THERE IS NO DENYING the importance of surveys. They provide the objective information that allows associations and clubs the ability to make informed decisions based on fact and the desires of their members that will help them succeed.
I learned the impact surveys can have when at Villanova University I led a group project to survey college athletic departments and then Villanova students about the use of a student activity fee that replaced the need for students to purchase tickets for athletic events. Based on our results, Villanova adopted the fee the year following our report—I like to think that the work I did in 1994 laid the foundation for Villanova winning the men’s NCAA Basketball National Championships in 2016 and 2018.
Fast forward to my career in associations and the club industry. My experience with surveys has benefited me well, but I hope it has benefited the members more. As an example, we just completed two surveys here at NCA: A Club Director readership survey and a National Club Conference evaluation. We will use the results to provide better education and experiences based on what we learned from you.
For Club Director
- 93% have taken action as a result reading an article and 57% have taken action as a result of
reading an advertisement.
- 66% share their issue with at least one other person.
- Members rate it very highly, feel it is a useful benefit of their NCA membership and many rate
it as better than other industry publications.
But the most exciting things we learned were the other topics you would like to see covered, the
format and length in which you want to read the information and the additional comments and suggestions you provided for improving Club Director. We look forward to implementing these changes in issues to come. See more findings in Trending (page 44).
For National Club Conference
- The highest rated speakers were Bill Walshe, CEO Viceroy Hotel Group, and Colonel Jack Howard Jacobs (ret.), Congressional Medal of Honor recipient.
- 100% of the attendees rated the reception and dinner at the Jonathan Beach Club as excellent.
- 94% of the attendees are likely or very likely to attend the 2019 National Club Conference in Washington, D.C., April 28–30.
Like Club Director, the most important things we learned were what topics you want covered at the Conference, what you liked most, and what you would like to see changed in the future. When you read this issue of Club Director think about how we can make it a better and more useful publication for you, your staff and your board.
And when you read the 2018 National Club Conference recap (page 16), tell us what would make the Conference most beneficial for you and your board. Your feedback in these surveys can be the foundation for an incredible run for your association just like me, but unlike for Villanova, it won’t take 22 years.