Mariners Trust AGM

Staggered but maybe not surprised to find that the Mariners Trust haven't even bothered to start a thread for the upcoming AGM on here, the most used independent forum for potential new members or board members. A chance to stand for election, a link to application document within the tweet.. Post appeared on Twitter on the 10th with deadline for applicants on the 19th only seven days away. Makes you wonder if they do want fans to get involved or are they just incompetent? Here's the tweet below and I've started the thread that they should have done on their behalf..

https://twitter.com/MarinersTrust/status/1359601705567010820


More info taken from the Mariners Trust website..

The AGM will take place online via zoom on Thursday 4th March 2021 at 6:30pm

The official notice of AGM, Final Accounts, Proxy Form and Nomination Form are attached. You can also use the links below to download the necessary documentation:

    Notice of AGM:                
    Final Accounts:                  
    2019 AGM Minutes:        
    Proxy Form:                        
    Nomination Form:            

Please vote on the evening or return the proxy form to secretary@marinerstrust.co.uk or FAO Mariners Trust, Blundell Park, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, DN35 7PY by Thursday 4th March, 3pm.



We actively encourage all members eligible to vote, to do so.  Most resolutions are standard items and have a low acceptance threshold.  Whereas the resolution to update the rules that we abide by require one third (around 240) of eligible members to vote.  We currently run on the 2011 version of the rules and for best practice would like to adopt the more recent 2016 rules.  More information can be found in a simple video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw2o_SxYXMk



As this is the first time that the trust have held an AGM online so we have also attached a guide on the process if you are unable to attend, how the AGM online will work if you are and a breakdown of the nomination process if you are looking to stand for one of six places on the Mariners Trust board. In total we allowed 12 board members and we currently have 10 which includes 1 co-opted. Three of the board are due for re-election – Alan Rutter, Sandii Raithby and Ian Townsend whilst Haley Carver-Smith will be seeking election after being co-opted. The election for the board places will be entirely independently and Geoff Bielby from Hull City has very kindly agreed to undertake this role for us.

Only fully paid members of the Mariners Trust are entitled to attend the AGM.  Anybody wishing to join the online AGM should email: membership@marinerstrust.co.uk Membership status will be checked before a log in and further meeting information is issued.



Any general questions can be directed to enquiries@marinerstrust.co.uk any questions regarding voting or the nomination process should be directed to geoff.bielby@hullcityst.com

Do the club still even have their own message board?

I think this is an exciting time to get involved with the Trust. New owners and a different approach to fan engagement.

Quoted from SomeSanity

Do the club still even have their own message board?

I think this is an exciting time to get involved with the Trust. New owners and a different approach to fan engagement.

And maybe issue membership cards.

Not sure I get the criticism. The AGM is primarily about signing off the events of the last year and due to Covid is already way past the usual date. All Trusts have received dispensation for late meetings. I'm not at all sure it should be a primary source of attracting new Membership.
For the record the notification for the AGM and the relevant bundle of documents have been mailed to every member for whom we have an email address and posted to those who dont use e-mail.

There has already been significant interest from people interested in joining the board.
I hope that the extra interest will mean that we can meet the challenges facing us. Whether that is with or without me is for the membership to decide.

Quoted from barralad

Not sure I get the criticism. The AGM is primarily about signing off the events of the last year and due to Covid is already way past the usual date. All Trusts have received dispensation for late meetings. I'm not at all sure it should be a primary source of attracting new Membership.
For the record the notification for the AGM and the relevant bundle of documents have been mailed to every member for whom we have an email address and posted to those who dont use e-mail.

There has already been significant interest from people interested in joining the board with at least four  completing the nomination forms to date.
I hope that the extra interest will mean that we can meet the challenges facing us. Whether that is with or without me is for the membership to decide.

That's the scary bit Barra, that you don't get it. It's called engagement with potential members, distribution of information etc to your largest independent audience. It took me two minutes. So many people like me have paid to join and never received a single notification two or three years on. The Trust never learn from their mistakes, they just continue as they've always done. I've lost faith in what they can do, but it doesn't mean I won't try and help anyone else who feels like they want to get involved and to help the Trust. Applications for new board members are up for grabs. The Trust need more help. Why has it not been posted on here? Simple question unanswered..

The Trust really needs to reflect on how effective it communication strategy is and is it succeeding in communicating hard to reach groups and is it effectively promoting diversity in its membership.

Quoted from Bigdog

That's the scary bit Barra, that you don't get it. It's called engagement with potential members, distribution of information etc to your largest independent audience. It took me two minutes. So many people like me have paid to join and never received a single notification two or three years on. The Trust never learn from their mistakes, they just continue as they've always done. I've lost faith in what they can do, but it doesn't mean I won't try and help anyone else who feels like they want to get involved and to help the Trust. Applications for new board members are up for grabs. The Trust need more help. Why has it not been posted on here? Simple question unanswered..

I value the opinions on here which is why I've been a Fishy member since 2010. Our main three media channels are Facebook, Twitter (your source) and our own website. I'm sorry to say that I doubt many people on here aren't members of one or more of those fora.

Quoted from friskneymariner

The Trust really needs to reflect on how effective it communication strategy is and is it succeeding in communicating hard to reach groups and is it effectively promoting diversity in its membership.

Speaking as a Trust Board member we know that we've had trouble with our communication over the years. We know have a new Membership system which allows easy communication with members at the touch of a button. We still have a significant proportion of our members who do not use emails or social media strange though that may seem. The feedback we have received thus far is broadly supportive of our efforts to improve. In line with a huge number of other organisations we want our own website to be the primary source of contact. This backed with the aforementioned platforms means we reach huge numbers of people. The fact is that usually within an hour of any communication from us a thread posted by someone appears on here.

Quoted from barralad

I value the opinions on here which is why I've been a Fishy member since 2010. Our main three media channels are Facebook, Twitter (your source) and our own website. I'm sorry to say that I doubt many people on here aren't members of one or more of those fora.

I think he just uses any excuse to beat the Trust with.

Quoted from barralad

Speaking as a Trust Board member we know that we've had trouble with our communication over the years. We know have a new Membership system which allows easy communication with members at the touch of a button. We still have a significant proportion of our members who do not use emails or social media strange though that may seem. The feedback we have received thus far is broadly supportive of our efforts to improve. In line with a huge number of other organisations we want our own website to be the primary source of contact. This backed with the aforementioned platforms means we reach huge numbers of people. The fact is that usually within an hour of any communication from us a thread posted by someone appears on here.

I wanted to offer a bit of advice, genuinely in an attempt to help the Trust. I work for a global organisation and part of my job is communication and engagement. You say in your post 'we want our own website to be the primary source of contact' and that you use Twitter and Facebook as well. Because of the growth of social media etc, large organisations have learned (or are learning) that the consumer/customer calls the shots about how they want to be communicated with and anybody who wants to engage with them has to go and find them. This movement will continue and gather pace as younger members of society mature because they have never known another way.

The Trust should be using this forum because it's full of your 'customers'.

At the time of writing this thread had had just shy of 400 views. The thread on the National League has had about 60,000 views. I would be very surprised if the Trust's website has had 60,000+ hits in the last couple of weeks.