[memcom] EXCELLENT IDEAS THAT WORK Re: [Psml] Re: Boat Smart and Membership
SailPlay@aol.com
SailPlay@aol.com
Sun, 30 Jan 2005 11:47:55 EST
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In a message dated 1/28/2005 6:07:04 PM Pacific Standard Time,
rremski@woh.rr.com writes:
Dayton Sail and Power Squadron teaches BoatSmart in 5 weeks, with the fifth
week being review, some recruitment marketing time and the exam. We have
been doing quite well with recruiting from the classes in this multi-session
format. We'll do three of these this winter/spring.
We also teach it in a two Saturday format, four hours each day with a lunch
break, review, marketing and exam after lunch. We'll do two or three of
these this spring also.
I also teach the Ohio Boater Education course as a volunteer for the Ohio
Division of Watercraft in a one day format, and the state permits us to
provide literature and some recruiting time in those classes as well.
Pass rate for multi session classes is better than the one day format, and
recruiting in multi-session classes (more than two sessions) is better than
in the shorter formats. More face time = more recruits.
We also offer ChartSmart and we have a typical 30% sign-up, that is about
1/3 of the BoatSmart students take ChartSmart, and we also do fairly well in
recruiting after ChartSmart. We will also offer the GPS Seminar based on Bob
Sweet's "GPS for Mariners" this spring as another contact with the public
after BoatSmart.
We have a booth at the local boat show through Feb 6th, and we did a direct
bulk mailing to registered boat owners in several selected zip codes as a
first time marketing effort. The Ohio Division of Watercraft provided us
with a data base of registered boat owners in a 9 or 10 county area around
Dayton, and we were able to sort by boat size, boat type etc since it was in
a Microsoft Access compatible data base file. We'll let you know on this
list how we did on returns. Mailing went out bulk about 10 days ago and we
have already had several phone calls based on the mailing. This was an
interesting exercise: Ohio has over 410,000 registered boats. Our selected
counties had nearly 15,000. We capped our test effort at 3,000 based on
cost. Typical bulk mail campaigns see a 5-6% return, but with this one
focused on registered boat owners, we expect (hope) for higher than that.
Also each response may well bring more than one student as couples or
parent-child combinations are expected to result since Ohio requires a
NASBLA course for those born after Jan 1 1982.
I'll post some results in June for how we did this year.
Dick Remski, AP
SEO
Dayton Sail and Power Squadron
District 24/ Landlocked!
In a message dated 1/28/2005 6:22:51 PM Pacific Standard Time,
drieden@gcinet.net writes:
I've instructed BoatSmart & Boating Safely (USCGAux) since June of 1997.
I've tried every possible combination ... 1 - 8 hour session, 2 - four hour
sessions and the best I have found for presenting a quality product is 3 -
three hour sessions and a fourth night for exam/recruiting.
It seems to work the best with a Tuesday - Thursday - Tuesday - Thursday
format. There isn't any way you can develop a relationship with the
students in a shorter time. More importantly, your students won't remember
20% of what they "learned" in an eight hour session. If you want to present
a quality instructional format, develop a rapport with the student, and
provide some recruitment information, try 3 sessions of academics and an
additional (short) night for review, exam, and recruitment.
Something else I have found that worked for everyone's benefit. At least
one week prior to the start of the class, have your class pre-registered,
pre-paid and give them a homework assignment of reading the student manual.
D/Lt/C Dave Rieden, P
D/31 - Norman Sail & Power Squadron
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<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 1/28/2005 6:07:04 PM Pacific Standard Time, rremski@=
woh.rr.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20=
2px solid"><FONT face=3DArial>Dayton Sail and Power Squadron teaches BoatSma=
rt in 5 weeks, with the fifth<BR>week being review, some recruitment marketi=
ng time and the exam. We have<BR>been doing quite well with recruiting from=20=
the classes in this multi-session<BR>format. We'll do three of these this wi=
nter/spring. <BR><BR>We also teach it in a two Saturday format, four hours e=
ach day with a lunch<BR>break, review, marketing and exam after lunch. We'll=
do two or three of<BR>these this spring also. <BR><BR>I also teach the Ohio=
Boater Education course as a volunteer for the Ohio<BR>Division of Watercra=
ft in a one day format, and the state permits us to<BR>provide literature an=
d some recruiting time in those classes as well. <BR><BR>Pass rate for multi=
session classes is better than the one day format, and<BR>recruiting in mul=
ti-session classes (more than two sessions) is better than<BR>in the shorter=
formats. More face time =3D more recruits. <BR><BR>We also offer ChartSmart=
and we have a typical 30% sign-up, that is about<BR>1/3 of the BoatSmart st=
udents take ChartSmart, and we also do fairly well in<BR>recruiting after Ch=
artSmart. We will also offer the GPS Seminar based on Bob<BR>Sweet's "GPS fo=
r Mariners" this spring as another contact with the public<BR>after BoatSmar=
t. <BR><BR>We have a booth at the local boat show through Feb 6th, and we di=
d a direct<BR>bulk mailing to registered boat owners in several selected zip=
codes as a<BR>first time marketing effort. The Ohio Division of Watercraft=20=
provided us<BR>with a data base of registered boat owners in a 9 or 10 count=
y area around<BR>Dayton, and we were able to sort by boat size, boat type et=
c since it was in<BR>a Microsoft Access compatible data base file. We'll let=
you know on this<BR>list how we did on returns. Mailing went out bulk about=
10 days ago and we<BR>have already had several phone calls based on the mai=
ling. This was an<BR>interesting exercise: Ohio has over 410,000 registered=20=
boats. Our selected<BR>counties had nearly 15,000. We capped our test effort=
at 3,000 based on<BR>cost. Typical bulk mail campaigns see a 5-6% return, b=
ut with this one<BR>focused on registered boat owners, we expect (hope) for=20=
higher than that.<BR>Also each response may well bring more than one student=
as couples or<BR>parent-child combinations are expected to result since Ohi=
o requires a<BR>NASBLA course for those born after Jan 1 1982. <BR><BR>I'll=20=
post some results in June for how we did this year. <BR><BR>Dick Remski, AP&=
nbsp; <BR>SEO<BR>Dayton Sail and Power Squadron<BR>District 24/ Landl=
ocked! </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 1/28/2005 6:22:51 PM Pacific Standard Time, drieden@=
gcinet.net writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue=20=
2px solid"><FONT face=3DArial>I've instructed BoatSmart & Boating Safely=
(USCGAux) since June of 1997.<BR>I've tried every possible combination ...=20=
1 - 8 hour session, 2 - four hour<BR>sessions and the best I have found for=20=
presenting a quality product is 3 -<BR>three hour sessions and a fourth nigh=
t for exam/recruiting.<BR><BR>It seems to work the best with a Tuesday - Thu=
rsday - Tuesday - Thursday<BR>format. There isn't any way you can deve=
lop a relationship with the<BR>students in a shorter time. More import=
antly, your students won't remember<BR>20% of what they "learned" in an eigh=
t hour session. If you want to present<BR>a quality instructional form=
at, develop a rapport with the student, and<BR>provide some recruitment info=
rmation, try 3 sessions of academics and an<BR>additional (short) night for=20=
review, exam, and recruitment.<BR><BR>Something else I have found that worke=
d for everyone's benefit. At least<BR>one week prior to the start of t=
he class, have your class pre-registered,<BR>pre-paid and give them a homewo=
rk assignment of reading the student manual.<BR><BR>D/Lt/C Dave Rieden, P<BR=
>D/31 - Norman Sail & Power Squadron</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV></BO=
DY></HTML>
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