Two Off Season Votes this Season for Sounders FC

by Sounder At Heart on Feb 5, 2010 4:50 PM PST in Democracy in Sports Comment 21 comments

As the whole concept behind Democracy in Sports continues to be refined there are currently two ongoing votes for Sounders FC Alliance members.

The first is a continuation of the Alliance Council. Four more just recently reached the 25 vote minimum and 15 now serve. Eleven of us wil be ending our term at the end of this season, while those elected this year will be done in 2011. We advised the club for longer terms because we had trouble learning the system and extent of influence. They agreed. All Alliance Members can vote this year, click here to do so.

When you visit there you will also be asked to vote on the future of the Golden Scarf ceremony. The three options are to give it only to fans of the team, only community icons or a mix of the two. Now, it isn't my job to tell you how to vote, but I think that this tradition will only be relevant if the people who get it are significant to a large segment of the fanbase. Yes, I got one, but I didn't get one because of who I am. Instead I was part of a group that got one to represent YOU. But a Scarf before each match to a fan, for just being a fan doesn't seem right.

It is notable that of the 15 people on the Council they break into following groups (some members of multiple groups)

Emerald City Supporters - 6
Gorilla FC - 4
Bloggers - 3
Women - 3

Both Supporter Groups are organizing to get more on the Council, and probably will. If you are a member of another Group it might be a good idea to get someone on the Council. If you feel that the SGs have too much representation you need to find someone who represents you.

If you are running and need more support, feel free to campaign in this thread or by using the FanShots/FanPosts.

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Golden Scarf

The whole Golden Scarf thing is idiotic if you ask me. I mean Jim Mora? Dale Chihuly? Get real. I think it should be something more in the vein of a Sounders Ring of Honor and shouldn’t be done before every game. Only when someone is deserving. Maybe nominated by the fans? Maybe an alliance council vote to approve?…

by foreleft on Feb 5, 2010 5:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I expect that you will see a Ring of Honor as well

But that’s a much bigger deal.

This is the equal of the 12th man flag, so an award, but not a huge one.

I think it should NOT be done at friendlies myself.

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Sounder At Heart on Feb 5, 2010 5:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Is OR Trying

Golden Scarf IS the equivilant – WRONG
OR
Golden Scarf IS TRYING to be the equivilant – AND FAILING

12th man rocks. Golden scarf is boring.

I know this won’t go over big, but the Sounders should introduce the players one at a time. I am sick of going crazy over a highlighted name on the QWest TV.
Do it NFL and piece of c—- basketball league style.
IT IS OK TO BE EXCITING.
It won’t ruin soccer if you don’t march out with little kids in a boring fashion….really.

by Charles J on Feb 6, 2010 12:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's the ceremony

The trumpets, the video, the march out…. it all is trying to drape the whole thing in somber, important overtones. The 12th man is about starting the cheering and getting everyone up are ready to go for the game.

The whole presentation falls flat until the person lifts up their scarf and we all join in; then its ok. Less trappings and more start the cheering would cure just about all that is wrong with the golden scarf.

by blakec on Feb 6, 2010 12:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Completely agree

Needs to be more soccer oriented. I don’t mind it being before every game. But it definitely needs to be something more meaningful to the soccer community rather than general Seattle icons (which is what it seemed to be most of the season)

And Mora sure as hell shouldn’t have received it.

by chrisperry1983 on Feb 5, 2010 6:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I missed something...

Aren’t we constantly trying to bring in more fans? That means reaching out to the community, recognizing community leaders, and trying to get people who identify with these community leaders to start watching the Sounders.

Golden Scarf should be available to fans or leaders. Besides, how do you classify “fans?” I live on the East side – it is impractical for me to buy season tickets. Does that mean I’m not a fan? Or do the “fans” consist only of those who join the Alliance?

by magistermilitum on Feb 6, 2010 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

They don’t need to all be from soccer, but they should definately be people who are well known as Seattle icons. Basically have the same standards that the Seahawks do for raising the 12th Man flag.

I don’t really understand your point about Fan v Alliance Member. Can you elaborate?

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Sounder At Heart on Feb 6, 2010 10:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I am pretty much saying that it would be difficult to define "fan"

for the purpose of determining who to give the Golden Scarf. Granted, so few of these are given out that it wouldn’t be too difficult for the powers-that-be to decide if a person qualifies.

by magistermilitum on Feb 6, 2010 7:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

When

do current members campaign for reelection? Your term ends at the end of the season; do people vote for you now, or next season?

If terms are two years, can we vote for two different people in two consecutive years? Or is your council vote locked for the full term of the elected member?

Supporters’ groups have a built-in bloc. The rest of the members actually have to campaign. Though the Council hasn’t done anything I don’t approve of, yet. That I know of…

I could care less about the Golden Scarf. However, if they must do it, I’d like it to be reserved for what I thought it was for in the first place, people who have supported and furthered the cause of soccer in the Northwest.

by Cornchops on Feb 5, 2010 7:20 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Found my own answer.

Maybe. From the voting page:

Thank you for nominating your representative for Sounders FC Alliance Council. Each season ticket account holder will receive 1 vote. Council members elected will serve a two year term, therefore you do not need to re-elect the same individual you nominated last year. Each council member must receive 25 votes to be elected to council

Also, I don’t like any of the options for the Golden Scarf. The “community icon” is too vague/broad.

by Cornchops on Feb 5, 2010 9:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Vote on scarf?

I looked at the options for the scarf vote and then didn’t vote. It isn’t clear to me how they would pick fans. At random?

by PeterJH on Feb 5, 2010 11:52 PM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

voted but disappointed by options

I agree that it was a very poorly worded survey. I voted but was not comfortable with the wording of the choices.

I do not want it to be all fans — that just seems silly. But I also like the idea of mixing “dignitaries” with some special fan recognition.

by zeagle on Feb 10, 2010 8:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What do Alliance Members really do?

I think you should post a story about the powers that an Alliance member has right now. To me it feels like all you can do is get together, vote on something, and that vote is just a recommendation to the FO. If that is so, how can we reasonably expect anything major to ever get done (or minor things if it effects profits in a negative way)? If not, how big of decisions can you all make?

I’m not writing this to say that you guys are doing nothing and are bad Council members, but to find out more about the council and if it is really “democracy” or just something to make the FO appear to be catering to the fans and supporters.

by fox3r on Feb 6, 2010 10:31 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Here are a few details

It is important to note though that the Alliance Council is different than the Alliance Members.

Members are all season ticket holders plus those that have purchased membership
Council is basically an elected focus group, we advise and influence but have no direct powers at this time

I have some ideas that I am going to run by the club to take a few more steps on the Democracy spectrum, but I need to approach them first.

We have strongly suggested that the club no longer sell the horns. Rather than ban them, this would still make it clear that the club does not support their use, but will allow it.
We ran the Supporters Summit, which was lauded by MLS and supporters from around the country as the best one ever.
We are trying to encourage that the secondary tv rights holder broadcast non-League matches
We are trying to encourage that Starfire not be used for any competitive match

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Sounder At Heart on Feb 6, 2010 10:41 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Correction

Wherever I said Alliance member, I meant council member. I know you guys are trying to encourage the FO to do things with recommendations, but do you actually have like a vote on issues combined with the vote of FO members that has to be done.

by fox3r on Feb 6, 2010 10:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

We actually did vote on the changes to voting procedures

But that has been it for votes so far

Again, at this time we are an elected advisory board or focus group. About the least significant democracy on a spectrum. We are a voice, one to which they listen, but there is a lot of room for growth in the system.

I am not a Supporter
I am not a Fan
I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart

by Sounder At Heart on Feb 6, 2010 10:53 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

Thanks for the answers and I think that I understand a little more about this now.

by fox3r on Feb 6, 2010 11:00 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Are there really 15-18 soccer related community figures we can find every year? I don’t mind dragging out the old Sounders every so often, but pretty quickly we are going to run out of unique people to give it too.

I think the golden scarf should be given to community leaders. Instead of just using it as another pat on the back for stars, lets give them to people that have done something worthy of adiration.

Returning soldiers from Iraq, head of the local effort to get relief to Haiti, firemen, teachers… etc.

I also didn’t mind when it was given to local teams that have done well on the national stage (like when the husky softball team got one for winning the national title). Community recognition is fine, but I don’t agree with just giving it to a fan.

by blakec on Feb 6, 2010 11:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs