Outcomes from the Survey of Members

Author: Steve Gibbon on behalf of the KWSC Management Committee

Date: 30^th April 2008

Version: 1.0

KWSC Summary of Analysis of Survey Responses

As part of the development of KWSC the committee last sought the view of the membership about how the club is run in 2006 (reporting the results in Nov 2006). This analysis reflects the survey provided to members in their renewal packs in January 2008 over 15 months since the last survey was conducted. It is intended this survey be conducted annually with the renewal notifications so that the Committee and membership can see trends in members views of the club.

All questions were scored as 1 to 5, unless otherwise indicated, with the following meanings depending on the context of the question:

1. L Disagree or very poor

2. Poor or mostly disagree

3. K Neutral, neither agree nor disagree, acceptable

4. Good or mostly agree

5. J Completely agree, very good

Members were also able to provide individual comments for each section or at the end of the questionnaire.

On behalf of the committee many thanks to those members who took the time and effort to respond to this survey.

Overall Analysis

Note: All percentages in this report are rounded to the nearest whole % which may result in small summation errors (and not 100% totals). In some cases there are non response from a member to a specific question – these are ignored and percentages calculated on the numbers from answers provided[1]. Where comparisons are made with the last survey analysis it is either made obvious or the previous figures are in RED. For comparisons between years (with their being different levels of response between years) it is perhaps simpler to compare overall figures such as disagree+poor compared with neutral+ good+very good.

40 replies were received in paper or electronic form (compared with 21 last time) representing approximately 22% (14% last time) of membership units at the time of the survey (approx 180 membership units vs 150 last time). Hence, whilst not an absolute reflection of the membership, this analysis provides an indication of membership feelings. This is a healthy increase on last time and significant in that at the time of writing only approx 60% of members had sent in their renewals. It also is more likely to reflect the overall views of the membership with a higher response rate.

Of those responding to the relevant questions[2] meriting a 1-5 response the following were received:

1 L Disagree or very poor

2 Poor or mostly disagree

3 K Neutral, neither agree nor disagree, acceptable

4 Good or mostly agree

5 J Completely agree, very good

% responses 2006

12%

30%

53%

% responses 2008 [3]

5.7%

4.5%

10.8%

31.1%

37.7%

Hence, in general terms, 68.8% (83%) of responses were positive or very positive, with 10.2% (5%) negative or very negative. Two questions accounted for 3.8% from 5.7% total of the score 1s (questions 10 and 20) and these will be addressed separately later.

In addition to the responses to individual questions, many members took the opportunity to provide individual comments and suggestions. These are very welcome and will be considered by the committee along with the analysis of the survey. Some of these individual responses have themselves already been responded by Steve Gibbon on behalf of the committee.

Looking at questions 23-25[4] as key indicators of membership contentment the following responses were received:

Question

1 L

3 K

5 J

23. Overall – how happy are you with KWSC?

0 %

(0%)

0 %

(0%)

2.5 %

(5%)

29%

(19%)

68%

(75%)

24. Would you recommend someone else as a member?

0 %

(2%)

0 %

(0%)

2.5 %

(7%)

17 %

(5%)

80.5%

(86%)

25. Does the club provide good value for money?

0 %

(0%)

0 %

(0%)

2.5 %

(5%)

25%

(15%)

72.5%

(89%)

These are overwhelmingly positive with the no negative (1 or 2) responses this year.

The responses came from a good cross section of members:

Question	1 L	2	3 K	4	5 J
Background						Fewer (%) longer serving members responded this year.
1. How long have you been a member (circle which applies)?	< 1 year	1-3 years	4-10 years	10 -20 years	>20 years
1. How long have you been a member (circle which applies)?	(20)(19)%	(33)(33)%	(30)(24)%	(15)(12)%	(3) (12)%

In the remainder of this document the analysis of responses to individual questions is provided together with the comments and suggestions received.

Now that this survey has been developed it is suggested it is used every year to provide an ongoing barometer of the club’s health. It can be distributed every year without the need for an accompanying update in the Business Development Plan which tends to be updated between 3 and 5 year cycles.

KWSC Membership Survey 2006 – Analysis of responses

Question	1 L	2			3 K	4			5 J	Comments
Background
1. How long have you been a member (circle which applies)?	< 1 year	1-3 years			4-10 years	10 -20 years			>20 years
	(20)(19)%	(33)(33)%			(30)(24)%	(15)(12)%			(3) (12)%
2. Do you cruise, race or both?	Race		Cruise				Both
	5 (20) %		49 (45) %				46 (35) %
3. How many times a year do you visit the club approximately?	0-9	10-19			20-29	30-39			40+
	21 (33) %	59 (28) %			10 (11) %	3 (17) %			5 (11) %
4. When do you tend to visit (circle all that apply)?	During the week			Saturday				Sunday
	18 (24) %			36 (34) %				44 (42) %
5. Are you a member of another sailing club in addition to KWSC?	No				Yes
	87 (85) %				13 (15) %

Communications
6. Does the club communicate enough with you about what’s going on?	0 (0) %	0 (0) %			0 (5) %	40 (38) %			60 (57) %
7. The main communication is by e-mail and a paper copy in the club house. How do you find this?	2 (5) %	0 (0) %			10 (5) %	35 (25) %			52 (67) %
8. Do you feel you know what is going on at the club?	0 (0) %	0 (0) %			5 (15) %	52 (25) %			40 (60) %

Facilities and Equipment
9. Do you find the clubhouse adequate for your needs?	0 (0) %	7 (5) %			7 (2) %	45 (50) %			38 (43) %
10. Do you use the club boats?	41 (5) %	11 (33) %			11 (43) %	16 (14) %			22 (5) %
11. Is the range of club boats adequate?	6 (0) %	3 (0) %			29 (15) %	40 (65) %			23 (20) %
12. Do you find the Patrol cover adequate?	0 (5) %	2 (0) %			20 (14) %	40 (43) %			35 (38) %
13. Are the boat park, foreshore club grounds and car parking adequate?	3 (0) %	13 (10) %			24 (33) %	45 (33) %			16 (24) %

Question	1 L	2		3 K	4		5 J	Comments
Training
14. Are you happy with the amount and breadth of the training provision at the club?	0 (0) %	0 (0) %		12 (11) %	36 (37) %		51 (53) %

Programme
15. Are you happy with the club sailing programme?	0 (0) %	3 (3) %		16 (3) %	29 (45) %		53 (50) %
16. Are you happy with the number of Open events (currently 3)?	Not enough		OK			Too many
	0 (0) %		100 (100) %			0 (0) %

Miscellaneous
17. (New question this year). Do you use the Forum (even if only for viewing).	18 %	8 %		16 %	26 %		32 %
18. You are expected to do about 2 duties a year as a member. Is this acceptable?	2 (0) %	2 (5) %		15 (10) %	37 (21) %		42 (64) %
19. Is the committee performing to your satisfaction?	0 (0) %	0 (0) %		12 (10) %	32 (29) %		55 (70) %

Young Sailors
20. (New question this year). If you have children how many times a year do they use the club?	(0-9) 59 %	(10-19) 36 %		(20 29) 5 %	(30 39) 0 %		(40 +) 0 %
21. (New question this year). Would your children recommend a friend as a member?	10 %	15 %		15 %	35%		25%
22. (New question this year). Does the Club provide enough for Young Sailors?	0 %	12 %		23%	46 %		19 %

KWSC Membership Survey 2006 – Comments received

Caveat: The comments received to specific questions or generally have all been included here unedited. There is no weighting attached to these comments so in reading them it must be understood that each comment represents a single view on a single survey response and its inclusion here does not make it representative of the membership view.

Note: A change of colour in the comments column indicates comments from a different member.

Question	Comments
Background
1. How long have you been a member (circle which applies)?
2. Do you cruise, race or both?
3. How many times a year do you visit the club approximately?
4. When do you tend to visit (circle all that apply)?
5. Are you a member of another sailing club in addition to KWSC?
Communications
6. Does the club communicate enough with you about what’s going on?
7. The main communication is by e-mail and a paper copy in the club house. How do you find this?
8. Do you feel you know what is going on at the club?
Facilities and Equipment
9. Do you find the clubhouse adequate for your needs?	Excellent facilities Changing room space can get overcrowded Should be more space to sit at tables in wet gear Ladies changing rooms get squashed on busy days Changing rooms too small with nowhere to pt bags.
10. Do you use the club boats?	Used the club wayfarer once – was very impressed. Before I bought my own dinghy – excellent choice.
11. Is the range of club boats adequate?	Wayfarers heavy to pull up ramp by 2 people e.g. on a Saturday if there was no one else to help
12. Do you find the Patrol cover adequate?	Good on Sundays and Cruises Would be nice if more cover on a Saturday. Not on Saturdays. Very grateful for it Patrol crews need to watch out for non-racing people too. But we don’t really use it.
13. Are the boat park, foreshore club grounds and car parking adequate?	Consideration could be given to heavier boats being stored nearer to launch area. Difficult to get around and untidy boat park. Would be good to have cover on busy weekend days when no event on Adequate yes. Occasionally a bit crowded. Muddy, grassed and stinging nettles make for difficulty manoeuvring dinghies. I’d like another 6 foot into the water across the full width of the concrete! Well organised given limited space Need more space soon. Not a lot of space for car parking. Several times last year my boat space was blocked by parked cars making it difficult to get the boat in or out.
Training
14. Are you happy with the amount and breadth of the training provision at the club?	Appears to be good and ongoing Very good Boat park looks busy/full The extra training during the novice series has been very good. Excellent
Programme
15. Are you happy with the club sailing programme?
16. Are you happy with the number of Open events (currently 3)?
Miscellaneous
17. The club’s constitution and rules are nearly 25 years old and have not changed significantly in this time. Do you think it needs updating?
18. You are expected to do about 2 duties a year as a member. Is this acceptable?	Max 2 for the family – 1 preferred We don’t agree with duty obligations as we have only been sailing once and I don’t believe we’ve ever used the clubhouse. It would be different if we get the chance to visit regularly. We’ve only been asked to do 1 per year for the last few years, which is fine.
19. Is the committee performing to your satisfaction?
20. (New question this year). If you have children how many times a year do they use the club?	Too young – they are 4 and 7 – nothing for them, would love them to get involved. I say nothing for them but actually they loved the land based activity – Easter Egg and also the pirate weekend – more of this would engage them. They come with us (no choice) but don’t really get much out of it. When kids don’t want to sail would be nice if there was more secure supervision on land.
21. (New question this year). Would your children recommend a friend as a member?
22. (New question this year). Does the Club provide enough for Young Sailors?	Club focus on encouraging Youth is excellent. Not for tots. Would like tuition for younger children Some clubs do tuition from age 8. Something for teenagers? Could do and sounds like more is on the cards
Finally
23. Overall – how happy are you with KWSC?
24. Would you recommend someone else as a member?
25. Does the club provide good value for money?	Fees beginning to get expensive for us pensioners
26. If there is anything you are unhappy with at KWSC please detail this on the next page or on a separate piece of paper	OK, if the boat park is sorted. Should be good. After the Open Meetings there have been young people standing talking and drinking outside of the clubhouse until 3am and disturbing the people camping and therefore they are not at their best for sailing the next day.
27. Are there any changes or improvements you would like to suggest? Please detail this on the next page or on a separate piece of paper	Recovery winch on slipway Longer slipway Without doubt, the people! An open friendly club which encourages new members and offers help and advice. A sail loft for putting away sails/masts for boats such as Toppers / rudders would be a benefit for members whose cars become uncomfortable when full of kit as well as crews. I recognise that safety / keeping such a loft locked presents many problems. I regard a loft as an ideal not an essential. I was spoilt by such facilities at a previous club. Log store, no nails in wood. Airing cupboards for drying clothes. Would like to see shingle/gravel to the far side of the boat park to prevent dinghies sinking into the mud and stinging nettles around the ankles. Joint membership with yacht club? Can I pay a supplement to keep a 3^rd boat? Cover on Saturdays would be nice but it would mean more duties. What would I need to do to teach? Larger gents changing.
28. What is the best thing about KWSC?	All embracing diversity. Friendly and accommodating Overall friendliness Accessibility throughout the year Club house Good food Good organisation, events Friendly members Sailing possible at most times Friendly, forward looking, well organised Friendly, accessible for all levels of ability Haven’t found one yet. Un-crowded sailing waters. Friendly members Fabulous area to sail in/on Its distance from Newcastle. Everybody is very friendly and accepting of different sailing abilities! Members friendly and helpful. Friendly club and very helpful if required. Friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The cruising. Friendliness and location. Beautiful site – everyone very friendly and helpful. Family atmosphere. Genuinely family-orientated club. Very friendly membership with lack of cliques. Encouragement of cruising activities as well as purely racing. The helpful friendly people. Friendly helpful people, relaxed atmosphere, beautiful setting Good water and warm clubhouse Very friendly Friendliness of the members Friendly approachable committee, very inclusive. Good facilities Lots of water, can sail any time Very friendly encouraging people and everyone knows so much about so many things – not just about sailing Friendliness Very friendly Large expanse of water available for sailing, Friendly members. Its location
29. What is the worst thing about KWSC?	No Waves No proper bar J. None Distance from Newcastle and midges. Distance to travel Water let out of the reservoir too often Too far from my house, can we have it moved to Newcastle! Over 50 miles from home! For us, the distance we have to travel (nearly 2 hours each way) – but we like Kielder better than other clubs where we’d only have to travel half the distance. Distance to travel – difficult to get there during week. Barking dogs. The cold Long way from where we live (1 ¼ hr drive) Very little company at the back of the field for sinking Lasers! Duties as we can’t get there very often. Getting on and off the water on race days It’s an hours drive from anywhere! Not allowed to swim in the lake It’s a bit far away, but we can’t move it! Lack of clubhouse space when training takes place. The journey to get there Distance from home to Kielder Water Getting there

Please provide any additional comments or clarifications here or on a separate continuation sheet.

Sailing yachts is something I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t get around to it. I’d never been on a sailboat until September 2007. Friends suggested Dinghy Sailing was the best way to start – close to the water. I contacted some of the clubs. One is much nearer to me than Kielder. Being a complete novice, it’s awkward when you go and ask and find out, especially when people just walk past you. At Kielder one weekend, I ‘loitered with intent’ and within 2 minutes someone asked if they could help. I explained, got a cup of tea and was out the same day. Since then I’ve had nothing but good advice, help and fun. I’ve got my own dinghy now – a Wayfarer – and other owners of the type have given me great advice and help. Some clubs have private notices at entrances. For me, the club s summed up by the notice at each entrance – “Kielder Water Sailing Club – New members welcome” – and they really are.

1. Three or four Drascombe races per year would be good to add to the programme. Don’t want to commit to too many weekends but would like a few target dates set to attract the other owners.

2. Web cam or other way of checking conditions – saves on a wasted trek if I’m not comfy with conditions.

3. A ‘T’ shaped jetty or other so access is easier on usy days.

4. Kids wetsuits and life jacket exchange / buy scheme.

5. Shop for gear or negotiated discount with some shop online.

6. VHF Radio Course

7. Day Skipper Practical on the sea.

Would be nice if there was some sort of web cam or email communication at a weekend so we would know whether to travel up on a Sat. or Sunday as conditions at Newcastle and at Kielder can vary considerably.

Perhaps a novice’s racing series or a racing improver’s course would be good.

As a new member last year I would have liked an induction to the clubhouse re how the showers etc work and also how to access the club boats.

The lack of an available patrol boat is a problem but I appreciate the difficulties – I cannot suggest an alternative policy that is practical.

Could do with more powerful showers

I know it’s difficult to organise on an equitable basis but I think people who sail every week should be asked to do duties more frequently than occasional sailors, other things being equal.

END

[1] Question 11 and in particular questions 20-22 were most subject o non-responses. Members without children felt no need to answer these latter questions.

[3] 10.2% of responses were marked as either not applicable or not answered in any category.