Agenda - 05-05-1997 - 10a - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 want it recognized that the SportsPlex is one of the Friday and Saturday evening social hotspots in the area in winter because it is safe and fun, and we want to extend this to summer. We want to be recognized for our program to foster swimming knowledge in the minority community. We want to be seen as a service to county summer camps that can extend what they offer because of our program. We want to be known as a place where seniors can discover new strength. Etc. We have also made ourselves available for worthy causes. The one of which we are the most proud was when Hurricane Fran struck in September, 1996, the SportsPlex responded by opening its doors to people who needed showers and bathroom facilities. A whole lot of showers were taken in the building over the next 2 weeks. Otherwise, we have donated our services to charitable organizations as a fundraising site. Beneficiaries include Triangle Hospice, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Orange County Firefighters and Emergency Services Association, and the Chapel Hill Services League. And in a mutually satisfactory arrangement, we provide employment for two people through Orange Enterprises, which helps find meaningful employment for handicapped citizens. On the technical side, RMSC has maintained a broad campaign of media advertising, direct mail, telemarketing, and promotions both to inform people of specific programs and more generally to make it harder to be credible when saying "SportsPlex? Never heard of it." The media include radio and print, and some television. Promotions have included coupons with Pizza Hut, free passes at various events around the county and beyond, broadcasts directly from the SportsPlex by local radio stations, public skating sessions with the price linked to the radio station's call number ($0.97), and church night(a church group-oriented public session in midweek). This contrasts with a virtual absence of publicity efforts in the first year, due to worries about budgets, and, indeed, a publicity campaign which includes purchased media time can be expensive. We have now experimented with no(or very little)publicity and with a broad program of publicity, paid and unpaid. As we refine our publicity strategy and do more statistical followup, we will be able to pinpoint the best "bang for our publicity buck" for the future. On the other hand, RMSC has set up a number of activities which provide fun for patrons and bring in the curious, including the media at virtually no cost. These include the turkey bowl at Thanksgiving, canoeing with Santa, and the Dive-In Movies. The media have responded particularly well to some of these events and to efforts like the fishing rodeo, the water safety classes, the scuba lessons, the Doug Leigh clinic, and others. For their support, we are particularly grateful to the News of Orange, the Chapel Hill Herald, the Durham Herald-Sun, and the Raleigh News and Observer, and to Fox 22, WRAL, and WTVD television. Report to the Orange County Commissioners 5 May, 1997 page 12