As the Society is a membership organisation it is vitally important that the Society Board acts in accordance with the majority of its Members preferred wishes, therefor it is vital that the Board should consult with its members and establish their views on matters relating to the future aims of the organisation.
The eight questions that featured in the survey were based on the most regularly addressed issues addressed by the Board and most often aired questions by the Members. Other matters of significant interest to the Members will of course be addressed by the Board as and when they become apparent.
The online survey was carried out between 27th of October and 17th of November. The number of members contacted was 789, and the number of completed responses received was 305. This represents 38% of all members contacted.
A. In order of priority, based on percentage, the members preferences came out as follows:
Definitely Yes:
The Society should;
1. Work towards buying back Dens Park (78%)
2. Financially support youth development (63%)
3. Strengthen bonds with Club, supporters and community (49%)
4. Continue its development of DFCTV (47%)
5. Contribute towards maintaining and improving stadium facilities (40%)
6. Work with DSA towards improving the social calendar (30%)
7. Ensure that investment into the club is in return for shares (26%)
8. Donate funds to the Football Club to spend as it wishes (5%)
B. The responses to each question were also totaled and and weighted as follows:
Definitely No: weighting = 1
Probably No: weighting = 2
Probably Yes: weighting = 3
Definitely Yes: weighting = 4
Based on the above weighting, the responses that fell into the Probably or Definitely Yes category were as follows:
The Society should;
1. Work towards buying back Dens Park (94%)
2. Financially support youth development (89%)
3. Strengthen bonds with Club, supporters and community (86%)
4. Continue its development of DFCTV (83%)
5. Contribute towards maintaining and improving stadium facilities (80%)
6. Work with DSA towards improving the social calendar (79%)
7. Ensure that investment into the club is in return for shares (75%)
8. Donate funds to the Football Club to spend as it wishes (44%)
The principle findings of the survey are that the Members clearly feel most strongly that the Society should work toward the buying back of Dens Park, and clearly least strongly that the Society should donate funds to the Football Club to spend as it wishes.
In conclusion, the Board now proposes to develop an action plan for the coming year that responds to the Members expressed priorities, and confirm details of the plan following the forthcoming AGM on the 6th December.