Promotions Stuff - Read It!

by Carol-Lynne Mould

I will be sending out packages to the clubs, which will contain posters which the club will be responsible for copying and distributing as well as lists of ideas for the promotion of fencing for each club. In the past, promoting our sport has fallen to maybe a handful of people at best. It isn't enough. We need new members and we need to increase public knowledge of our sport.

Do not let these packages sit in your basement until the end of the season. Distribute the posters; act on the ideas. This goes for all fencers, coaches, and parents. We are one of the least known sports in Canada, and we need to change that, or fencing in Saskatchewan is going to lose more than it already has. We all know it is one of the best sports there is and that Saskatchewan has one of the best run organizations in the universe - now we need to tell that to everyone who still believes that fencing exists only in the movies.

I am setting up a Promotions Committee this season. I feel this is important because it is difficult to promote a provincial sport from one centre only. I would like to hear from any volunteers who are interested in brainstorming promotional ideas and who are willing to act on then either individually or as a group. If you are a fencer, coach, or parent of a fencer who recognizes the need for more extensive publicity for fencing, please call me. My number is 244-2053, in Saskatoon. If you need my address, it should be on the inside cover of this SaskSword. I also want to hear from anyone with any ideas regarding the promotion of our sport, even if you do not have the time to work on a committee.

Another area we will be actively pursuing this year throughout the province is fund raising and corporate sponsorship. Our funding from traditional sources continues to be cut and such fund raising and sponsorship will be extremely welcome. If you know of any place of business or other organization which may be willing to sponsor fencing, please call and let me know. Encourage your clubs to act on fund raising ideas. Also, if you know of any effective advertising in your town or city which is reasonably priced (or even better, free), tell me. We'll act on it.

The more people know about fencing in Saskatchewan, the better off we will be as a sporting community. The more members we have (either competitive, recreational, or supporting) the better off we will be again. We just need to stop talking about it and get down to business.

It's as simple as that.

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