PR and local public perception

[Gaz]

I'm curious. How many clubs and associations out there engage in practical PR to raise public awareness of who we are and what we do?

By practical PR I mean things like having a regularly updated website, social media accounts, sending press releases to the local paper, inviting local dignitaries along for exhibition shoots, and so on.

Starter for ten: There is an inter-London-borough challenge cup which a number of London rifle clubs compete for, which local councillors and the like attend and get involved with. See here http://www.ruisliprifleclub.org.uk/news ... -2014.html for details.

Anyone else do anything like that?

[zanes]

One of my clubs recently invited the local mayor and other dignitaries around for a tour, (demonstration?) shoot and discussion about the future of the building (it's a long story).

Also heavily involved with introducing local scouts and guides to shooting.

[karen]

If only all clubs could be like Comber Rifle Club in Northern Ireland.

Its the hub of the town! When I lived there we could have 3 social members for every shooting member - the bar was open every night with loads of events (dances, bingo, bands etc) which raised funds to subsidise the shooting. There was a waiting list for social membership. There was an indoor range and an outdoor range and we shot fullbore at Ballykinler.

Eventually the club needed rebuilding and after about a 10 year fundraising drive it is now a two storey building with social stuff downstairs and shooting upstairs. The locals LOVE the place!

Definitely worth a visit if you're ever near Belfast.

I've never seen this level of interaction with non-shooters even at Bisley!

Love

Karen

[Polchraine]

Good to see our local Mayor and Mayoress were there.

Will the Gazette be honouring you too?

And I like the comment on the page ...

No Txt Spk!

The English language is a wonderous and beautiful thing. Please remember this when you communicate with the club. When sending emails to us, please respect conventional spelling and avoid the ugly contractions that have become popular in the short text messages sent between mobile phones. In particular, any emails sent to the secretary using collections of letters and numbers rather than real words will be ignored. You have been warned!

... even if it does contain a spelling mistake - or is it just unconventional?

[ovenpaa]

So much for Dyslexics in that club then...

[Gaz]

What I should have said in the original post was, if your club's not flying the flag for itself, why not?

[IsleShoot]

My club has recently made efforts to organise a 'press officer' to cover the efforts of some of our top shots who compete nationally, but more could be done to get club comps and local league results into the local rag.

There does seem to be some reluctance to advertise the club too much as its becoming oversubscribed with air shooters who are changing the dynamic but then this could well be due to the lack of PR and subsequent awareness of the fullbore disciplines?

In my opinion any positive press is a good thing and pays dividends in the long run.

[FredB]

There is McMillan Coffee Morning on the upper car park at Stourport range on Sunday. Shooting will carry on as normal on the range and any interested person can register for our routine open day on the following Sunday and have a go then.
Fred

[Racalman]

My club hosts the local Cubs for regular air rifle shoots and are currently setting up a session for local youngsters in conjunction with the police. We are also looking at setting up a miniature rifle range to widen the appeal to the general public.

[Racalman]

There is McMillan Coffee Morning on the upper car park at Stourport range on Sunday. Shooting will carry on as normal on the range and any interested person can register for our routine open day on the following Sunday and have a go then.
Fred

What is a "routine open day"?

Clubs are not allowed to run a day or temporary membership scheme.