Feedback on sailing programs in Austin Texas.

1. Austin Yacht Club
2012 AYC Member Survey Results
Feedback on club programs and sailing in Austin
June 2012 | AYC Long Range Planning Committee
contact: doug_kern@yahoo.com
www.austinyachtclub.org

2. Background: Getting input to long-range plans
May 24, 2012 - Long Range Planning Committee: Doug Kern, Ray Shull, Kevin Reynolds
This document summarizes a survey of Austin Yacht Club members to
gain feedback on priorities, needs and interests.
In 2007, the Austin Yacht Club created a “five-year plan” to provide an
direction on member programs, documenting the core values and its
vision of AYC in 2012. In March 2012, as part of refreshing the plan, the
club gathered feedback from members in an online survey.
The results were impressive: 42% of members responded, with 210
completes out of 490 emails sent.
5-year 5-year
plan plan
“v1.0” Survey “v2.0”
2007 2012 2017
You are here.
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3. Context: AYC Strategic Plan 2007 - 2012
In July 2007, a team gathered input from members and created a long-range plan.
The original 12-page document can be found at:
http://austinyachtclub.net/info/AYC-2007-Strategic-Plan.pdf
Mission
To be a premier sailing club, with an emphasis on sailboat racing and
related activities, with a membership characterized by broad social,
economic and sailing experience levels and sustained by individual
participation, volunteerism and Club generated revenues.
Core Values
1. A Club that supports active sailboat racing.
2. A Club that is attractive to all sailing enthusiasts.
3. A Club with activities supported by volunteerism.
4. Management that insures the continued existence of the Club
through fiscal (a), physical (b) and operational (c) sustainability
and (d) risk management.
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4. Survey Findings
1.The “State of the Union” is good
2.Good job on Core Values (No Frills Racing)
3.Active members (68% > 1x per month)
4.“Access” is huge priority
5.Volunteer system is OK
6.Top ranking: Racing, Grounds, Jr Sailing
7.Better recruitment
8.Better new member integration
9.Better communications
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5. Recommendations
1.Stay the Course (no frills racing)
2.Prioritize “Access” (docks, ramps)
3.Reward volunteers (opt-in system)
4.Improve recruitment (web)
5.Improve member integration (mentors)
6.Improve communications (web, email)
7.Consider year-round sail training
8.Consider access to club-owned boats
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6. Q1. What’s your age?
80% are 41-70.
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7. Q2. Why do you belong to AYC?
“Racing” is
why we’re
here.
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8. Q3. What is your primary use of the club?
“No Frills Racing”
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9. Q4. How often do you participate at AYC?
68% participate at least monthly
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10. Q5. How likely are you to recommend AYC?
“Customer sat” is very good.
65% Net Promoter
Score is comparable
to Costco (71%) and
Trader Joe’s (73%).
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11. Q6. How would you rank these parts of AYC?
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12. Q7. How is AYC doing on our core values?
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13. Q8. If AYC could invest in one thing, which
would increase your participation?
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14. Q9. How is AYC doing on volunteering?
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15. Q10. What do you think AYC does best to serve
its members? (n=199)
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16. Q11. What is the one thing that AYC should do to
provide better services to its members? (n=152)
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17. Q12. Any additional comments? (n=98)
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18. AYC Member Survey 2012
Q8. If the club could invest in one of the areas below, which one would increase your
participation at the club? (n=41)
1. "Golf type" handicap to encourage a broader range of racers
2. attract more members. invest in sail training for young and adults. improve access to water during
drought conditions including for beachcats ;)
3. Bar, snack bar of some sort should be added, at least for weekends.
4. Be more proactive fighting against LCRA policies that drain the lake below workable levels. Also as a dry
sailer, I would like to have a few more places I could comfortably keep my boat in the water for several days at a
time, like over a week end or a long week. I also wish someone would ask owners of severely neglected boats(and
very old windsurfers) in the dry sail area, take them home.
5. Be more welcoming to its members, particularly new members. Starting with a more personable GM and
less good old boy groups. I have found it tough to break-in to the social fabric of this club, even after 4 years as a
member.
6. Build a better playground for the kids.
7. Consider the different needs of multihull sailors; don't shorten course at the far end of a distance race
since we can't motor home, don't begrudge us our rights in a mixed fleet race, etc.
8. Do more than just have lots of races. Get more proactive in getting new young members introduced
to the sport of sailing. The sport of sailing is not the same as sailboat racing. People have to have the option of
sailing for fun, too. New people to the sport need to be able to enjoy the learning experience and enjoy the people
in sailing. Racing is not for everyone, but especially not for people who did not grow up knowing how to sail.
Racing is better for people who love the sport first. Get people to love sailing first.
9. don't really know since haven't been active for the past couple years.
10. Easier, more accessible, more stable, (wider walkways with railings) to docks
11. encourage more one-design racing, especially centerboard and J's
Q8 - AYC Member Survey 1

19. 12. Find a way to reuse, reduce, recycle.
13. Have an emergency number. We reserved the clubhouse one time a ways back and were locked out and
there was no one to call.
14. help beginning racers get experience as crew
15. "I can't think of anything AYC ""should do."" But perhaps more family oriented sailing/cruises beginner's
races for those not yet comfortable mixing it up on the starting line with 'the pros"""
16. I think being cognizant of rising costs is the most important thing to consider in this time of economic
tightening, at least at my house and I think for many.
17. I'm a big fan of sail training and the youth program in particular. I think working toward having a full time
sail training individual to help members with questions regarding their sailing esp racing would be helpful. Also that
person could assist with making the club boats more accessible to club members.
18. improve grounds, clubhouse
19. Increase level of junior sailing program.
20. Increased activities for the cruising sailor
21. Keep a launch ramp with rigging dock available at all water levels
22. keep it affordable
23. Make club boats available to members, even if a fee is charged. For example, let members with kids use
the Picots and Optis and windsurfers. Have a check-in/check-out system and charge if there is damage.
24. Make sure that those who are performing the race committee tasks are qualified to do so. It is frustrating
to put on good races for everyone, when it's my turn, and have crummy race committee screw-ups or don't cares
when I am racing.
25. Nicer clubhouse, changing rooms, docks...
26. None
Q8 - AYC Member Survey 2

20. 27. Offer more formal sailing classes (ASA level) for newbies
28. per #8above , more easily dock access
29. Plan for a rigging dock at all water levels
30. Promote growth from the bottom up. Get more kids involved in sailing and a coach to travel with the kids.
Look at Houston Yacht clubs.
31. Promote more in the way of relaxed sailing, such as raft-ups and full moon cruises.
32. Ramp , Ramp , Ramp
33. Reasonable access to beer cooler.
34. reduce costs
35. Reduce the emphasis on racing and invest in activities for cruisers and recreational sailors
36. see above comments. As it is right now the club is fine for me to sail and race, but I have a difficulty
convincing my kids and wife to "spend a day at the club".
37. social activities for all of, even retired from sailing
38. Spend more to provide better access to docks. It is patetic what members have to do to get to their boats.
We have the money, spend some on better walkways. DAMN IT
39. Vending machine for beverages that operates with a membership card.
40. We need a real boat (Opti) to do examples on @ the classroom.
41. ?
Q8 - AYC Member Survey 3