Good ideas ez. How do you let them know who is who in the zoo? Lots of peeps at meetings that know who does what but new members don't have a clue. Club rides ok if that flotes your boat but I how do you encourage member ride hook ups outside the club? Most club rides during the week when most people work.
I am not big on club rides my self but a lot of guy join to meet new guys to ride with . like I said get the dates on paper for all events so new guys have it . include meeting places and times for stuff like marking trail captains already know what needs to be done and how many guys they need so that stuff can be worked out on site.
we have a web site and new members get the address and can check to see if there are rides etc but they will not just look up on there own they need to feel wanted . get them in get them out for marking and the lunch that follows. we have dates already figured out for all our stuff this yr. the big ones are marking/brushing then kick off party/fund raiser . then snowmobile safety training then club trip then the 3 cookouts at new trail shelter. with club ride after. even have tenitive pick up dates.
what is the cost ? 10 bucks and a bit of planning real ez and gives potential members the info they need to participate in the club with out having to ask around a bunch of guys they may not know.
we even put the dates in for sister club big events like kick off parties so even if we are not a fit a diff club may be .
also young guys really want to be in charge of something get them in charge of a small section as soon as u feel like they are ready.
other funny thing in our semi metro part of town. the HS kids have a serious network of friend of friends whos parents or grand parents etc own land .actually a better tool than I ever imagined to have a few HS kids as trail captains. heck they have more time than retired guys and they like the volunteer responsibility and title on there collage applications