How are we going to get concessions abolished if we have no protests in the ground?
As I have said in an earlier post, you fight the battles to win the war. I think folk should be encouraged to withhold their subscription, just as the Trust is encouraging it's members (and others) to do, up to today. Those who join at the last push will do so and that is their prerogative, although I understand some of the feeling against them - so do the club, it's not an uncommon tactic of theirs, is it?
I share the belief of an earlier poster (I forget their name - sorry!) that having anti-scheme members both inside and outside of the scheme (and/or the ground) is a useful thing. Voices and actions against the scheme can be ongoing from everyone who cares about changing what is imposed upon them. A successful campaign
against the terms and conditions of this scheme really must work hard to allow choice of membership status and to be inclusive and encouraging in echoing the opinions of everyone. If the scheme is as bad as we all say then that balanced approach will bring to the fore why it is bad and allow fairness and honesty to be a key element in tackling it.
The only way to win this is by as prolonged a campaign as necessary, of very public protest across as many fronts as is possible, as it is fairly certain no change is imminent. I don't agree that once the subscriptions are made that the fight is lost, I personally believe it will only just be beginning in earnest. I think it is often forgotten that the Trust is not a full-time professional body geared up to respond at a drop of the club's hat.
An idea for the Trust to consider:
- Use your website to record a register of all those who wish it to be known that they agree/disagree with the club scheme.
- Let it show whether they are ST, DT or not just not buying for the KCOM (you might ask for a reason and how long).
- Let it show Trust or not Trust.
- Let this be seen, as is the Life Members.
- they can contact you to remove and you can delete as necessary.
This is something that can build, it isn't particularly partisan or political, just an expression of opinion.
They can leave contact details and you might improve recruitment, but the primary goal is to register a public opinion.