CSA Feedback

[MarleneeSteven]

We're looking for feedback on a few things and wanted to gauge interest:

1) We are thinking about setting up an automated emailer for snow reports. Because all of our grooming clubs are required to provide weekly reports on trail status as part of their grooming contract, we could easily send that information out. Information might include reports from all 28 grooming clubs in Colorado, with current snow conditions, temp ranges, recent snowfall, last date groomed, and more. The information would go out to a 'subscription list' that would be free. Snowmobilers that wanted this benefit would need to 'sign up' to receive emails, but not necessarily have to sign up for CSA. Personally, I think it would be nice to get a report, every Friday, of all the areas in the state so I can see where I'm going for the weekend!

2) We are evaluating setting up some additional benefits for CSA members. Benefits may include things like discounts with some retailers and/or manufacturers or lodging. What other benefits might you like to see. This is obviously in addition to fighting for our riding areas, lobbying, safety training, and assistance in administration of the grooming program through our local clubs and cooperation with CO Parks and Wildlife.

Please help us make CSA a more beneficial organization by contributing feedback below. Please try to keep comments constructive.

 

[milo303]

I've been doing the discount thing for my group over a year... Almost everyone likes it, the ones that don't simply misunderstand. Really there's only one person who's voiced his opinion against it, so overall a very positive thing!

There's a few things that set my group apart from the CSA and that's one of them. However, I think working with quality companies that understand the marketing opportunities of an agreement like this is great. People purchase what they might have viewed as to expensive and companies acquire more loyal customers.

I've had a very positive experience with companies wanting to get on board with the opportunity as well.

 

[HOTRODREDNECK]

i would like to see the report on wendsday or thursday so i could plan where i was going for the weekend. as far as discounts, etc, i think thats great but i would rather see the csa keep up the fight for our right to ride other than spending time and effort looking for deals. just my opinion.

 

[milo303]

I would love to see a tighter lock with Joel at opensnow...

I've been trying to push sledders that way so he will start forecasting our ride areas instead of just the resorts

 

[stingray719]

We're looking for feedback on a few things and wanted to gauge interest:

1) We are thinking about setting up an automated emailer for snow reports. Because all of our grooming clubs are required to provide weekly reports on trail status as part of their grooming contract, we could easily send that information out. Information might include reports from all 28 grooming clubs in Colorado, with current snow conditions, temp ranges, recent snowfall, last date groomed, and more. The information would go out to a 'subscription list' that would be free. Snowmobilers that wanted this benefit would need to 'sign up' to receive emails, but not necessarily have to sign up for CSA. Personally, I think it would be nice to get a report, every Friday, of all the areas in the state so I can see where I'm going for the weekend!

2) We are evaluating setting up some additional benefits for CSA members. Benefits may include things like discounts with some retailers and/or manufacturers or lodging. What other benefits might you like to see. This is obviously in addition to fighting for our riding areas, lobbying, safety training, and assistance in administration of the grooming program through our local clubs and cooperation with CO Parks and Wildlife.

Please help us make CSA a more beneficial organization by contributing feedback below. Please try to keep comments constructive.

A little more often reporting from the groomers would be nice, seems I remember some areas going quite some time without reporting. Thanks!

 

[dtown]

Hey Milo - does your group do any sort of annual fundraiser for the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Right to Ride, etc? I think what you have done is cool. It would be really cool if a you were able to ignite your "membership" base to help preserve the sport. Count me in if you have such an event/fundraiser!

 

[milo303]

Hey Milo - does your group do any sort of annual fundraiser for the Blue Ribbon Coalition, Right to Ride, etc? I think what you have done is cool. It would be really cool if a you were able to ignite your "membership" base to help preserve the sport. Count me in if you have such an event/fundraiser!

At this point the CSA has been focusing more on those type of fundraisers as I'm not an official non profit.

I focus more on providing an atmosphere for people to ride with others and push for safety and awareness. Kind of a step below the CSA but still a very important part of the Colorado system.

I would never step on CSA.... They're the big boys, I'm just a passionate blue collar 60 hour a week worker who's doing my part as best I can

 

[dtown]

Milo - I wasn't insinuating that you are stepping on CSA's toes at all. You are doing a great job at gathering interest from a younger backcountry, cliff jumping, and skier convert type rider. That is something that the CSA has struggled with, in my opinion. We need to get the young fresh blood to help join in on the effort to keep our riding areas open. The majority of the BRC, CSA, COHVCO groups are an aging group, if us younger guys don't step up at some point, our kids will have nowhere to ride when they are our age.

You don't have to be a non profit to do a fundraiser... just hold an event, auction some goodies, pass around a hat at a group ride, or whatever, collect the funds and send the check to the organization of your choice (BRC, Right to Ride, etc.).

 

[dtown]

sorry for getting off topic. Yes, more frequent snow updates would be nice, but not a huge deal... doesn't everyone know about Snotel?

My opinion is that CSA should keep the core focus on keeping riding areas open.

 

[MarleneeSteven]

i would like to see the report on wendsday or thursday so i could plan where i was going for the weekend. as far as discounts, etc, i think thats great but i would rather see the csa keep up the fight for our right to ride other than spending time and effort looking for deals. just my opinion.

While CSA has a legal team and several board members that exclusively look at access issues, I don't do much on the land issue side of things. Where my thinking is here is that if we can entice more people to become members, we will have more money to fund our legal and lobbying efforts. Looking at our membership, I really want to focus on growing our numbers so we can continue focusing on our missions.

I'm really trying to think outside the box for how we can 1) increase membership, and 2) increase charitable donations.

I agree with you that CSA's number one focus needs to be on preserving our riding areas, and I don't think you'll find anyone within the organization that has a different opinion....we may not agree on a lot of things together, but it is very unanimous that we don't want to forfeit access.

 

[rusty_jigawahowski]

As far as our grooming up in grand lake, our lead groomer, cam, does a killer job updating snow totals and trail conditions after every trip out. (Typically 4-7 nights a week depending on snow) he usually posts it up on our website which is linked directly to our two Facebook pages. What if CSA started a Facebook group that the head groomers (or anybody for that matter) from each club/area could update regularly? I know that there are some riders that resist using social media, but it is such a great tool to get information out, especially if we could direct the flow of information to one central place. It's also a great tool as far as publicizing events and fundraisers!

 

[stingray719]

As far as our grooming up in grand lake, our lead groomer, cam, does a killer job updating snow totals and trail conditions after every trip out. (Typically 4-7 nights a week depending on snow) he usually posts it up on our website which is linked directly to our two Facebook pages. What if CSA started a Facebook group that the head groomers (or anybody for that matter) from each club/area could update regularly? I know that there are some riders that resist using social media, but it is such a great tool to get information out, especially if we could direct the flow of information to one central place. It's also a great tool as far as publicizing events and fundraisers!

That is great, but not all snow reports are timely. I can count on places like Ophir Creek and Grand Mesa to be timely and spot on (sorry for others that are as good not mentioned) but more than a few update very spotty to the point of being useless. Many times we ended up calling businesses local to the area to get a snow report. Timely updated info for those of us that travel over 2 hours is rather valuable and I respectfully request you work that angle at the CSA trails report. Thanks!

 

[MarleneeSteven]

example report

This is an example of the current reports that are required to be filed weekly. There is a little bit of work to do to make them more readable, but it's a start?

This is just a sample, with sample data and names and locations.

Thoughts?

The thing I like about this is that it's already being done, so it would be easy to offer this up to folks to help make a decision on where to go... I know I'm looking pretty heavily by thursday or friday to make a decision.

 

[MarleneeSteven]

As far as our grooming up in grand lake, our lead groomer, cam, does a killer job updating snow totals and trail conditions after every trip out. (Typically 4-7 nights a week depending on snow) he usually posts it up on our website which is linked directly to our two Facebook pages. What if CSA started a Facebook group that the head groomers (or anybody for that matter) from each club/area could update regularly? I know that there are some riders that resist using social media, but it is such a great tool to get information out, especially if we could direct the flow of information to one central place. It's also a great tool as far as publicizing events and fundraisers!

I also will start sharing out the "Grand Lake Trailgroomer's" statuses when I catch them, from the CSA facebook page. If you want to have him tag CSA or let me know when a new update is available, i'll push them out. (smarlenee@gmail.com)

I really like the idea of a mid to late week 'newsletter' that has all of the current reports from each club.

In doing this, it will also be easier to start asking for better information from our groomers (if that is an issue), because it will directly impact tourism to that area, and economic benefit is a huge 'sword' for our lobby efforts.

Appreciate all of the feedback. It's a lot easier to figure some of this stuff out now, before we start releasing all of this