CAMBRIDGE UNITED FANS’ PARLIAMENT
Gina Parkin is part of the working group researching the Cambridge United fans parliament. This is her progress report.
A lot has happened since our last update. Given the positive reaction from supporters to the concept of a fans parliament, the working group recommended to the Club that we should proceed with setting it up. Just before Christmas the Club announced that it agreed. Since then we have been working on a draft constitution for the fans parliament, based on what we have found out about other club’s fans parliament and supporters’ boards, and on our own ideas.
The constitution will set out the purpose of the fans parliament and the ground rules under which it will operate. In summary the draft constitution says:
· The aim of the Fans’ Parliament is to facilitate trust between Cambridge United FC and Cambridge United fans by increasing transparency in the way the Club operates and makes decisions;
· The Fans’ Parliament will be formed of a maximum of 11 Cambridge United fans, elected by their fellow supporters. Elections to the Fans’ Parliament will be held every two years;
· The Fans’ Parliament will meet with Directors and officials of Cambridge United FC at least four times a year. Cambridge United FC will host Fans’ Parliament communications on the official club website and in the official match day programme, but the Fans’ Parliament will be free to set up its own website if it wishes;
· The Fans’ Parliament will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair, and will hold separate, internal meetings as frequently as it sees fit. The Fans’ Parliament will hold an AGM, open to all fans, once a year. It will publish a short annual report at the end of each football season.
It’s important to stress the constitution is still a draft, and that some aspects could be subject to change, but this should give you a feel as to how it will work. For the time being we are still using the name “fans parliament” but, as we have said before, there are lots of other options. “Fans Council” is quite popular, but it has an awkward acronym – CUFC!
The working group met with United Director Godric Smith in January to discuss the draft constitution. He was happy with it and then shared it with the United
Board of Directors to get their views. I’m very pleased to report that the Board has now also given the draft constitution the green light.
We will now convene a meeting of all the supporters that have expressed an interest in being part of the fans parliament (21 at the last count) to discuss the constitution. Once we have a constitution that everyone is happy with we will hold the elections, hopefully in March.
Its not too late to express an interest in the fans parliament – and to be part of Cambridge United history! Just contact the working group via cfuinbox@btinternet.com or drop by the CFU caravan.
COYU!
Gina Parkin
On behalf of the Fans’ Parliament Working Group
Gina Parkin is part of the working group researching the Cambridge United fans parliament. This is her progress report.
A lot has happened since our last update. Given the positive reaction from supporters to the concept of a fans parliament, the working group recommended to the Club that we should proceed with setting it up. Just before Christmas the Club announced that it agreed. Since then we have been working on a draft constitution for the fans parliament, based on what we have found out about other club’s fans parliament and supporters’ boards, and on our own ideas.
The constitution will set out the purpose of the fans parliament and the ground rules under which it will operate. In summary the draft constitution says:
· The aim of the Fans’ Parliament is to facilitate trust between Cambridge United FC and Cambridge United fans by increasing transparency in the way the Club operates and makes decisions;
· The Fans’ Parliament will be formed of a maximum of 11 Cambridge United fans, elected by their fellow supporters. Elections to the Fans’ Parliament will be held every two years;
· The Fans’ Parliament will meet with Directors and officials of Cambridge United FC at least four times a year. Cambridge United FC will host Fans’ Parliament communications on the official club website and in the official match day programme, but the Fans’ Parliament will be free to set up its own website if it wishes;
· The Fans’ Parliament will elect a Chair and Vice-Chair, and will hold separate, internal meetings as frequently as it sees fit. The Fans’ Parliament will hold an AGM, open to all fans, once a year. It will publish a short annual report at the end of each football season.
It’s important to stress the constitution is still a draft, and that some aspects could be subject to change, but this should give you a feel as to how it will work. For the time being we are still using the name “fans parliament” but, as we have said before, there are lots of other options. “Fans Council” is quite popular, but it has an awkward acronym – CUFC!
The working group met with United Director Godric Smith in January to discuss the draft constitution. He was happy with it and then shared it with the United
Board of Directors to get their views. I’m very pleased to report that the Board has now also given the draft constitution the green light.
We will now convene a meeting of all the supporters that have expressed an interest in being part of the fans parliament (21 at the last count) to discuss the constitution. Once we have a constitution that everyone is happy with we will hold the elections, hopefully in March.
Its not too late to express an interest in the fans parliament – and to be part of Cambridge United history! Just contact the working group via cfuinbox@btinternet.com or drop by the CFU caravan.
COYU!
Gina Parkin
On behalf of the Fans’ Parliament Working Group