Is OUSP Fit For Purpose?

Divide and conquer.

WuTang said:

At the moment I'm sure it is worth their while, but should they need to?

OUSP is a hand picked, very small group of supporters invited to work very closely with the club. I haven't seen or heard any feedback from meetings or seen anything achieved thus far, other than the club lauding how brilliant communication with supporters is based on communication with this select group.

Have OUSP scrutinised the club where needed? I think the club have these select few in the palm of their hands, it's an honour to meet and be close to those at the club and be privvy to information before others. I can't see any constructive criticism being passed on to help them improve...

I think it would be more transparent and productive for the club to simply hold the same meetings with OxVox representatives who can publish the minutes for members. That would be genuine communication and even act as a mini fans forum, it would allow OxVox members questions to be passed onto the club at each meeting and see the answers published in the minutes.

So why the need for OUSP? For me, it seems like an unnecessary middle man which is more convenient for the club than it is for the majority of fans. Do the club want to communicate to the few (OUSP) or the thousands (OxVox)?

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None of the panel are "hand picked". All have volunteered and, at the time of applying to join, must provide a resume and thoughts as to why they would be suitable for election. All fans/supporters have the option to vote. In the exact same manner as OxVox, an election is held if there are more candidates then spaces on the panel/committee.

As regards scrutinising the club, the panel is there to facilitate communication with and from the club. It was seen as a way of collating views and opinions of all the fan base and being able to direct those views directly to the club via meetings with club officials. Janine Bailey is often a guest on Rad Ox on the "Wasn't at the game" slot post match. Anyone who has listened to her will know that she is just as able to criticise the club as any on here.
I can assure you, the panel functions independently of the club, it was set up that way. I know, I was there from the outset. All of us involved were adamant that the panel be independent.

OxVox hold meetings with the club in much the same manner except, they have a remit to challenge in other areas as well as representing the fanbase. The panel do not deal with the financial affairs of the club. They stick to matchday arrangements, safeguarding and the like. It is all laid out in the articles which were drawn up by the initial group of volunteers and can be found on the club website - https://www.oufc.co.uk/club/supporters-panel/
I would recommend anyone who wants to know more to visit and read the documents. You will also find all the minutes of meetings and a list of the panel members listed here.

This idea that one is there to undermine the other is simply not true. The last OUSP meeting had Paul Peros in attendance as the OxVox representative on the panel - also enshrined in the initial set up of the panel.

The simple truth is that, right now, both OxVox and OUSP are struggling to get any real communication flowing between club and supporter. Both have stated as much and both have complained. Both are adamant that a Fans Forum is long overdue and both have underscored the need to improve relationships between club and fanbase. It is certainly not the case that one is working to the detriment of the other.

i generally pay no attention to them or oxvox.

(apart from when they request fans to do stuff for the new stadium)

I suppose it would be nice if we knew what they have actually ACHIEVED - apart from being some sort of spurious ‘link’ between the club and its supporters.

Manorlounger said:

None of the panel are "hand picked". All have volunteered and, at the time of applying to join, must provide a resume and thoughts as to why they would be suitable for election. All fans/supporters have the option to vote. In the exact same manner as OxVox, an election is held if there are more candidates then spaces on the panel/committee.

As regards scrutinising the club, the panel is there to facilitate communication with and from the club. It was seen as a way of collating views and opinions of all the fan base and being able to direct those views directly to the club via meetings with club officials. Janine Bailey is often a guest on Rad Ox on the "Wasn't at the game" slot post match. Anyone who has listened to her will know that she is just as able to criticise the club as any on here.
I can assure you, the panel functions independently of the club, it was set up that way. I know, I was there from the outset. All of us involved were adamant that the panel be independent.

OxVox hold meetings with the club in much the same manner except, they have a remit to challenge in other areas as well as representing the fanbase. The panel do not deal with the financial affairs of the club. They stick to matchday arrangements, safeguarding and the like. It is all laid out in the articles which were drawn up by the initial group of volunteers and can be found on the club website - https://www.oufc.co.uk/club/supporters-panel/
I would recommend anyone who wants to know more to visit and read the documents. You will also find all the minutes of meetings and a list of the panel members listed here.

This idea that one is there to undermine the other is simply not true. The last OUSP meeting had Paul Peros in attendance as the OxVox representative on the panel - also enshrined in the initial set up of the panel.

The simple truth is that, right now, both OxVox and OUSP are struggling to get any real communication flowing between club and supporter. Both have stated as much and both have complained. Both are adamant that a Fans Forum is long overdue and both have underscored the need to improve relationships between club and fanbase. It is certainly not the case that one is working to the detriment of the other.

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These highlight my point, why do we need OUSP when we have a 22 year old established supporters trust in OxVox available to offer the same thing?

I know you're probably going to be supportive of it as a member from the start, but as someone with an OxVox life membership I just don't see what you offer, and that's after reading the meeting minutes from the last few months.

It's not detrimental as such I just don't see why you can't take on that work as an OxVox member? The fanbase is stronger in numbers, not divided into separate groups.

WuTang said:

These highlight my point, why do we need OUSP when we have a 22 year old established supporters trust in OxVox available to offer the same thing?

I know you're probably going to be supportive of it as a member from the start, but as someone with an OxVox life membership I just don't see what you offer, and that's after reading the meeting minutes from the last few months.

It's not detrimental as such I just don't see why you can't take on that work as an OxVox member? The fanbase is stronger in numbers, not divided into separate groups.

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I am also a life member of OxVox. I no longer serve on the panel.
If that is your opinion, fine.

I wasn't even aware they existed until I recently saw them mentioned on here. (I'm also a lifetime member of Oxvox btw).

I don't think the problem is OUSP they are doing what they were set up to do be the go between between customers and the people at the top . The problem is now the people at the top don't actually give a s**t what OUSP or the customer's actually say or think it's not important to the people at the top so on that note I think OUSP's race is done

Everybody has their own opinions no right or wrong

WuTang said:

I've seen the minutes but still can't see the need for "OUSP" when OxVox already existed and was there before OUSP to provide the exact same thing... I haven't seen or heard any feedback from these meetings or anything achieved by OUSP that couldn't have been done by OxVox, which was the point in my post you quoted.

Forgive me if I'm missing something, what does OUSP achieve that OxVox can't? Why the need for a "middle man" group?

I would prefer the club to post minutes from meetings held with the Supporters Trust that's been in place for 22 years with thousands of members and an elected chair, instead of 6 or 7 randomly picked fans who threw their hands up, but maybe I'm old school?

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ this.

As posted by others its another obstacle/filter between us and the senior bods.

When the "Customer Advisory Board" is set up then it will be either OxVox or OUSP as a minority vote on a club dominated board.

If either are to take the supporters representative post then it MUST be OxVox who are democratic and representative of us purely by numbers so have far more leverage than 6 or 7 willing volunteers that get nothing but platitudes from the Club.

If said volunteers want to do something constructive for supporters then volunteer for OxVox.

Please respond via Pumble.

Manorlounger said:

Cue @Essexyellows

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Save the ink, I`ve turned that off on the basis I can read.

The whole premise of the OUSP was to be the thin end of the wedge towards the creation of the Customer Advisory Board spawned from the Crouch Report.

And plenty of people fell for it without having the vision of how they were being steered and, to a large degree, taken advantage of, so the Club can tick a box on the "engagement" list.

We already had a long standing, democratic and independent supporters body who hold a degree of leverage with the Club based purely on numbers.

If we have to have someone on the CAB then it MUST be them.

As for "fit for purpose" the senior bods at the Club palm everything off to OUSP and/or OxVox and fan engagement has actually got worse since the creation of OUSP so make of that what you will.....


PS: Having served on the Board of a national organisation with circa 55k members I might just know what it is like to be the volunteer in the chair, but part of the "job" is to listen to criticism (and there is plenty!) and understand where that opinion is coming from or on what it is based.

The same organisation also had to deal with Parliamentary Committee`s and various legislative proposals and were successful in putting forward strong cases that made the voice of their members heard.

Has anyone on the OUSP ever been voted in? Or have they all just been accepted onto the panel because there were not enough nominations?

To me OUSP don't represent anyone, OxVox do, OxVox have a membership, OUSP do not, if there was a dedicated panel under the umbrella of OxVox to deal with specific matchday issues, I'd be much more comfortable with it

Carpy said:

Has anyone on the OUSP ever been voted in? Or have they all just been accepted onto the panel because there were not enough nominations?

To me OUSP don't represent anyone, OxVox do, OxVox have a membership, OUSP do not, if there was a dedicated panel under the umbrella of OxVox to deal with specific matchday issues, I'd be much more comfortable with it

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I don't think OxVox have had that many elections either to be fair, for the same reasons.

Out of interest, does anyone know how many members Oxvox actually has?

I'd be surprised if its many thousands as seems to be what some on here think.

I was a founder member having joined at the first open evening many years ago, but I have never renewed, bad I know but I just let it lapse.

As for the supporters panel, I dont know what to think

bicesterox said:

Out of interest, does anyone know how many members Oxvox actually has?

I'd be surprised if its many thousands as seems to be what some on here think.

I was a founder member having joined at the first open evening many years ago, but I have never renewed, bad I know but I just let it lapse.

As for the supporters panel, I font know what to think

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From the minutes for Oct 2023 as recently published...



...taken from the OxVox website.

SteMerritt said:

From the minutes for Oct 2023 as recently published...

View attachment 17573

...taken from the OxVox website.

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So basically 1046 paid up members , not a lot really is it.
Wonder how many on this forum are members

bicesterox said:

So basically 1046 paid up members , not a lot really is it.
Wonder how many on this forum are members

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1 in 8 or so of our average home attendance, no idea how that compares to other clubs.

bicesterox said:

So basically 1046 paid up members , not a lot really is it.
Wonder how many on this forum are members

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I would expect a few more but saying that I’m not a member as I didn’t renew as I didn’t believe OxVox were doing everything they could for the supporters.
Once I feel they are then I will most definitely renew.

Jeez folks. Regardless of your thoughts, JOIN OXVOX.
You can’t complain about the club not taking its supporters' trust seriously if the supporters don’t.

I’ve watched for years on here the comments on oxvox and then ousp. Always people complaining that volunteers aren’t doing enough, while not actually taking the time to read what they actually do. And with oxvox the number of long term fans who “didn’t bother renewing” makes me fume.
If you want representation with some weight behind it then join oxvox so that there are 10,000 members hassling the board and 10,000 members getting their right to reply when FOSB spout crap about football fans in the media.

LeftSideLarry said:

Divide and conquer.

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And there we have it.

The folk volunteering for OUSP are good people and willing volunteers, but their energy would be far better placed as a part of OxVox.

Why any supporter wouldn`t be a member of OxVox, considering our flaky history, and some might think future as well is beyond me.

As the "Why Join" says.........

"We hold Mutual Society status and exist to provide an independent and accountable voice for supporters on matters affecting our club and on the whole experience of being a fan of OUFC.

The Trust is run by fans, for fans and acts as a critical friend to the club."

The bit highlighted could be done by the OUSP volunteers as members of OxVox without the need to create a seperate group and muddying the waters between the supporters and the board.

bicesterox said:

So basically 1046 paid up members , not a lot really is it.
Wonder how many on this forum are members

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Im an OxVox lifer