Why don't orienteers like social media?

[andypat]

Remember that stuff that happens in a group is invisible to those outside the group. A lot of what you do in the group could really also go on the page - it makes the club look much more active. You dont want a dead looking page and a lively group if you are trying to attract new members.

[Sunlit Forres]

Remember that stuff that happens in a group is invisible to those outside the group.

I agree Andy, but if orienteers, by their nature, prefer a more private way of interacting with other members, it's worth having a Group. If it improves club communication, generates interaction between members and builds club spirit it can only be a good thing.

My serious competitive days are long gone, and the enjoyment I get from orienteering comes mainly from the social side of it. I don't want to travel to an event on my own, compete on my own and go home on my own - or even plan, organise or control an event on my own. I want to do it with others who think like me.

We have such a gem of a sport that it's a tragedy to see us missing out on a massive audience who I know would enjoy it if we could only get them to the right event. If we get them to an event, and in to a club, we need to keep them. For a dispersed membership that only comes together once or twice a month, social media is a great way of helping to achieve this.

[frog]

We use yahoo group for our club emails and that's the main way we chat to each other. We have a facebook page that I look at occasionally. I do use facebook but have about 20 friends to my 17 year old son's 300+, although he posts very little on his facebook page he mainly uses it to message his friends and they've now moved on to something thats name I can't remember that only keeps posts for a few seconds so stuff isn't stored forever. Alot of my (well maybe not alot if I only have 20 there) friends and family are scattered so facebook is handy to keep in touch, although as most of them post as little as me as we're all busy doing stuff me promoting orienteering on my facebook page won't publicise the sport much.
I like social media but don't want keeping a social media site up to date to be added to my list of jobs.