Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by ErikEddy on Tue Jul 8, 2014 at 1:41 pm

ErikEddy
Num Posts: 410
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Mount Penn Antietam
First O: 1998

Hello All,

I am looking for a small group of members interested in leading a marketing, recruitment, branding and beginner experience movement within DVOA.  It is a large topic (too much to explain here) and long term project, but I believe it’s important to get ahead and the time is now.  The board plans to have a meeting at some point this year open to all membership, but a head start wouldn’t hurt.  The movement is open to all interested members, but a focused core group will help facilitate.  Some of you are already volunteering in this area.

For example, one might ask… who is currently reading this eboard post?  What kind of experience is today’s new orienteer looking for?  Does a beginner check out their results and use RouteGadget after the event?  What media outlets are we consistently using and what is working?  How do we keep in touch with the juniors of the past?  Are mass start events a better introduction?  Where are all the under-50 year olds; how can we recruit more post-college types?  If these types of questions interest you, then this group will be for you.

This type of thing has been discussed (many times) in the past (12/9/2010 Eboard post, Winter Meetings, etc.) and many great steps have been taken: I want to understand where we have been, where we are now and where we are going, with fresh eyes.     

Start by sending me a note at vicepresident@dvoa.org, or talk to me at French Creek this Sunday.  If I get multiple responses, I can try to coordinate a time to meet Sunday. 

Recruitment->New Orienteers->Members->Volunteers->Creating the Next Generation of DVOA->More fun for all!

Yours in Orienteering,

Erik

Reply by acampbell on Sun Jul 13, 2014 at 4:42 pm

acampbell
Num Posts: 20
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1993

Erik

You might want to at least start with updating the information on the Juniors tab of DVOA website. It looks like it hasn't been touched since Greg and I helped start the tab in 2008. Could maybe also expand it to a students page? add in the intercollegist and WUOC information? Also has DVOA ever thought of bringing in a student price for events? Maybe the same as the juniors if one produces a valid Student ID? it really helps in the UK for us to have a student price to make it affordable to keep coming back and racing :)

just some thoughts and hope it goes well! DVOA is so supportive and welcoming I'm sure you should get loads of new recruites :)

Reply by ErikEddy on Sun Jul 13, 2014 at 5:57 pm

ErikEddy
Num Posts: 410
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Mount Penn Antietam
First O: 1998

Yes, good thoughts; the Junior page should definately be updated; maybe an easier to update facebook page is more appropriate.  And the university extension is just as important.  "where are they now".

Reply by edscott on Sun Jul 13, 2014 at 6:30 pm

edscott
Num Posts: 703
Primary Club: DVOA
Fav map: Hickory Run 1:15000
First O: 1983

Agree a student rate would be good and I'd also add a "group rate".  We do have a policy for giving Scout groups our normal membership rates for maps and it is also extended on a more or less hit or miss basis to other groups.  We should firm up our definition of a group and then advertise our policy and rates on our page. I would include any organized group of people, scouts, hiking clubs, biking clubs, school classes, ROTC, home school groups... with the stipulation that they have contacted the event director far enough in advance that there was time to prepare maps for them. Getting a large group with a similar interest to attend an event will surely help our long term growth.

Reply by Guy-O on Sun Jul 13, 2014 at 10:48 pm

Guy-O
Num Posts: 356
Primary Club: HVO
Fav map: Spackman Creek
First O: 1982

I'm no expert, but isn't Faceplant better for informing, rather than attracting?