I think your post above confirms everything I said.

I was a member when it first set up for a couple of years at least. I was member 50 and got presented with my members card on the pitch

Living away I could not get to the meetings. Despite being a member not once was there any summary of what was said at the meetings provided to non attending members or indeed posted on here.

What we always get is if

Still as long as the loyal supporters get to find out what is happening it does not alter to the others.

A bit like the Uate signing apparently. The club not saying anything even though others do.

Marketing is the way to sell a club. Hiding behind policies and procedures is not.

If I was running the club I would have a press release or email to clubs fans every day.

We are looking at signing a prop for next year, players x,s injury update, coach says plan for next two years is x.

Is the HGSA and keeping its meetings as only for those who attend attempting to recruit new members or is it an opportunity for all Giants fans to know what is happening to keep the interest up ?

Marketing strategy something lost on yourself and the club apparently

The meetings are arranged and organised primarily as an event for our members, unfortunately we realise not all our members (we have tripled membership in the last 2 years) can make the meetings, this doesn't make it 'secret' as you suggest, but simply unfortunate for those who cannot attend.

There are summary of our meetings in our Examiner articles, as said before, sometimes certain guests ask for the information and stuff said at meetings to not be put out in public, we respect those wishes and don't print or divulge info we've been asked not to.

It’s not a formal “chaired” meeting Durham- no one takes minutes!!!!

However perhaps going forward Dave, key points could perhaps be bullet pointed and sent in a circulation email for those unable to attend? Maybe the piece written for the examiner sent round to reduce workload.
I often can’t attend as meetings are mostly on Tuesdays which is a difficult day for me. This time was a Thursday so I managed.
I personally don’t read the examiner anymore as it’s gone rapidly downhill so often don’t read the summary on there. However I can’t say anyone I’ve asked has refused to tell me things said!!!

Whether you are aware or not, I am the Vice Chairman of the Supporters Association and feel it necessary to reply on behalf of the committee.

In reference to all of the above, the HGSA is run by a committee of volunteers. Over the last couple of years we have forged a strong alliance with the club and strengthened our efforts in supporting the academy. If you have seen todays League Express there is an interview with Andy Kelly who states how important the club value the academy. The HGSA run the gate for the academy games and have, via promotional activity increased that gate by 400% with the academy players, Andy Kelly and Robbo all praising the work of the HGSA.

In reference to points raised by Durham Giant and jools around the dissemination of meeting information , we are aware that the meetings may feel like a closed shop at present. We are working on this and are trying our best with the resources we have. The committee members are already stretched doing the activities we are doing and with the existing role being unfilled we are doing what we can.

A lot has changed over the last two years in the HGSA, the membership has increased massively, we have added additional events into the calendar, we have pulled in some of the biggest names in the sport to talk to us, we have tried to expand meetings into different days, into different venues in a bid to appeal to all members. The recent success of the Cricket Day was down to the HGSA taking over the organisation in a bid to make it into a 'family fun day.

We are a committee that regularly asks for (and receives) feedback via questionnaires. We take this feedback on board and use it as I have detailed above.

I am confident in saying that one persons opinion of it being a closed shop is an opinion and in my eyes not one that is shared across our membership, across the wider Giants community.


By all means contact me directly if you wish to discuss this further.

I rarely post or read this 'forum' these days - mainly due to the abuse and garbage certain posters think it's their right to print.

I used to summarise our monthly meetings [they can be found on our website], but I don't know due to the time and effort involved. To be fair, they rarely are summarised in the Examiner - again due to the effort involved making notes at every meeting.

I am saddened to read DG's abuse of HgSA. For a past member and someone devoted to the club it was sad to read.

The meeting with Simon Woolford was our first 'members only' meeting.

We currently have a committee putting in an enormous amount of time VOLUNTARILY - which some people seem to think that it makes them fair game for online abuse.

All our members are told of every event we put on. There is a 'Giants Calendar' on our homepage.

Yes, we could disseminate information of past events better - anyone want to volunteer to do this? If you do decide that this is a position for you it would be better to PM me as it could well be another 12 months before I make a return visit.