Associations going paperless Cancel The title field is required!

1. Robert Searle

   

   0 posts
   
   11/23/2011 9:11 AM

   As a member of the BOD I'm proposing that our association go paperless in communication with our members. Just wondering what experiences others have had with this. One problem I've been hearing is that some e-mail sites/programs recognize mass e-mails as spam and never reach the recipients.
   
   Bob Searle
   Abenakee Club
   Biddeford Pool, Me

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   11/23/2011 12:11 PM

   Bob,
   
   I'm not sure you could go 100% paperless, but could reduce the amount that you are currently producing. Our company has made numerous advancements in the paperless category, but we still find ourselves buying a lot of paper. Some things just need to be in print.
   
   However, you could have them look at what can be paperless - especially things that can be emailed out. For instance, instead of doing a paper copy to each member for renewal, why not email them the copy first, then follow up with the 2nd notice on paper. If they want to print it, so be it. Same with the Certification application. I'm sure there are other areas that could improve.
   
   I would even consider offering GCM as an electronic version only with some sort of incentive to those that request this. I know ads pay for the majority, if not all of this publication, but printing and mailing costs have to be astronomical. Many clubs and local associations have forgone the printed newsletter altogether and are now just having online versions.
   
   Just a thought.

   
   
   
   
3. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   11/23/2011 12:11 PM

   I know the one association I'm president of this year has gone to paperless Newsletter, we do a bunch of e-mail blasts with the renewal linked. We only send a couple of post card mailings with website links and we did send out a paper letter with an application form, but most of our things are done electronically.
   
   Check out our website if you would like. http://www.motoc.org
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   11/23/2011 5:11 PM

   BallMark said: I know the one association I'm president of this year has gone to paperless Newsletter, we do a bunch of e-mail blasts with the renewal linked. We only send a couple of post card mailings with website links and we did send out a paper letter with an application form, but most of our things are done electronically.
   
   Check out our website if you would like. http://www.motoc.org
   
   Mel

   
   
   
   Mel,
   
   Our local association has been doing the exact same thing for a number of years. We still get the few guys that somehow don't get the emails, but that is usually straightened out pretty quick. We do email blasts almost weekly with up to date info and refer our members to the association website for forms, etc. It works for us.

   
   
   
   
5. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   11/23/2011 5:11 PM

   I'm all for the association going paperless.
   The less things I have to throw in the trash the better.
   Magazine next?

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   11/23/2011 8:11 PM

   Andy, our local chapter has also done that, we do still have to send a handful of notices in the mail. We don't really have a newsletter and we did just start a website too. But we're a little slower up here in the Ozarks.

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   11/24/2011 4:11 AM

   BallMark said: Andy, our local chapter has also done that, we do still have to send a handful of notices in the mail. We don't really have a newsletter and we did just start a website too. But we're a little slower up here in the Ozarks.

   
   
   Well, you did only get the internet last year....

   
   
   
   
8. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   11/24/2011 9:11 AM

   Don't forget your older retired members. Many do not have computers. If you want to go paperless, remember to develop some method of keeping them involved. I have seen the hurt first hand. They are already retired and without mailings, they begin to feel like the associations they built no longer feel they are important. Find some way to show them respect and feeling wanted. It might sound trivial but it can and does happen.

   
   
   
   
9. Robert Searle

   

   0 posts
   
   11/24/2011 11:11 AM

   andyjorg said:

   BallMark said: I know the one association I'm president of this year has gone to paperless Newsletter, we do a bunch of e-mail blasts with the renewal linked. We only send a couple of post card mailings with website links and we did send out a paper letter with an application form, but most of our things are done electronically.
   
   Check out our website if you would like. http://www.motoc.org
   
   Mel

   
   
   
   Mel,
   
   Our local association has been doing the exact same thing for a number of years. We still get the few guys that somehow don't get the emails, but that is usually straightened out pretty quick. We do email blasts almost weekly with up to date info and refer our members to the association website for forms, etc. It works for us.

   
   
   I appreciate the replys. Do you guys use a program to send the mass emails? I think yahoo and gmail etc only let you add 50 or so recipients.
   
   Bob Searle

   
   
   
   
10. Ronald Kirkman

    

    40 posts
    
    11/24/2011 6:11 PM

    sandy1 said: Don't forget your older retired members. Many do not have computers. If you want to go paperless, remember to develop some method of keeping them involved. I have seen the hurt first hand. They are already retired and without mailings, they begin to feel like the associations they built no longer feel they are important. Find some way to show them respect and feeling wanted. It might sound trivial but it can and does happen.

    
    
    
    Sandy,
    
    Truer words were never spoken.
    
    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA

    
    
    
    
11. Sean Hoolehan

    

    0 posts
    
    11/25/2011 8:11 AM

    sandy1 said: Don't forget your older retired members. Many do not have computers. If you want to go paperless, remember to develop some method of keeping them involved. I have seen the hurt first hand. They are already retired and without mailings, they begin to feel like the associations they built no longer feel thely are important. Find some way to show them respect and feeling wanted. It might sound trivial but it can and does happen.

    
    
    You know Sandy I appreciate what you are saying [u">But[/u"> I think we are approaching the time to get over that as a hurdle for going paperless. I don't care what age you are today you are going to feel isolated if you do not have access to the internet. I see ranchers drive in from their remote homes to use the wireless internet at our McDonald's at the edge of town to do business. Trust me these guys don't like it but its the way things work. It is better for us to continue to reach out to the retired members to get online. In my opinion if you are under 75 you are to young to ignore computers and the internet. You don't have to like it but it is now the way of life, and the benefits out way the negatives.

    
    
    
    
12. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    11/25/2011 9:11 AM

    Sean, I think it is a very small number of older retired supers in each chapter. The cost of doing some small scale thing for them, or even personal phone calls should be considered. It can certainly be phased out in time but keeping them involved until the transition takes place should be an easy courtesy to extend. Even some of the veterans wives enjoyed reading the news letters. Maybe the chapter manager or a board member could simply print out what is on line and mail the information to the few I am referring to. That would accomplish the same thing but without some supplemental printing. Just be sure to remember the guys in their 80's. They all contributed something to our industry, including possibly hiring many of you.

    
    
    
    
13. Keith Lamb

    

    3 posts
    
    11/25/2011 9:11 AM

    I know my local association has done a great job of going virtually paperless and I don't know of any issues.
    
    When our club went to paperless billing we had only 2 members who wanted paper copies and since then one has gotten internet and the other one has since quit due to physically unable to play.
    
    Sean is right in the fact that the "old guys" need to get with the times. Technology is going to advance whether you like it to or not.

    
    
    
    
14. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    11/25/2011 8:11 PM

    Bob,
    
    The platform our executive director was using she had to do mailings in 50 batches. I think she was looking to get that changed, she is also switching hosts because GoDaddy was changing something, she knows what she needed to do and the board approved it.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
15. Gary Carls

    

    19 posts
    
    11/28/2011 8:11 AM

    Sandy,
    
    I'm like you. While I know "paperless" helps save a lot of money for local chapters (which is a good thing) it does tend to lose the connection with a certain group of members. While we think everyone is connected via the computer some people simply choose not to communicate in that manner or don't check e-mails every day. For example, I still like to read a newspaper vs. reading everything on the internet. Paperless is not always better and we have numerous examples of lost communications here at the City because things don't get sent hard copy to employees who don't have access to e-mail at work.
    
    I think you are right in that those left behind tend to be older, long time members. Looking back through the history of most chapters you will find that the issues we are talking about today are the same issues chapters were talking about 40 and 50 years ago. As new boards struggle through tough times these members can often offer valuable input to the chapter boards.
    
    I would suggest that chapters consider still doing a few mailings each year just to update members on the upcoming meeting calendars and other events. This will often help keep all the members in the loop.
    
    Just my own "old-timer" opinion.

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
16. Corey Eastwood

    

    80 posts
    
    11/28/2011 12:11 PM

    Paperless is fine for a lot of things. If I was an advertiser I would not spend a dime on an electronic newsletter.

    
    Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
    
    
17. Ronald Kirkman

    

    40 posts
    
    11/28/2011 8:11 PM

    alohakane said: I know my local association has done a great job of going virtually paperless and I don't know of any issues.
    
    When our club went to paperless billing we had only 2 members who wanted paper copies and since then one has gotten inter-net and the other one has since quit due to physically unable to play.
    
    Sean is right in the fact that the "old guys" need to get with the times. Technology is going to advance whether you like it to or not.

    
    
    Keith, You ain't no spring chicken & Sean, well you have a way to go. Us old guys were sort of the caretaker for the next generation and the next generation and maybe a couple more generations. Be mindful there are numerous retired superintendents out there who have no access to the computer and some may find it difficult to afford the cost of a computer or the monthly fee. You are right, Technology will keep advancing just like the retired superintendents advanced their respective associations and the science of their golf courses. Go paperless but don't forget who got you there!!
    
    Reasons for us all to keep dreaming! The Benefits of Hindsight -
    
    "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers -- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
    
    "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons - Popular Mechanics Science - 1949
    
    "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." -- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
    
    Capt. Kirk
    Retired Alien
    Needham Golf Club
    Needham, MA

    
    
    
    
18. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    11/29/2011 7:11 PM

    corey said: Paperless is fine for a lot of things. If I was an advertiser I would not spend a dime on an electronic newsletter.

    
    
    The Wisconsin Chapter is paperless for those that have e-mail, the rest still get mailed forms and meeting notices. It saves a lot of money but still allows those without e-mail or who have it and do not use it to keep up with what is going on. I prefer it because you have your information faster and if you lose the e-mail you can go to our website and retrieve it.
    
    I hate electronic magazines. I am on a cell phone dialup for internet in my office and the things are slow. I also do not like to tie up a computer to read a magazine at home. I read a lot of golf and turf magazines cover to cover but will only glance at the headlines for the electronic ones and click on a article if it really interests me.
    
    I do the advertising for our club and agree with Corey, we do not advertise in electronic only magazines. In a paper magazine a majority of subscribers will see and read your ad, but in a electronic magazine only those already interested in your place will look at it.

    
    
    
    
19. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    12/3/2011 11:12 AM

    [youtube">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv8SNSOO2y0[/youtube">

    
    
    
    
20. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    12/3/2011 12:12 PM

    Nice video, Andy. Lucky they didn't show 'em in the restroom.