From "Hurricane Broadcast" Subject News bytes: Publicity plans, web updates, etc. Date Sat, May 7, 2005 3:59 pm To swimteamnews@swimhcac.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First -- and you knew I was going to say this -- have your swimmers pick up their fundraising kits from their mailboxes at the natatorium. OK, on to the news... We had a lot of great suggestions at previous meetings about how to promote HCAC. We all agree that we don't want to grow too much because we like the individual attention our coaches can give our swimmers, but we also realize that more members mean more hands to help at swim meets, more funds to help our club's budget, and -- well, more swimmers -- to replace those who go to college or move away. As I type, new HCAC brochures are being printed that we can distribute at Campbell's swim school (often a good source of new recruits) and that you can take to your summer pools to help spread the word about our team. In addition, we have the business-card-size HCAC magnets with the Web address and a contact phone number. Even better than leaving a brochure or magnet is setting up a time that someone from our club can come and talk to your pool's swimmers (perhaps as part of swim clinic your pool is conducting). Don't be shy! Our family had NO IDEA there was a swim team in Harnett County until we stumbled into Campbell's swim school. Other parents "out there" are likely looking for the experience you've found at HCAC -- let's tell them about us! Next... I spent this beautiful Saturday slaving over a hot computer updating all our team info on our Web site. The Web site now contains all the practice info, meet schedules and forms, and other updates that Montz or the board have distributed. (I apologize that our PC has been out of commission for so long. Hopefully my updates will be more timely from now on.) Part of the reason for this flurry of publicity activity is that I am submitting a feature article to the following papers: Dunn Daily Record, Angier Independent, Harnett County News, Cleveland Post, Garner News, Fuquay-Varina Independent, Apex Herald, and Holly Springs Sun. Not all these papers are likely to publish the article, but we are confident some will. Again, the object is to let the folks in the surrounding areas know that we offer a great year-round swimming program with top-notch coaches and they should want to be a part of it. If you know of other papers in your area that might be interested, let me know. I've also inquired about advertising rates, but frankly, after seeing the listed rates for nonprofits, I'm afraid that paid advertising is not going to be feasible on our budget. I'm also investigating custom car magnets and decals (similar to the soccer and softball ones you see on vehicles) so each of us can be an HCAC ambassador as we go about our daily routine. The idea is that the image would identify HCAC as a swim team and include the Web address, so folks would not only know you had an HCAC swimmer in your family but could find out more about the club. If you have any contacts or experience in ordering custom magnets/decals, let me know. Often the best work and prices come from "knowing somebody." Last, but perhaps most importantly, we'll be looking for volunteers to represent HCAC at a couple of the swim school sessions. We had planned to attend the first night and the last Thursday night of each session. Take a look at the schedule (http://www.campbell.edu/sl/recreation/swimschool.html) and see if you can spare some time to play our team's video CD (on the DVD player) and pass out brochures to interested parents. (Parents wait in the natatorium classroom during their kids' lessons.) There are 3 daytime sessions and 3 evening sessions occurring from June 6 through July 22. In many ways, this is probably our best bet for finding interested familes. Participation in Campbell's swim school means they live close enough to drive to Campbell and demonstrates their commitment to helping their children learn to love swimming. If you have ideas for promoting the club, improving communications, or anything else, PLEASE contact our board. We are not a large impersonal organization. We can only survive if EVERYONE contributes -- by helping at meets, coming up with ideas, and (yes) participating in fundraisers. There is no paid staff here -- WE are the staff! And we have a fabulous club! You can contact me about publicity ideas, web updates, club news, etc. at 919-552-3038 or (far more effective!) wendysibley@earthlink.net Wendy, your publicity coordinator