| BY GEORGE LEE
The PEGG
The PEGG is well read in its existing hard-copy format, yet
nearly 80 per cent of members would like to receive an
abbreviated e-mail version of the newspaper with links
to full online articles, a March survey of 600 APEGGA members
suggests. Although staff are now looking into the creation
of a so-called e-PEGG, much planning and consultation lie
ahead, said Len Shrimpton, P.Eng., Director, Internal Affairs.
“This is a strong message for us to build upon and it comes
at a time when we’re re-evaluating the way we communicate
with members,” said Mr. Shrimpton. “We certainly
believe there are opportunities to better use electronic
communication to reach and consult with our membership on
important issues, yet we also realize that members are extremely
leery of e-mail because of the amount of address harvesting
and spam that goes on today.”
Derek McCune, MBA, PEGGasus Market Development Manager,
conducted the survey and tabulated results. “The response
was excellent, with nearly a quarter of the randomly selected
members answering our questions and returning completed surveys,” said
Mr. McCune. Despite the small sample size, the findings are
statistically valid, he said, and the sample closely mirrors
full membership demographics.
The PEGGasus results, also part of this survey and discussed
in a story in last month’s PEGG, suggest that less
than half of members know the marketplace exists, even though
there’s been on-going coverage in The PEGG. “That
brings us right back to the key question: are we effectively
communicating Association news?” said Mr. Shrimpton.
“Although a high percentage of members read The PEGG – perhaps
93 per cent, according to the survey – most members
scan for items of interest and perhaps don’t retain
enough about what their Association is doing on their behalf.
That’s what we need to address, and an e-PEGG could
be one of the tools we use.”
The survey suggests that 78.4 per cent of members like the
e-PEGG concept. An even higher percentage, 89 per cent, would
provide an e-mail address for delivery of an e-PEGG. “The
major condition voiced by nearly every respondent, however,
was that their e-mail address not be provided to third parties,” said
Mr. McCune. APEGGA policy does not allow the sharing of e-mail
addresses.
YOUR VIEW
Do you have an opinion or suggestion about
the creation of an electronic version of The PEGG? Would
you like to participate in panel testing of an e-PEGG? Please
contact dmccune@apegga.org.
The members sampled have a range
of reasons for wanting an e-PEGG, many noting the environmental
and monetary savings
that come from reducing or eliminating The PEGG’s press
run. The newsprint used by The PEGG is at least 50 per cent
recycled. Its press run tops 40,000 in each of the 10 months
of the year it’s published, and the number of pages
ranges from 24 to 36.
Many members apparently don’t want to see the hard
copy eliminated. About 38 per cent would like to continue
receiving a hard-copy PEGG, even if an electronic version
is created.
“Although a high percentage of members
read The PEGG – perhaps 93 per cent, according to the
survey – most members scan for items of interest and
perhaps don’t retain enough about what their Association
is doing on their behalf. That’s what we need to address,
and an e-PEGG could be one of the tools we use.”
-LEN SHRIMPTON, P.ENG.
APEGGA Director, Internal Affairs
A full, online version of The PEGG already exists. From
the January 2003 edition onward, every story that appears
in print also appears online at the APEGGA website, www.apegga.org.
One of the impediments an e-PEGG faces is the number and
accuracy of e-mail addresses APEGGA has on file. Virtually
every survey respondent has an e-mail address. However, only
half of them have provided or believe they’ve provided
APEGGA with an address.
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