As Eddie says (and I agree):
I was a bit surprised by the up +22% number too, but given the variations in club's spring/summer/fall schedules I am inclined to put more emphasis on the annual numbers rather than the 6mo numbers in this case. Same for A-meets. Could have been a warm, sunny spring for example, or just happen to have a few extra meets.
So I think folks are generally hesitant to crow over early numbers. And then there is the possibility that some will still believe that
satisfying any strategic plan goals is purely coincidental.
Regarding trying to influence starts and memberships...
Well, there was this:
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: May 24, 2011 11:11:20 AM EDT
To: usof-bod@yahoogroups.com, usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [USOFclubnet] Executive Director's Report/ Week of May 23/ Starts and Membership Plan/ Part 1 for 3
To the Board, Club Leadership, Volunteers and those who lurk
As the result of efforts of many individuals, the following tactics have
been developed and approved to move forward. Here is Part 1 of this
plan. Parts 2 and 3 will be released over the next few days.
It is our plan to have all these programs up and running in the next
week.
OFFER HALF PRICED STARTS TO NEW ADULTS AT A MEETS (Schorr)
Target surrounding clubs to get members to try an A meet.
FORWARD A-MEET CALENDAR LINK TO CLUBS AND MONITOR PROGRESS (Tryson)
Make A-meets more visible to orienteers that frequent club sites.
A MEET CONSULTANT HOT LINE (Goodwin)
Establish help desk for A meet directors, or clubs considering hosting
an A-meet. Peter Goodwin will act as an ombudsman and direct your
questions to the proper person.
CLUB STARTS COMPETITION (Schorr)
Establishment of a club starts competition for 2011. Separate
classifications for large and small clubs.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL LETTER AND EMAIL (R.Shannonhouse)
Add a reminder email to the current postcard system. Call attention to
the new on-line renewal system.
LAPSED MEMBER REMINDER (Fluegel)
Reminder to those whose memberships have lapsed. It is our hope is that
a member is just late in renewing. Will also forward a brief survey to
determine why a member is leaving so we can address these short comings
in the future.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE CONTEST (Schorr, R. Shannonhouse)
Establishment of a contest to drive OUSA membership among charter clubs.
Note: Should you have questions about the above, don't hesitate to post
to this site. Also note that more programs are rolling out in the next
week. These are being staged by due dates.
Have a good day.
Sincerely,
Glen
and this...
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: May 27, 2011 4:10:18 PM EDT
To: usof-bod@yahoogroups.com, usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [USOFclubnet] Executive Director's Report/ May 27th/ Starts & Membership Plan/ Part 2 of 3
To the Board, et. al.
This is a continuation of last Tuesday's email
It is our plan to have the following programs up and running by July
ADD ONE MORE A MEET TO THE 2011 CALENDAR (Goodwin)
Work with current multi day meets and look to change to A-meet status
A-MEET PROMOTION PACKAGE (Schorr)
Work with A-meet directors to supplement current marketing efforts
LOCAL MEETS ON THIRD PARTY CALENDARS (Lennon, Schorr)
Work to let local meet information on local race and event calendars, to
promote orienteering to runners who don't orienteer.
GET LOST!! OUSA PILOT PROGRAM (Schorr, Gusiatnikov)
Host a local street series as a pilot program. Pending securing a retail
partner.
PUBLIC RELATIONS AND BLOG PROGRAM (Schorr)
Establish public relations program, and blog program promoting the
sport, using local meets as points of entry.
PROSPECT DATABASE FOR EVENT DIRECTORS (Lennon, Schorr)
Establishment of an opt in program. Tie in electronic newsletter
CROSS MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT WITH CLUBS (Lennon)
Work with clubs to cross promote on line memberships
CLUB PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS (Schorr)
Development of second generation of "Discover Orienteering..." materials
for club use
ORIENTEERING NORTH AMERICA MAGAZINE REDESIGN (Fluegel, Schorr)
Update look and feel of ONA
JOIN OUSA LINKS/ ADS TO CLUB WEBSITES (Lennon, Schorr, Tryson)
Make sure all OUSA logos and links are current and up to date.
That is all from here. Any questions please post to the thread.
Have a good Memorial Day weekend.
Sincerely,
Glen
and this...
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: June 2, 2011 7:44:32 PM EDT
To: usof-bod@yahoogroups.com, usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [USOFclubnet] Executive Directors Report/ June 2nd/ Starts & Membership Plan/ Part 3 of 3
To the Board, et. al.
Here is the final installment of the starts and membership plan. It is
our goal to have these longer ranging programs completed in the months
noted.
ESTABLISH AN A-MEET TRAVEL AGENT FOR EVENT DIRECTORS TO USE IF THEY WISH
(SCHORR - SEPTEMBER)
Provide this resource to allow event directors to worry about the
technical portion of the events.
2012-2013 NATIONAL A MEET CALENDAR (GOODWIN/DADY/MEEHAN - OCTOBER)
Work proactively with the clubs to create a national calendar, taking
into account potential rotation of A-meets between regional clubs.
INVESTIGATE FAMILY RATE FOR A-MEETS (SCHORR, GOODWIN - JANUARY)
Look at economic growth and impact for family rates for A-meets
TEAM RESULTS PROGRAMS/ INTERSCHOLASTICS AND INTERCOLLEGIATES (DURAND -
JANUARY)
Work with Rules Committee to review this section of the rules
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GROUP (FORGRAVE, GUSIATNIKOV, BONE, OTHERS -
JANUARY)
Look at new product/ events to offer to non orienteers getting them into
orienteering.
ON LINE EVENT REGISTRATION (WEB COMMITTEE - AUGUST)
Launch new event registration software.
OUSA RECRUITMENT A MEET KIT (SCHORR - AUGUST)
Determine plan and materials to attract new members to OUSA
ORIENTEERING NORTH AMERICA ELECTRONIC ISSUE (FLUEGEL - SEPTEMBER)
Launch one electronic version of ONA focusing on clubs and teams. Use
as a marketing tool.
EXPLORE NEW OUSA/CLUB INCOME AGREEMENT (EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, SCHORR,
CLUB LEADERSHIP - JANUARY)
Investigate ways to move relationship forward while reaching goals.
If you have any questions or thoughts, please respond to the thread.
Sincerely,
Glen
Glen Schorr
and this...
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: June 3, 2011 1:27:38 PM EDT
To: usof-bod@yahoogroups.com, usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Jim Wolfe
, Mary
Subject: [USOFclubnet] Discover Orienteering. Discover 50% Off Your First A-meet [1 Attachment]
[Attachment(s) from gjs@orienteeringusa.org included below]
All,
PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CLUB MEMBERS THAT HAVE NEVER
PARTICIPATED IN AN A-MEET.
As it says on the flyer, "You've tried orienteering and liked it. Maybe
you've run a couple of local meets. Now is your chance to step-it-up
and participate in an A-meet.
"To sweeten the deal Orienteering USA will take 50% off of your entry
fee. The offer is valid only if it is your first A-meet."
All you have to do is:
1) Visit www.wpoc.org and register for the meet.
2) Print the coupon attached to this memo, bring it to the event and
have Mary Frank sign it.
3) Mail it to me with proof of payment by September 1, 2011.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give me a call.
Have a great weekend and see you in Western Pennsylvania at the end of
the month.
Sincerely,
Glen
and this...
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: July 27, 2011 10:10:49 AM EDT
To: usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com, usof-bod@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [USOFclubnet] Important Information/ Announcing Two OUSA Club Contests! [1 Attachment]
[Attachment(s) from gjs@orienteeringusa.org included below]
All,
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION AND FORWARD TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL CLUB
LEADERSHIP!!!
Orienteering USA is proud to announce the formation of two contests
designed to promote local meet participation and OUSA membership. Clubs
can win up to $500 per contest and there are equal opportunities for our
smaller clubs as well.
The income generated by these starts and membership will be invested
back in the sport of orienteering.
All of the information is on the attached flier. But if you have any
additional questions don't hesitate to call or email me, or see me at
next weeks convention in Rochester.
Good luck!
Sincerely,
Glen
and this:
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: July 27, 2011 1:56:53 PM EDT
To: usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com
Cc: usof-bod@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [USOFclubnet] Re: [usof-bod] Important Information/ Announcing Two OUSA Club Contests! [1 Attachment]
[Attachment(s) from gjs@orienteeringusa.org included below]
All,
Thanks for your comments in the last few hours (I have received a lot
privately). Glad that so many of you are excited! Here are answers to
questions that have come across my desk.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MEASURE...We will measure by raw numbers. For
starts there will be two classes: clubs over and under 60 members.
DO I HAVE TO FILL OUT SPECAIL FORMS...Absolutely not. We will include
this as part of the rechartering info. Additional paperwork is not good
for the soul.
OUSA MEMBERS...New members only will be counted, not renewals or lapsed
members that come back.
HOW IS THIS FUNDED...This is being funded by the major gift we received
in the spring. The goals of that gift were to drive starts and OUSA
membership.
I MISSED THE ORIGINAL FLYER....Copy attached.
MY CLUB LEADERS NEED A COPY...I just club emails out. If your
leadership did not get one, have them send me an email with their
address.
Later
Glen
and this:
From: gjs@orienteeringusa.org
Date: July 30, 2011 7:36:19 AM EDT
To: usof-bod@yahoogroups.com, usofclubnet@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [USOFclubnet] Update to www.orienteeringusa.org/ Find Clubs and Events Near You!
All,
If you go on-line today you can find a the clubs and races nearest you
(or where you are heading on vacation). Just go to
www.orienteeringusa.org and click on "Come Try Orienteering". That will
then give you a variety of options to get to the clubs, their event
calendars and the permanent courses nearest to you.
Thanks to the Web Committee, and especially Pat Dunlavey, for this
important upgrade to the website.
If you are in New York today, run well. See you all tomorrow in
Rochester at the convention.
Sincerely,
Glen
There may be differing opinions on the efficacy of these efforts, or on the methods used to measure the same, but from what I can tell, there is an earnest effort being made.
If you agree with any of these initiatives, please feel free to help.
If you have better ideas, please share them. In doing so, it would be great if you could also consider the resources necessary to execute them and where these resources could be found.
I'm particularly interested in Non-starts Revenue - not the focus of this thread - and I know that at least some folks reading this know how to help. If this is you, please get in touch.
Thanks!