"As the curtain falls on the 2008 season, we move into that time when season ticket decisions are made by families when each considers family budgets for the following year.
May I ask that anyone who is considering not renewing memberships due to ordinary on-field performances or team selections reconsider their attitude/decision ? On various Web sites, there have been some arguments about this aspect. We have been told by Shane and Peter, among others, that it is of vital importance to the Club and it's positive future, that we build ticketed memberships .
Myself, I honestly do not understand people who have attitudes that question commitment because of dissatisfactions. My love for this Club is not conditional, it is not dependent on external factors such as disappointment in player's performances, Club decisions on venue allocation or any other factor. I want to support my Club. As a member of the Football Club and the Leagues Club, I feel that , in some kind of manner, that I 'own' a bit of the Club. I also feel responsible for the Club.
We , temporarily, lost our beloved Club and that should be a massive warning that we cannot take our existence for granted. I was one of the speakers at the historic EGM, was passionate in speaking, with the knowledge that Souths were probably within a year of not being financially capable of fielding a team in the NRL. Remember the marches, the 'fight', the Court cases, the tears, the disenfranchisement, the 'fire' and anger, the simple loss of one of Australia's 100 year old icons, the famous cardinal and myrtle stripes and 'Rabbitoh' legend, the inability to have the right to watch your local footy team.
Do you want this to happen again ?
There is no certainty in license renewal in the NRL. Agendas and politics are rife in our sport. Do not trust it ! As a Club, we need to present a case for inclusion that is inarguable !
I understand individual family economic decision-making process. You may just not be able to afford the memberships. That is another matter but if you can budget to retain memberships, that would be fantastic.
My own situation is that I have three sons, all seeking a future through higher education, my wife has been retrenched from Qantas (albeit, happily), I am involved in a physically demanding occupation as a Tennis Coach, in an ageing body (lol) but, I rate the renewal of my membership as a necessity in that it adds balance, passion and interest to our lives. It involves us living the 'dream', a search for the 'Holy Grail' of a 21st Premiership, a realization of the pursuit of 'justice' and a righteous will to witness the greatest potential 'story' in sport, namely, the greatest comeback against adversity by any sporting organization. What a blockbuster movie that will make ! People power needs it's final victory !
Show some Anzac spirit! Never give up the dream, no matter what. I , simply, do not understand anyone who can even consider not renewing memberships and would suggest that you would need to consider some soul-searching. I would feel, personally, like a traitor, if I did not support the Club in this manner.
As members, we need to show character, determination and the will to not be broken. I could not live with myself if I thought that I could have done more and had to witness the demise, once again of my mighty Rabbitohs. I remember the little boy who used to dream of being Eric Simms kicking the winning goal from the sideline to win the match by one point with the voice of Frank Hyde, bless his soul, commentating in the background as my ball sailed between the gateposts.