The Ski Club of Great Britain is - of course - welcome to clarify its current membership figure (both paying units and gross). The paying units figure for 30 April 2014 is the important one. Hopefully the paying units figure will be restored to the 2014 annual report, in the interests of continuity and comparison.
[End of Item 1: Membership]
P.S. The SCGB 2014 Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 20 November, as far as I'm aware.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Moving swiftly on ...
SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN 2014 ANNUAL REPORT [unofficial]
Item 2: Subscription Price Increase
This summer the price of joining the SCGB went up again: £70 ('cash') or £63 with a direct debit. The price for winter 2011 was £63 (cash) or £58 (DD). In a low-inflation era, that's approximately a 10% rise over 3 years.
Does the Ski Club need the hike? Without poring over the accounts, it's actually more a case of 'is this benefiting the organisation and securing its future?' Does the increase serve the interests of SCGB members? Are these membership price increases - which seem to occur every year - contributing to a loss or increase in membership? (not easy to answer, given the very confused data on the previous page)
Those in charge are bound to say "Yes" to the question of whether price increases benefit the SCGB. The proof of the pudding is whether members want to pay them - whether they perceive the subscription to be value for money. And this is where things get peculiar ...
Last season a new 'beginner' rate was introduced. This currently gets you SCGB membership for £24 as a direct debit payer (same price is charged for under 24s). So, what do you get for that price?
In essence you get all the membership services that anyone paying £70 gets, except that you are not allowed to ski with SCGB reps. It's a huge discount, and I imagine that the majority of new joiners want to pay that rate - you get the magazine and the discounts etc. You're not allowed to pay that rate if you're re-joining, but I can't see that any test can be applied as to whether you are a beginner.
Is the beginner rate valid when you go into the 2nd year of membership? Presumably not, so the acid test for the Club is whether you renew (since the £24 rate must involve a big cross-subsidy from members paying the full rate - unless one adopts a 'marginal cost' argument).
How many SCGB members joined at the beginner rate last year ... and were they actually beginners (?!) ... and what's been the percentage of renewals? Perhaps the official 2014 SCGB annual report will provide some info. on this.
Here is a consumer question: are you thinking of joining the SCGB this year? Are you a SCGB member who will be renewing?
[end of consumer survey]
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Thu 28-08-14 12:01; edited 1 time in total
How many SCGB members joined at the beginner rate last year ... and were they actually beginners (?!)
Possibly beginners to SCGB membership
Quote:
Here is a consumer question: are you thinking of joining the SCGB this year?
I fell like I'm already a member after 76 pages and i didn't have to pay a subscription to SCGB
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Proposed move to rename thread "70 pages of questioning SCGB statistics/value and 6 pages of exclamation as to the length of the thread"
After all it is free
After all it is free
seconded
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
David Goldsmith and Comedy Goldsmith, welcome back
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I was hoping for a new persona...
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
dulcamara wrote:
Proposed move to rename thread "70 pages of questioning SCGB statistics/value and 6 pages of exclamation as to the length of the thread"
If you put goldfish on ignore its only half a page.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Richard_Sideways wrote:
I was hoping for a new persona...
no - same old, same old - and getting older every second (unfortunately).
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Richard_Sideways wrote:
I was hoping for a new persona...
Sure. 'Richard Lengthways' is available, or 'Richard Motorways' has a little quirkiness.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
You missed out Richard_Strangeways might've gone for that.
We missed ya, Daveyboy *hugs*
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Where were we? Ah yes ...
SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN 2014 ANNUAL REPORT [unofficial]
Item 3: Chief Executive Report [not] - Part One
Since 2 July 2012 Frank McCusker has been CEO of the SCGB, taking over from Caroline Stuart-Taylor (sometimes un-hyphenated as 'Caroline Stuart Taylor') who held the position for 16 years.
On his appointment, McCusker said “I am excited by this opportunity ... to ensure a vibrant thriving Club, relevant to all ages and types of snow sports enthusiast.” So, how's it all going for Frank, after 2 years 2 months?
Immediately, in July 2012, this experienced businessman was faced with an organisation that seemingly didn't know how many members it had. The opening post of this thread on Winterhighland ...
http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/read.php?2,148384,page=1 "An open letter to the new CEO of the Ski Club of GB" ...
... was brought to his attention, since ...
Quote:
The following numbers have been published by the SCGB since last autumn: 32,000 (29 Nov 2011), 30,000+ (21 Feb 2012) 31,000+ (22 Feb 2012), 33,000 (1 Mar 2012) and currently (2 July 2012) "around 34,000". Since your performance as CEO will be partly measured by membership growth it would be good to know exactly what you started with.
Seemingly this situation continues to this day [see previous page of this thread], with the Club simultaneously publishing membership figures in August 2014 of "over 33,000 members" and "around 29,000 members". Last November, Frank put the figure at "just over 30,000 members" in this video interview for 'The Ski Trade' ...
Maybe the Chief Exec could see to it that the SCGB 2014 Annual Report [official] states definitively: the membership figure in paying units (for 30 April 2014), and the gross membership figure.
Several other points come up in that 7-minute Ski Trade interview. I'll leave it there for now. Keep tuned for Part Two of this report, and thank you for your continuing interest in the Ski Club of Great Britain.
[End of Chief Executive Report Part One]
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Does anyone care???
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
RUGBY PETER, perhaps ask that question of your goodself - a skier presumably. You say your location is London - birthplace of the SCGB in 1903 (at the Cafe Royal, Regent St, now a hotel of that name).
Does Great Britain need a national skiers' club, dedicated to serving its skiers with relevant information, services and fellowship? Should it be more active in social media? You may not be aware that snowHeads came about because the SCGB's very busy and popular public forum was shut to non-members in Feb 2004.
Is there a dead parrot sketch waiting in the wings?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Yawnnnnnnn.
Back on Snowheads after a few months away. Winter slowly approaches but some things never change!!
SCGB of which I am a member ain't perfect but it's up to them what they do with their forum. Snowheads is a better forum.
Complaining about the club on SHs is pointless.
To change the club you have to change the views of a majority of its members. QED. Not sure how wingeing here contributes to that.
My one contribution!
To change the club you have to change the views of a majority of its members. QED.
I think you'll find that the SCGB is controlled by a majority vote of about 1% of its membership (though the voting figures aren't normally disclosed, so that may be incorrect)
... not 51% of its membership.
[non-comedic point]
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Snowheads is a better forum (apart from this tedious thread) SCGB is better at organising off piste ski holidays. History is history. Skiing doesn't need a national body to represent us punters.
On the rocks, Tedious for you maybe, highly entertaining for me. If you're not interested, don't open it
End of end of
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
On the rocks wrote:
Snowheads is a better forum.................
End of
Please tell Comedy/David.........
After all it is free
After all it is free
On the rocks wrote:
..SCGB is better at organising off piste ski holidays...
How are SCGB hols better than a sH Bash (+off-pisters hiring a guide)?
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Mark1863 wrote:
Yawnnnnnnn.
Back on Snowheads after a few months away. Winter slowly approaches but some things never change!!
SCGB of which I am a member ain't perfect but it's up to them what they do with their forum. Snowheads is a better forum.
Complaining about the club on SHs is pointless.
To change the club you have to change the views of a majority of its members. QED. Not sure how wingeing here contributes to that.
My one contribution!
For some odd reason you seem to think that the majority of active scgb members aren't on here and following this thread. Given the number of views and posts from members that clearly isn't the case. Feedback on this thread is getting noticed, so probably not pointless.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
ALQ wrote:
On the rocks wrote:
..SCGB is better at organising off piste ski holidays...
How are SCGB hols better than a sH Bash (+off-pisters hiring a guide)?
Just my own experience having been on both
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
On the rocks wrote:
ALQ wrote:
On the rocks wrote:
..SCGB is better at organising off piste ski holidays...
How are SCGB hols better than a sH Bash (+off-pisters hiring a guide)?
Just my own experience having been on both
Better than the actual SnowHeads off piste bash? That was the most phenomenally brilliant (and exhausting) ski trip I have ever been on - I genuinely can't believe a SCGB trip could be better, but you have me intrigued!
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
fixx wrote:
On the rocks wrote:
ALQ wrote:
On the rocks wrote:
..SCGB is better at organising off piste ski holidays...
How are SCGB hols better than a sH Bash (+off-pisters hiring a guide)?
Just my own experience having been on both
Better than the actual SnowHeads off piste bash? That was the most phenomenally brilliant (and exhausting) ski trip I have ever been on - I genuinely can't believe a SCGB trip could be better, but you have me intrigued!
On the rocks, as you've not been on the SOPiB, indeed since the only bash you've been on is the PSB2012 - the event in our calendar that probably presents the fewest off-piste opportunities - I suggest your 'own experience' may not quite fully justify the opinion you've expressed here.
Not that you're not entitled to your opinion of course, qualified or otherwise
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
admin wrote:
...Not that you're not entitled to your opinion of course, qualified or otherwise
Quite. Being qualified to speak is a bit unsporting here. That being so, maybe you should not have posted?
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
achilles, err, I'm not sure what your issue is... I've not censored him or sanctioned him in any way, his opinion stands - I just responded.
On the rocks implied that his comparative opinion was from an informed position. It would certainly appear that fixx, got that impression.
I think it fair to point out that this is not the case.
Actually, I'll go further and say that, while he may love the SCGB and may be satisfied enough with their off-piste trips that he feels no need or desire to sample ours
His loss IMHO
: he may even believe that they are better for any number of reasons, and to that opinion he is entirely welcome - however to say that he thinks so based on his own experience of both is a tad disingenuous if he hasn't, in fact, experienced both.
That is just my opinion, of course - am I not entitled to one too?
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Goodness Me! read what I posted. I did not say at all that snowheads holidays are not as good as SCGB holidays.
I'm sure the SOPiB was a great event, especially for those able to keep their plans flexible until plans are finally confirmed almost very close to the event. And for what its worth I enjoyed the PSB tremendously too, even if I didn't get as much chance to ski off piste as I would have liked; only now do I read that it is "the event in our calendar that probably presents the fewest off-piste opportunities" (But it seems I may have to change my user name if I go back to any in the future......) I said that SCGB is better at organising off piste holidays, ie including a wide choice of venues and dates. It is for these reasons I prefer to use snowheads for the forum but SCGB for my off piste holidays and lessons.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thank you for the clarification On the rocks
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
admin wrote:
achilles, err, I'm not sure what your issue is... I've not censored him or sanctioned him in any way, his opinion stands - I just responded........
Exactly. The problem is you - because you actually knew what you were talking about. That is rather unsporting, here.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Sorry to interrupt, chaps, but it's time for Part Two of Item 3 - the Chief Executive Report [not] contd.:
SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN 2014 ANNUAL REPORT [unofficial]
Item 3: Chief Executive Report [not] - Part Two
Last spring it was announced that the prestigious Mountain Travel Symposium in Breckenridge, Colorado, would feature the SCGB's CEO Frank McCusker addressing a workshop on 'Attracting International Visitors'.
In that regard ... in what ways does the Ski Club of Great Britain attract international visitors (to Wimbledon and elsewhere)? I guess the tradition of ski resorts hosting SCGB reps - at least those resorts which continue to pay for a rep's accommodation - is based on an equation that the rep attracts extra British skiers to the resort.
It seems a bit odd, then, that 4 months after the CEO's participation with this Colorado conference the SCGB announced that 2 out of 3 of its American resorts (Breckenridge and Aspen) - i.e. the ones in Colorado - would no longer have reps posted for the 2014-5 winter. Jackson Hole (Wyoming) will continue to host a rep.
Is there something we should be told? An account of 'Attracting International Visitors' would be interesting to read.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 2-09-14 5:29; edited 1 time in total
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Total viewings of the New Ski Club of Great Britain chat forum have now exceeded 170,000.
I see there's been much discussion about hacked porn links on snowHeads over the past 48 hours, which suggests to me that we should restore some respectable subject matter to the forum ...
SKI CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN 2014 ANNUAL REPORT [unofficial]
Item 3: Chief Executive Report [not] - Part Three
Frank McCusker was appointed as CEO of the SCGB in 2012 on the strength - it seems - of his expertise in marketing, loyalty schemes and research methods used to drive membership or customer growth. This information from ZoomInfo gives some background ...
With a twenty year track record at leading marketing and customer loyalty agencies, Frank has transformed the customer churn rates of major brands across the financial services, telecoms, utility and retail sectors; helping companies such as Virgin Mobile achieve the lowest churn rates in their industries.
'Net Promoter Score' (NPS) is a phrase that comes up ... see this video interview with Frank, on MyCustomer.com ...
After two years in the role of SCGB CEO one imagines that Frank is armed with a great deal of information about the loyalty of Ski Club of GB members, and their membership requirements [though, as noted on the previous page, there's considerable confusion as to how many skiers actually belong to the SCGB]. In the past year, two new schemes - beginner membership (£23, now £24) and 'Ski Club +' (a subscription rate inclusive of a £10 premium for a mountain rescue card) have been introduced:
So, how many SCGB beginner memberships have been sold?
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Fri 5-09-14 14:47; edited 1 time in total
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
This is the strangest pub quiz I've ever taken part in. If it wasn't for the meat raffle coming up on page 80, i'd leave now...
After all it is free
After all it is free
I'd also leave if it wasn't for the 'vegetarian option raffle', same page.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
I went to join SCGB once at one of their stands but got the distinct impression I was not what they were looking for so walked away. I think to increase membership they need to appear a little more inclusive, just my opinion.
For £24 may have to revisit for the discounts.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
