THSCC Forums

After looking at the New Bus thread and something being mentioned that there is about $5k left in the account after the purchase of the bus, felt like that seemed low.

I'll admit, living in Charlotte, I have fallen off from going to club meetings and keeping up with general club info, mainly due to logistics. I started reading the the Heel & Toe this morning and was pretty stunned to see that we have decreased each year in membership from 2006... to the tune of 106 members or 30.6%.

So I have to ask, what's being done to increase membership? I know the marketing idea around the cards is a good idea, but it seems to be geared toward getting people to come to events, not join the club. Deep down, the loss of membership overall hurts our finances, as those 106 members are over $2500 a year in renewals.

Also, is anything being done to ensure that each one of our events at least breaks even or is slightly profitable? It appears there is no longer direct accounting for each program: autocross, rally and track. Are there breakouts for that?

While I think the membership is the first point that needs to be addressed, money losing events should be fairly high on the list.

Thoughts? - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Aaron, Andrew's comment was based on the fact that we intended to spend ~$10k on a bus. So we went ~$5k under budget. We have a lot more than $5k left even after the bus txn.

If I remember correctly we ended 2010 with $13k in the regular account and I think that didn't include a $5k CD we have. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Regarding memberships. I'm with you, that's why I agreed with you that the $5 discount on those business cards be for membership and not event entry. Less logistics and increased membership.

If people (non members) pay the $5 higher fee at 7 autox/rallyx then they've already effectively paid membership dues for a new membership or 5 events if they are not a first time member and have let their previous membership lapse.

However, I don't think that is the best attitude because then said people don't get exposed to the forums and the H&T and find out about our sponsors and the potential discounts. Spending even at a reduced cost at our sponsors places of business makes them happy and more likely to renew sponsorship and get bigger ads in the H&T and donate stuff etc etc.

I think at autox and rallyx events we should have membership forms on hand and at the drivers meetings mention that you can see the registrar after the meeting if you are interested in becoming a member. Hell, maybe even mention that you can get your $5 discount for the event this very day if you join right now.

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

it has been some time since i have been out to an event but i don't remember any mention of membership drives while at the events.

of course i only listen to half of the driver's meeting speech anyway.

i think we could offer discounted membership dues for new members that sign-up and pay at the event. or maybe a pro-rated fee with a renewal discount if it is late in the season.

and i guess i might want to go mail off my check today too.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

These are the numbers read at the January meeting 2011.
The year closed with:
Regular account:$14900.
Track account:$10307.
10K CD plus interest

Monthly updates in the Heel and Toe.

_________________
SCCA Solo Triad Award Recipient 2014
SCCA HSL National Champion 2012
SCCA DSL National Champion 2013
SCCA DSL National Champion 2014
NCR National Driver of the Year 2012
THSCC Heel of the Year 2011
Former Club Secretary
http://www.petscompanioninn.com

I'm not sure about the membership numbers, but it looks like the financial accounts were much better prepared to purchase a vehicle then when we purchased the previous bus. It sounds like the general account was able to cover the expenses completely, without reaching out to the track account or the CD fund?

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In need of car.

The only numbers I am going off of what was in the February Heel & Toe.

There are definitely no mention of CD's, but knowing that, it certainly is a better financial picture than was painted in the latest H&T. That said, the membership decline is a trend that needs to be changed.

Also, knowing that the financial situation is better than once thought, what I think some investment in things like a bar code scanner/printer might aid in the "product" we are putting out. These systems integrate well with AXware and aren't that expensive. - AB

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'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Aaron, good topic for discussion. Here's 2 "charts" shared at the xmas party this year to provide some data:
---------------------------------------
12/8/06 331 Members
12/5/07 346 Members
11/13/08 339 Members
12/2/09 290 Members
11/29/10 240 Members

Attrition:
~55 new members for 2010 (~60 in 2009)
~120 non-renewals (~same as 2009)
---------------------------------------
Main Account Balance YtYtY
12/1/2008: $10,691
12/1/2009: $14,903
12/3/2010: $13,260

Notes:
~$1643 reduction in balance equates to ~4% reduction in overall income for the year
Balance difference attributed largely to lower membership renewals
Losses would have been greater if not for higher-than-normal attendance numbers for AX#7 (NCAC)
---------------------------------------

So, while the overall financial picture is pretty good, I agree there's lots of room for improvement. If we do exactly the same numbers at events this year as we did last year, except don't host the NCAC, we WILL have a low year.


I know the VP's have all been working to get people to events, but I agree that getting people to join and maintain memberships is high on the list. I'll be honest that I didn't realize the trend was as bad as it was until I was running the end of year numbers. As such, I see at least 2 areas to improve:
1) reinstate a higher at-event fee for non-members. Pre-registration itself has become a problem - even with a $5 discount, people don't seem to be bothered with it. So now we have a larger portion of folks as walkups than ever before, and we don't make membership an advantage - at this point everybody pays the same if you pay at registration. Of course, there ARE logistics associated with enforcing membership discounts at registration, so that has to be considered, but I think this should be considered.
2) enforce kicking people off the forums, and revoking other member benefits for folks not registered by the deadline. Again, I absolutely realize there is significant work involved with this, but I'm pretty sure I recall seeing a number of "regulars" names' on the list of non-renewals and have to wonder if they even realized they weren't paid up. I wonder if having a "membership coordinator" or some like position of responsibility could aid in making this happen.



This may not have a lot of visibility at the membership level, but this has absolutely been a focus area at the Exec level of the club over the last couple years. Though I'm no longer in the loop, I can only assume that is continuing.

_________________
Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

I'll also throw in my totally non in the loop opinion.



I'll admit in my time at the helm, new member drivers were an afterthought. Times were good, cash was flush and things were rolling along. That was a mistake on my part

From the outside looking in (and some sneak peaks inside) I think the execs are going in the right direction.

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Heck, even I am lazy in that dept. I need to get mine mailed tomorrow as well. I'm here to stay so watch out

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2005 Mazda RX8 STX 11

NCR Solo Chair & Cape Fear Chapter Coordinator
http://www.ncrscca.com

My confession is I rarely read H&T. I don't "just remember" when it's time to renew. I do plan to do the lifetime thing next time (if I didn't already, which I have no idea).

Has anyone ever tried to see what the return rate is if we sent reminders to the people who were members last year (or in the last five?) but aren't currently? I never know I'm past due until my name gets posted on the "we're gonna cut these folks off the forum if you don't send us money" list.


--Donnie

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My Blog

OK Donnie if you say so. the RallyX folks have made an effort to recruit thru e-mails recently and i can see where that might benefit the program. any solid data from this effort yet?

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

Case in point - this is EXACTLY why I think we need somebody managing this explicitly. I'm sure I would have fallen into this same dilemma had I not HAD to have attended the Xmas party for the last 4 years.

And I do want to point out that I DON'T think the membership renewal should have to be the sole responsibility of the forums administrator. Forum access is the one thing that many folks will relate membership to most prominently, but I don't think the responsibility should be solely on the forum admins to administer the renewals process.

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Dustin Fredrickson
-- I'm a nobody --

i'm drag'n my ass like a dog with worms on anything i have to pay for these days.

it would seem to me that an e-mail could be generated to all dues' paying members as a reminder. of course some might find this an affront to the polite nature of the club philosophy in regard to membership retainage.

but i don't believe lower member retainage numbers can be attributed to people failing to remember their dues need to be paid.

i'll ask again, do we as a club actively recruit new members during an event?

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

I'm in the same boat here. Not the lifetime thing, but the part about never being able to remember to renew until I get placed on the "you're gonna lose access to the Forum) list.

I believe we probably DO lose people who we could easily retain if we just helped them out a bit. Yeah, it's NOT that hard to remember, but a brief email reminder would likely do wonders to help keep those members we already have.



Hell, I volunteered to be the "Paypal VP" when that discussion came up, I'd be glad to help set something up to help with this.

PLEASE DO THIS!

I would've already renewed this year if we had paypal. As it stands now, I still need to send in the check that I keep forgetting to write.

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In need of car.