Just doing some thinking...

[Rooboy 34]

In the name of market research, how many of you have multiple Kangaroos memberships. These can take the form of either 2 or more in your name, or a number in different names (eg I buy one every year for my Mum, even though she hasn't been to a game in years).

And secondly, would you consider donating money to say a Trust Fund whereby the income is given to the club, but the capital base stays intact for the future???

Just an idea that has been going around upstairs...

 

[Harvs29]

i bought a membership for my non-north supporting girlfriend this year purely to add to the numbers. i couldn't give a rats toss if she continues to barrack for hathorn so long as she's a north member.

withour trying to sound negative as i appreciate revenue earning ideas for the club, i would think that a trust fund would need to be pretty damn large to be of benefit (wouldn't it? any idea how big would be worthwhile?) and it would need to be very transparent for those who throw in their hard earned.

having said that, i am interested to hear more.

 

[Rooboy 34]

Originally posted by Harvs29
withour trying to sound negative as i appreciate revenue earning ideas for the club, i would think that a trust fund would need to be pretty damn large to be of benefit (wouldn't it? any idea how big would be worthwhile?) and it would need to be very transparent for those who throw in their hard earned.

having said that, i am interested to hear more.

Yes Harvs - it would need to be big to be worthwhile, but even Microsoft was small once. As I indicated I am just doing a bit of research at the moment, but I will definately get back to you with the whole idea soon. Thanks for the reply...

 

[Shermanator]

Originally posted by Harvs29

it would need to be very transparent for those who throw in their hard earned.

having said that, i am interested to hear more.

Me too.
I get 2 adult memberships yearly and I recently bought a Junior Roo for my 5 month old son.

 

[Dont think Bif]

Always buy two Pagans

Try and get a North supporter to come each week on the ticket, get them to have a good time then make them feel guilty that they haven't purchased a membership.

Have had at leat 5 people sign up for memberships the following year (and subsequent years) using this tactic.

 

[Rooboy 34]

Originally posted by Dont think Bif
Always buy two Pagans

Try and get a North supporter to come each week on the ticket, get them to have a good time then make them feel guilty that they haven't purchased a membership.

Have had at leat 5 people sign up for memberships the following year (and subsequent years) using this tactic.

Luv ya work Biff...

 

[Carlos]

Always a Pagans Patron every year, but bought a second Captain Club this year after the Carey drama.

 

[Marty Monster]

I bought 2 Platinum Club this year one for myself and for my aunty that goes to the occasional game

I also biought one recently for in my deceased Grandfathers name who died in 1976. We bought one in 2000 to get his name on the statue and have continued to buy it since

 

[kmartkid]

Vice Presidents, Player sponsor, pagans, legends, Junior legends, squadron and 2 non gameday memberships

 

[Harvs29]

Originally posted by kmartkid
Vice Presidents, Player sponsor, pagans, legends, Junior legends, squadron and 2 non gameday memberships

kmartkid or kmart-ceo?!!

 

[kmartkid]

Just doing my bit !!!!!

 

[joybell27]

4 Pagans Patrons, ie 2 Adult 1 Student and 1 Child. We don't have any multiple memberships.

I would be intersted in hearing more about your idea of forming a trust Rooboy 34.

Also someone had an idea that I thought was great and I can't remember who it was. It was along the lines of donating the cost of a junior membership which the club could give to underpriveleged children.

A number of clubs also have a membership category for pets. Pay $? and your pet gets a certificate or something like that. My cat would certainly join.

 

[Briedis]

I think your idea has a lot of merit Rooboy 34. A really good idea.

Trust fund get around 10% return p.a. (not at the moment though!!).

Working on 10%, if 20,000 North supporters all commited $50 we would have $1 Million in a fund which would give the club $100,000 a year extra income.

It's a good start for the club and it could be built up over 5 year period. It would mean that the club would have $1/2 Million a year income, plus $5 Million to fall back on in desperate times if need be.

A great idea that could help our club survive the darkest days.

 

[Briedis]

This year I have bought 4 Aussie Roos, 1 Junior Roos, 1 Social Club and 1 Lady Roos membership.

 

[Aussie_Roo]

Originally posted by Marty Monster
I also biought one recently for in my deceased Grandfathers name who died in 1976. We bought one in 2000 to get his name on the statue and have continued to buy it since

What a brilliant idea. I already buy 2 Pagan Patron tickets, but given my grandfather started a dynasty in our family with not only his own kids, but neices & nephews as well by taking them down to Arden St to see the Shinboners play in the 40s, I should probably do the same thing.. like your grandfather he too has passed away..

 

[35eye]

Originally posted by kmartkid
Vice Presidents, Player sponsor, pagans, legends, Junior legends, squadron and 2 non gameday memberships

Which player if you don't mind dropping names?

 

[GoRoos]

Multiple Memberships

K-Mart Kid, you are a legend. I thought we had gone nuts in buying memberships.

Vice President, Player Sponsor, Pagans Platinum, Premiers Club, Standard memberships x 4

Mrs. GoRoos:
Player Sponsor, Lady Roos, Premiers Club, Standard Membership x 2 (Both sent to David Hale's parents to make the Hale family feel part of the Roos).

Long live the Roos.

 

[35eye]

Re: Multiple Memberships

Originally posted by GoRoos
Standard Membership x 2 (Both sent to David Hale's parents to make the Hale family feel part of the Roos).

That's so sweet. I bet you had no trouble winning your inlaws over with that kind of thinking.

 

[kmartkid]

Which player if you don't mind dropping names?

That would be giving away my identity !!!!

The Vice Presidents as a group sponsor Arch.

I made a mistake it is actually a locker sponsorship, not a player sponsorship. Same thing I think except the sponsors name is placed on the players locker.

If anyone is interested contact Mark Roberts on 9320 2410 for details. There are differing amounts per player and you get the same VIP entitlements as in a coterie group. A group of people could get together an sponsor a locker/player, the money is used to pay for the players training and playing gear etc.

 

[kmartkid]

Re: Multiple Memberships

Originally posted by GoRoos
Mrs. GoRoos:
Player Sponsor, Lady Roos, Premiers Club, Standard Membership x 2 (Both sent to David Hale's parents to make the Hale family feel part of the Roos).

That is exactly the attitude of this club and it is the reason why we will never fold or merge.

We may have a smallish membership but, to use a paganism "Gee,...............................they're keen"

 

[35eye]

Originally posted by kmartkid
Which player if you don't mind dropping names?

That would be giving away my identity !!!!

You have such an air of mystery about you.
I bailed Mark up one afternoon after the Adelaide game and tried to negotiate a price on Joel Sofi's locker based on his position in the heirachy of the team. I figured that was worth a couple hundred...tops, but he wouldn't budge.
Maybe next year though.

 

[great]

We do the Family Captains Club number and a Junior Roo as well.

If we were to move back to Melbourne these would be upgraded because we would get more use out of the memberships than we presently do.

Can't afford to splurge on a Pagans/Platinum thingo and not use it.

 

[Yianni]

I bought two captain's clubs, one for me and one for my Dad. I also bought an interstate membership for my girlfriend who is in Brisbane.

Makes you wonder though. If all of us are buying multiple memberships, how few real members do we actually have?? We don't have a large membership by any stretch of the imagination, it would now seen that we have even less than we thought we did (Not that it makes any difference financially, if one person bought 50,000 memberships, we'd still have the money! Anyone?)

 

[Rooboy 34]

Thanks to everyone who has responded - I appreciate the feedback. As Yianni said, it does make you wonder how many real members we actually have...

Briedis - In relation to your query about the return, I think that 8% is probably a more reasonable average return (some years it will be higher, and some years lower), but the other things that need to be considered are tax & inflation. Say there was $1m in the fund, then income would be approx $80k before tax which would mean about $56k after (assuming 30% tax). I think that inflation should be considered as well because if we are trying to protect a capital base, inflation is a natural eroder of the base. So say inflation is approx 3% (of the before tax profits), then the distribution would be down to $25 - 30K.

Ok - here is a brief overview of the plan I have. As I said initially, I would like to set up an investment Trust whereby the income from the trust is distributed back directly to the club. The trust would be run in conjunction with the club, but would be managed by the supporters (ie not the club). This would ensure that the capital base was not touched to fix up short term problems created by the board. By maintaining the capital base, a guaranteed income source would remain.

I thought that it was ironic that both Marty Monster & Aussie_Roo mentioned their grandparents, because that was the marketing angle I was going to take - something along the lines of, 'Ensure that your Grandchildren get as much pleasure out of watching the Kangaroos as you have'. I certainly hope that my grandchildren do (bearing in mind that I am currently 28 with no kids).

In order for the trust to be successful, it would need the voluntary help of a number of people from all different walks of life. Obviously it would need cash donations, but it would also require an accountant, an auditor, a financial advisor, printers, marketing people etc. I can provide all the accounting services and I can also get the accounts audited by a registered auditor (registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants) at little or no cost. I will be looking for help on the other services.

I will obviously be targeting members & supporters, but also others such as high profile celebrities, players & former players. I'm sure that some of the former players will be happy to help out the club in a way that is going to hopefully ensure its survival.

Another untapped source that I have been thinking about is the opportunity for a place where people can make a bequest to. I'm sure that my grandfather would have left some money to the club if he knew of a means whereby the money would be used to benefit the club. You often hear of wealthy people dieing and leaving millions to their cats or gardeners - wouldn't it be great if we had just 1 wealthy person bequest $1m to a trust such as this. Don't forget that the trust will hopefully receive contributions every year, so once the money is in there, it is there for ever. This would mean that if we could raise say on average $100k a year, in 50 years the club would have a nice income stream coming from its $5m investment base.

To establish the trust, it would initially need either $2000 or $1000 and someone willing to donate a shelf company to act as the trustee. I think that I can organise this money, but if anyone knows of anyone who works for a shelf-company provider who would be willing to contribute, please get them to send me a line. I'd probably set a short-term goal of desired funds to reach, and if I don't reach this, then the club would just receive a lump sum donation of all the funds.

I finish my formal studies at the end of June, and plan to go to the board with the whole idea in July, but I just thought that I'd test the waters with you guys at this stage. I promise that you will be hearing a lot more about this in the future, and if anyone has any further ideas or are able to help in any way, please let me know. I hope that I haven't rambled to much.

To the future...

 

[MattMyMan]

Sounds great Rooboy 34.

I think that there are opportunities for supporter/member groups to get further involved in the finances of clubs.

Read your private messages mate, something for you there.