We crossed 2,200 before end of year. We grew over 500 members in the last 12 months. We just under 1,700 last New Year’s. Almost 30% growth.
Monthly income was about $61,400 month, now $83,400. an increase of $22K/mo … which will go towards our bigger digs!
Ha! I saw the same thing tonight @Photomancer
I charted it and posted here:
That’s great news! Now we have to figure out how to welcome, train, and assimilate all the new members …
The only practical way I see this as being able to be accomplished is through online. Needs to cover the basic policies:
Very brief overviews, mainly how to find information. I’m guessing 30 minutes of short videos or slides The key to making this work, IMO, you can join but must complete to get key RFID badge turned on.
The actual number of new members per year right now is about 150+ per month, we netted about 42 per month. There can still be several Welcome to DMS classes a month, but there is no way we can teach that many with enough time slots at various ties so people can attend.
The data diva says that we don’t have enough data to know exactly what we need. Anecdotally we think that woodshop gets more new members than the other shops, but do we know that for a fact? We don’t know the primary motivating factor for our new members so we don’t know where we need shop-specific or tool-specific training.
IMO we really need to add a multiple-choice question to our member-sign up (maybe two) …
* What is the primary (or first) workshop or tool that you envision yourself using right away?
* What is the secondary …
Is there a way to just have the question asked during sign up? “What areas/tools are you most looking forward to using?”
That’s exactly what I’m suggesting. Everyone has to fill out something online in order to join, and that’s where I was hoping to capture the data.
I haven’t had coffee yet and completely missed the last paragraph where you suggested it. D’oh! Good idea!
It shouldn’t be that difficult.
I’ve already done that with one of the new members.
Sold him on the DMS at my place of work
He took the tour,
He came down to the Space as my guest a couple of times. One of those time, Stephenie Webb was very helpful with the details of family add ons, laser, creative arts, and much more.
He is is very interested in “teaching opportunities”
Stan helped sign him up the other night
He is looking forward to being a positive contributor & member - not a customer of the Space.
I’m looking at a general informational welcome and on-boarding to DMS. Most common thing I hear is: “I didn’t know.” “Where do I find that?” “How do I get involved?” “How do I find out about training”.
Committees can add their own links to this if they want, they would be optional for the new member. I like the idea of asking what they are interested in and having them check a box. Then the appropriate committee is notified of their interest and they can welcome the new member as well links is available provided.
It’s important for each committee to understand what committee tasks can be performed by new members. Time and time again I’ve heard new members say that they would be willing to help out but don’t know what they could do.
In many cases it’s not realistic to expect new members to start teaching or maintaining equipment right away but certainly there are other things that need to be done. We should identify those things and offload them from the teachers/maintainers - it would be a win/win situation.
We’ve had 56 net new members in last 4 days. Seems the rush to get in before Jan 1. is on.
There are auto-reply software functions for web based services.
2 part question.
The second item triggers an email from each checked Committee. Time of monthly meeting. A welcome paragraph about THAT committee. Available tools. Names of 2-3 point people for that Committee. Maybe their pictures too.
Committee chair name and contact information.
It would be a PITA to setup and a huge boost for getting people connected.
Every election cycle these would need to be updated too.
2220 members now
I like this. You could take it a step further and post names/photos in the spaces where they support. That would help new members out a lot (like me).
Build the survey into maker manager. can’t get the first badge until the survey is complete. If an orginazition emails me a survey it goes in the trash.