SO! Membership Survey Findings

 

The survey was conducted in the 10th anniversary year of the club as a tool to: 

 

Ø       Gauge membership participation in current club programs;

Ø       Obtain a sense of members’ priorities within the club;

Ø       Determine how best to allocate resources;

Ø       Hear what members valued;

Ø       Solicit new ideas and suggestions to improve the club

 

Of 335 members, there were a total of 107 responses, representing 32% of the club membership.

 

December 2008, a high level review of survey findings was communicated to an audience of approximately 90 club members at the December meeting.

 

January 2009 the full board received a survey packet with the details of the results and a summary of findings.

 

The survey was divided into eight sections and the high level findings from each of these eight sections is described below:

 

Participation:

 

Ø       62% of respondents feel they are moderately to very active in club programs;

Ø       Those who participate minimally are not displeased with the club, just otherwise occupied;

Ø       Respondents #1 reason to join: learn trails; do outdoor activities with others; meet people.

 

Communication:

 

Ø       The vast majority of respondents use the online tools the club provides;

Ø       Respondents are open to having more information available in electronic form;

Ø       98% read e-mails at least once or twice a week or more and appreciate the updates;

Ø       84% access the website at least once or twice a month: generally for the outings schedule;

Ø       Continues to be interest in some form of newsletter or bulletin by 46% of respondents.

 

Outings

 

Ø       “Soul” of the club; hiking tops the list of priorities for respondents – 94%

Ø       Solid interest expressed for more moderate-to-difficult hikes at a slower pace – 45%

Ø       Respondents generally find enough outings that work for them but always like more

 

Evening Programs

 

Ø       80% feel that 8 lectures are the right number, although only 43% attend 3 to 6 yearly;

Ø       Suggestions for more topics relevant to club outing activities & seasons: outdoor safety, avalanche precaution, first-aid training, as examples;

Ø       Strong support for 30-minute social in advance of the lecture and lots of willing volunteers.

 

Social Activities, including potlucks and orientations

 

Ø       Rate as less important than the outings but still important and appreciated

Ø       Very strong interest in mixing up members more at socials, including focus on new members

Ø       Very minimal interest in adding new social activities to the mix and even fewer volunteers

 

Singles

 

Ø       Considered by respondents to be of value and very appreciated

 

Service Projects

 

Ø       Considered by members to be of value

Ø       Good suggestions for increasing participation and a few ideas for possible new ones

 

Club Volunteerism

 

Ø       Data substantiates already known challenges that the club faces in terms of getting stronger, active volunteers from within the membership;

Ø       Strong willingness to volunteer for one time tasks;

Ø       Much harder to find volunteers for bigger or longer-term commitment

 

 

In response to survey findings, the following has so far been implemented:  

 

January 2009

 

1.       The club instituted a “Volunteer Coordinator” position to help find and schedule member volunteers to assist in 2009 in the following areas:

 

Ø       Potluck planning, coordination, and clean up

Ø       Evening program social refreshments and clean up

Ø       Membership table staffing

Ø       Circulation staffing

Ø       Quarterly food collection coordination and delivery

 

The function has helped to offload work from committee chairs and created more “one time” tasks that fit better into members’ busy schedules. 

 

2.       The hospitality function has been re-designed, streamlining responsibilities and tasks, involving more club members, and reducing the overall responsibilities of the chairperson. 

 

3.       Descriptions of all club volunteer positions and their approximate time commitment have been added to the club website.

 

4.       A “welcome” call is now made to all new club members starting with members who joined beginning January 2009.  Representatives of the club provide an overview of the club, encourage participation in the next club orientation, and answer questions.

 

February 2009

 

1.       A picnic will be held in lieu of the June potluck.  A site has been located, reserved, and plans are well underway for this new event.

 

2.       The club membership form has been revised to collect volunteer interests in a new format for additional ease in recruiting for club tasks.

 

March 2009

 

1.       The Outings Committee introduced a new series of hikes for women beginning in mid-April (announced March 4, 2009) that will focus on moderate to more difficult hikes at a slower pace and includes leader and safety training for all of the hike leaders.

 

2.       The first combined New Member Orientation and full membership potluck is March 10, 2009.  All members who have joined the club in the past six months received an invitation to participate and seating would be mixed at the potluck dinner to include new members at each table.

 

3.       Recruiting began for leadership positions that will open up in June 2009.

 

4.       Highway 550 cleanup efforts conducted by club volunteers will be held on a different day of the week in an effort to respond to the varying schedules of club members and get more members involved. Instead of cleaning up three times a year, we will do the cleanup two times, in April & October, in response to the reduced volume of litter.

 

Additionally, a no-host lunch for interested volunteers has been added to the April event providing opportunity after the cleanup for members to socialize and get to know other members with whom they might not otherwise be acquainted.