We can all tisk and tut in this thread, but making a gesture such as participating in the Pride Parade would arguably go much, much further in creating lasting change.

Walking in the parade would be a very strong statement from us.

I'm much rather see some Southsiders get of their ass and get along to Residency and Reserve games than take part in a pride parade.

No obviously they're not, both would be good, but a Vancouver Whitecaps FC supporters' group should be heavily promoting their members to attend Vancouver Whitecaps matches before going to such a community event. I don't see that on the board, on the website or in newsletters at the moment.

It's not going to be to everyone's taste to go watch kids play, I fully understand and accept that.

However, going to community events like a pride parade before going to Residency and Reserve matches gives the impression that the Southsiders are more concerned about getting exposure for the group and not about the supporting the team at all levels. It smacks of "look at us, look how socially aware we are, we're not football hooligans".

Remember, "where you play we follow". They're not playing in a pride parade.

The Southsiders at the moment are way behind the ECS and Timbers Army when it comes to actually supporting the football team at all levels and not just home MLS matches.

Last U18 game. How many Southsiders in attendance? 1 - me. How many Curva Collective - 6.

At Reserve game Monday. Southsiders - 5, Curva - 3, ECS - 6.

Says a lot.

And what of our current members?

"We love soccer" but not enough to go and watch our fringe or younger players and we'd much happily watch a game on a screen in a pub than go out and watch some actual live football?

Chris said:

GoF said: And what of our current members?

What of them? If they don't wish to attend reserves/residency matches that is ultimately their business. I'll start pushing the reserves games in my emails.

The only way this is relevant to the topic is if the pride parade conflicts with one of those marches.

The topic developed. It happens. If you feel it's going in another direction, feel free to move this to another one of those off shoot topics.

Yes it is ultimately members own business. All I'm saying is that there's a difference between between supporters and being a supporters' group.

Since Chris thinks I'm taking this off topic, I'll clear up exactly what I'm getting at in a blog post later, then anyone that wants to can debate it there.

To be fair it's pretty hard for folks with a 9 to 5ish job to get to a PDL or reserve games when they're held in the middle of the day Monday to Friday. I suspect the majority of SSers fall within that category. I definitely plan to attend quite a few of these games when they take place in the evening or on the weekend.

I would like to go watch the Reserves or Residency matches..but with one of those "9-5ish" jobs and two small kids at home...I find that the "ME" time is somewhat limited. OK, very limited. :(

Hahah, great chant, Steve.

GoF: I fully agree that the group could be doing a much better job of supporting the Reserves/Residency (and should be promoting these matches with more enthusiasm). However, as others have mentioned, the club makes it rather hard when some of these matches are held during business hours.

I fully agree that getting people out to matches should be a greater priority for the group than other off-shoots, but as Brenton wrote, they're not mutually exclusive.

Legal_Alien said: To be fair it's pretty hard for folks with a 9 to 5ish job to get to a PDL or reserve games when they're held in the middle of the day Monday to Friday. I suspect the majority of SSers fall within that category. I definitely plan to attend quite a few of these games when they take place in the evening or on the weekend.

Virtually all of our remaining USSDA and USL PDL home games are held either on weekends or 7 PM or later on weekdays. (Reserves, you're fucked.) There's a schedule on my site with a complete list, locations, and times: http://www.eightysixforever.com/2012/2/17/2802586/vancouver-whitecaps-2012-all-mens-competitions-schedule

They're great fun if you can get out. I make most of the ones I can and highly recommend them.

Do the rules of this forum also act as a defacto "code of conduct" for the group, or is this kind of stuff formalized elsewhere? For example, there's this post in the rules:

Racism/Hate Vancouver Southsiders will not tolerate hate speech in any form. This includes but is not limited to racist slang terms, hateful comments based on skin color or background, religious bashing or intolerance, gay bashing, sexist or misogynistic material, faith based prejudicial statements, derogatory remarks, and all poor taste jokes about these topics. Also note that using the word "gay" to describe something as stupid/lame/dumb is stupid/lame/dumb. Remember, these boards are open to all walks of life and with that comes the need to respect them all. So leave your hate at the door please. Unless its against another team in the league, then a little hate is encouraged.

Is this codified somewhere else?

Just curious.

Chris said: The charter does specifically mention that we are "vehemently against violence and racism". http://vancouversouthsiders.ca/charter/

Is see that, in the context of differentiating the group from hooliganism.

How does the charter evolve? Can be edited at any time, or does it require some type of vote?

It was voted in at the 2010 AGM. Changes would require a referendum.

GoF said: No obviously they're not, both would be good, but a Vancouver Whitecaps FC supporters' group should be heavily promoting their members to attend Vancouver Whitecaps matches...

Been to a good Vancouver Whitecaps FC W-League match lately, GoF? :P

Blue_and_White_Army said:

GoF said: No obviously they're not, both would be good, but a Vancouver Whitecaps FC supporters' group should be heavily promoting their members to attend Vancouver Whitecaps matches...

Been to a good Vancouver Whitecaps FC W-League match lately, GoF? :P

I'm addressing that very point in my blog :P

It seems crazy to me that the Southsiders would participate in something as controversial as the Pride Parade. Why not just be about supporting a soccer club?

VanCityVilla said:

Lord_Bob said:

Virtually all of our remaining USSDA and USL PDL home games are held either on weekends or 7 PM or later on weekdays. (Reserves, you're fucked.) There's a schedule on my site with a complete list, locations, and times: http://www.eightysixforever.com/2012/2/17/2802586/vancouver-whitecaps-2012-all-mens-competitions-schedule

They're great fun if you can get out. I make most of the ones I can and highly recommend them.

Everybody should read Ben's Technicolor Dream Schedule. So many colors!!

My schedule is an advertisement for the virtues of colourblindness.

can't we jsut keep politics out of football

td04 said: can't we jsut keep politics out of football

+1 ^this

Dear everyone:

There is no reason members can't watch Reserve matches AND attend community events.

Brenton said: Dear everyone:

There is no reason members can't watch Reserve matches AND attend community events.

You might even see our new Centre Forward . . . wait, I thought Carlyle with a Centre BACK?

The Caps don't help matters by playing games at UBC and Surrey. It's not a coincidence that the biggest number of fans we got out was at the games at Swangard.

The important thing to note: community events, or really, any event including first team games, are entirely optional. No one is ever forced to participate in anything against their will. But we have all these flags and scarves and songs, and like marching... ;) Those wanting an excuse to participate might want to wave a VSS flag and walk the route. But no one should ever be press-ganged into service.

Think of it more as testing the waters to see if others would be interested, rather than "the entire group needs to make this a priority".

Subhedgehog said: The important thing to note: community events, or really, any event including first team games, are entirely optional. No one is ever forced to participate in anything against their will. But we have all these flags and scarves and songs, and like marching... ;) Those wanting an excuse to participate might want to wave a VSS flag and walk the route. But no one should ever be press-ganged into service.

Think of it more as testing the waters to see if others would be interested, rather than "the entire group needs to make this a priority".

I agree that any individual members could go to the parade, wear their scarves and wave their flags. I'm getting hung up on the Southsiders as an organization with some 900 members who all come from various walks of life and have different social and political views participating in the parade. And those are two very different things.