What would it take to get more guys....

[FrustratedFinFan]

I know people are passionate about their hobbies, but how about trying some kindness for a change? Stop posting angry posts telling people to get off the site.

I remind you again of the Dolphin's fan site example I gave. When they said they needed money and asked for help, I donated without hesitation. It felt positive. It felt good. When people here tell me to put up money now or shut up....well, it doesn't make me feel too good about contributing money to the organization. I now know why some folks out here have left the game, or at least left the message boards and the drama.

[Michigan Joe]

I agree that this chat board needs to be generally open to all if we want this to grow. Honestly, I think the best way for this hobby to grow would be for a manufacturer with money to figure out a way to show the world how this game has been reinvented (and that is not a knock on any of the current manufacturers who have helped totally reinvent this hobby). Until then the hobbiests will keep it alive and all of us who care for the association should ask ourselves if there is anything we can do to contirbute to the cause.

I feel that we are fortunate to have this great "HOME" to Miniature Football. It is not free and it is not without effort of many. Thank you to all who contribute so much to the MFCA to make this a great "Home". To those who have given so much and asked for so little...don't be discouraged, the MFCA is a great foundation to keep building.

[eflfanatic]

I just read the letter from the link on the home page entitled "Why Join?" I think everyone should read this if you haven't already. Thanks to who ever wrote it.

The last statement says it all:

" It would be great to see you join for no other reason than I know you love the game."

[WEIRDWOLF]

This thread wasn't suppose to be a pay up or get out thread. I'm still open to valid ideas that would entice more people who are on the fence, to join up.

There have been some good suggestions made and other ideas that require some more finances and preperation to implement.

Ultimately though, it seems like those that are willing to pay to be members are doing so and the rest would rather not have the benefits of a MFCA member regardless of its price and what it offers.

I am just gathering info. We are going to be working on a new front end for the website after the convention. It will have a more modern and informative look then our current site and will better promote the hobby to the public. Many things are in the works behind the scenes. Eventually, the juicy parts of the forum will come at a minimum price, but not without providing a front end to the site that meets the requirements of our mission statement. It is simply part of the evolution. My hope is to have this ready by January 1st if not sooner.

Thanks for the input and if anyone else wants to add to the discussion, please do.

[mantaraydre]

COACHES,


I sent a pm to wolf yesterday stating you must pay to remotely see anything on this site. I told him there are those who will never post anyway so if they come on here daily this is just like reading the newspaper to them. YOU DONT RESPOND TO A NEWSPAPER. Many are quite comfortable just coming on the site reading any daily updates and move. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THEM TO JOIN WHEN THEY GETTING THE INFO THEY WANT FOR FREE. There are thousands of websites out there where you get a sign up now notice if you try to log on. I HOPE THIS IS NOT COMING OFF AS BEING MEAN BUT THIS IS BUSINESS AND WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT. The mfca like any other venture has to charge a fee to operate anything that is developed under it's umbrella. This is not a free website and everything that goes along with it cost money. i know your first reaction will be , "well i will just go back to miggle ". No disrepect to miggle but that's like going from dating halle berry to whoppi goldberg. NO DISREPECT MIGGLE !!!!!!.


I just think you have to pay to play. Honestly, why am i paying $30 bucks a year and others are not. But we are getting the same information. I told wolf to shut the site down for a week to revamp it into a pay only website. I truly believe if you are as passionate about the hobby as others are, you would pay the fee. THIS IS ONLY $2.50 A MONTH= $30 !!!!!!!
If wolf is willing to put a coach on a payment plan, that may help out the coach if that is what he wants to do.

I AGREE WITH JIM DAVIS AND SHABBY 100%


MANTARAYDRE

[styx]

this ? has probably been brought up a 100x, but what about membership drives at all conventions, big or small, thier 100s of people that attend the miggle and other conventions every year, and if they sign up at a convention give them a small discount along with some cool prizes,like a t-shirt or cards ,something to promote the hobby, that would be cool .

[roller]

There seems to be two competing ideas/inquiries in this thread...

1) What things can we do to attract new members?

2) What ways can the MFCA boost revenue?


My thoughts...
These two ideas are not exactly mutually exclusive. Boosting membership creates new revenue, that is clear. However, boosting revenue does not necessarily mean that we need to add members. There are countless revenue streams that are open... however, THAT is a discussion for another thread...

Ways to attract members...
Some have suggested that we offer some free products. I do agree that these incentives are a great idea, but I would like to offer up a larger concept/question? What are the things that the MFCA does for the hobby that it is truly great at doing? Once these things are well-defined, then packaged and marketed, we will have something that everyone will be willing to join and to represent.

I believe that the greatest thing that the MFCA does is provide coaches and hobbyists a hub or "social network" in which to share ideas and products and to organize themselves. That is really what being a member is about... How do you package that?

[styx]

[roller]

Instead of closing the site off to the masses why don't we create some privileges for those who join. Closing the site to paid members may only serve to choke out interest rather than promote the hobby.

Here are some brainstorming ideas...

MFCA membership may entitle you to things like:

10% discount on vendor's products (for those businesses who choose to participate)

The ability to officially count wins and losses and keep stats for Hall-of-Fame, Coach of the Year, or other status awards.

Move to the "front-of-the-line" type programs... like preferred seeding at tournaments, or access to higher level website functions.

You could also enroll members in some type of "rewards program". Once you have accumulated so many points... you could redeem them for all kinds of stuff.

[Megawattz]

I was going to post this suggestion earlier but i wanted to get a feel for what people were feeling first. Peoples opions change depending on area the guys out west are mostly out of loop there comments arent outrageous it reflects there experences with the hobby away from most tournys and events. how do we reach them, Something tangible is needed that cant be passed along like dvd's to entice new members. A must have item for the newbie as well very useful for the vet. solid ideas grow from solid thinking. I propose a how to booklet with tips on everything from base tweaking, painting , board building ect. An all out effort to bring the newbie from rookie to allstar with his own efforts rather than spending hundreds on these items. of course thats going to take money also but what doesnt. with membership youll get the best techniques in book form rather than dvd so it cant be copied then passed along. maybe itll be wiser to make each seperate, so people would look forward to the next. this would require correspondence with top players in the hobby. Image: Advanced Base Tweaking by Norbert Revels, Jim Davis, Kevin Lomax, would u buy it or "Adanced Painting techniques" by Gridironpainter & others "Advanced Board Building" by Rollertaco and so on. whats needed is something worth the price of admission this is just a suggestion, whatever is decided on has to be fully backed by us the customizers,tweakers & board builders we are the ones with the task of furthering this hobby whether we like it or not.peace