Member numbers?
This site often mentions the growing number of members it has. It would be interesting to know how many of these "members" are regular visitors to the site, and not just one-off visits (which reguire registration) to see what the website is about.
I ask this as I am sceptical about the true number of members, and would be interested to see how it compares with other industry bodies such as BIGGA and the IOG.
7 Feb 2004 by surely
this would be the same as....
...asking how many people read the groundsman mag even though they are members-due to the non-existant content(allegedly)!
7 Feb 2004 by Dave
Members-imaginary or otherwise
Colin,
Like the members of the organisations that you mention there are a large number of people who do not get (or have no wish to be) involved on a regular basis. We produced a computer data generated section on the members home page after 'Dom' questioned membership on this site, with the firm belief that it is important to show and indeed prove membership and usage of the website.
As we have continually stressed, we would prefer to keep access to Pitchcare free of charge, thus not deterring 'wannabe' members who were after advice, information and help on their grounds or courses. To keep it free, we are very reliant on company sponsorship/advertising to pay for the not inconsiderable running costs.
We have just appointed an Editor, to alleviate the pressure and increase the amount of good editorial information on the site and this brings our staffing levels to five full time and four part time/freelance staff. Not a cheap payroll!
I would dearly love to show everyone the membership, but data protection does not allow this to happen, (understandably so).
If you are a regular visitor to the site, for which I know you are, then you should be aware of the numbers of people who use the site on a daily, weekly, monthly basis.
Current figures show that membership is 7583, and the member visits in the last 28 days show 7672. Statistically that number represents that every member has logged into the site at least once a month. The reality is that about 3500 members have logged in one or more times in the last 28 days. That's a large number of IT literate individuals hoping to learn and understand a little more about our Industry.
I hope this helps, but more to the point I hope that you enjoy everything that Pitchcare has to offer and that you may continue to contribute on this platform.
Thanks for the reply
Dave
Thanks for the reply, I agree that there is probably a hard core of regular visitors to the website, and that the number of hits you receive are due to people logging on more than once a month.
The actual number of members logging-in is probably more than the twice a month figure that you mentioned, which would drastically reduce the number of different members logging-in in total.
I only asked the original question as it would be nice to gain an insight into the number of people employed within the industry. There are several associations available for groundsmen and greenkeepers alike to join, and in many cases I am sure that some are members of more than one association. For example I am a member of both the IOG and the GCSAA.
Knowing the collective total number of people in the industry would help promote groundsmanship as a career to many school leavers. It would show that it is not the last resort dead-end job that many people seem to believe it is (including an MP on Question Time recently).
13 Feb 2004 by Dave
Industry numbers
When I started researching the possibility of starting Pitchcare, I estimated that in the UK alone there were in excess of 100,000 people involved in Grounds maintenance. So why is there so few associated to the organisations?
My feelings are that there are a number of reasons for this. Most are so poorly paid that they cannot afford the subscription, let alone being able to persuade an employer to pay up.
There also needs to be value for money in buying membership. While there is for those that actively look for it, it isn't necessarily freely forthcoming.
I also believe that our industry has become as fashionable as Nora Batty's stockings and a major re-think is required and then implemented.
I am currently in the US at the GCSAA show, and I also attended the STMA show two weeks ago, and I have to say that the enthusiasm for the job and the Industry over here is impressive to say the least.
These guys know how to improve the status of the Groundsmen and Greenkeepers and accordingly wages and respect. It all stems from a proper educational policy, something that we have again lacked in the UK.
I don't expect to see overnight changes, but through Pitchcare there is a vehicle for Groundsmen and Greenkeepers to voice opinion and stand together.
29 Feb 2004 by Bullybeef
About this website.
This site is a dream for some one like my self, Who thought he was a bit of a groundsman,but the harsh reality is I am only a cutter of grass, a bloody good one though,I never Knew a site like this existed until I joined the IOG,didnt Know that existed either till a competitor told me about it,I now want to take the next step forward and start to get as much knowlegde as possible as this has added a whole new dimension to my working life, I now no longer get up just to plod along at work, I employ 1 bloke and have been asked by a couple of football and rugby clubs if I could maintain there pitches for them, I did this just by mowing the fields and improved the surfaces abit by trial and error,never really knowing if I was doing more harm than good,I just got lucky and caused no real harm. The clubs have now started to take an interest in the state and appearance of the pitches and look to me to guide them and advise them a bit, This is where I feel I am now not alone anymore,I spent many hours looking in bookshops and libraries for information, but not a lot of success was to be had,this I hope is where your Knowhow/expeirience can set me straight and keep me looking forward to the next day at work and not embarass my profession. So standby for probably stupid questions on the way from me.
29 Feb 2004 by Chris Parry
Knowledge
Bullybeef, first of all welcome and please fire away with any questions you may have!! This is what this site is all about to help and promote our fellow colleagues in producing better grassed surfaces.
The membership figures are not imaginary or made up, you certaintly do get your regulars on this site and come from the various sports involved in the turf industry including schools, local authority and multi sports complexes. Good luck in your search for education amongst us!
Regards Chris
2 Mar 2004 by Bullybeef
Knowledge
Thanks Chris
Told my man at work about this site,We cant get enough, Learnt loads already just by reading all the replies,sounds a bit sad but its all we talk about a the moment, Seems like we can get a million years of Knowledge almost overnight and it sure does beat trapsing around the bookshops and Libraries getting blank looks. will start asking once we calm down, Hello everybody.
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