[billethkid]

What is the total membership/subscription to TOTV?

What is the highest participation ever achieved?

What was the subject?

Time of year?

I am curious as I still consider myself a recent participant this past year.
What I see is what appears to be a small number of "regulars" mixed with a smattering of infrequent participants.

I find it to be a very energetic group from TV, to funny stuff to politics. I am also impressed with some of the suggested actions/suggestions members make. A good example being Samhas' thread on wind farms.

We all know from experience what is referred to as Paredo's Law.....the old rule of 80-20.
Such as 20% usually do all the work in almost any organization and so on.

It would be encouraging to know if TOTV has the potential to be "lead steering" effect.

Just curious.

BTK

[Sidney Lanier]

I never heard of it referred to as 'Paredo's Law,' but I suspect the ratio is more like 95-5....

[Russ_Boston]

Sounds about right 95 - 5. But I still learn a lot about TV and other issues on this board.

I just did some math:

67% of all members have NEVER posted (3464).
Only 9% have 10 or more posts (476).

Relatively sobering numbers.

[Sidney Lanier]

Sobering numbers especially when you consider that the population of TV is somewhere close to 70,000 and there are many non-resident members--persons who are interested in TV. I keep wondering why such a small membership while there's such a large potential?

[billethkid]

And therein lies the problem. Now just imagine the total population of voting age in America and the percent that even votes. Of the total that do vote let's use the suggested 95%....that will not contact their representatives or stand and be counted on an issue that affects theirs and their descendants lives.

It also solidifies the ease with which special interest groups and lobbyists get their mandates.
And sadly, it is this very lack of involvement from the constituency that drives/allows the representatives to either do as they see fit, for themselves first or for their party or special interest group or lobbyists.

Imagine the value we would all reap if we could just raise the 5% to 25% (pick a number)....just here on this forum for starters.

I usually get jumped on by somebody (family, friends, TOTV, et al) when I "whine" about the silent majority....I continue to do so because the answer to many of our problems is latent within their indifference.

Maybe we have to hitch hike onto already established groups like AARP or NRA or any other national organization with critical enough mass. But that will no doubt be in conflict with their charters/objectives/etc.

So I guess those of us in the 5% need to continue to hammer away.

BTK

[Talk Host]

Even though I am thousands of miles away right now (Budapest, Hungary) I want to weigh in on this topic.

The administrators have spent thousands of dollars on advertising as best as we can. We have done direct mail, printed handouts, word of mouth, speaking at club meetings and so on. We were denied advertising rights with the Villages Media Group. Failing that, we are still attempting to reach our "critical mass" where it is self promoting. There are literally thousands and thousands of people who have never hear of TOTV. We continue to try, every day, to spread the word. If only the newspaper would allow us to purchase an ad, we could broaden our membership. Let's not forget the thousands of "guests" who log on every month, but never join. They return time after time, many of them, but never feel the need to become a member.

When I was hosting talk shows all across America, we had millions of listeners but only hundreds or thousands of callers.

I think this is one of the best sales tools the Villages has at it's disposal. IMHO.

JLK

[JohnN]

Talk host, when I google "The Villages", TOTV is on the first page as:

Talk of the Villages
The September Talk of the Villages Cruise is beginning to fill up. ... Talk of The Villages is the largest residents’ club in The Villages, Florida with ...
www.talkofthevillages.com/ - 54k - Cached - Similar pages

now respectfully, to catch my attention as a newcomer, the first line about a cruise filling up doesn't really catch my attention, it sounds like "fluff". The largest residents club notation is good, but to bring in a newbie, maybe something about learning all about TV for new folks might be a better thing to have.

Just a thought....

[benj]

From an outsiders point of view (live in CO) Why don,t you print up a bunch of T shirts with TOTV on them. When the members walk around the squares or meet at crispers or whatever people might be curious enough to ask about the meaning of TOTV. They could say ARE YOU A TOTV'er, or GOT INFO? TOTV.com or whatever. If I had seen one while on my lifestyles tour I would of asked, What is TOTV? but then I'm not bashful. But lots of people are searching for answers to questions just like me. I can't even remember how I found totv but the info here is great. I hate bumper stickers but maybe they would work also. How about stickers for your golf carts, I'M A TOTV'er. Maybe all you guy's who go to all those club meetings could hand out the stickers also. Sorry I'm rambling. Benj

[JohnN]

benj,
I'd prefer a cap!!! :cop:

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by JohnN

Talk host, when I google "The Villages", TOTV is on the first page as:

Talk of the Villages
The September Talk of the Villages Cruise is beginning to fill up. ... Talk of The Villages is the largest residents’ club in The Villages, Florida with ...
www.talkofthevillages.com/ - 54k - Cached - Similar pages

now respectfully, to catch my attention as a newcomer, the first line about a cruise filling up doesn't really catch my attention, it sounds like "fluff". The largest residents club notation is good, but to bring in a newbie, maybe something about learning all about TV for new folks might be a better thing to have.


Just a thought....

As you may know, google reacts to the most frequently visited sites. We have no control whatsoever how we are placed on google. We have used all of the preferred phrases in our setup, but it is up to the people who search with google and where they ultimately land. If we had our way, our forum home page would be the top google search return. That is totally a funtion of the search engine and, sadly, not us.

[JohnN]

Talk Host,
You're on the first page of a google search, but what they're grabbing is the banner page at the top here? see what I mean?:

The Villages, Florida

The September Talk of the Villages Cruise is beginning to fill up. Don't miss out on the fun. Plan to cruise with us to the Bahamas Sept. 22 Through the 26th.
Interior cabins $385.65
Ocean view cabins $445.65
Junior balcony suite $775.65

[Shirleevee]

I recently purchased the TOTV bumper stickers and as soon as I arrive to TV, I will attach one somewhere on our golf cart. Move over NY Yankee emblems.............


Shirleevee

[KayakerNC]

Just a suggestion.
How about a TalkOfTheVillages.com laser-cut Window Decal. Kind of like the PriusChat decal?

http://priuschat.com/shop/product_in...products_id/60

At least they would be non-adhesive, and not as damaging as bumper stickers.

[mejahu]

There was a discussion before about why more members do not post but lurk in the background. Do they feel they might come under attack if their views are not the same as the opposition? We are assured that itis OK to post if it is done according to the rules and that there is policy in place that means it's not OK to attack. Does anyone feel it is working? I think people need to feel safe and accepted. Personal attacks are not "friendly" and should be dealt with.

[Russ_Boston]

Meja - To my knowledge the only posters who were 'attacked' were those that were obvious plants. In other words maybe we were talking about the service at a restaurant and someone would say something like "The place is great - give it another try - they have excellent crab fritters deep fried to a golden brown..." This person has an affiliation with the restaurant and it is obvious.

No one should be put down for an opinion. I've posted things and then been corrected by someone with more (stated) knowledge. I would either accept the knowledge (maybe even apologize if my post was somewhat mean spirited) and then move on or just ignore the knowledge knowing that the poster has no clue.

I think that there are many reasons that lurkers exist in the web world of forums but no one should be timid because of fear of reprisal.

Russ