Transcript Go Lawn Bowl Power Point Presentation

How To Keep the Sport Alive!
PART1: HOW TO RECRUIT.
Recruitment.
New members are the lifeblood of our clubs.
Without them we will not survive.
It Takes a Club.
Chatham increased significantly and in a wide
range of age groups. Their rebuilding program
in the past 2 years was to increase our
membership from what was once 20 members
to over 60 members.
“It takes an enthusiastic group to move things forward.
But with new members, comes a wealth of enthusiasm
and willingness to get involved. This includes our
membership activities.”
— Brian Kirkwood,
Staynor Lawn Bowling Club
Take Me to your Leader!
Find your Membership Director.
They need to be:
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Enthusiastic
Knowledgeable
Connected in the community
Willing to tell people what to do!
Set your Objectives.
Determine how many new members
you want to recruit.
• Determine where they might be.
• Decide how to reach them.
• Invite them
• Retain them
• Measure your objectives.
(what would you change or adjust for next year?)
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New Members come in Sets.
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Rotary, Probus,Kinsmen, Optimist
and other community clubs
curlers, alley bowlers, bocce players
work (or ex-work friends)
church
active senior’s clubs
Prospect People who are Most Likely.
50% of our new members came
from other sports…we prospected people
from curling clubs, bowling alleys
and Bocce Clubs.
—Andre Regimbald,
Richmond Hill Lawn Bowling Club
Prospect People Who are Most Likely.
We have been very successful recruiting new
members from Probus Club members. Our first
Open House attracted 50 people. Last year we
had more than 100 and had to do two
Open Houses.
— Brian Kirkwood,
Staynor Lawn Bowling Club
Bowlers Bring Bowlers.
Our 9-day Open House involves all the club
members. It is bowlers that bring in bowlers.
You do have to start with a few dedicated
people in your club, giving many hours to
show that it can work.
—Bruce Smith,
Collingwood Lawn Bowling Club
How to Advertise.
Use the tools supplied. The
posters can be customized by
adding Open House information or
contact information for your club.
Put them up in curling clubs,
bowling alleys, community centres
– your local variety store.
Get Some Face Time.
The best recruitment results have
come from participating in community
events like sports shows, cultural
festivals, etc. where the members take
out a short mat – or just the bowls
and are able to let people get a feel
for the sport. The brochures can be
handed out in situations like this.
Present your Recruitment Card.
The easiest way to gracefully give someone an
invitation that they can slip in their pocket or
wallet. Personalize it and then follow up –
get their name and phone
number so you can call
to confirm they
are coming!
Signage.
The Best Investment in Advertising.
Clubs are often
hidden in older
neighborhoods.
Putting up a banner
suddenly gives you
street presence –
and a giant
advertising billboard.
Open Houses.
The Recruitment Answer.
Open Houses are the common element for all
the clubs that have been successful at
recruiting. Generally they are held around the
May long weekend.
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What others have done:
Steak dinner for $10 and all you can bowl
Hot dogs, pop and a specific time
Get a SOP (special Occasion Permit)
from the LBCO nearest you.
Public Relations.
The Next Cheapest form
of Advertising.
Send our notices to all the media in your
community about your open house. Radio,
television, newspapers, etc. all have room for
‘special event’ coverage at no charge.
A sample Open House media release is
included in your kit.
Paid Advertising.
How to Spend Wisely.
Small space ads can be submitted to newspapers
to run as ‘filler’ at no charge. Community papers
are also relatively inexpensive. Sample ad slicks
are included in your kit.
If paying for your space, make sure there is an
Open House or an invitation to try lawn bowling.
Generally it takes anywhere from 7 to 10 times
for a message to be seen. Running an ad once
won’t do it.
Sample Ad Mats.
Paid Advertising.
How to Spend Wisely.
Community television and radio may be interested in covering an event
like an open house as a news event.
The cost of paying for such media is steep. In order to get the necessary
GRPs (share of audience attention), you will likely have to spend more
money than is wise.To make any kind of impression, you’d need to
have a minimum of 5 ads per day for two weeks. If this was inviting
people to an Open House or event, this might be a reasonable
expense and net a response.
But radio and television and newspaper are all communicating to people
who aren’t necessarily our target group – but you still pay for
advertising to them.
(Go for the free stuff.)
PART2: RETAIN
PART 2: Retain.
How to Keep Them!
Recruitment efforts will be wasted if you do not
have a club program focused on retention.
Make sure you have a
Bowls Buddy Program.
Bowls Buddy Program
It has been proven that new
members will continue to
come if they are made to feel
welcome and comfortable.
OLBA believes it is imperative
that each club establish
a Bowls Buddy program
for new bowlers.
Bowls Buddy Program
Make sure you have the right pair!
Lawn Bowling
– It’s for Everyone!
What Are You Waiting For?