I'll show you the root of my hostility:
You make remarks about how we charge a membership fee while very conveniently neglecting to mention that such a fee is require to organize and promote road trips because of legal action that was threatened against us years ago. By the way, that same legal action that could possibly force every other TFC supporter group in the future to do the same if an unscrupulous bus operator or travel agent wanted to report them to TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario).This is one of the main reasons why I left RPB. Being in a supporter group means more to me than paying 25$ and having "Member" written under my board name.
We don't just claim to be independent. We ARE independent. And I strongly resent any implication otherwise on behalf of myself and the executives. It's a slap to the face of the guys who are working hard behind the scenes to keep the forums running or ordering the merchandise (and putting their money up-front for it, by the way). Its an insult to the guys who get off work at 5pm downtown then have to run over to BMO Field for a 6 o'clock meeting that runs well into the evening. Or the ones who have to answer to Joe and defuse the situation when some ignoramus bails on paying their tab during a gameday viewing. I'm not even the guy who has to do any of it, but I see it with my own eyes and I'm glad they have the patience and energy to do all that, because I sure don't.It claims to be independent from the club and doesn't take any finances from the club to fund game day experience for members, mean while it works very much on the "you say jump, I say how high" mentality.