I'm sure something like this would have been raised before but I will press on anyway.

I was thinking today about how many members we have, how many fans we have nationwide.

Do you realise that if everybody who claimed to support the Blues paid $10 each, our debt would be clear?

How about the diehards? If each of the current 28k members paid $100 each, we would raise $2.8m and the wolves would be well and truly held at bay. Put in an extra $100 for 3 years running and we are back in the black.

That equates to $1.92 per week. Not much more than a can of coke each week. Seems easy doesn't it?

To wipe the whole debt in one year by splitting it amongst the 28k members we are looking at $250 each. $4.80 per week each.

If the Blues had a direct debit system where you they automatically took $4.80 out of our accounts each week for 12 months, how many of us would say 'NO!' Hardly any I would suggest.

If you flat out ask for $250 extra from each member, they would say 'NO' but if you do it smarter, it is not that difficult.

If not, even $100 per person in one lump sum through a paypal account would solve a 2/5ths of our problem instantaneously.

People are often looking at what they will get for their money. I say there is nothing more rewarding that peace of mind, not having this debt hanging over our heads, restored credibility for the supporters being able to take care of their own problems and not waiting for the AFL or someone like Richard Pratt and any associated strings attached.

Is this a goer?

You get it organized Old Dark Navy and i will chip in.

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All my dangerous friends

Would there be a way for anyone to get access to the details of all Carlton members?

If we asked the club would they give us that info if we explained what we would do with it?

This is forward thinking - the club will have none of it!!!

I like the idea and I'd support it - worth a shot.

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

The club could send out flyers putting the plan forward, to all members and non-members.

Would we have to register as a charity to collect money when we are not giving anything in return?

Isn't the club doing that already?

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"I had to eat"

You can put me down for a hundred dollars. Providing the board members raise $1,000,000 themselves.

Smorgon would miss 500k about as much as the average person would miss 50 bucks, so I think that's about fair.

I have emailed the club about this providing links to the threads on the sites I have posted it on. Would at least be interested in reading their feedback.

JohnM .... hmmm a dollar for dollar proposal. For every dollar we raise the coteries and board pull a dollar from their own pocket. Has merit.

I'm sold, where do I sign..

No need to register as a charity. If anything, it would be a donation to the club.

Very interesting proposal, and much more progressive than rattling the tins outside the ground before a game.

I don't think the club would be allowed to reveal member info to an outside party, so it would need an insider pushing the cause. It's a legitimate fund raising idea though.

How about an option to double your donation to $200 and the extra $100 goes into a cash prize, say $100,000 first prize or something? or 100 $1000 prizes? only to those members who take the double up option.

I will bet 1000$ that the rich people down at the club would be willing to save the club if push come to shove.But the big play we have is that we will let the AFL pay and then when they will not pay anymore the club will do bigger things.

I think CFC wants the fine back plus cream on top.

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"Go blues"

Feel my love...............

How long are we willing to wait though?
This is a great idea, if it gets up in some way I'll definitely be in.

we came up with (by we i mean the website) something similair sometime ago i think.

going a little further than what you have suggested perhaps something like adding it to your membership.

i.e.

carlton social club 17 game membership = $470
carlton football club rebuilding fund = $100

total cost = $570.00

the ability to pay it over a 12 month period or weekly even would see it cost either $47.50 per month or $10.90 per week.

Its a no brainer IMO

now, i dont think you can expect everyone to be able to do it, as some people would be on a tight budget as it is, what with inflation going up due to the cost of bananas

but if the club gave you the option of being about to pay over a 12 month period and then simple had the option to renew every year including the CFCRF until they are out of the trouble they are in, i have no doubt in my mind, that those that could afford it would be more than willing to contribute.

Add to that, a suggest i put forward about being a member for an extended period (someone that could be bothered to finding the post could link it if they like) is to take it one step further as well.

If you can afford to contributre to the CRCRF and do then it also opens the option for you to purchase a football shirt signed, framed and with a phot of yourself and your favorite player together for something like, i dont know $300 or somehting.

Maybe do it on a scale, if you contribute the say $2000 as an example you can get a photo taken of you with the team framed and get a jumper signed by the entire team ....

the options are endless ...

as much as im sure we would all be willing to chip in the ability to get something out of it would possibly sway a few more over to contribute as well.

like the idea and think its being pro-active with the members as well

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

The problem is with direct debits is the bank fees would erode up to 50% of the money we gave them.

However if a campain could be organised by the Blues and our mate (forget his correct name) at the NAB were blues members opened up NAB High Interest savings accounts which didnt attract fees and the bank waived the direct debit transaction fees the club could really be a winner.

Positives for the NAB being increased account holders which translates into money for them, good publiciity for them and a way for their leader to do something for the club that wants him on the board without having to give up his time.

Postives for us, Money Money Money, good publicity and a sense for members that our club has actually taken a step in the right direction with a bold new initiative.

im sure there a photographers that would be willing to donate their time as well (KK is a photograhper isnt he)

help keep the cost downs

and i reckon it would take nothing more than a couple weekends for the players to be available for photos etc..

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

KK is a photographer and has offered to donate his time to the Club before!

I think the problem will be finding a supporter at Board level. If you know how to find one and can put together a 1-pager it may be worth a shot?

Not wanting to wee on anyone's idea but isn't this what the Foundation is all about - you can donate additional money and get the tax deduction?

Wasn't the Foundation asking for something $1000 per donation for the Legends Stand when it was first set up?

If the Foundation is the way to go, then the club needs to revisit using TODN's idea.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

I acknowledge the point about the foundation and adding a bit on to memberships, however they can't be sold as well to the garden variety member. Most already think they don't get enough for their memberships and that is why they are dropping off.

A straight out donation, evenly spread, paid in affordable installments with a massive result at the end ... paying off our debt. Well, who wouldn't want to put their hand up to say that they did that? Hell, you would have the bank statements to prove you were part of history.

The best part is that being done specifically for this purpose, there will be no doubt about who truly owns this club ... the supporters own it, plain and simple. Not Demetriou and the AFL, not the coteries, not the wealthy businessmen attaching strings to their money. US!!! This is the perfect way of reclaiming our club IMO.

There must also be a way of avoiding direct debit fees. Some sort of Christmas/Award/Holiday Saver.

Anyway, hoping the club sees fit to email an initial acknowledgement and an undertaking to take a look at it. I am sure somebody will come in here to read this thread and capture the vibe of the members at least.

Could there be an option to pay $6/week if they sack the coach at the end of the season?

Seriously, this is a great idea. It's the sort of thing the board should be thinking of. To demostrate to the club how easy it would be, I would suggest

1) Put together a sample cover letter that would go out with memberships. Something straight from the heart of the punters. You could almost cut and paste your original post into ODN. "It would be so easy to save our club". That bit about the can of coke is pure gold.

2) Knock up a proforma form that has the following options:

a) $100 (lump sum)
c) $250 (lump sum)
b) $10/month (cut down on transaction fees)
c) $20/month

Space for the direct debit details.

The letter could express a preference for people to pay their membership fee up front for cash-flow reason, but still offer them a monthly option that bundled their membership fee play there "debt payment" (we'd need a better name that that).

Anyway, trying to get a deal with the NAB due on transaction fees is a great idea (he can bundle NAB marketed crap in with it to justify it internally). But the club should do the hard yakka on that side of it.

I'd be in that, Prez, in fact I've lost count at the times I've offered my services to the club for Nix, or cost....

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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.