Table Investors

Surely a clearer set of conditions into the investments and the ownership issues of van etc.. would help people make their mind up.
Just seems like we are begging people for £200 to save tables!!

[barbelman]

Jan 13, 2009 19:46:11 GMT @sithlord said:

Surely a clearer set of conditions into the investments and the ownership issues of van etc.. would help people make their mind up.
Just seems like we are begging people for £200 to save tables!!

Errrr...that's what we are doing, Johnny.

All that is needed is a level of commitment to see if it's feasible or not but given such apathy I am beginning to doubt it. It's 200 quid, you are not being asked to sell your granny.....

Like Milko, I believe we do NEED an update on the situation from one of the table committee please so that the topic doesn't go stale, and we do need to know what interest there is outside of the forum.

cheers
Tony

Jan 14, 2009 9:30:00 GMT barbelman said:

Errrr...that's what we are doing, Johnny.

All that is needed is a level of commitment to see if it's feasible or not but given such apathy I am beginning to doubt it. It's 200 quid, you are not being asked to sell your granny.....

Errrr...that's not what I asked, Barbelman.

Commitment and stupidity are 2 different things, committing yourself £200 for a stake knowing the conditions and fully understanding the way it will be managed is a bit different to whats "actually" happening.
Of course £200 is nothing, to some it's their weekly wage so yeah seeing the recession and the fact I can't sell my Granny I suppose coming back with a suitable response to the Question in hand would be feesable.

If their were a better understanding I bet more people would step up and give the money. Also I agree an update is needed.

[BB Warrior]

Jan 14, 2009 15:14:41 GMT @sithlord said:

Jan 14, 2009 9:30:00 GMT barbelman said:

Errrr...that's what we are doing, Johnny.

All that is needed is a level of commitment to see if it's feasible or not but given such apathy I am beginning to doubt it. It's 200 quid, you are not being asked to sell your granny.....

Errrr...that's not what I asked, Barbelman.

Commitment and stupidity are 2 different things, committing yourself £200 for a stake knowing the conditions and fully understanding the way it will be managed is a bit different to whats "actually" happening.
Of course £200 is nothing, to some it's their weekly wage so yeah seeing the recession and the fact I can't sell my Granny I suppose coming back with a suitable response to the Question in hand would be feesable.

If their were a better understanding I bet more people would step up and give the money. Also I agree an update is needed.

Come on everybody...... let's try to keep the comments in here positive and keep the thread for those that want to invest!

Johnny, there is more information about what is involved and how the money will be repaid and the anticipated repayment period on a separate thread entitled "Table Purchase" which was started by Sav and although it is only a very basic summary of the situation, is all that can be realistically be expected to be available at this stage.

I am sure that once the committee of people who will be involved with looking after the table purchases have had a chance to meet and discuss things there will be more information available, however in the meantime we do need to know if sufficient people would be prepared to buy the shares to make the whole thing feasible. :-/

I agree that it would be nice to have an update on the number of investors that are prepared to buy a share and that more information may well encourage more people to invest. 8-)

Let's hope so, as without the investment and support, the future of the Opens and National Tournaments will not look promising. :-/

So, come on everybody, sell your Grannys and put your money in!! ;D

thanks BBWarrior :)

I was thinking of making an investment but don't know enough for my own confidence.

[BB Warrior]

I do understand Johnny and it would be helpful if more information was available.

Personally, although happy to invest, I would like to know what will happen to the income that will be generated from the tables once the investors have all been repaid? ???

Obviously, the tables will need to be maintained on an ongoing basis to ensure that they are kept in competition condition. 8-)

It was mentioned that a new van would be required at some stage, however if the hirers (rather than the AEBBA) are to be responsible for the movement of the tables, should the AEBBA (or, even the shareholders in the tables) be responsible for this..... or would it be more cost-effective in the long run to hire vans as and when they are needed? ::)

So, once all of the shareholders have been repaid, will the rental charges made for the table hire need to be kept at the same level to enable a fund to be built up to allow for the cost of a new van at some stage as well as table maintenance....... or will the hire charges be reduced and the hirers be made responsible for making their own arrangements for collection & return of the tables?

Or, as a final thought, will the hire charges remain the same with the hirers responsible for the collection & return..... and then the shareholders could all have some of the profit at the end of each year as a "thank you" for investing in the first place!! :o ;D ;D

Now, that last idea could suddenly find a lot of people wanting to invest....... if it were to happen!! ::) ;D

[Chris_Sav]

I have emailed Dave and warned him an update is needed.

Sav.

[barbelman]

Without sounding too pompous and to paraphrase JFK...

"My fellow citizens of bar billiards: ask not what bar billiards will do for you, but what together we can do for the future of the game"

Pretentious....moi? ;)

cheers
Tony

[Chris_Sav]

Please keep this thread on topic on fund raising.

Reaction is certainly disappointing with only about twenty people offering to loan AEBBA funds towards saving the national competitions.

Under half of what is needed has been offered in the first month of the appeal.

The Mens England Captain has offered to help, how many of the team who will have the honour to wear an England shirt in his team have offered? Try looking and see if you can find one in the list.

The first committee meeting will be at Bournemouth. Judging from the response so far, make the most of this year! You cannot expect Brian Daniels to wait forever, he has done his bit and given AEBBA time to raise the funds, now its up to fifty five loans of £200 for a couple of years to save the day.

Talk to your teams! If we cannot raise enough loans on this forum we are wasting our time trying to keep our national teams, national championships and opens going.

Sav

[barbelman]

Jan 15, 2009 8:31:15 GMT Chris_Sav said:

Please keep this thread on topic on fund raising.

What are you referring to Sav? I can't see anything that is not about fundraising in this thread.

cheers
Tony

If the worst comes about could we not get a bank loan?

[Chris_Sav]

Jan 15, 2009 19:43:50 GMT @sithlord said:

If the worst comes about could we not get a bank loan?

We could, but if we cannot raise the money between all the players who are so keen to play in national comps at £200 a throw then we are wasting our time trying.

Sav.

Jan 15, 2009 8:31:15 GMT Chris_Sav said:

The Mens England Captain has offered to help, how many of the team who will have the honour to wear an England shirt in his team have offered? Try looking and see if you can find one in the list.
Sav

Okay Sav, I'll take up your challenge, but I think you're being unfair on people who aren't regular users of the forum.

1 Kevin Tunstall (c) - has pledged
2 Nigel Senior - does enough to save the game already
3 Chris Reeves - irregular forum user
4 Phil Collins - non-Forum user
5 Gareth Lloyd - irregular forum user
6 steven Sheard - non-Forum user
7 Gary Johnson - irregular forum user
8 Leon Beer -non-Forum user
9 Tony Walsh - non-Forum user
10 Jim Millward - in semi-retirement
11 Paul Sainsbury - irregular forum user
12 (Res1) Mark Brewster - irregular forum user
13 (Res2) Geoff Jukes - irregular forum user
14 (Res3) Richard Wooton - irregular forum user

I would ask the question, how many of these guys have been clued in on these plans ? Has a 'save the game' flyer been sent out to all the Counties so that it can then filter down to those who need to know ?

It's early days yet, but so far the campaign reminds me of your Avatar - if you swap the beer mug for a copy of 'BIG ISSUE'. :D

Sorry to sound flippant on such a serious matter. But you've got your initial response -which though disappointing does add up to a substantial sum. But the Committee now needs to step up the campaign with a direct approach - not just trusting to word of mouth via the Forum.

I suggest a standard letter of appeal, to be given out at every Open held this coming year.

Jan 15, 2009 20:35:54 GMT Chris_Sav said:

Jan 15, 2009 19:43:50 GMT @sithlord said:

If the worst comes about could we not get a bank loan?

We could, but if we cannot raise the money between all the players who are so keen to play in national comps at £200 a throw then we are wasting our time trying.

Sav.

The reality is, it's going to be unlikly £10,000 will be generated plus other costs needed like Van maintenence and insurances on tables and van. All the stuff which I think we all should have a clearer understanding of.
I am not being negative though, I have huge enthusiasum but the reality in Bar Billiards sometimes (at least for lil me) is hard to deal with :( :'(
I think we haven't like Tommo suggests exhausted the other non users who are very passionate. Still think this target is a bit high though :-/
Even if a bank owned half, we all still get to play and after 3 years (like suggested) it will hopefully be paid off.

[H]

How about sticking a couple of quid on open entry fees etc. Maybe some wouldn't feel the same, but I'd gladly pay an extra £5 for every tournament for it to go towards (i know only a small proportion) this cause.

[BB Warrior]

Personally, I think that we have made a good start here...... it looks as if we have about 20 people saying that will buy "shares", with 3 or 4 prepared to buy more than one. ;D

That is almost half-way to our target...... just 1 month after the appeal was launched...... and, so far, it has hardly been filtered down to anybody apart from the regular forum users. :o

We obviously need to make more people aware of the situation to be able to raise more money, so the AEBBA should certainly be sending out flyers to be used at the Opens and to the Counties.

If these are then sent on to the Leagues, they could be distributed to all the Teams and players.

Although many people may not wish to pledge £200, there may be many who would be willing to give £20 / £50 to help, which could be collected by the Leagues and Counties to buy "shares" at that level. Providing a record is kept of the smaller amounts, when the time comes for the money to be repaid, everybody would get their money back.

Alternatively, make the "share" prices £20 and get lots of people to buy them...... you would probably find people willing to hand this amount over at Open Tournaments, so you would just need to have someone willing to do the admin and hand out receipts? ???

[JB]

Just my view on things as they are and nothing personal against anyone.

I think the Committe should assume the money will be raised (if its not end of) and work out a few possibilities of what will happen (e.g perhaps get a few quotes for motor ins pl ins etc) storage, delivery etc so that any potential investor has a few facts.
I would find it much easier (as treasurer) to go to Sussex County and ask for money if a few details were at hand from the Commitee.

Trying to raise the money is the most important and seeing enthusiasm and a bit of work being done by the Committee thats been set up would help. Surely letters should have been sent to all Counties, perhaps e-mails to all individuals on the bb contact list. Apart from Sav and a couple of early posts on here from Dave there doesnt see to be a lot of input.
An up to date list with proper names (this has to be treated as a business venture) and confirmed amount of shares should be updated on a regular basis.

Sorry to go on (and on)

Yes i will go to Sussex County and ask for investment and yes i will almost certainly invest BUT it will be done after Bournemouth where i believe the first Committee is being held and hopefully after that a bit more is known.
We should also be able to see how much enthusiasm there is from people to hopefully make this venture succeed.

[BB Warrior]

Well said Jean......... absolutely spot on!! 8-)

Jan 16, 2009 12:29:39 GMT BB Warrior said:

Well said Jean......... absolutely spot on!! 8-)

I echo that.

[milhouse]

Hi All, sorry for not posting on this before now, but just do not get the time like i used to to be on here.
A bank loan is not really an option, apart from the interest rates (although dropping) there are other factors involved, like Tax issues.
Is it possible, one for the global mods here, to have a seperate thread with just a list of the people who are prepared to put money into this and also say how much they are prepared to put in with a total at the bottom ? This could be edited by global mods as and when people express their interest as Dave doesn't come on here much.



NOTE: A separate thread was started in accordance your request, but Dave Alder has since brought the information up to date on the front page here. So, being superfluous, it has been deleted. tommo

[Chris]

Excellent idea... it would give those who are possible investors an idea of what is required ...

[bigtj]

There is going to be a meeting of the committee at Bournemouth, will those who have an interest be able to have some input into the meeting about their concerns, and how things are progressing. At present I think the main concern is that we do not seem to have a business plan going forward, i.e. where tables are going to be stored, public liabilities insurance, van drivers, etc.

Prehaps we could be allowed to put forward points we feel should be raised at committee meeting and from there we can have a copy of the minutes from that meeting. TJ

[David.G]

Hi All

I have called for an earlier meeting so as to bring all info up to date.
Most of the committee will be at Frenches Club in Redhill this weekend.
I will post update on Monday

[Colemanator]

Is it worth approaching The Queens Hotel Bournemouth for a handout?

[David.G]

I have updated the list on page one.

So far so good.

Thank you everyone for the support and keep up the good work

Dave Alder

[BFG]

WSBBL committee meeting was tonight and the motion was passed unanimously to pledge to buy a share.

[TTO]

Has anyone thought of holding raffles at the open events or larger ones? In West Sussex we have a dedicated team of raffle ticket sellers at certain events, players and supporters are asked to bring prizes, therefore only having the cost of a few raffle ticket books. Although this wont raise a huge amount I would have thought it may raise enough for a bond (per Raffle).

[ponytailguy]

Hi all
Can i ask when the money from investors is needed by as i would be willing to pledge a share if its later this year as money is tight at the moment.If its after august i will pledge a share.
adam.

Good question, and one that reflects my own situation (am planning to give up work in August, and at this stage am not entirely sure how my own finances will pan out......)

So I'm a 'possible investor'.

[milhouse]

The money is going to be started to be collected at Bournemouth.