How do you get club members motivated?
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How do you get club members motivated?
Our club is looking for ways to get our membership motivated to
participate in the different essetial activities such as field maitenence,
fund raisers, youth education, training program, etc....
Any ideas?
participate in the different essetial activities such as field maitenence,
fund raisers, youth education, training program, etc....
Any ideas?
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
Thats a good idea but how do you address the disabled folks we have in our club that can't mow the field?
Plus how do you realistically police your idea?
Plus how do you realistically police your idea?
#4
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...tm.htm#1048243
They have been several good suggestions addressing this problem posted here in the past. The link above has some. One of the better ones I saw is to charge those that do not work a higher membership fee than those that work. Or it might go over better if you raise everyones dues and offer a discount to those that work. That accomplishes the same thing but offering discounts to workers might go over better than charging a penalty for not working. Either way it accomplishes the same thing.
Eric
In reference to you question about disabled members, does your club offer a discount to disabled persons? If so, part of that program could be to exempt them from the work requirement. If not, they can pay the regular fee and leave it up to them if they are able to qualify for the workers discount.
To police the requirements for working you can take a pledge to work, give the discount and keep records. That means at the end of the year there may be members that did not do the required amount of work to get the discount. To avoid this you could have everyone pay the new higher membership fee the first year and the ones that do the required work would get the discount the following year.
They have been several good suggestions addressing this problem posted here in the past. The link above has some. One of the better ones I saw is to charge those that do not work a higher membership fee than those that work. Or it might go over better if you raise everyones dues and offer a discount to those that work. That accomplishes the same thing but offering discounts to workers might go over better than charging a penalty for not working. Either way it accomplishes the same thing.
Eric
In reference to you question about disabled members, does your club offer a discount to disabled persons? If so, part of that program could be to exempt them from the work requirement. If not, they can pay the regular fee and leave it up to them if they are able to qualify for the workers discount.
To police the requirements for working you can take a pledge to work, give the discount and keep records. That means at the end of the year there may be members that did not do the required amount of work to get the discount. To avoid this you could have everyone pay the new higher membership fee the first year and the ones that do the required work would get the discount the following year.
#5
RE: How do you get club members motivated?
Wouldn't work at one club I belonged to. 85% of the members never flew, just stood around and took up oxegen.
ORIGINAL: DavidAgar
No work, no fly. That has worked at every club I have been a part of. Good Luck, Dave
No work, no fly. That has worked at every club I have been a part of. Good Luck, Dave
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
Disabled people can participate in essential club activities too just not all of them. Such as selling raffle tickets or food at a show, writing articles for the newsletter, organizing fun fly events... The list goes on and on not all activities that improve or maintain the club are physical in nature.
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
As for working down membership dues $, the instance where I saw it done the work credits were applied to the following years dues. So a first year member has to pay full membership price and has the opportunity to reduce the next year’s dues. This orginization also had a bottom limit to which the dues could be reduced, don’t want to bankrupt the club with everybody raking grass every weekend. [X(]
Any work credits would need to be verified by a club officer.
Any work credits would need to be verified by a club officer.
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
My club has a work-credit-discount program. $75 dues can be reduced to $35 by putting in 20 hours of work during the year. Unfortunately, I don't know if it's an incentive or not. The core group of the club is so generous and ambitious that everything gets done, and there is little to no complaining.
What we don't do is try to shame people into working. All we've ever done is announce that a work crew is needed at such-and-such a date and time, and in most cases, people just show up.
What we don't do is try to shame people into working. All we've ever done is announce that a work crew is needed at such-and-such a date and time, and in most cases, people just show up.
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
I think you will fid that with most clubs or any group the 80/20 rule is in effect. 20% do 80% of the work. You can try to null that rule all you want to and you will find it is still pretty much true. The only real motivator is they must want to do it and most just don't want to do it. Life ain't fair - we just have to adapt as best we can. My .02
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
In any club (for any activity):
10% will enthusiastically support the activities.
10% will support if you ask them
70% just want to be left alone to do their own thing and use the facilities
5% will gripe about everything
5% will actively try to destroy what the 30% have built.
the individuals in any particular group (especially the last 2) are interchangeable
Roger
Been there, had to deal with it.
10% will enthusiastically support the activities.
10% will support if you ask them
70% just want to be left alone to do their own thing and use the facilities
5% will gripe about everything
5% will actively try to destroy what the 30% have built.
the individuals in any particular group (especially the last 2) are interchangeable
Roger
Been there, had to deal with it.
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
I belong to a golf club and camping club. I dont have to mow the grass there! IF it is a problem raise the dues and hire some one to do it
thats how I see it LONNIE
thats how I see it LONNIE
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
I agree with Lonnie. I pay my dues to my clubs so I can go out and have some mindless fun on the weekends and avoid work. I'm quite willing to kick in a few extra bucks a year to pay someone to go out and mow and maintain. This is a hobby, not a job.
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
It is bad to say that I do the same thing.
ORIGINAL: beardking
I agree with Lonnie. I pay my dues to my clubs so I can go out and have some mindless fun on the weekends and avoid work. I'm quite willing to kick in a few extra bucks a year to pay someone to go out and mow and maintain. This is a hobby, not a job.
I agree with Lonnie. I pay my dues to my clubs so I can go out and have some mindless fun on the weekends and avoid work. I'm quite willing to kick in a few extra bucks a year to pay someone to go out and mow and maintain. This is a hobby, not a job.
#18
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
I belong to two clubs and they both have someone to mow the fields. In my primary club (I'm Vice President and field Director) it costs us $60 a week from early May through early October, that's about $1200 each year for mowing.
I rent a 1 ton roller (club money) for about $200 in early spring, and spen two days rolling the field. There's usually one other board member who comes down and helps me. We have a field "clean-up" each year and usually get about 20 guys (out of 125 members) who show up to help cut brush, rake debris, and stuff. We supply coffee and donuts.
The other club has one member who mows each week, and we have two "clean-ups", one spring and one fall. The club is capped at 50 members, and we usually have about 20 that show up.
Each of these clean-up days usually last about 3 to 4 hours, and eveyone flys afterwards. I don't think it's a bif deal to "give up" a total of 1 & 1/2 days for clean ups, and another 10 to 12 hours for rolling the field.
WOW! A whole 3 days out of my year to help two clubs. [&:]
Dennis-
I rent a 1 ton roller (club money) for about $200 in early spring, and spen two days rolling the field. There's usually one other board member who comes down and helps me. We have a field "clean-up" each year and usually get about 20 guys (out of 125 members) who show up to help cut brush, rake debris, and stuff. We supply coffee and donuts.
The other club has one member who mows each week, and we have two "clean-ups", one spring and one fall. The club is capped at 50 members, and we usually have about 20 that show up.
Each of these clean-up days usually last about 3 to 4 hours, and eveyone flys afterwards. I don't think it's a bif deal to "give up" a total of 1 & 1/2 days for clean ups, and another 10 to 12 hours for rolling the field.
WOW! A whole 3 days out of my year to help two clubs. [&:]
Dennis-
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
I agree with the higher dues for all, and reduce the cost for members that work a specific number of hours. Quite honestly, I'm in the hobby to get away from work and everyday hassles. Not to add more to the pile with club duties, political office, etc. I'd gladly pay two, three, five times the normal membership dues to avoid the extra burden and keep my relaxation time just that, strictly for relaxation.
An RC club could adopt a different structure where the 80/20% rule would become fair to all. Charge the 80% more, while charging the 20% less, nothing, or even pay them something for their work performed. The 80% would now absorb the costs of maintaining the facilities for their privilege of using it, and the 20% would perform some work for their privilege. If there are not enough of the 20%ers, the club would have the funds to hire outside help, or use it to pay a member for the work. Political offices would come with a no-fee benefit.
I personally don't do much maintenance work at my clubs, but am always more than happy to pay whatever they ask in fees, or even donate funds for special tasks that need to be done. However, I do volunteer my time at many events I attend. From some setup prior to the event if I get there early, acting as air boss or running the sound system during the event, to judging, or what have you. While I'm not one to rake or mow the lawn, I have given up my entire weekend of flying working at more than a few events each season. Good for RC and events in general, but not really a benefit to my local club.
An RC club could adopt a different structure where the 80/20% rule would become fair to all. Charge the 80% more, while charging the 20% less, nothing, or even pay them something for their work performed. The 80% would now absorb the costs of maintaining the facilities for their privilege of using it, and the 20% would perform some work for their privilege. If there are not enough of the 20%ers, the club would have the funds to hire outside help, or use it to pay a member for the work. Political offices would come with a no-fee benefit.
I personally don't do much maintenance work at my clubs, but am always more than happy to pay whatever they ask in fees, or even donate funds for special tasks that need to be done. However, I do volunteer my time at many events I attend. From some setup prior to the event if I get there early, acting as air boss or running the sound system during the event, to judging, or what have you. While I'm not one to rake or mow the lawn, I have given up my entire weekend of flying working at more than a few events each season. Good for RC and events in general, but not really a benefit to my local club.
#20
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
A club is a little bit like an office. Some are hard workers pulling more than their share, others do the minimum for employment. For office social activities some do the logistical work while others just show up and eat. You can't change the way people participate in life.
Now, what offices do is to give special rewards to those who work hard and other recognitions.
In many clubs, there are a few core people who have both the time and the derived pleasure from riding the mower around, sweeping off the walk and participating in the coordination of events. Others just want to come out and fly with minimum hassles. Those who really keep the club trimmed and heading in a forward direction should be rewarded with recognition and whatever else is possible. Asking around the local businesses, you might find that there are businesses that will donate discount coupons or free lunches for your recognition ceremonies. A club vote can be used to make club monies available to reward the hard workers. Often, even the most miserable grunts will raise their hands and say yes to that, realizing that their convenience was at the expense of other people's time and efforts. Recognition is a supreme method of showing thanks. It need not even be financially based. A letter, a card, signed by all club members and presented at an annual meeting at the end of the year gives warmth and appreciation that will be felt by all. Sometimes, that type of recognition makes others wish that they participated more and can change their attitude about helping out with things.
An important thing to remember is that not all people are the same but that each, from the regular mower to the man who does nothing, have validity in their lives, needs, wants, desires, and feelings. Make the workers feel appreciated BUT never admonish or deprecate the others. Life brings its own rewards to each of us based upon our participation.
Mark
Now, what offices do is to give special rewards to those who work hard and other recognitions.
In many clubs, there are a few core people who have both the time and the derived pleasure from riding the mower around, sweeping off the walk and participating in the coordination of events. Others just want to come out and fly with minimum hassles. Those who really keep the club trimmed and heading in a forward direction should be rewarded with recognition and whatever else is possible. Asking around the local businesses, you might find that there are businesses that will donate discount coupons or free lunches for your recognition ceremonies. A club vote can be used to make club monies available to reward the hard workers. Often, even the most miserable grunts will raise their hands and say yes to that, realizing that their convenience was at the expense of other people's time and efforts. Recognition is a supreme method of showing thanks. It need not even be financially based. A letter, a card, signed by all club members and presented at an annual meeting at the end of the year gives warmth and appreciation that will be felt by all. Sometimes, that type of recognition makes others wish that they participated more and can change their attitude about helping out with things.
An important thing to remember is that not all people are the same but that each, from the regular mower to the man who does nothing, have validity in their lives, needs, wants, desires, and feelings. Make the workers feel appreciated BUT never admonish or deprecate the others. Life brings its own rewards to each of us based upon our participation.
Mark
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
Mark brings up some excellent points!! Its also worth pointing out that while a club member may not be volunteering for mowing the runway, running for office positions, attending club meetings, or helping out at club events, it doesn't mean they are worthless freeloaders. They may not have the time left over from volunteering for activities at church, american heart association, local charities, Rotary, or community groups. People can get spread real thin very fast, and they need to prioritize their activities. For their free time, they pick some activity(ies) just get away and do nothing for a change. RC could be that outlet for them. I know it is for me. If I couldn't just show up and fly at my local club guilt free, I would go play golf instead, as I've never seen a golfer mowing the greens!
For some people, their hobby is their only outlet for guilt free personal time.
For some people, their hobby is their only outlet for guilt free personal time.
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
Unfortunately, the typical R/C modeler is a rare breed that wants to have guilt-free fun, but not have to pay extra for it:
Volunteer to mow the lawn? No.
Pay more to have it hired out? No.
Wanna go flying? Yes.
How you gonna take off if the grass ain't mowed? I dunno.
Volunteer to mow the lawn? No.
Pay more to have it hired out? No.
Wanna go flying? Yes.
How you gonna take off if the grass ain't mowed? I dunno.
#23
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
Every year we make a membership update, and one of the sheets has to do with helping at the field. All work is voluntary - nobody gets paid for anything. We ask each member to check off what they would be willing to do, and from that we make up committees to do specific work when required. Here is the list:
1. Club officer (not many check off for this duty)
2. Building maintenance
3. Field maintenance, other than mowing
4. Mowing
5. Dump garbage cans as required
6. Work at events - swap shop
7. Newsletter
8. Purchase and cook hot-dogs at Saturday meetings
9. Miscellaneous assignments as they arise
10. Web site
Just about every member will check off two or three items. We don't have a problem with getting things done. I, for example, am a club officer and I do a lot of mowing. Members that are physicially unable to work don't check anything, and that is accepted. Never forget, we are all going to get old someday. We have one member of our club that flies two to three times a week, and he is good at it. On days that he doesn't fly, he is liable to show up at the field riding his Harley: Age - 86
1. Club officer (not many check off for this duty)
2. Building maintenance
3. Field maintenance, other than mowing
4. Mowing
5. Dump garbage cans as required
6. Work at events - swap shop
7. Newsletter
8. Purchase and cook hot-dogs at Saturday meetings
9. Miscellaneous assignments as they arise
10. Web site
Just about every member will check off two or three items. We don't have a problem with getting things done. I, for example, am a club officer and I do a lot of mowing. Members that are physicially unable to work don't check anything, and that is accepted. Never forget, we are all going to get old someday. We have one member of our club that flies two to three times a week, and he is good at it. On days that he doesn't fly, he is liable to show up at the field riding his Harley: Age - 86
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RE: How do you get club members motivated?
We pay to have the grass mowed(pasture 2-3 times a year and the runway/taxiways at least once a week). Works out pretty easy since we have 120ish members but maybe 15-20 of those who fly on a "monthly basis" and maybe 10 who fly on a weekly basis.
We do get a decent turn out for work days (like once a year) to do repair work/rebuild stuff. But we're heavy in members who work in construction/contracting business so when you have the right tools/equipment it goes really fast.
We do get a decent turn out for work days (like once a year) to do repair work/rebuild stuff. But we're heavy in members who work in construction/contracting business so when you have the right tools/equipment it goes really fast.