Quote:
Originally Posted by Hidden Hippo  A similar thing has happend in our club. We run 4 courses over the summer (and occasionally some in the winter) with around 10 on each course. This season we had 2 come along regularly for about 6 weeks after their course, although we've not seen them for a while. Out of around 40 people, we've had 2 buy equipment and seem like they are going to continue shooting. |
5 years ago our membership numbered 15. A rash of beginners courses over 2 years saw membership climb to nearly 70. Since then we have lost about 25% of the membership every year, but gained an equal number of new members keeping our membership steady at about 70.
Of our 69 current members, 27 have been with us more than 3 years.
It is really disapointing to put so much hard work and time into teaching new beginners for them to not want to join the club at the end, or to join and then never be seen again (at all in some cases) or not see the year out.
After conducting several surveys at the end of courses, it seems we just live in a today society. People come on the course to have an extended go at archery, then move on to something else. They see it as something to do, rather than as a personal challenge. one day I'l work out how to spot the difference between the stickers looking for that challenge and the "once I've shot a few arrows, judo looks good" crew. Then I'll know where to put my efforts and who to just hand a bow to and let them get on with it.
I guess I'm lucky in that after 5 years of running beginners courses, I now have a team of level1s who are taking over leaving me to more "worthwhile" tasks