Where does the time go? August has arrived, and while many of us are still enjoying summer activities, conversations about the upcoming school year are already beginning to surface.
This month, the Management Committee is sharing more detail from the recent member survey. There’s an old saying: “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” Your feedback gives us direction, and we are now putting plans in motion to act on what we’ve learned.
I recently met with several Past Presidents to gather their perspectives and tap into their historical knowledge. Their comments were enlightening. Many of the ideas suggested to increase member engagement have been tried successfully in the past but have gradually faded over time. It’s clear we need to shift from passive efforts to more active, intentional engagement. So it’s “back to the future.”
One specific area members commented on was our website. Feedback showed a mix of preferences for finding club information: some rely on the monthly newsletter, while others look to the website. We also heard the need for stronger outward communication — a way for potential members to learn about us easily and be drawn in. Bob Buckner, Tony Hart, and Gary Bridges are already working on improvements in this area.
Our goal is simple: to remain compelling to our current members and appealing to future ones. In that spirit, I asked Microsoft Copilot to assess the survey results, and one line stood out to me: “Every new member represents a person who found friendship, purpose, and community through Applewood Probus.”
One final note – Probus Canada is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary. Look for more opportunities to engage in some communication activities.
“The most impactful marketing we could ever do is word of mouth from our members.” Dayle Acorn President
