Lions just done what we cannot

[Rizzo]

Have a look at the Carlton Board -

http://carltonfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=directors

Not a bad mix of skills, diverse backgounds, former players and life long supporters.

The club has hit rock bottom and the members vented their anger and booted Elliot (let's face it, his time was up). Imagine if their was no mechanism to do so?

Silvagni ran for this first time last year and is now on the board. Is he the right guy for the job? Dunno, but he ran because he believed changes needed to be made and, without question, has the clubs best interests at heart.

I can't see our PK running for election in the short term, but if he did, I'd hope that he would do it because he believed he had something to add rather than running just 'cause he's a shoo in.

I said in some posts last year, democracy is a double edged sword. Yes, we will have candidates running who we don't like and yes, stupid people are Swans members too. However, I'd rather have the choice in the members hands than being shut out of the process entirely.

Also, just because you have the option to vote, doesn't mean you have to exercise it. If you don't have time to research candidates or don't care, don't vote or give your proxy to the Chairman.

[CureTheSane]

Originally posted by Rizzo
Have a look at the Carlton Board -

Probably one of the main reasons I am NOT in favour of this occuring for the Swans.
I would be ashamed to be a Blues supporter, with all the in fighting etc

Not a bad mix of skills, diverse backgounds, former players and life long supporters.

As the Swans have right now

Silvagni ran for this first time last year and is now on the board. Is he the right guy for the job? Dunno, but he ran because he believed changes needed to be made and, without question, has the clubs best interests at heart.

That scares the hell out of me.
Silvagni is a footbell player.
What skills does he bring to the table?
He has a role at the club, but on the board?
I thing there would be much more qualified people around, and they could be headhunter by the board if they didn't have to wait for the supporters to vote on it.

I can't see our PK running for election in the short term, but if he did, I'd hope that he would do it because he believed he had something to add rather than running just 'cause he's a shoo in.

I'm sure that HE would think he has a lot to offer the club, but would he really?
How would we gauge that?
Do we all sit down ans analyse his attributes, statements and promises?
Some supporters would but they would be in the very small %

I said in some posts last year, democracy is a double edged sword. Yes, we will have candidates running who we don't like and yes, stupid people are Swans members too. However, I'd rather have the choice in the members hands than being shut out of the process entirely.

I am not advocating a dictatorship as such, I but THEY are the ones who really know what skills and attributes need to be brought to the board, and THET BOARD are the best ones to go out and get them, so I'd prefer not to see a show of hands.

Also, just because you have the option to vote, doesn't mean you have to exercise it. If you don't have time to research candidates or don't care, don't vote or give your proxy to the Chairman.

If everyone thought like that, there most likely woudn't be a problem.

Rizzo, you are a great supporter, and I have no doubt that the whole process would work really well with you.
And tehre are mony others who would submit their vote in a mature and thoughtful way, too, but be very wary of people who have their own agenda.
And by that I mean simply people who think that the club will be more 'theirs' because they can vote, to the people who will look on this process in an opportunistic way.

[Rizzo]

CTS - I'm not going to argue with you on this one as I can't guarantee your fears won't be realised, just as I can't guarantee our next PM won't be as much as a mug as Howard. I will say this, however, and that is a Sydney Swans football club that elects the board will only reflect the type of club we have in terms of the membership it attracts.

I think Carlton has as much infighting as Sydney, it's just more public because the processes are transparent.

The argument for 'experts' against 'popular' rulers is an old one and most thinkers is this field believe the best form of government is a benign dictator. Of course, once in power all bets are off and the people have no way to change things. Democracy is about participation and accountability. I agree it opens the doors for 'politicians' but it's up to us as active members to argue the pros and cons and weed these people out. Who's to say Silvangni wouldn't have got there through the backdoor anyway? Does he have less skills than some of our board members?

I don't know what line of business your in so I may be telling you how to suck eggs, but it's worth seeing a few company AGMs in the flesh to witness how ugly things can get on the floor for directors of big respectable companies. Shareholders these days are much more willing to stick it to boards that aren't performing and ask the tough questions. This is a fact of life people who put themselves in places of authority have to face every day.

I see the ability to vote for the board as an exciting opportunity to be involved at a grass roots level with the club. I'm not one to bail up players or administrators for a chat but in an open forum where club issues are discussed I'd be more than willing to put my hand up to ask questions and express my opinion.

There are risks to democracy but I see them as no more prevalent than the status quo. As I said, it's not just about outcomes it about process.

[CureTheSane]

Originally posted by Rizzo
I don't know what line of business your in so I may be telling you how to suck eggs,

I currently work as a board member for the Sydney Swans
lol

In the end, what will be will be.
The Swans seem to favour an elected board at the moment, so in a way I suppose I am beating a dead horse, so to speak.

One thing that WILL irritate me is when this SSI claim it was them who brought it about.

As far as the government goes, well, don't even get me started on the electoral system :lol
Suffice to say, I didn't vote little Johnny in, but I am a bit of a fan at the moment.

Hopefully whatever the Swans DO do, doesn't send parts of teh club to the ****ter, and we'll never have to talk about it again

I understand your POV and pray that it is realised fully if/when an elected board becomes a reality

[CureTheSane]

the swear filters work

[NMWBloods]

I agree with CtS that voting former players onto the Board is fraught with danger. Most of them have little experience in running a business, and that is what is required. I had a friend who worked at Hawthorn for a while, and many of the staff and board were ex-players. It was so badly run that he had to leave through frustration. The risk is that with an elected Board, it will chock full of ex-players. Let's say Paul Kelly did run - he would easily be voted in by supporters. But what does he know about running a football club?

[floppinab]

Can't fault Rizzo's thoughts. I could not have put it better myself.

Overloading with ex-players is a danger, including the possibility that they end up lackeys to the Chairman or other senior members.
But having a few under a genuinely independent Chair, would bring an important perspective in as well.

If this does come about I'm confident the membership of the club will bring about a better situation than exists today. I believe the balance of evils and advantages lies with the alternative to the current situation, the problems of which we have already seen played out.

[Bron]

To answer LondonSwan

SSI website

[SWANSBEST]

Bron

How many members does SSI have at present?

[Bron]

I'm not sure, sorry.

[SSI]

Swans Supporters Inc.

Please see our post seeking your questions.

[Ajn]

why do topics always drift like this?

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Ajn
why do topics always drift like this?

I don't really know... but I sure wish it would stop raining here in Melbourne...

And it is my opinion that coke is better than pepsi.

[Cheer Cheer]

Originally posted by Charlie
... but I sure wish it would stop raining here in Melbourne...

Tell me about it! Hows it up your way?
Down on the mornington peninsula I think we got enough rain to fix the drought! The amount of hail we got covered the streets down here, it really looked like snow.
Anyway kept it coming, we bloody need it.