if not, you're not doing a thing to help situations like this occurring in the future

Rich

membership dept and football dept have been run on the smell of an oily rag for years.....there is no need to change

Let's sack Pagan, it's all his fault!

Lay off the marketing department.

They are coming up with really innovative money-raising concepts...

Like a raffle

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NOW YOU'RE JUST SOME CLUB THAT I USED TO KNOW.

I had a firend who worked in the Marketing Department in 2003. She left after 6 months. Why? Well first things first, she loved it. She was keen, committed, enthusiastic. She has always been a massive footy fan, and she thought that working at the Club was fantastic (she was actually a Melb fan cause she was a mate of Brad Green's - but she had Carlton sympathies). Problem was that they were paying her $29,000 a year. That's right - $29,000 per year. Now, my friend went to work for Packer's magazine empire, and on walking through the door there, her salary went up to $45k. Her work was more menial, more boring, and she hated it there very quickly. But the point is this - it is not the Marketing Dept's fault. It goes back to a mentality that marketing isn't important. If you were any good as a marketer, would you honestly be working there as un underresources, and underpaid member of a very small team? Don't blame the marketing department - look further up the line.

Hate to say it, but until all our departmets have the resources that other teams enjoy, we are NOT going to be where we should be.
I can't see it happening quickly, either. We need more money.

Molly you are right on the money there. It's not the actual worker that is to blame for weak process, lack of resources. motivation, and lack of creativity; it's a management issue; in Carlton's case it's a board issue.

Marketing is generally not considered important until a clever and successful campaign draws attention to the marketing dept. When that happens it's a case of feeling blessed a marketing dept exists. If the resources are not there, whether it's money or the right people, Marketing cannot propel the product in the right direction.

Over the last decade there has been an oversupply of marketing graduates, and $29,000 has been the going rate for a new graduate for some time now. I have employed lots of them at $29K that are looking to get a leg in their chosen profession. There are marketing graduates at Packerland that are receiving far less that the $45K you mention, but they have the right environment to succeed and grow. But I understand your point that $29K aint that much to attract a creative person with experience. But when you have a person at $29K that is motivated and committed to the organisation, an organisation must give them resources and direction to harness the energy, especially so given the considerable salary savings made at that rate.

For me, the current situation probably stems from the old school that marketing isn't important. Without marketing you don't have promotion, and thats the start of an ugly cycle. The botom line is that if you have a good marketer, they will fail and lose desire if they are not highly regarded or supported regardless of the pay packet.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Yes, KK. I'm not talking about 'shoulds', I'm talking about how it is. You and I both know that ideas take forever, if they ever germinate. They've been under a siege mentality for a long time now.

I dont think it will improve until the finances do. Unless they get more cash support or that AFL outsourced marketing deal that was in the press a little while ago, I dont think the Club will afford it.

Yes, I hear many say - but you have to! Its the club that is at stake! But how do you pay for it if you're already millions in the red?

Cue Synbad...

Got it in one there, bondi. While it seems that a large part of the administration is distancing itself from the "Bad old John Elliott days", the marketing and communications department is still in the same mentality, which says "We're Carlton, we're popular, people will come to us no matter what"

Newsflash to those people: That no longer works.

We need as total cleanout of the backrooms of the club as much as the board and other areas of the administration.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

I disagree - I think they'd like to do more but the combination of funding, resourcing and lack of support / clear processes for idea generation stop us doing anything really creative at all.

I like the theory of what you say bb and kk but in practice they'r good Carlton people starved of cash, support, love etc.

Carlton Communications spend at least half a day a week answering bullshit negative emails about how poor we're going! Deerrrrrr!!!

True, molsey. But there are things which the Club can do, but refuse to. Not for money, or anything like that.

Carlton's supporter base is huge, and what's more, it's been shown by demographers to be intelligent (must...resist...joke...here...) and well educated.

Therefore, there MUST be some among us who would be willing to throw a few hours a week towards the club to help germinate those ideas. Problem is, when someone does, they are allowed to wither on the vine and die, which in this marketplace, with us needing the marketing out in the public, is criminal!

I've got some ideas close to my heart, as you know, but after being snubbed by the club in favour of a disinterested deal from an agency (See the latest Inside Carlton).

[/endrant]

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

*Bump*

I think this needs attention, hence the bump.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Agree with the sentiment, but it's just not reflected in real life.

You'd have thought that the quality of memories given to the fans by the Club over the years would deliver more, KK, you really would. On the other side, you'd have thought that the Club (like any Club, heavily dependent on volunteers) would have proper processes for locating, utilising and rewarding vlunteers.

But it just hasn't happened on either count.

Well, to a certain extent, that the Club has given us such great memories, and the potential for more of the same, and the possibility of being involved in some small way is what makes people like me offer my services where I can do something.

But it has to run both ways.

If the Club let people help, I think they'd probably be surprised at what was come up with, and the passion they can muster for the Club. And while these days it's money which makes things happen, I think the passion could help get things happening.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Hope your ideas include the nurse

There is no way that the talents of the supporter base can be properly harnessed on a volunteer basis until the club employs someone specifically as a liason between the club and volunteers. Someone who can recruit volunteers of all professions and find the appropriate places within the club for their talents.

This will not happen until there is more money floating around.

At the moment if you want to volunteer your services to the club or have some ideas they might be able to use you need equal parts luck and determination.

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|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

Or find someone above their head who may be receptive....

Like who Molsey? I am sure there are stax of people who are willing to volunteer. I wouldnt hestitate..

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I stole Sheedy's Gatorade...

You're spot on chief. I have actually emailed the club twice offering to volunteer my time. I gave them a brief outline of my skillset but also stated that I was happy to help where the need was greatest.

I sent the first email in early April and the second in mid May. I HAVE NOT EVEN RECEIVED A REPLY!!!!

Wow. You volunteer your time for gratis... twice... and get no reply at all.