Mudpuddler_March_2014_-_v1.0.pdf March 2014 | Page 8

TRAINING OPTIES

THE FUTURE OF SAILING

Don McKenzie

Don McKenzie

Photos of training Opties. They are superior models
to those we use.

In the previous issue of this newsletter I hinted at all
sports moving in a slightly different direction for the
future.

Can anyone guess where the training classes were
held?

In the last few years Yachting Australia has contributed
to a sports study commissioned by the Federal Government that indicated the community in general was
changing the way it was getting involved in recreational activities. There was a tendency not to join Clubs
for extended periods but rather to be involved for short
times and move from one to another. This is the
GEMMA REPORT. The Victorian Sports Commission
undertook a similar study the following year. The conclusion they came to supported the findings of the
Gemma Report.
Last year The American Yachting Association president
toured America with some of the board members and
have published a preliminary report. In that report they
identified the same trend of people moving into a sport
and then leaving, particularly young persons. However,
if their experience in the sport was a positive one leaving pleasant memories it was likely they would later
return to that sport when they were more settled in their
life and perhaps involve their family. This is a similar
result to the Australian studies.
All sports have a falling membership base. Membership
numbers are important as they are the standard for predicting the funds necessary to finance a club each year.
If that pool of funds is dwindling there are two solutions neither palatable. One is to increase the fees of
members or reduce the activities of the Club. Both do
not lead to a prosperous Club.
In line with the findings of all these reports ASC has
moved to renting Club training boats to members when
they are not being used for training and as an introductory measure temporary membership. The temporary
membership is aimed at allowing a person to sample
the Club and the sport prior to deciding the direction
they wish to go. Temporary membership is priced at
twice the normal rate and only available to individuals.
They get no benefits other than the opportunity to hire
the training boats and use of the Club facilities. They
cannot get a key, have a boat in the racks, hire the hall
etc. It is hoped this initiative will lead to increasing
membership thus spreading the number over which the
club running costs are spread.
Discover Experiences is another area in which we have
the opportunity to recruit persons to our training programs or as ongoing members. We have listed one Sunday per month as a social sailing day. These days are
also as an introductory opportunity to persons looking
at sailing as a sporting involvement. Support for this
initiative from members willing to attend would be appreciated. To have this operate some staff of committee
members and other helpers on the ground is necessary.
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