Survey & Responses - Manfred's Reply
Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:38 pm
Stephen Whiteside
A gender breakdown would have been interesting.
G'day Stephen, a gender breakdown was included, although not so well labelled (my bad). It's under my report, 57% Males, 43% Females 0% others ...
Thank you Marty (South) for raising this ...
The reason for the survey was two-fold; 1. to find out what "IS" the state of our current membership (not what we "THINK" it may be) and 2. to use the information as the basis for the ABPA Strategic Plan.
The Strategic Plan is an item that I raised in Committee almost two years ago out of a concern for the direction and longevity of our Association. I don't have all the answers, so through the ABPA Committee we called for members to serve on a strategic planning sub-committee. Maggi Daley, Gary Fogarty and myself serve on this committee. The outcome will be a definitive plan for the future direction of our Association. We hope to have the document out to the membership for discussion and review by the end of the year and hopefully ratification by early 2013.
Marty asks (about the survey) ...
Q. Was it of any value ?
... I guess that's yet to be determined.
Q. Did it tell us anything we didnt already know ?
... In terms of demographics, probably not, but at least we have a quantifiable snapshot of the makeup of our current membership. We also have a number of member's views, hopes and aspirations for our Association difinitavly recorded, these will be of great value for the strategic plan. What that means is, that the strat plan is directly linked to your responses in the survey. They are YOUR ideas, not just mine.
Neville ...
I'm not suggesting that the survey results are no good, just a bit of comment on the language of politics.
I understand why it is done, it's a protection tactic, maybe a necessary one.
... When I first read this I was offended. The language "... it's a protection tactic", smacks of, myself and/or the committee are engaged in covering our backsides. This is definitly NOT the case! The responses to the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportun ities & Threats (SWOT) section were wide and varied. Trying to distill the responses into a quarter page accuratly is no mean feat. The language is high level - it's supposed to be. We're open to suggestions for improvement.
Neville ...
Just a couple of items that might need explanation or translation
" The ABPA has a disproportionate high median age, core membership and a low intake of junior members "
I think that means, we are a bunch of old fogies and the kids aren't interested."
... Yep!
"Currently performing poets have a narrow target demographic.
It's a tough audience out there."
... Nope, contrary to popular belief, we have a very limited market.
" depending on the ' membership model " as the primary income source limits growth and can lead to pricing fallout with subsequent membership attrition." That's a hard one to translate. I think it mean we are short of dough.
... Almost. We only have ONE income stream - membership subscriptions. If we raise membership fees, we loose members.
" Key Personnel Burnout."
... relates to workloads of the executive (AND Editor)
"egos". This one wins the prize for brevity, but what it means is anyone's guess.
... I'm with you on that one.
The ABPA as the National Peak Body or Bush Poets have a passionate membership of colourful backgrounds in an Australia wide organisation where the diversity each member brings to the association is valued.
That sounds like the way to go, but the three musketeers said it better " all for one and one for all "
... The estate of Alexander Dumas may sue us for plagiarism ...
Bob Pacey ...
On a serious note we have a very marketable product in our magazine not only to the public but to advertisers.
... It's a limited but (hopefully) expanding market
Stephen ...
Sometimes when you're looking at all this big picture stuff it's easy to forget that the mass is just made up of individuals.
... Individuals are contributing to the 'big picture stuff' through the survey and review and ratification of the Strat Plan.
Hope this helps ?
If there is no objection I'll lock the other threads re. the Survey? Please respond, and ask me ANY questions here ... That's so we can keep all the responses together ...
A gender breakdown would have been interesting.
G'day Stephen, a gender breakdown was included, although not so well labelled (my bad). It's under my report, 57% Males, 43% Females 0% others ...
Thank you Marty (South) for raising this ...
The reason for the survey was two-fold; 1. to find out what "IS" the state of our current membership (not what we "THINK" it may be) and 2. to use the information as the basis for the ABPA Strategic Plan.
The Strategic Plan is an item that I raised in Committee almost two years ago out of a concern for the direction and longevity of our Association. I don't have all the answers, so through the ABPA Committee we called for members to serve on a strategic planning sub-committee. Maggi Daley, Gary Fogarty and myself serve on this committee. The outcome will be a definitive plan for the future direction of our Association. We hope to have the document out to the membership for discussion and review by the end of the year and hopefully ratification by early 2013.
Marty asks (about the survey) ...
Q. Was it of any value ?
... I guess that's yet to be determined.
Q. Did it tell us anything we didnt already know ?
... In terms of demographics, probably not, but at least we have a quantifiable snapshot of the makeup of our current membership. We also have a number of member's views, hopes and aspirations for our Association difinitavly recorded, these will be of great value for the strategic plan. What that means is, that the strat plan is directly linked to your responses in the survey. They are YOUR ideas, not just mine.
Neville ...
I'm not suggesting that the survey results are no good, just a bit of comment on the language of politics.
I understand why it is done, it's a protection tactic, maybe a necessary one.
... When I first read this I was offended. The language "... it's a protection tactic", smacks of, myself and/or the committee are engaged in covering our backsides. This is definitly NOT the case! The responses to the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportun ities & Threats (SWOT) section were wide and varied. Trying to distill the responses into a quarter page accuratly is no mean feat. The language is high level - it's supposed to be. We're open to suggestions for improvement.
Neville ...
Just a couple of items that might need explanation or translation
" The ABPA has a disproportionate high median age, core membership and a low intake of junior members "
I think that means, we are a bunch of old fogies and the kids aren't interested."
... Yep!
"Currently performing poets have a narrow target demographic.
It's a tough audience out there."
... Nope, contrary to popular belief, we have a very limited market.
" depending on the ' membership model " as the primary income source limits growth and can lead to pricing fallout with subsequent membership attrition." That's a hard one to translate. I think it mean we are short of dough.
... Almost. We only have ONE income stream - membership subscriptions. If we raise membership fees, we loose members.
" Key Personnel Burnout."
... relates to workloads of the executive (AND Editor)
"egos". This one wins the prize for brevity, but what it means is anyone's guess.
... I'm with you on that one.
The ABPA as the National Peak Body or Bush Poets have a passionate membership of colourful backgrounds in an Australia wide organisation where the diversity each member brings to the association is valued.
That sounds like the way to go, but the three musketeers said it better " all for one and one for all "
... The estate of Alexander Dumas may sue us for plagiarism ...
Bob Pacey ...
On a serious note we have a very marketable product in our magazine not only to the public but to advertisers.
... It's a limited but (hopefully) expanding market
Stephen ...
Sometimes when you're looking at all this big picture stuff it's easy to forget that the mass is just made up of individuals.
... Individuals are contributing to the 'big picture stuff' through the survey and review and ratification of the Strat Plan.
Hope this helps ?
If there is no objection I'll lock the other threads re. the Survey? Please respond, and ask me ANY questions here ... That's so we can keep all the responses together ...
I meant that comments from leadership have to be carefully worded these days because so often there's someone who takes things the wrong way. The protection I was referring to was protection from having your own words twisted against you. Always a danger for those who make public announcements, as I well know. I've copped it, that's why I understand. Sorry again, my apologies for being an offensive galah. 
