Can anyone recommend a simple database type program that can be used to manage a small club’s membership and handle mailmerging?

We have about 200 members which are tracked in Excel with Word handleing the mail merging, though we are after something that’s a little more user-freindly.

Can anyone recommend any applications at all? Freeware would be ideal, though we would pay for a suitable program.

Tks

Mail as in snail mail or email?

Mail as in snail mail. For example, sending out annual subscription notices and quarterly newsletters.

Many clubs are trying stop snail mail. Newsletters and Subs can all be sent out using email. Will save you and your club time and money.

Many clubs are trying stop snail mail. Newsletters and Subs can all be sent out using email. Will save you and your club time and money.

It will take another five to ten years to get rid of it….there are still a lot of oldies who don’t like computers.

Would love to send out all correspondence via emails, but, as Frankyb mentioned, older folk aren’t into that side of things.

When we sent out a trial newsletter as a PDF document, I was amazed at the number of people you couldn’t open it up as they didn’t even have Adobe Reader!

So – about 15-20% are happy to receive things electronically with the rest via snail mail.

As a matter of interest, I’ve downloaded about 8 programs so far with “Table Pro” seeming as though it’s easiest to use and customize. I’m still looking though.

Would love to send out all correspondence via emails, but, as Frankyb mentioned, older folk aren’t into that side of things.

When we sent out a trial newsletter as a PDF document, I was amazed at the number of people you couldn’t open it up as they didn’t even have Adobe Reader!

So – about 15-20% are happy to receive things electronically with the rest via snail mail.

As a matter of interest, I’ve downloaded about 8 programs so far with “Table Pro” seeming as though it’s easiest to use and customize. I’m still looking though.

I am one of those older people you are speaking of , I have only been online for about 2 months & I am still trying to work out how all these fancy programs work . These computers are nearly as hard to figure out as the secrets of a good golf swing.Our club still uses snail mail to be sure that all members receive thier mail.

Kaye_See – I think you’ll find if you provide links to the free acrobat reader inside the email with the pdf and some good explanations for your members it will rise to 70-80%.

Acrobat reader is used very extensively from the govertment on down to the local golf store because of it’s ubiquity but people still need some hand holding.

The “older people” excuse doesn’t really wash anymore. We have more people that visit our site that are over 60 than under 25. It may have been true about 5 years ago but it isn’t anymore.

I’d be seriously looking at trying to use email as your main method of communication.

Could not agree more admin.

Franky B, 5 – 10 years before they are all converted to email, are you kiddin’ me.

You are making excuses for the oldies or don’t appreciate how much they have already embraced the internet.

I know of a few clubs that are not only a cashless club they are almost paperless. The issue is more about accepting change not about whether they can do it or not.

Kay_See -

Power Golf have a great membership module that is golf specific. Would be perfect for you. Think it only costs a couple of hundred a month. Get them to give you a demo.

Admin & PingZing – I agree that 60-65 agegroup maybe even 70’s are embracing it but we still have 75-85 year old members, so this is not as you both say ‘an excuse’, I believe it will take 5-10 years to totally phase out snail…I will be glad when it happens but it will not be next year. Apologies to the small but growing percentage of older members who are computer literate – I applaude you.

The point is, is for clubs to implement a system that represents the majority and not the minority.

Also it’s not a case of one or the other.

Give the members an option to receive their mail electronicaly or by snail.

Even if it is only 50/50. It’s 50 less work and 50 less cost.

The point is, is for clubs to implement a system that represents the majority and not the minority.

Also it’s not a case of one or the other.

Give the members an option to receive their mail electronicaly or by snail.

Even if it is only 50/50. It’s 50 less work and 50 less cost.

It sounds like you think I disagree with you, I don’t…but I don’t want to see blokes who have been members of my club from when it started or just after missing out because of technology they want nothing to do with due to fear (unfounded but fear all the same). But I agree electronic is the way to go.

Yeh all this talk reminds of why we are still driving cars powered by petrol.

If you don’t move forward, no-one else will either.

Sending out snail mail because of a few guys that won’t see the decade out, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The internet is 15 years old now and email is even older – think that’s probably enough time to give everyone to catch on. :)

A lot could depend on location. I live in a holiday retirement area surrounded by golf courses and in my small street alone there are four golfers over 70 and one over 80. None are computer literate.

I agree with progress, however, in some areas it may be slower than others.

I’ve done a little research into our club membership, the majority of which is over 50, and the internet take-up rate is about 20%. So we’re nowhere near being in a position to rely on e-mail for our sole communication.

Still, there’s enough members who are internet savvy to do some computing tasks and process things like GolfLink results. And just remember, computers were developed by the generation that are now being called “old and computer illiterate”. :-)

For certain communications, such as notices of the Annual General Meeting, other special meetings and committee voting, all members must receive formal notification. So there is always going to be a posted component just to fulfil the legal requirements.

By the way, if you just want simple but effective word processing, spreadsheet and database merging, there’s still good old Microsoft Works, which costs about $50 and doesn’t require much hard disk space or computing power.