can you guys tell what you do to help get club participation up . or what you do to get members take more of an intrest in club activities.
it seems that we only get about 10% at any club activity and from what i read that is about normal. what do you think is your club participation % .

 

We are about the same. We are going to have ten to twelve cars for every event. We have not solved the problem either. Not sure it can be solved. Just enjoy those that do show up and have a great time!!

 

We have the same trouble with our club. Very few at anything but the general meeting. Enjoy the ones that show up. Rember Corvette people have more fun

 

This is about normal for any type of organization. Any club I've ever been in has the same problem. There will be members who will pay their dues and never will be seen at any event or meeting.

 

Ditto with our club. It's the same members all the time. Not that this is bad.
We too have members who pay their annual dues and never show up. We'll take their money anyway.

Our biggest turnouts are when the club buys the food, like annual picnic or holiday party.

As said above, enjoy those that do show up.

 

I have a theory.

Principally, it's because the dues are too low. Let me explain:

Most clubs require dues that only cover their basic expenses - like coffee & cake at the monthly meetings, rent etc. For our club that's $25/year. Some clubs raise additional revenue with car shows as well. For the most part, club events are a personal pay as you go proposition - and there's the rub. It's not that we're cheap - just disinterested. To increase participation you must RAISE THE DUES There, I said it.

What happens then is, with the increased revenue, the CLUB can pay for at least a share of some part of an event...something as simple as an ice cream cone or a hot dog! Rather than miss out on "something for nothing," member participation will skyrocket!

Remember, I said it's not about frugality? We get tremendous response to our annual banquet, this year at $23 per head after a $15/head club subsidy! So even at $46 a couple, I see members there I've never seen before, or maybe once in a year. I think it supports my theory. If you buy'em a hot-dog, they will come!

I realize this is a controversial theory...so whaddya think?

 

I guess our club is the exception, but our turn out for events is usually pretty good. I think the secret is having events that interesting to the majority of club members.
Our membership is made up of mostly people over the ripe old age of 35, and we keep that in mind when events are planned. We're definitely not the "over the hill" gang, but we don't place a lot of emphasis on racing events. There are other Vette clubs in our area that do that. We do more road trips, social events, and car shows. Don't get me wrong, there are some of us that enjoy the racing stuff, and there are opportunities to get our "fix", but the majority of our members seem to get more fun out of the "wind in your hair" cruising and showing off their cars.
Our meetings are usually well attended, and I attribute that to our president who keeps them fun and lively.
Have you ever thought of pollng your membership to find out what kind of events they want?
Good luck, and I hope this helps.
Bill

 

It's the 80/20 rule

20% of the club does 80% of the work and participation..

 

I've been a member of several clubs. I think one of the primary things that "makes or breaks" a club is the "warmth" felt by new members.

When we joined the Shreveport and Tampa Bay clubs, people came up to us after the meetings, introduced us, welcomed us, and made us feel like we were wanted.

I've joined other clubs and there was a "chill in the air" or could not break into the "clique".

Then in order to keep things interesting, NEW things or twists need to be added to the list of activities. Both the above mentioned clubs assigned activities each month to members. So there would be one "club sponsored" event (show, cruise, etc) and one "member sponsored" event (restaurant, social, show, etc). Shreveport club did this and the Tampa club has the monthly "mystery breakfast cruise" that is lead by a member.

One other club has done the same single monthly events for the past 4 years.

Two "active" clubs have an activities person that sends e-mails, newsletters, and web-info on a very regular basis. Communication and marketing is an important tool.

There will always be the ebb and flow of members, but I think these are important things for a successful club.

 

Most people in the British Columbia Corvette Club are garage queens except for show n shines. when they hold a autocross eveny, very few take part because they don't want to hurt the car. Then it seems tha these are the people that complain the most at the meeting.

I am not renewing my membership due to me being on the road for work most of the time lately and missing the events.

 

I' a member of the Central Arkansas Corvette Club. This is good club. We have about 150 members. The monthly meetings draw 70 to 90 members. The last show we attended with 29 reg. vettes. The only regret I have is that I didn't join this club when I first got my vette...Larry

 

have dinner meetings,and always get the wives and girlfreinds involved

 

with comments made by Bills Z06 and 98Pace97Coupe.
It's about being made to feel welcome, having fun at events and haivng events that cater to everyones interest.
Our club has about 140 members. The biggest participation in in shine and shows, dine and drives and our spring and fall getway weekends.
Racing events are also well attended because participation of neighoring clubs is welcomed and cross promoted.

The club has:
-An active web site with a website manager that updates it weekly.
-A yahoo chat group.
-A Public Relations Director that promotes the club.
-A Social Director to make all members feel welcome and co-ordinate
-A Competition Director that co-ordinates Racing activities
-A points Directorthat manages the Club points competition for participation points that arise from participating in club events. You get points for attending club meetings, driving your Vette to meetings, attending club events including club sanctioned shows etc,
-A Membership Director that works hard at getting new members and understanding what all members new and old want to get out of the club
- A Hearts and Flowers Officer that sends that note or flowers to members in times of need

New members are enthusiastically welcomed and invited to participate in ad-hoc committees and get involved
- At each meeting we cross promote activities of other neighboring clubs and welcome those other club members to our events and vice versa.

 

HAVE BEEN IN ONE CLUB GOING ON 3 YEARS. VERY LOW PARTICIPATION... HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS WITH ANOTHER CLUB, SEEMS TO HAVE LOTS MORE PARTICIPATION, SO WE JOINED LAST SATURDAY. SO, BETWEEN THE TWO CLUBS SHOULD BE GREAT...

 

Dont feel bad oaks99. Reading all the responses above, looks like its pretty normal. Dont you even think about raising the membership fee (Less money for mods)

 

Could have something to do with many of them having the rep for being cliqueish. And I've heard the complaint from younger 'vette owners that the average 'vette club participant is quite a bit older - few common interests over and above the 'vette.

 

Excellent. The chat group, and, just keeping enthusiastic, and, engaging, as well as, persistent with contacting all members (sharing the joys of corvette ownership, positive and inclusive support to ALL members, DIY tips, service referrals, mod BarBQ's, etc.) are just a few of the more helpful aspects that are conducive to consistent membership and member activity. Cheers.

 

My local club is pretty bad, so I will tell you what I do not care about it.

Keys to Failure:

1. No club participation annual national events. (AKA Corvette Forum Cruise In)

2. Big activity is "eating out."

3. Emphasize is on "shows" rather than "driving" events.

4. No technical seminars and no group participation in working on or doing mods to club member cars.

5. "Clique" of older club members who will not take creative suggestions from newer members.

6. Sum total of activities most months consist of a boring meeting followed by eating out.

These are the things I dislike most about our local club. Why do I stay in? I at least get to meet and talk to other vette owners. I hope one day someone will try to make positive changes.

 

thanks to all of you for your info . higher dues would be okay then you would get the ones who wanted to participate . with cheaper dues they say so what if i don't go to anything . they just want to say they belong to a vette club. i do like the idea of overnite cruises that does sound like fun i think the cruises are the best part. and we always include our other half at all events, some of them have thier own vettes. and i don't race but i do have fun at the races helping set up the track and working day of autocross . in fact we are having fun day sun . who ever wants can come and race or just watch. enough rambling thank you very much for your time hope you have a great week and a better weekend

 

Crawfish333 I am in BR and have been to many of the Lafayette Club events. They have a great turnout for their events. I wish more of their club would come to the other events around the state. I really enjoy the Lafayette club and considering becomming a member. That club has more old cars than any of the other clubs in the state.