Supporters Club AGM 2008

[wolfman]

We will be holding our AGM on Friday January 25th at the Stadium (Upstairs Bar). The meeting will start at 19:30 so we would advise you to turn up earlier.

All are welcome, however only OSSC Members can vote on any decisions made.

For more info, go to www.ossc.me.uk

[richardtyrrell]

Hi everyone, I hope to be at the Supporters AGM but in the meantime, with things as they are with the GRA, I am just wondering how it was possible to arrange to hold this meeting at the stadium?
Regards

[wolfman]

Richard,

We have arranged the meeting with the Stadium Manager. I know what you're all wondering and why have we been able to contact someone whereas Allen has not been able to.

The person we have arranged it with is the person who arranges things like private functions, restaurant bookings etc... This is not the person who the Speedway contract/lease is done through.

Hope that expplains that and I hope to see you at the AGM.

[Jemma]

Hi all,

I don't wish to be awkward, but are the supporters club having to pay the GRA to have the meeting at the stadium? To be honest though whether it's free or not, I have no desire to step foot in that stadium again while the GRA's current stance towards speedway continues - different people involved for private functions or not. People will be buying drinks on the night from the bar - and all that money goes into the GRA coffers, something I have no wish to add to. To me it just doesn't sit right for this meeting to be held there. So as things stand, I'm sorry to say that for the first time in years I will not be at the AGM. Hope it all goes well though, shame it can't be held somewhere else.

[wolfman]

Jemma,

We are not paying for the booking.

I can understand that people may not view the GRA in good light at this moment in time, but people need to understand that if we are to have Speedway in 2008 then the Stadium is realistically the only option. Therefore we need to just continue on as normal as the last thing anyone wants to do is make enemies with the GRA.

As for holding it elsewhere, we've tried that in the past and suffered from very poor turnouts, therefore we felt the Stadium was our best option.

All I can urge people is to put aside any problems they may have with the GRA and come along to the AGM. We need to stick together at times like these.

[richardtyrrell]

Gem, why not call in for the AGM? You can share my bottle of water, unless I get searched at the door!
Regards

[paul666]

Hi Jemma,

I don't want to twist your arm about the AGM, but a lot of people like myself, who have been unable to attend them in the past have relied on your clear concise reports, to keep us all informed of what was going on.

Again those who cannot attend the forth coming AGM, will be less informed without your posted report, if you do not go.

I am hoping to attend myself.

All the Best Paul

[Richard]

I will not be going to the AGM either, not if it is held at the stadium, there are other venues where it could be held. Does it have to be a Friday evening? If not I would be willing to pay for the Main Hall at the Gladiators Club 263 Iffley Road Oxford, the only problem with this venue is the parking, but there is some. How many people are likely to turn up to this event? However this club is on a main bus route and easier to get to by bus than the stadium. The club doesn't open until 7 pm so the meeting would have to be for say 7.45.
Just a thought.

PS And the beer is a lot cheaper.

[wolfman]

Richard,

The main reasons for holding it at the Stadium are:

1. It's where Speedway is and will hopefully be next season.
2. We - The Supporters Club - are not having to pay for the booking.
3. From prior experience, when we have held it else where the numbers have been so poor it was hardly worth running.

It is a Friday as that was the Speedway night last season. We generally hold it the same as what we had been riding throughout the season. Of course, traditionally Speedway was always a Friday so we felt it would be the better choice of day.

We cannot be sure of numbers as it fluctuates from year to year. I would hope that we could have as many at 100-200 there what with the current issues.

I don't want to upset any one but I feel people need to ask themselves some questions.

1. Why hate the GRA when at this moment in time, no one knows the full truth and that's what we're trying to find out.
2. Do you love Oxford Speedway? If so then put aside the GRA feelings and support us to support Speedway.

Come along to the meeting, you don't have to spend any money at the bar. If the GRA/Stadium are unsure about Speedway then the more people who come along just for an AGM might show the stadium that there is the support out there... Also if we've got interested parties or even a new Promoter by then, then the more people who come out the better for them.

I could go on all night but in short, forget the GRA and support us.

[bryn]

Alas yours truly won't be able to attend (much as I dearly like to!) as I'm due to go into hospital on January 23rd to allow a surgeon to play about with my gammy foot with his scalpel and other instruments of torture!

[JohnPhelan]

I've decided to significantly modify this post from it's original first draft to say simply that I hope the GRA give us some kind of explanation of their position before the 25th.

ps - all the best for the 23rd Bryn.

[The Lord Napier]

We all want Speedway at Cowley this year, lets hope something can be done - lets be positive now about all aspects and parties in the situation because we've been here before and come back.

Up the Cheetahs and happy new year one and all.

[tripleh]

I find it amazing that the GRA want a hefty increase in rent for the stadium but allow a meeting with no hire charge.Seems to me the right hand dunno what the lefts doing.
Also i don't see why if a deal can be sorted and promotor found we could not be allowed into the EL or PL,afterall there is a glut of riders available.The fixtures don't normally come out till late february early march anyway and if you have to pay £2k approx per meeting rent it may be worth a go.

[richardtyrrell]

Having read through Rob Peasley's excellent account of the 2007 season at Oxford, in the latest Speedway Star, I was somewhat puzzled by a quote attributed to Allen Trump where he says - "I went to see Steve Rawle, the stadium manager, and came to a rental agreement which would allow me to take over."
I just wondered, if is the Steve Rawle who deals with these things, why is it so difficult to make contact with him?
Regards

[browny]

richardtyrrell said:

Having read through Rob Peasley's excellent account of the 2007 season at Oxford, in the latest Speedway Star, I was somewhat puzzled by a quote attributed to Allen Trump where he says - "I went to see Steve Rawle, the stadium manager, and came to a rental agreement which would allow me to take over."
I just wondered, if is the Steve Rawle who deals with these things, why is it so difficult to make contact with him?
Regards

Steve left his position at Cowley mid Summer Tub