Communication of information for the club has always been a challenge. The Trip Wire worked well for a number of years but is time consuming for the organiser and has fallen into disuse over the years with many members simply ringing around their friends.
This has made it harder for new members to get involved in some of the less formal paddling trips which can be some of the best parts of paddling. So we need to try something different.
We have decided to set up an Internet group forum using the free service provided by Google Groups. This service will allow members to subscribe to easily send and receive emails to people who have expressed an interest. Members can also choose the frequency of the emails they receive, from a 'real time' email by email, a daily digest summary, or to receive no emails at all but still be able to read messages on the website as and when they choose to.
The address for our group is http://groups.google.com/group/rugbycanoeclub?hl=en
How will this work?
- This will be open to all Rugby Canoe Club Members (and selected friends and past members of the club).
- It can be used for publicising trips and other events and also general discussion of club or canoeing related issues. (Please Note: Official club trips will appear in the Newsletter. Any others are arranged on the basis of just a 'group of friends' and will not be covered by club insurance etc.)
- It is a members only group so you will need to register an account with Google (this is free and can be set up to send the emails to your existing email address) and then be approved to join the group. We will try to make this easy by inviting all members with known valid email addresses to join. Look out for the invite email message shortly. If you want to join before this, or use another email address, or you don't receive the invite message just request membership of the group and we will approve this as soon as we can.
- You can use the 'group' by logging on to the Google groups web site, or by email. To post a message by email simply address an email to rugbycanoeclub@googlegroups.com You do need to send this from the registered email address for the message to appear.
- You can set options in the group to email you automatically whenever there is a new message in the group, group messages together and send them out in a 'digest' once a day (or in groups of 25), or chose not to get any emails and simply look on the web.
Please start using this group for advertising any trips that you are running, or want to go on. If you don't have internet access Jeff Asplin (01788 336210) has volunteered to read the posts and let anyone know about trips etc.
Once it gets up and running we intend to use this instead of sending out email to all members.
If you have any problems with the group please email Andy Green by clicking here and he will try to help.