Things are progressing very well for the club. This is due in large part to the help we have received from our official Australian Football League sister club Collingwood. John May, CEO, and Richard Stremski (Board Member, Club Historian and Yankee ex-pat) have provided assitance for our club in the form of footballs and guernseys!!!

The Collingwood army is now alive and well in the USA!!!

The New York Magpies Australian Rules Football Club is here!!!

To find out more info, visit our web site at:
http://www.nyfooty.com/

If you prefer, you can call (914) 289-0145, or you can email magpies@nyfooty.com

Membership Drive

Collingwood Football Club legend Peter Daicos, will put his name on the back of his famous number 35 guernsey once again in his drive to get 40,000 paid-up members.

As part of an exciting new incentive program launched at the Freedom Fighters Rally, members will be rewarded for signing up new members. One of the most sought after rewards will be a Peter Daicos autographed number 35 guernsey for every person who signs up 10 new members.

Other rewards include a limited edition print of the 1990 premiership team (as they are today) for every 3 new members signed up; and for every 100 new members signed up, the ultimate reward of joining Tony Shaw on an MCG match day in the coach's box.

The incentive program is part of a new marketing campaign undertaken by the Club to increase membership numbers to a level that will guarantee lasting financial security and respect from the AFL and other clubs. The incentive program follows on from the hugely successful Freedom Fighters Rally, which attracted over 5,000 supporters.

The following notice was posted to the Bulletin Board by Mick O'Kane. I felt that it needed greater exposure so I'm repeating it here.

VOLUNTEER LIST

I have been asked by the Club to run its Volunteer List, working in conjunction with marketing manager Graeme Allan and director Richard Stremski. We did our first draft at last Friday's intra-club game (6/2/98) and got 74 volunteers (from a crowd of 400-500) !!!

But we need more to spread the workload and make this an efficient resource for for the Club. Hawthorn, for example has a volunteer list, called Hawkforce, of just under 400 people.

What would I do ?
Initially the volunteers will be used in the Club's membership drive with help on match days and other events handing out flyers, selling memberships, spruiking and building the database of supporters. Further down the track the volunteer list should evolve to assist the Club in almost all areas of its administration including database establishment and maintenance, Vic Park maintenance, young members and internet site .....the ideas are already flooding in from passionate members.

When could I start ?
Straight away. We are enlisting people's help for the practice match against Carlton at Optus Oval, Sat. 14 February (2pm). If you have an hour or so to give on the day that would be great. If Valentine's means you can't leave your beloved without risking the loss of certain parts of your anatomy then you could help with any of the drives to be held at all games, right up to half way through the season.

How do I join ?
Call me on 9699 8382 (H) or Graeme Allan or Richard Stremski at the Club on 9419 9222 or fill out below and return it to me indicating when you would be available.

Why is this important ?
Despite the fact that Collingwood has a huge following it has failed to capitalise on it and on last year's numbers Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Essendon, Hawthorn, Carlton and Richmond all had more members, Geelong and Western Bulldogs weren't too far behind.

Why doesn't the Club do it ?
Basically, Collingwood, and football clubs in general are under-resourced administratively. Also this is a tangible way for supporters to make a contribution beyond their membership. For example, at the first game of the year the Club would normally have 8 staff stationed around the ground selling memberships. At the same game Hawthorn plan to have 30-40 people selling memberships and another 20 spruiking/handing out flyers (90% of them volunteers !!). We've got to be competitive but we need your help.

If you can help in any way then please provide the following :

Name
Address
Date of Birth
Ph - Work Home
Fax
E-mail
Are you a Social Club member ? Yes / No
Are you a season ticket holder ? Yes / No

(NB - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER TO HELP !)

Please forward this on to any other supporters you know.

My e-mail address is o'kane.michael.m@bhp.com.au

Mick O'Kane