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Post by SSO JOAT on Mar 1, 2014 21:40:13 GMT -9
A small sample poll about your preferences for frequency of email from the club. This is just to test the waters and a more detailed member survey will be coming out in the not-to-distant future. Thanks for participating!
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Post by akgh519 on Mar 2, 2014 0:25:39 GMT -9
Once a week I think would be acceptable
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 2, 2014 6:26:22 GMT -9
voted
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Post by ladybugkids on Mar 2, 2014 10:27:37 GMT -9
I voted for "infrequent announcements" because I pay more attention to them. The constant stream of stuff I receive from some online vendors and the one social media site I made the mistake of joining (LinkedIn) that clutter my inbox gets in the way of the stuff that truly needs my attention. I set filters for high volume sites to shunt their e-mails into separate folders to maybe read in the future. What usually happens then is every month or quarter or so, I empty the folder without reading the 80-90% of the material. I also don't feel there is that much going on with GeocacheAlaska! to require very frequent e-mail communication. I am notified by events through the Instant Notifications I receive as soon as they are published. I drop events of interest into my personal Outlook Calendar using the "Add to Calendar" (supported by Google, Yahoo, Outlook, iCal and Microsoft Live) link at the top of each Event page and set a reminder. If I want to see the state at large, I go to the geocaching.com State Search screen where events are displayed at the top of the screen. Less time-sensitive material typically ends up in the Newsletter, which I do save to my hard drive and can always access online on the GeocacheAlaska! website when I am away from home. All the above written, other people may have different preferences about how and when they receive information, so I encourage people to participate in this and the other poll about e-mail format so the Communications Committee can develop a comprehensive communication protocol that will meet the needs of most and annoy the fewest. |
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Post by SSO JOAT on Mar 2, 2014 19:20:18 GMT -9
I agree. I don't like multi-sourcing the same information. If I sign up for an email list and find that I'm getting hit with daily messages, I'll generally unsubscribe from said list. Email is so over used by so many that one becomes numb to paying much attention to an inbox. I show up at work and have to scan down a list of dozens of new emails, the majority of which don't pertain to me. Last thing I want to do is repeat that process at home.
Personally, I find the best means of group communication to be with forums like this one. I've been using forums all the way back to the Usenet newsgroups of the early age of the internet. With as tech savy as geocachers are supposed to be, I find it odd that very few of them participate in online forums. The most active forum that I frequent has over 57,000 members with several hundred online at any time and a spot record of 1,325 members online at one time. They have dozens of categories and boards with over 101,000 active threads containing over 1.2 million posts. And it also happens to be an Alaskan forum. There are national forums that dwarf that one. But even the international geocaching forums hosted by Groundspeak tend to be fairly low on user statistics. Not to mention, there are some really snarky folks on the GC forums that tend to push people away. But that's a whole 'nother issue.
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 2, 2014 20:22:41 GMT -9
I voted for "infrequent announcements" because I pay more attention to them. The constant stream of stuff I receive from some online vendors and the one social media site I made the mistake of joining (LinkedIn) that clutter my inbox gets in the way of the stuff that truly needs my attention. I set filters for high volume sites to shunt their e-mails into separate folders to maybe read in the future. What usually happens then is every month or quarter or so, I empty the folder without reading the 80-90% of the material. . I'm not sure how many e-mails on average most users receive, I receive relatively few. But I'm positive, compared to the amount of e-mails LBK receives it would be next to nothing. I would suggest to appeal to the most widely comparisons possible. Mike and I represent the two ends of the curve. We probably wont get more than 10-15 votes on this polling while making decisions for over 200 sourdough members. |
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 2, 2014 20:40:03 GMT -9
. I also don't feel there is that much going on with GeocacheAlaska! to require very frequent e-mail communication. I am notified by events through the Instant Notifications I receive as soon as they are published. I drop events of interest into my personal Outlook Calendar using the "Add to Calendar" (supported by Google, Yahoo, Outlook, iCal and Microsoft Live) link at the top of each Event page and set a reminder. If I want to see the state at large, I go to the geocaching.com State Search screen where events are displayed at the top of the screen. . Not that much is going on....right now, but more and more is happening, permits will soon be issued(I'd love an e-mail the moment that happens), A "remember the event is going on tomorrow" e-mail would be helpful for many(I don't add these to a calendar, and I've heard "I got the notification, but forgot" comment), and i'm not sure how many people go to the state search for events that are happening, I know I don't unless I'm planning on traveling out of state, but that's just me. These are more examples of different peoples use of the web. We need to keep this in mind while considering things. |
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 2, 2014 20:45:47 GMT -9
Personally, I find the best means of group communication to be with forums like this one. I've been using forums all the way back to the Usenet newsgroups of the early age of the internet. I'm not sure this is typical of our target market, but I could be wrong. |
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 2, 2014 20:52:12 GMT -9
With as tech savy as geocachers are supposed to be, I find it odd that very few of them participate in online forums. . But even the international geocaching forums hosted by Groundspeak tend to be fairly low on user statistics. I've noticed the same thing with the geocaching.com forums, only a minimal number of the, what, how many geocachers any way, participate in the forums. Maybe we should stop fighting this and focus more on the old-fashioned e-mail. Maybe sending a bunch of e-mails to our members about just about everything would be a different approach. Then ask them if we're sending to many. |
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Post by TheFirefly on Mar 3, 2014 15:08:30 GMT -9
With as tech savy as geocachers are supposed to be, I find it odd that very few of them participate in online forums. . But even the international geocaching forums hosted by Groundspeak tend to be fairly low on user statistics. I've noticed the same thing with the geocaching.com forums, only a minimal number of the, what, how many geocachers any way, participate in the forums. Maybe we should stop fighting this and focus more on the old-fashioned e-mail. Maybe sending a bunch of e-mails to our members about just about everything would be a different approach. Then ask them if we're sending to many. I suspect it may be as simple as the thought that many of us prefer to be out on the cache hunt instead of sitting at our computers reading forums.  |
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Post by ladybugkids on Mar 3, 2014 15:13:16 GMT -9
I've noticed the same thing with the geocaching.com forums, only a minimal number of the, what, how many geocachers any way, participate in the forums. Maybe we should stop fighting this and focus more on the old-fashioned e-mail. Maybe sending a bunch of e-mails to our members about just about everything would be a different approach. Then ask them if we're sending to many. I suspect it may be as simple as the thought that many of us prefer to be out on the cache hunt instead of sitting at our computers reading forums. Or composing and sending e-mails to the masses  |
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Post by NeverSummer on Mar 3, 2014 19:12:50 GMT -9
I agree. I don't like multi-sourcing the same information. If I sign up for an email list and find that I'm getting hit with daily messages, I'll generally unsubscribe from said list. Email is so over used by so many that one becomes numb to paying much attention to an inbox. I show up at work and have to scan down a list of dozens of new emails, the majority of which don't pertain to me. Last thing I want to do is repeat that process at home. Wouldn't it be helpful as the chair and poll creator to have an open mind, rather than go into this poll with a preconception or desired outcome?
Sorry I even said anything. I've got survey research and quantitative data collection protocols fresh on the mind after conducting my survey research for my Master's degree. There are some fallacies and validity issues that I was trying to address with this comment. If different mailing lists are generated for our members, we can maintain an outreach methodology that meets the need of the individual, rather than applying a common denominator to all users. Some could sign up for "all" emailings. Some for newsletter and fundraising only. Some for announcements and newsletter. Some can unsubscribe from them all. If we modify our approach, we will have a more substantial appeal than if we apply a one-size approach. |
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Post by NeverSummer on Mar 3, 2014 19:15:27 GMT -9
I suspect it may be as simple as the thought that many of us prefer to be out on the cache hunt instead of sitting at our computers reading forums. Or composing and sending e-mails to the masses Just have to find the person who is willing and able to do all of the above!  |
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Post by SSO JOAT on Mar 4, 2014 17:01:55 GMT -9
NS... I have a very open mind. I also have personal preferences. The poll question is quite broad and allows any poll takers to enter their choice. If I were trying to generate a preconceived outcome, I would have limited the responses to such outcome. I'll leave such behavior to the folks at MSNBC.
If you have better poll question wording for how it should be placed on the coming membership survey, please provide it.
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 5, 2014 6:35:49 GMT -9
HA HA!!!
I just sent a fuzzy sized e-mail blast to the cachers I have in my tiny e-mail list, as well as to many of those in my friends list on Geocaching.com, asking them to help us by coming to the forum pages and vote on these two polls.
I didn't mail Bod members, because they should be here voting already. If we have 5 votes so far and two are from 519 and myself, that means only 3 Bod members have participated in these simple pole questions. I'd hope the members who HAVE participated could get participation from the other members as well.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Mar 5, 2014 7:56:27 GMT -9
Thanks, Fuzzy. By all means, please bring all your friends into the forums. And for more than just voting in a silly poll! Regular traffic with more people chatting about geocaching stuff is what we need in here.
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Post by akerdoc on Mar 5, 2014 9:12:14 GMT -9
HA HA!!! I just sent a fuzzy sized e-mail blast to the cachers I have in my tiny e-mail list, as well as to many of those in my friends list on Geocaching.com, asking them to help us by coming to the forum pages and vote on these two polls. I didn't mail Bod members, because they should be here voting already. If we have 5 votes so far and two are from 519 and myself, that means only 3 Bod members have participated in these simple pole questions. I'd hope the members who HAVE participated could get participation from the other members as well. I am one of those contacted by Fuzzybelly and I voted. Thanks for contacting me Fuzzy! |
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 5, 2014 9:28:06 GMT -9
What's up doc  Thank you! |
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Post by akgh519 on Mar 5, 2014 11:05:00 GMT -9
Doc is probably still recovering from the 'Cuckoo'!!!!
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Post by AKFrost65 on Mar 5, 2014 12:22:32 GMT -9
Voted...
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 5, 2014 12:42:17 GMT -9
Thank you AKfrost, hope to see you at the event |
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Post by southeastalaska on Mar 5, 2014 16:56:01 GMT -9
Done.
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Post by lunchlady495 on Mar 5, 2014 17:11:58 GMT -9
I like getting reminders of events etc.. I do not sit at the computer and look through all the forums.
I have every now and again but generally I do not.
Voted! Thanks Fuzzy for the email to check this out!
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 5, 2014 18:22:31 GMT -9
Thank you Lady's......I mean Lady and SEA Thank you wasillian |
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cavyguy
Silver Cacher
Posts: 175
GeocacheAlaska! Membership Level: Sourdough
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Post by cavyguy on Mar 5, 2014 23:38:25 GMT -9
I don't mind emails. I voted, but announcement of every event is good too.
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 13, 2014 7:59:58 GMT -9
It would be neat if we could send out a e-mail about tomorrows Pi event and see what happens.
Yesterday shotgunsgm stopped by my work. Great to see him and the boys. Guess what he told me? He was planning on attending the GeoAK! 5 years old event but he thought it was the next evening so he missed it.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Mar 13, 2014 8:15:46 GMT -9
Fuzzy, what you're asking about is exactly what is being discussed in the Comm-Comm right now.
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 13, 2014 8:49:39 GMT -9
good news indeed.
It's the Pi event. It's tomorrow.
Hope discussions go quick.
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Post by SSO JOAT on Mar 13, 2014 9:13:55 GMT -9
Actually, the discussion is about the criteria to use to identify what events would warrant GCAK putting out a 24-hour reminder note by email to club members who list physical addresses in the region of the event. We are looking primarily at official and sponsored GCAK events. The criteria and policy have not been decided on yet.
I can push a request to the BoD Exec Staff about including mention of PI in an email reminder for the coming end of the pathtag contest.
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Post by fuzzybelly on Mar 13, 2014 21:52:17 GMT -9
Todays event(the Pi event) is hosted by a GeoAk! sourdough member and probably has the GeoAk! link Tag on it(i'll have to confirm, but TAN's events usually do).
It would've been great to see how a blast e-mail would have boosted attendees. What a great way it would be to see how that avenue works, similar to the small e-mailing I sent out asking for a vote.
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