1. Snowsports Clubs and Social Networking
Information Technology (So Far!!) for the 21st Century
Presented by Sheri Parshall, Skiyente Ski Club
and Becki Robinson, Altair Ski and Sports Club
Northwest Ski Club Council

2. How we communicate Newsletters – Hard copy/snail mail
Newsletters – Electronic
List Serve
Web sites
Popular Social Networks
Facebook / MySpace
Meetup
You-Tube
LinkedIn / Plaxo
Twitter
Constant Contact
Yahoo Groups

3. HARD COPY NEWSLETTERS PROS
Great for people who like to hold their reading material in their hand
Good for older club members
Good for archives
Nice to have for prospective members as a marketing tool
CONS
Time consuming (production/printing/mailing)
Can be costly
Not Green

4. E-NEWSLETTERS PROS No limit to length, use of color presentation, etc.
Immediate delivery – no mail delay
Free production costs!
Easy URL links, when clicked can take you to another online trip, event or fact
CONS
Older members still resist use of computers
Cumbersome newsletter formats
Dial-up vs. wireless
TMI

5. LIST-SERVES
PROS
Instant dissemination of quick information, great for updates from meetings and newsletters
Usually free of cost
CONS
Subscription required – uncontrollable (you can lead your members to a list-serve, but you can’t make ‘em sign up)
If not monitored, there can be unnecessary/unwanted s

6. WEB SITES AND BLOGS PROS Excellent communication tool Highly visual
Can replace a newsletter
Usually limitless space
Can be updated quickly
Fundraiser
Marketing tool
CONS
Can cost money (paid vs. free web sites, and you’ll have to pay for a domain name)
Requires a dedicated web-master/mistress
Members must go to the web site

7. FACEBOOK/MYSPACE PROS: Easy to create Easy to update
Easy, unlimited photo uploads
Easy to invite to events
Reports provided (Facebook)
Comments
One-stop address book for member and event details at a glance
Chat mode option
Second more popular device next to iPods
CONS
Privacy issues (see article)
This just in: internet users spent 9.9% of their internet time on Facebook in August, up from 9.3% in July, and 5% in 2009.

8. MEETUP PROS Great way to attract contacts new to an area Easy to use
“Virtual” meetings possible
CONS
Costs money
Size control (if you choose to integrate your virtual club and your physical club, can your club physically handle the size of the virtual group)

9. YOU-TUBE PROS It’s video! Great way to share fun moments
You can track “hits”
CONS

10. LINKEDIN/PLAXO PROS One more social network
Great if you’re looking for a job in a related industry
CONS
More appropriate for professional, job-related networking

11. TWITTER PROS Instant communication
Fast way of gathering data in interest-related fields
CONS
Can get over-saturated!
Typically more youth-oriented
Problems with bots & lurkers
Can’t “private”; all conversations are shared

12. CONSTANT CONTACT/YAHOO GROUPS
PROS:
Easy to create
Easy to update
Banking capabilities
Easy to invite to events
List serve / chat capability
One-stop address book for member and event details at a glance
Chat mode option
CONS
Comments
Security only as good as the site itself
Some features costs money

13. WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?
Your smartphone is now your PC (don’t you feel lucky)!
iPhone and iPad(and more) apps
Skype and the virtual meeting

14. Welcome to Geekdom!!
You still need fabulous volunteers and maybe a contract service provider or two:
Someone to design/create the sites (may require payment)
Someone to update the sites
Someone to monitor the sites
Someone to provide content
Tech-savvy people who can trouble-shoot any problems