Membership Growth

Elwood Sailing Club David Wilkinson

Australian Sailing 2018 Club Conference - Victoria

Need for Growth

• Membership growth slow/static

• Sabre class declined to 3-4 regulars

• A-class cats largest class but higher boat cost

• Few young people or women sailing

• Engagement in club activities limited

Membership Growth

Sailing Class Growth (Race Cards)

Membership Growth

• Sabre class increased to 21: younger, more females, active, fun

• Full female membership increased from 2 to 31 (SUP, sailing)

• Energy around the club!

Focus on Discover Sailing Days

• October and January

• Channel people into Discover Sailing days –come along for a sail, SUP – Businesses

– Gyms

– Social media

– Posters

– Schools ????

– Walk-ups on the beach

Use Discover Sailing Days• Prospects put in contact with Class reps (12 new Sabre)

• Sail-passes to people who didn’t get the chance to sail: follow-up with email….invite to SUP, sail

• Sign-up or follow-up!

High Value of Sail Passes (Day Passes)• Used to start conversation

• Gyms, fitness groups

• Discover Sailing Day participants

• Walk-ups to the club

• Training participants

• Reward sponsors

Seen as having high value…

Enables contact…make a fuss of them

Sabre Growth

• Important to have healthy fleet of Sabre/Laser size boat

• Affordable, fairly simple– Single handed (no crew)– Good first boat… or last boat…

• Target to grow Sabre to 20 boats achieved– Discover Sailing days– Training– Walk-ups– Club boat for demonstration, member use, purchase– Helping new members buy boats– Manager and member drive!

SUPs

SUPS

• Introduction to sailing, low cost

• Fitness & social

• High female participation (full female membership up from 1 to 32 in a year)

• Get them engaged– Invite when other SUP women are at the club

– Glass of wine, Whats App group

– “Introduction to Water” training : safety, tides

– Invite to go on duty boats for a day

Pathway to Sailing

Try sailing (boat, board or SUP)• Discover Sailing Day• Training• Sail pass

• Membership of any category• Buy boat, crew, SUP, volunteer • Race

Open up the Club

• Better communications• Newsletter

– When club is free for BBQs– After work drinks on Friday night

• Contact members who have children – come along for coffee

• Affiliated memberships – croquet• Community engagement - ANZAC day

Energy, families involvedConvert social to full memberships

ANZAC Day

Engage and Retain Members

• Skills development– Sail setting– Rules of racing– Race clinic– Powerboat handling

• Club boats• Whats App groups• Family member engagement• Energy around the club house• More required….

Next Steps

• Develop membership pathways ( SYC model )• Grow Paper Tiger fleet – affordable fun• 4 sail-passes to members – family and friends• Involve more members in Discover Sailing days• Grow women membership• Engage non-sailing members• Social committee?• Better communications from and to the Committee• Boat storage constraint……??

In Conclusion

• Manager energy and drive

• Engage members, particularly those with energy

• Use Discover Australia Days and Training sessions - Follow-up with prospects

• Fun!

Membership Growth2016 2017 2018 2016 - 18

Senior 56 64 83 148%

Family Senior 39 52 66 169%

Family Partner/Children 59 85 175 297%

Senior Student 2 1 2 100%

Junior 2 2 2 100%

Social 5 13 30 600%

Affiliate 2 3 3 150%

Life 16 14 15 94%

Total 181 234 376 208%

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