SSA Growth

On Sunday, July 15, 2012 3:46:51 PM UTC-6, David Reitter wrote:
On Saturday, July 14, 2012 10:31:10 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> So, the recommendation is to locally augment FAST as FAST Plus, offering two additional
> flight lessons for an additional charge. That gives the opportunity to generate at least one
> soaring flight, plus the Intro member returns a time or two to complete the package.

What we do is to give people regular membership privileges for one month. They can come back, fly at member prices and get hooked.

At $100, we really can't give people more than one tow (we're paying the instructor as well), and at, say, $200 for three flights, we wouldn't get those who just want to try it out.

Oh, and we give people some credit if they turn their temporary into a full membership. This seems to work.

The other change we've made recently is to not ask for a large capital investment up front, but to stagger it over the first two years. Writing a $500 check seems like much more of a commitment than to hand over a $200 installment (minus $50 credit from that FAST ride).

I know at least one club with a mandatory $2,000 capital investment, and it's heartbreaking to see the lack of members and flying activity, given their awesome site.

I think the three lesson option sets a price point that filters out the drive-by shooter. Next week or month that person may be ballooning, taking a tandem paraglider flight, or something else. If you are going to make the effort to take prospective member an SSA Intro member and club/chapter Intro member make a best effort at recruitment. There are arguments about giving rides or not giving rides in a club. A single flight lesson and 1/2 hour ground school is little more than that unless handled with finesse. At the same time we are entertaining prospective members or giving rides, we are denying our bread and butter members access to club assets. At one time, my club was able to convert 80% of those completing our three-lesson mini-course to full members.

We currently have 25 or 26 chapters that are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Joining fees and dues may be partially or wholly tax deductible among other tax exemptions.

Frank