yes, Roger, this seems to be a recurring issue. Folks tend to only sign up
with the association when the nationals is in their area. And we have heard
Nick's comments on the association's usefulness to out of area owners, loud
and clear. Go fast tips, etc. The class does seem to be alive and well,
and active, just not one to be constrained by membership or dues!
This association is considerably looser than other one design fleets, for several reasons, always has been, probably always will be. Others, like the J24, require area sail offs, to qualify for the nationals, so people have to pay association dues to be able to compete all year. Whereas we are totally voluntary on payment, unless you are going to race the nationals.
We've been asking around to see if there is some way to join the electronic age....like carry advertising on our web page or email sends. Some way to recoup some of our other expenses via this free service. (any ideas?).
We sent out the spring newsletter, and it had a lot of year end wrap ups in it. Alas, till now, the paying west coast members and Great Lakes members wanted to see that information. By the time we went to press, we had a full issue of that, and decided to save 'how-tos' for the next one. We spent some good money on the Mainsheet. The cost to print and mail each copy was about $1.50. We could do that slightly cheaper, but not much. And we printed and sent over 170 copies. We have that many owners, crew, sailmakers, riggers and what not registered on our roster. But only 30 some who carry the entire paying burden. (I don't have a count right now of how many paid up associates).
We are confused as to which way to go with the printed mainsheet, many readers want hard copy to show around and enjoy, whereas others like the web page scenario. However we cannot with our limited budget afford to do a free gross mailing again. We did pickup "out of area" (oustide of California/Washington) owners as new members, with the free mailing, actually enough new owners to pay for the last mailing. Thank you, new members!
We'd like to hear what people want to hear and see....and find useful. We hear loud and clear, "how-to's" "go fast", "what works" etc. Now just to pry those secrets out of owners. Many are willing to help, but others are reluctant, for what others may think, or .....giving their hard earned secrets away. Do we want a mailed newsletter, or just on the web page? Should we take all the good stuff on the web page, make it pass word accessible, and hand out monthly codes to paid up members? Or restrict access to the email list? We are in a changing time, and do not yet know where to go. Also...membership, while having its priveleges, also has its price.
(Hmm, a very small group of us paid up members have been talking about potential design and performance problems caused by the original supplied under-deck to mast jumper/turnbuckle thingy. I'm sure there is another just as secretive group, that has already solved this?). Dave
> WOW!
>
> Is that ever disappointing. A total of 13% of the fleet is represented and
> of that, 22% are out on there own with nobody to play with (making some
> assumptions).
>
> Dave, I think it would also be interesting on how may people are signed up
> on the list server (have some interest in the Olson 30) and historical
> numbers on the class associations population. I know the listing that was
> included in one of the two newsletter I have received had significantly
more
> members listed. Where did they all go? Do they not care about the fleet?
> Is the fleet done something to piss-off many members? Is the class on
it's
> last leg? Should I call Waste Management and have them pick up the Wind
> Spirit and put her to bed in the Muskegon landfill? This would make for an
> interesting article for the next news letter (I think).
>
> Fair Winds (I hope),
>
> Roger
>
> Olson 30, Wind Spirit, #130
> Lightning, Red Shift, #14024
>
>
> Roger S. Anderson, P.G.
> SECOR International Inc.
> (517) 349-9499
> (517) 349-6863 fax
>
> randerson@secor.com
> www.secorlansing.com/main.htm
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-olson30@sailpix.com [mailto:owner-olson30@sailpix.com]On
> Behalf Of surfari
> Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 10:05 PM
> To: olson
> Subject: 2000 membership location breakdown
>
>
> Folks, thought you would be interested in seeing where our "Active"
members
> live:
>
> SoCal----11
> SF Bay ---4
> Santa Cruz--2
> WA--------2
> VA--------2
> NY--------2
> MI---------1
> GA--------1
> OR--------1
> TX--------1
> MD-------1
> ID---------1
> and lastly, but not last in our hearts, Canada--------1 MOF!
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> total 35 paid active members--we're sure to get another ten before the
> nationals.
>
> One of the advantages of this roster is that we can see how to orient the
> newsletter etc.
>
> Dave
>
Received on Wed May 17 19:57:57 2000