Club Management: Member Appreciation

[Mr Epee]

Over the years, I've heard many people complaining about high member turnover rates in their clubs/classes. Sure, quite a few folks just want to swish around for a few months before trying the next thing, but what about the folks that come and then fade away.

I was reading a study (I can't find it at the moment sorry) last week which illustrated the #1 reason that people quit martial arts classes is a lack of human relationship with the instructor or the program. The same may be true for many people that drop fencing, as well.

I've noticed that some of the most successful fitness programs/health clubs have excellent sytematic programs in place to personalize the experience of each student/member. They consider it to be a fundemental component in their retention rates.

Sometimes it's as simple as birthday/christmas cards. Sometimes involves hiring greeters and membership support specialists.

So...

What does your club/class do for member appreciation?

[RITFencing]

Trying to raise the level of discourse within the forum, huh?

At RIT, we invite all fencers out to dinner after every saturday practice. We tell them where and when to meet, and then those of us with cars pick everyone up and we all spend a few hours at a restaurant. I've found that this really improves retention, and it also helps us get to know our freshmen.

At RFC, we go out to a pub after the adult class on teusday nights, grab a table and a late dinner and make fun of the people participating in karaoke night. The place has some of the best wings in the city, so we tolerate their singing.

In each of these situations, not everyone can attend, and some can only make it a few times, but just having the invitation there makes people feel more welcome.

Remember also that the road goes both ways; students have mroe fun when they are friends with the instructors, and instructors have more fun when they are friends with the students.

[foilhag]

Regular beer nights ;-)

[seak]

at UMD its much the same as what RIT said we dont have a regular Sat night dinner but there is pretty much a party every weekend that rotates between peoples (mainly on campus) apartments. The party's are advertised over the listserve (also a useful thing) so everyone who wants to go can come.

Also at the first big overnight tournament of the season (Temple ) We have a team dinner Sat night and we're all in a hotel together so a Party pretty much breaks out for those who are interested.

Course we are a college club

[RITFencing]

Regular beer nights ;-)

I am SO joining your club.

[Dev]

I agree with the activities that encourage fencers to bond outside the club--that's a big one. This seems to be something of a given at collegiate clubs, and I think that private clubs might do well to follow suit.

For newer fencers (and especially newer competitors), it might be a good idea to have periodic sit-downs between them and their coaches to discuss how things are going, how their game is progressing, and just generally how they feel about the sport. Just a few questions and the opportunity to talk might go a long way toward making the newer people feel as if they're getting something of a personal experience.

It's a personal sport, and as activities go, a fairly stressful one. Therefore, maybe it's better to offer more of a personal experience.

[seak]

Another idea I've heard used is setting up some sort of mentor program where a more experienced fencer is paired with a new fencer and can answer their questions do some warm ups etc with them and help them integrate into the salle atmosphere so it's not as intimidating

[DragonFencing]

I provide juice and fruit to the kids and parents.

Free t-shirts to new members

Friday night sparring and quarterly club tournaments.

[Gav]

Our club is twinned with an Italian club. One of things that we learned from them was there appears to be 2 parts to keeping new members (with additional side measures).

What they do is charge a year's subscription up front. There is no refund if you stop coming. They let you come for a couple of weeks but after that there is no discussion. Pay up or leave. The Stick

Secondly they provide a Tracksuit and jumper - to aid new members in feeling they are part of the group.The Carrot

The side issues are that they have excellent facilities. Provide the new members with a structured learning environment and, because we are talking about Italy, have people queuing to take part in the sport.

They also tend to divide people into the 2 groups social and serious. Social people come along 2 nights a week. Serious people come along 4 nights a week (and are expected to comepete and be fit). I wish we had the luxury of the 4 nights where I train...

Some of the other clubs in their area [apparently] insist on beginners buying full FIE kit up front - that would never fly over here. Some other clubs include a hefty first year charge that also incudes a full set of starter kit - I like this idea.

I have a report from our recent visit (I couldn't afford to go - booo) somewhere and if it's ok with the author I'll post it up. It's interesting reading. Doubly so if you consider that Italy ranks behind the UK in terms of membership numbers.

[parrythis]

Social events outside the salle help to create an environment in which the members bond as friends, not just as fencers. Some social events we've done (or attempted to do) include:

Movie Night Out (Meet to see a movie and maybe dinner/snacks after)
Movie Night In (Meet at a member's house to watch DVDs and eat pizza/popcorn
Picnic (with the usual picnic activities)
Halloween party
Dinner at a local exotic restaurant (sushi, Thai, Indian, etc.)
Rock Climbing
Paintball
Lasertron
A day at the ball park

Often, such activities give the non-fencing spouses/S.O.s a chance to participate and meet the other fencers and socialize. This can be a good thing because instead of fencing taking you away, it can become an opportunity to share some entertainment with both your S.O. AND your friends. In other words, it helps to restore the balance in the emotional bank account.

[Durando]

Our club is twinned with an Italian club.

Very, very cool idea.

What they do is charge a year's subscription up front. There is no refund if you stop coming. They let you come for a couple of weeks but after that there is no discussion. Pay up or leave.

We do this, too. Works really well. But most clubs in the States are much more expensive than run-of-the-mill eurpoean clubs.

They also tend to divide people into the 2 groups social and serious. Social people come along 2 nights a week. Serious people come along 4 nights a week (and are expected to comepete and be fit). I wish we had the luxury of the 4 nights where I train...

This is how it works with us. The social group is really there for socializing rather than fencing. There's no real stygma attached to this.

Some of the other clubs in their area [apparently] insist on beginners buying full FIE kit up front - that would never fly over here. Some other clubs include a hefty first year charge that also incudes a full set of starter kit - I like this idea.

Our club has a graduated schedule. First year you have to buy a glove and plastron, second year is a jacket, etc. Seems to work well. And, yeah, nobody would join if they had to front for FIE kit.

Getting back to Mr. Epée's observations about martial arts clubs--I see beginners "ignored" every day. You can see them preparing to leave. They're intimidated by the situation, in spite of all the goodwill you might otherwise show them. Completely natural. You have to make a real effort, especially toward the end of the season. It isn't that people are unkind, it is just that they are focused and used to being in each other's company. It's a good idea to task good fencers to take care of a particular beginner for a few minutes for a few nights.