members’ subscriptions) to construct a replica pirate galleon that can also become part of the Game Day Experience, as a photo opportunity for fans on Dane Drive and to also be positioned within the stadium during games. This is proving to be a major challenge in terms of bringing together the necessary constituent parts but steady progress is being made.
Above all though, the existence of the OSC is about driving support for our local club, the Mariners and it would therefore be ideal if all of the various fan groups could support each other in a spirit of kindred interest. Fans are strongest when they are a united voice and our supporter base will only ever be able to achieve the best outcomes when all parts of that group are working collectively, not divisively.
Sorry if the foregoing has sent some of you to sleep, however, it is very difficult to provide a short answer to what the OSC is and what it does but hopefully this post has provided some clarity around this.
Furthermore, this response might hopefully encourage more fans to become Members themselves, particularly those that want more of a voice on fan-related issues. Whilst some quarters may choose to paint the OSC as an exclusive group, membership is open to any and all Mariners’ fans and any Member is also welcome to apply to be part of the committee itself, as we will always be open to more input at that level.
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If you would like more info Adz, then fire away, as we are happy to answer whatever questions we can in the interests of clarity.Thanks for that Ozhammer, there is a lot to go through there
For me it raises quite a few more questions though, and I'm not sure whether to break it down into some main topics and the key points under each for discussion, or are we all happy to move on?
Wombat
Well-Known Member
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