Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

**Dick W.** · May 21, 2009, 03:55 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Terry, to add to your comments, there are statistics to prove that a database that includes email and phone numbers, if it is not continually updated, loses 25% of it's relevance per year. Most individuals don't update their phone #'s or email every time it changes. Members here can help by going to their user profile, then edit profile, and update their phone # and email address.

Our chapter database, even though it is updated the best we can, at any time will have close to 10 invalid email addresses and get the email kicked back when we send out newsletters, etc. One of the fallacies of email, no central registration to keep up with changes.

**Terry M.** · May 21, 2009, 04:04 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Originally posted by Dick Whittington (8804)

Most individuals don't update their phone #'s or email every time it changes. Members here can help by going to their user profile, then edit profile, and update their phone # and email address.

Thanks for the prod to update my used profile. I wasn't aware all that information was there, although I probably provided it at some point.

I am encouraged to know that I have to notify the administrator if my DOB changes.

I am still trying to figure out the circumstances that would cause that to happen.

**Edward B.** · May 21, 2009, 04:35 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Either I, or someone else, is missing the point in this thread. For an online Driveline to work it is not necessary for NCRS to constantly update all members' addresses as NCRS will not be sending out copies to each member, it will only be necessary for the NCRS address to remain constant so that interested members can have access as they do presently through this forum.

**Rob M.** · May 21, 2009, 04:38 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

To give you some more numbers; our membership database currently holds 8,212 out of 15,344 current members having provided an email address (app. 53,5%)...

regards,
Rob.

**Rob M.** · May 21, 2009, 04:41 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Note: an extra service could be a notification send to all members (with valid email address) to tell them the new Driveline is available. This could then also been used as an automatic check to figure out if their email address is still operational...

regards,
Rob.

**Terry M.** · May 21, 2009, 05:15 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Originally posted by Edward Boyd (12363)

Either I, or someone else, is missing the point in this thread. For an online Driveline to work it is not necessary for NCRS to constantly update all members' addresses as NCRS will not be sending out copies to each member, it will only be necessary for the NCRS address to remain constant so that interested members can have access as they do presently through this forum.

So I take it you are proposing to make The Restorer electronic as well as The Driveline -- oh, and no USPS membership renewal notices will be sent out either under your plan. So if/when someone changes their email address and doesn't update it on-line they are lost to us forever. I can imagine what that will do to the membership numbers.

People move their domicile less often than change their email address -- although that could change in the future. The easier chore, for now, is updating the postal address. I believe that situation is not a problem and is under control.

We ought not let this discussion become so focused that we lose sight of the big picture.

**Edward M.** · May 21, 2009, 05:33 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)

Did you ask when the parts sold?

The Driveline is a bi-monthly publication (so Ed might want to amend his time suggestion for his proposed test) and I suspect many of the "sold" parts are gone before The Driveline is printed. I have no data on this, and thus it is pure speculation on my part, but Ed's experiment could produce some.

Original post has been amended. Thanks for catching that.

**Edward M.** · May 21, 2009, 05:37 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)

I do kind of like Ed's test idea, and I suggest he make his case to his Regional Director.

I sent my regional rep an email this morning asking that he support this test idea.

**Edward M.** · May 21, 2009, 05:44 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)

So I take it you are proposing to make The Restorer electronic as well as The Driveline -- oh, and no USPS membership renewal notices will be sent out either under your plan. So if/when someone changes their email address and doesn't update it on-line they are lost to us forever. I can imagine what that will do to the membership numbers.

People move their domicile less often than change their email address -- although that could change in the future. The easier chore, for now, is updating the postal address. I believe that situation is not a problem and is under control.

We ought not let this discussion become so focused that we lose sight of the big picture.

That is not what he said. We are all suggesting that The Driveline be posted online on the NCRS web site (this site) as soon as it goes in the mail.

Anyone with internet access (libraries offer this for next to nothing for those that really can't get access) would then be able to access the ads and call immediately.

Just post The Driveline, that is all NCRS has to do. Don't need to worry about email addresses, or phone numbers, or anything else.

Just make the information available on the NCRS web site as soon as the first issues go in the mail.

Try this for three consecutive issues of The Driveline and see where we are.

**Edward B.** · May 21, 2009, 06:51 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Terry: Don't take comments out of context in an attempt to butress a weak position. No one on this thread has proposed any change in the distribution of The Restorer as it is not a time-sensitive publication. I, for one, have a vast collection of print copies and would resist any change to that format. Let's stick to the issue at hand, which is the inequitable distribution of time sensitive information contained in Driveline.

**Patrick H.** · May 21, 2009, 07:34 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Originally posted by Terry McManmon (3966)

Patrick your numbers prove that 40% of the parts SELLERS in a sampling (let's assume random) of the most recent issue of The Driveline have Internet access.

Similarly 42% of the car SELLERS have Internet access.

Please note those numbers say NOTHING about BUYERS.

It also shows that 87.37% of the people who attended your Regional have Internet access. What does this say about the other 15,000 members who didn't attend your event? I submit that it says NOTHING. I am sure you would like to extrapolate that 87.37% to the whole membership -- but I submit there is no basis for that extension. Arguments based on faulty logic will ultimately be faulty.

Did you ask any of those people if they want to receive The Driveline on-line?

I know the Michigan Chapter has made a concerted effort, as have some other Chapters, to establish email communications with their membership. The high percentage of your members with a listed Internet address shows you have been effective. Someone has to maintain that list. I know from maintaining the contacts page of The Restorer that people change Internet providers, and thus Internet addresses, like they change clothes. Maintaining a list of 30 names, as I did, or 300, as someone is for the Michigan Chapter, is one thing. Doing that for 15,000 families is quite another matter.

No, my sampling notes that 40% of the parts SELLERS provided an e-mail address, and 42% of the car SELLERS provided an e-mail address. Nowhere did I state or imply anything regarding their internet access. It is safe to assume that those who provide an e-mail address have internet access, but I do not think it safe to assume that those who did not list an e-mail address in their ad do not have internet access. It only means that they did not provide an e-mail address in their ad. If you read more into it than that, then your conclusions will differ from mine.

In a similar way, you note that 40-42% of sellers have internet access (per your interpretation), yet there is no way that 87% of the membership having internet access can be extrapolated from our Regional or Chapter data. I would suggest that if you can limit "internet access" to only those who provide e-mail addresses in ads, then I can surely extrapolate internet access to 87% since my sample was much larger.

Either way, my point is that 15% is an unrealistic number and that the number is probably a multiple of 15 - something like 5.

Yes, I'd like to have not only an online Driveline but also a real-time ad forum just like the Corvette Forum. From a technical standpoint there is no reason we can't. In fact, it may help members move toward using the site much more often. I guess that in the meantime I'll have to use that other venue for parts since we do not support that.

I'll quit for the moment.

Patrick

**Jim B.** · May 21, 2009, 07:53 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Just for info, The Louisiana Chapter now distributes all news and its newsletter via email coupled with a posting on the web site. So far no complaints that anyone is missing it.

That said, I will agree that maintaining an accurate email listing has proved to be very difficult. In addition, some folks use their business email address and nowadays most businesses have VERY aggressive spam filters that will not let mass mailings go thru. I get many bouncebacks from business requesting that no spam be sent. When I indentify this issue to the member they seem to be clueless on how to resolve.

Web site posting gets around all of this and we post the newsletter on the web site the very day it is issued.

All of this takes some discipline and is somewhat more involved than simply delivering a copy(s) to the post office and letting them handle it.

I like the idea of a test that was proposed in this thread.

Jim Boudreaux
Chairman
Louisiana Chapter NCRS

**Terry M.** · May 21, 2009, 11:37 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

"Originally Posted by Edward Boyd (12363)
Either I, or someone else, is missing the point in this thread. For an online Driveline to work it is not necessary for NCRS to constantly update all members' addresses as NCRS will not be sending out copies to each member, it will only be necessary for the NCRS address to remain constant so that interested members can have access as they do presently through this forum."

What he (Ed Boiyd) said: "it is not necessary for NCRS to constantly update all members' addresses as NCRS will not be sending out copies to each member"

**Terry M.** · May 21, 2009, 11:54 PM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Given that information, I am more than ever in favor of Ed McC's experiment. I also believe the Bod, and business manager should hear Rev. Mike's suggestions. He knows what he is talking about.

**Stewart A.** · May 22, 2009, 03:13 AM

Re: Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Everyone is on the Net. Lets try a few months test and I bet there is less gripes than the antiquated method that is being used at the moment. Lets shift with the times guys it's the year 2009 not 1953. Stewy

Random Statistics on NCRS / E-mail usage

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment