Gripe About Event Registrations...

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Is it just me, or do others who run (or help to run) events also get annoyed when folks who register for events (using the one-person-per-registration-form approach) are seemingly unable to write legibly?

Usually not that much info is requested on a registration form: Name, contact info, club name, emergency contact info, and sign that you accept the event standards. How difficult is that to fill out in legible handwriting?

It must be very difficult indeed. The stuff that gets submitted.... (and the resulting e-mails that "bounce"...)

[NoahBriggs]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

That would be a lament by anyone who must work with forms/applications/surveys which are filled out by hand. I feel your pain.

Taking time to edit before I post,

[lhsnj]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

The simple solution would be for people to save the documents from the websites and type in the information.

Even when I handle unit registrations for events that allow that, I will send a type registration list because I know my hand writing isn't always the best. Also that way I have a pre-made list that I just need to add/delete people from depending on the event and it shortens the whole proces..

[Wild Rover]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

She who knows best- Wife- is going nuts on the September Storm Registrations.

Folks put down the wrong check amounts, never sign forms, and the best ever- forget to put thier name on the form. She then spends her nights emailing and calling folks to correct things.

With about 1000 Feds and 590 Rebs registered, it is a full time job for her.

I think I owe her a vacation or something

Pards,

[ElizabethClark]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

One potential option: what about an on-line, "fillable", printable PDF registration form, or an email-submitted form that has all fields required, and on-line payment options? The latter might not be practicable for all events, but the former might be a help to registrars.

And yes, I commiserate with the gripe. I live with my husband. His handwriting is... well, *medical* is a close description. I don't let him fill out forms unless he types.

[trippcor]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

For most of the events I have a hand in, I provide a form online as a DOC file. Most folks are able to fill them in on their computer before printing and mailing or attaching to an email. This has worked great for events such as Return to the Ranks, Prelude to Chickamauga, Fort Granger, and my Campaigner effort for Resaca this year. Only about 20% of the registration forms were filled in by hand.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Prozac 20 mg, 1 PO qd...ya gotta love it.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Like I said, ya gotta love it.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Patrick,

Since Tripp seem to have solved the issue, is humor not allowed? I believe it was Ben Franklin who warned us not to take ourselves tooo serious. I believe there is another thead that myself and another used humor, you might need to police that one also. Otherwise, or not-so-wise, I will see you Friday.

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Well from the sloppy handwriting side of the house (and I do my best to legible) computer forms are the way to go.

The problem becomes format. Too many people are using PDF and unless you have a functioning copy of Adobe you can't do anything with those.

Going to more widely used formats (like Doc, Txt, Rtf, Html) would make it easier on all concerned.

The other advantage of using electronic documents is that they can be sent to the event electronically after they are filled out and the event staff isn't opening and trying to keep track of a large number of paper copies.

As the event coordinator for my unit I find electronic much cleaner and neater and easier to work with than paper.

[bqbowden]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Mrs. Clark,

One potential option: what about an on-line, "fillable", printable PDF registration form, or an email-submitted form that has all fields required, and on-line payment options? The latter might not be practicable for all events, but the former might be a help to registrars.

While I was with the Alabama Division, we tried doing this. However, no matter what you do, there is always someone who forgets (for whatever reason) to complete a form, thereby making registration a very difficult job.

[Spinster]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Net based submittals tend to catch the end of the hobby that is very web savvy, but leaves out those who just don't do it.

Then there are those who are just too special, busy, important, ditsy or whatever to actually follow the event directions. These are the same folks that register late, don't read rules and standards, and get unhappy when you enforce them.

For one list serve I maintain, the great majority of folks are savvy and considerate of the administrative load, and I can hold them to the efficient processes available. Still though, I actually maintain a hand written, land mail corresspondence with some of our folks who have neither computer nor land line----the trade off here is that those rare individuals are tremendously talented and are worth the extra effort needed to carry them around on a pillow.

But as an event organizer, or an organizational coordinator, you really can't afford very many of these folks in terms of your own time.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Several posts here imply (as I read 'em) that some event sponsors accept a completed (e-mailed) registration form. When there is a registration fee (probably most "authentic" events), how is that handled?

I'm certainly aware of some more-progressive organizers (and I'm not one of them) being proficient to set up a PayPal account for payment of registration online, but what about the majority of events that don't have that? Do folks who accept e-mailed registrations have a problem with getting registration payment from registrants? I've long held the view that your registration isn't valid until your fee, if any, is paid, and that usually means putting it an envelope in the US Mail.

Admittedly, providing MS Word (.doc) files for registration forms may help folks to type in the info in the correct places. Maybe. :)

[Bob 125th NYSVI]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

Kevin:

The use of Paypal gets dicey because depending on what type of payments you are willing to accept you might get charged a processing fee. The same with credit cards. I'd be willing to pay the fee (a couple of points) just for the convenience. As far as where the money goes just set up a bank account for the event and link it to paypal. Makes bookkeeping pretty clean too.

If you're not that interested in the ins-outs of electronic payment just put the registration form out on the website (or sent it to applicatants via email) with a request that it be filled out electronically. I'd still fill it out on the computer screen before I print it and send it snail mail.

As events coordinator, I'll sign a waiver for the unit as a whole and then each guy signs the form when he gets to the registration table.

You've got our roster, waiver and check, all in nice legible computer writting too. How much easier could it get for you? And you aren't going through the time or expense of mailing out hardcopy registrations.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Gripe About Event Registrations...

As events coordinator, I'll sign a waiver for the unit as a whole and then each guy signs the form when he gets to the registration table.

Bob,

As a general principle, bulk registration hasn't been used with any real frequency on this end of the hobby for over a decade.