Across The Country

Christine Jourdain
American Council of Snowmobile Clubs
www.snowmobilers.org/

Fall is upon us – snow shows are an every day occurrence across the country.  That means snow can’t be far away…..

However, before snow falls, meetings are scheduled back to back to back.  That doesn’t have to be bad – we just need to make changes. We need to be sure our meetings move along and are interesting.   Making changes aren’t easy, but they are necessary.

Too many organizations are still doing business the way they have done it for years.  Sure, almost everyone now uses the internet and email.  But more changes need to occur. 

·       Leaders need to use more marketing savvy in everything they do.

·       Meetings need to become experiences not to be missed – at every level.

In today’s world, relationships are critical in every aspect of our lives.  We have to use the relationships we currently have to recruit new members and retain the current members. 

In attracting new members, especially the younger generations, they need to know “What’s In It For Me”.  They need our help in justifying why involvement in our club/association is more important than all of the other options and commitments they have, ranging from work to social to family.

The younger members have been schooled differently from the older members.  They have been taught to question why you do the things you do, the way you do the things you do, etc.  They are not being disrespectful – it’s the way they were taught.  They need to understand.

These new members need to be needed.  They need to be involved.  Put them on committees.  Ask them for their input.  Get them involved in issues, and the planning of upcoming projects and events.  They need to be needed – and we need them -- we need new blood, new ideas and new ways to operate.

They also need fun.  Fun is one of their core values.  They don’t want to come to meetings and be bored – they want to be part of the learning experience.  They need to interact. 

There’s an exciting future ahead in recruiting new members.  We just need to embrace change, even though it is not comfortable.

As we all know, the most frequently used excuse is “I don’t have time”.  Many members use this when turning down opportunities to volunteer.  Many potential members use this line when approached about becoming a member. 

This fall is a good time to evaluate the way your club/association operates.  Many leaders across the business world are saying it is disaster waiting to happen to continue operating the way it has for the last 5 years, 10 years, 20 years or more.  Organizations that run the way they have always run are destined to fail. 

We have to learn to market our club/association to the younger generation so they see the value.  Remember, every time they say yes to us, they are saying no to someone else (family/friends) or no to something else (work or social).

We need to look at the way we do business.  We have to make joining, showing up for meetings, volunteering and becoming leaders more attractive.  Changes like this will not happen immediately, changes will not necessarily be eagerly embraced.  Making changes can be very frustrating.  And once changes are made, the results may not be immediate, they make time.  People may need to be convinced that the changes are for real.

ACSA started to institute changes in learning a couple of years ago.  The Annual Land Summit is one of those changes.  The 2007 Land Summit will be held December 1^st and is open to everyone.  The focus of the Summit this year will be recruiting and retaining new members, applying successfully for grants, working with other groups and other topics designed to help snowmobile clubs and associations across the country.  For additional information, check out our website, www.snowmobilers.org.

Another change that we are embracing is using the internet to buy and sell snowmobiles.  We have just started a new project that individuals and dealers can use to buy and sell snowmobiles and related equipment.  Again, check our website for additional information, www.snowmobilers.org.

Change may not always be easy, but it can be fun!  There is an exciting future before us – we just need to make some adjustments.

Hopefully Mother Nature is ready and willing to make adjustments……from fall to winter, from 50 and 60 degree sunny days to 20 and 30 degree snowy days.  Changing seasons may not be easy for everyone – but it is certainly easy for us when its fall to winter!!  Think Snow!

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The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) is a national organization that was formed to unite the snowmobile community. Because snowmobiling is enjoyed by millions of individuals across the United States, it was imperative that a strong national organization be formed. ACSA is that organization.

ACSA is your voice for snowmobiling on national issues. Many snowmobilers are mistaken when they think national issues have no impact on their snowmobiling. Across the United States there are thousands and thousands of miles of snowmobile trails on public and private lands. Will these lands remain open for snowmobiling in the future? Long term use of the lands is no longer certain. Only the unified voice of the entire snowmobile community will help to guarantee the continuation of our sport.

For additional information, www.snowmobilers.org