It has been the URSC Committee's intention to publish summaries of committee meetings and meetings between URSC and Ulster Rugby on our website.  With the relocation of the site to within the Ulster Rugby site and the training required to access the site we are only recently in a position to fulfil this intention.  If you visit the URSC Committee page you will see a summary of our last meeting.  Of course, as a member of the URSC, you have the right to inspect Minute Books.

2.      Does the fact that UR collect the most of your funds not weaken your position to take them to task if and when they are not acting in the interests of your members?

Short Answer is 'Yes', although Ulster Rugby actually do us a favour by providing another route for members to join. There have been difficulties obtaining regular updates of who has decided to join along with their season ticket purchase but the administrative burden on the committee is considerably lessened. Also, it may be more convenient for season ticket purchasers to pay the URSC sub at the same time. Ulster Rugby have agreed to advance us the money that we feel we need to run the club for the entire season and when this has been done it will help keep our account healthy, allowing us to plan ahead.   However, if we could collect all URSC subs directly and people signed up with URSC promptly this would put us in the same position financially (but it would mean an enormous amount of work for the volunteers unless it proves possible to use some form of direct debit / direct lodgement).

3.      You published an article on the Maze debate and told one side of the story, hardly a debate, rather a slating of the national stadium without trying to get the full story. Will you in future guarantee that articles will be properly researched so as to give all sides of the debate?

The Maze will continue to be an important issue and we are keen to see both sides of the debate expressed. As for the tone of the most recent update, the current position of the URSC Committee is based on the survey we carried out and the large response to a petition that was circulated last season. Wed be delighted for anyone to contribute an article setting out their views on the issue.

4.      Regarding the MOU agreement:

Was the content voted on and what was the outcome? 

The content was unanimously agreed by the committee at our meeting on the 7^th April 2005.

Should the MOU not have gone to the membership for general debate?

In principle yes. At the time of the AGM (which is the ideal time for such a consultation to take place) we hadnt actually finalised the terms of the document. We hope to hold the AGM earlier in the year this season to allow members to discuss any similar agreement in advance of any final agreement.

5.      On the formation of the URSC:

When did Club Ulster become the URSC?

The Club Ulster (A season ticket holders only club) committee met for the first time on the 3^rd June 2004. At that meeting all present agreed that they would like to open up membership of the club to non-season ticket holders to make it a proper supporters club. This meeting marked the unofficial start of the URSC although it was not officially launched until the first pre-season friendly in August.

Did anyone meet with Ulster Rugby on the formation of the new club before it was actually formed?

The committee met with Mike Reid on the 7^th June 2004 to discuss what benefits he could offer our new members and at that meeting he warmly welcomed the idea of a proper supporters club. After this we worked out what we wanted to do with the club.

Why did a public meeting never take place as was mentioned before the formation of the URSC?

We honestly felt at the time that it was better to have something to offer people which they could agree/disagree with. Apologies if this disappointed people  we are keen to give members an opportunity to contribute to the running of the club.

6.      On being Official:

Has the term 'official' been actually mentioned in any written agreement with UR?

During the course of early meetings with Mike Reid we were offered the use of the trade marked logo, which includes the inscription, Official Supporters Club of Ulster Rugby.  While Ulster Rugby regards URSC as Official they also fully accept the need for independence in the running of our affairs.

7.      Decision making:

Do URSC ideas and decisions have to be approved by Mike Reid before being taken? (I don't mean this in a funny way, rather how deeply involved is MR in the running of the URSC?)

Absolutely not. Mike Reid is only involved as and when we would like the cooperation of Ulster Rugby staff/facilities - for example for a social event. On occasions like these we try to come up with a solution that suits both parties. Mike has offered to attend committee meetings for 20 minutes or so at the start of each meeting. This would give the committee a valuable opportunity to raise any issues we might have, make any requests as above and generally ensure good lines of communication. The committee meeting proper would then proceed once this informal meeting has finished and Mike has left.  We look forward to seeing how effective this arrangement will be.

8.      On the messageboard:

What were the reasons given by MR/UR for the URSC not to have their own website and messageboard?

It basically boiled down to cost. Ulster Rugby generously made a no strings attached donation of £1500 to help get the club up and running and the membership package being discussed at the time envisaged several elements that Ulster Rugby could have considered using for commercial purposes such as international ticket allocations.

There was some concern expressed that a substantial part of the URSC running costs were taken up by the website which Ulster Rugby could offer us for free. The committee felt that moving our website to our own section on ulsterrugby.com was a price worth paying to secure the membership package on offer. As you know, once the committee has fulfilled the clubs needs from the budget (without any input from Ulster Rugby), any excess money left over will be donated to Ulster Rugby which gives that organisation an interest in the efficiency of the URSC!

With the advent of the new enhanced Ulster Rugby website and the freedom of speech accepted on the Ulster Rugby message board to voice disquiet on controversial topics such as the e-Bay ticket fiasco, the need for a specific URSC website had diminished somewhat.

If you have a question you can email the committee any time or why not pop down to the URSC Stand on match nights?!