RAWA End of season Club/RAWA Meeting

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Grumpy Old Man said:
It's something I've been asked to do by the chairman of RAWA. It's not a matter of spin, but making sure that what was said is put out accurately, with no more jargon than is necessary.
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I get the process and I know you were asked rather than pushed but I’m uncomfortable with the thought of tidying the minute to give an interpretation . I don’t think you are spinning it however I think the ownership have given different nuances to the same questions since season end . The top line position on the financial position given by CM on the podcast differs slightly to the one he gave to ALS. I may feel less uncomfortable if there is clarity as to when Madrox will put the PP in . I don’t think Donald saying when the club needs it is enough . I hope that was raised and answered . I’m not asking you to divulge though
 
seanwharton said:
I get the process and I know you were asked rather than pushed but I’m uncomfortable with the thought of tidying the minute to give an interpretation . I don’t think you are spinning it however I think the ownership have given different nuances to the same questions since season end . The top line position on the financial position given by CM on the podcast differs slightly to the one he gave to ALS. I may feel less uncomfortable if there is clarity as to when Madrox will put the PP in . I don’t think Donald saying when the club needs it is enough . I hope that was raised and answered . I’m not asking you to divulge though
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The final wording will be agreed by everyone involved, including the club. It won't be an interpretation, so much as making sure the details are right. The chairman was taking the minutes and, as much as anything else, he'd like a second set of eyes to make sure he's got everything straight. Since much of that discussion was pretty much a dialogue between Charlie and myself, it's sensible for me to look at it. Charlie will also be involved, and I'm damn sure he wouldn't let me get away with putting words in his mouth.
 
Fortnight now & more interviews being pushed out by the club today in advance of this all being released.

Problems agreeing the content maybe?
 
Ashley In!! said:
Fortnight now & more interviews being pushed out by the club today in advance of this all being released.

Problems agreeing the content maybe?
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More difficulty with availability. Particularly Charlie, who is needed to check over some of the detail. They are drafted (I've seen the draft), but it's now very much in the club's hands.
 
Are these open and honest meetings now becoming a bit more 'closed shop' and the agenda been engineered and driven by Sunderland and not the RAWA? Is this wait focussing around items that they dont want us to hear? I find it incredible that it takes over 2 weeks to write the minutes up of an open and honest Q&A
 
6inarow said:
Are these open and honest meetings now becoming a bit more 'closed shop' and the agenda been engineered and driven by Sunderland and not the RAWA? Is this wait focussing around items that they dont want us to hear? I find it incredible that it takes over 2 weeks to write the minutes up of an open and honest Q&A
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Fair points.

Wearside Wanderer II said:
Give ova man, most on here couldn’t agree on the colour of bacon.
Put in dafty terms. We have all seen how
Much someone’s opinion is now fact. The less grey area the better for the fanny flappers on here
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The less grey matter is a concern - it matters.
 
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6inarow said:
Are these open and honest meetings now becoming a bit more 'closed shop' and the agenda been engineered and driven by Sunderland and not the RAWA? Is this wait focussing around items that they dont want us to hear? I find it incredible that it takes over 2 weeks to write the minutes up of an open and honest Q&A
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It doesn't normally but presumably this is a little bit more in depth, especially after several crossed wires from initial press conferences to Daily Mail articles and podcasts etc.
 
6inarow said:
Are these open and honest meetings now becoming a bit more 'closed shop' and the agenda been engineered and driven by Sunderland and not the RAWA? Is this wait focussing around items that they dont want us to hear? I find it incredible that it takes over 2 weeks to write the minutes up of an open and honest Q&A
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The agenda is not club-driven, but it's not just RAWA. The BLC, the disabled branch. Senior Supporters Association, and the Sunderland Supporter Liaison group are also involved. In fact, it's important that people don't see this as just being RAWA. All of these, plus the club, need to agree the minutes. It's now just waiting for the green light from the club, but they've had their minds on other things.

samaistonsrightfoot said:
It doesn't normally but presumably this is a little bit more in depth, especially after several crossed wires from initial press conferences to Daily Mail articles and podcasts etc.
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Make that a lot more depth. Finance (one of eight agenda items) took the best part of a third of a two hour meeting.
 
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6inarow said:
Are these open and honest meetings now becoming a bit more 'closed shop' and the agenda been engineered and driven by Sunderland and not the RAWA? Is this wait focussing around items that they dont want us to hear? I find it incredible that it takes over 2 weeks to write the minutes up of an open and honest Q&A
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No.

Abu Dhabi Red and White said:
The minutes often get approved at the next meeting. There needs to be agreement to a quicker turn around not attrition.
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They don’t. They get agreed once all parties have read through them, and can be retyped to make sense.
I can guarantee you nothing is changed to suit the club, otherwise I wouldn’t be involved.
Folk have also gotta remember all reps for the RAWA are volunteers, who obviously have their own lives going on at the same time.

From my understanding, they’ve been with the club a while now, but Chris Waters is on leave, so that may be holding things up.
 
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Ghandi Floss said:
No.



They don’t. They get agreed once all parties have read through them, and can be retyped to make sense.
I can guarantee you nothing is changed to suit the club, otherwise I wouldn’t be involved.
Folk have also gotta remember all reps for the RAWA are volunteers, who obviously have their own lives going on at the same time.

From my understanding, they’ve been with the club a while now, but Chris Waters is on leave, so that may be holding things up.
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My point was in relation to meetings in general. A cross party meeting where members are concerned about politics may be different. Hopefully, moving forward, you can push for a speedy turnaround.
 
@Ghandi Floss and @Grumpy Old Man thats fair enough and thanks for the replys, my concern is tho that the minutes that are written up from a meeting dont usually need to be agreed, this is why im suggesting a closed shop. I sit on a lot if meetings and the minutes get sent out to all concerned with nothing ommitted for whatever reason, as the RAWA are representing the fans we should get to see everything that is said whether it be good or bad hence been open and honest
 
6inarow said:
@Ghandi Floss and @Grumpy Old Man thats fair enough and thanks for the replys, my concern is tho that the minutes that are written up from a meeting dont usually need to be agreed, this is why im suggesting a closed shop. I sit on a lot if meetings and the minutes get sent out to all concerned with nothing ommitted for whatever reason, as the RAWA are representing the fans we should get to see everything that is said whether it be good or bad hence been open and honest
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The minutes of every meeting that I go to get agreed before they're distributed to a wider audience.
 
6inarow said:
@Ghandi Floss and @Grumpy Old Man thats fair enough and thanks for the replys, my concern is tho that the minutes that are written up from a meeting dont usually need to be agreed, this is why im suggesting a closed shop. I sit on a lot if meetings and the minutes get sent out to all concerned with nothing ommitted for whatever reason, as the RAWA are representing the fans we should get to see everything that is said whether it be good or bad hence been open and honest
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No minutes are ever a verbatim account of what happens - they rather need to summarise the key points raised and actions to be taken. The Sunderland Collective Meeting (to give the official name) isn't like a committee or board meeting involving members of a single entity; it's essentially collegiate in nature with attendees representing the club and five different supporters' groups, and will then have a wider circulation than that. That's why the minutes need to be agreed before release. That should actually provide insurance against omission, simply because so many people, with different approaches, need to agree on the wording. You'll need to take my word for it, but the draft I've seen is an accurate reflection of what was said in the meeting.
 
Grumpy Old Man said:
No minutes are ever a verbatim account of what happens - they rather need to summarise the key points raised and actions to be taken. The Sunderland Collective Meeting (to give the official name) isn't like a committee or board meeting involving members of a single entity; it's essentially collegiate in nature with attendees representing the club and five different supporters' groups, and will then have a wider circulation than that. That's why the minutes need to be agreed before release. That should actually provide insurance against omission, simply because so many people, with different approaches, need to agree on the wording. You'll need to take my word for it, but the draft I've seen is an accurate reflection of what was said in the meeting.
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Cheers for that, Im not trying to get a rise out of anyone no matter what other responses I get, I think a lot of people (me included) are getting a bit tetchy at the minute waiting for signings...investment...new board members etc. Need to be more patient!
 
Grumpy Old Man said:
You'll need to take my word for it, but the draft I've seen is an accurate reflection of what was said in the meeting.
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This is what I'm concerned about though, no doubting you're correct, but why is it taking the club so long to ok it? From what you've said previously, they've no real veto over anything unless it's factually inaccurate.

And as I say I fear they may be making a lot of it "old news" with the media stuff they've hurried to do since.
 
Ashley In!! said:
This is what I'm concerned about though, no doubting you're correct, but why is it taking the club so long to ok it? From what you've said previously, they've no real veto over anything unless it's factually inaccurate.

And as I say I fear they may be making a lot of it "old news" with the media stuff they've hurried to do since.
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The powers that be are busy. Meetings about things before the end of the month apparently. Can't think what they've got to talk about ;)
 
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