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WHAT IF PHONE CALLS WERE AS EASY AS EMAIL?
By Andrew Ackerman
(Reprinted in WAIC-UP, ACA Texoma Tid-bits, Southeastern, Northern California, & Southern California Sectional Newsletters, et. al.)
Email works because it is easy to send out a message to hundreds of people in just a few seconds. Email does not work for exactly the same reason.
Your camp parents get so much email on any given day that, at best, your email will sit in their inbox for them to read "when they get around to it" - and we know how soon that is likely to be! A lot of email does not even get read. Some parents scan their inbox and if the email subject line is not compelling, they delete the email unopened. Many parents have installed spam-blocking software that automatically deletes or send suspect email to a "Junk Mail" folder. What's worse, some email does not even get delivered. With the rapid increase in viruses, many email providers pre-screen email and automatically block suspected viruses before it can even touch the recipient's inbox. And since no screening method is perfect, a lot of legitimate email gets snared along the way.
For urgent, "must read" messages, there is no substitute for a phone call. Unfortunately, calling several hundred parents is far too time-consuming for all but the most critical of communications. Imagine for a moment that it wasn't; if phone calls were as easy as email, what would you do differently? You might use phone calls for:
- Post summer re-enrollment calls
- Deadline reminders (e.g., "Your medical forms must be in by April 1.")
- Upcoming parents visiting day details
- Safety messages / Rumor abatement (e.g., Any illnesses going around at camp)
- Staff information and recruiting reminders
- Even holiday best-wishes!
Stop imagining because bulk phone messaging is now a reality.
"The Bunk1 Messenger system is incredibly easy to use and our parents were thankful to hear our voice telling them all was ok. It is a must for any safety conscious camp."
-- Chris Roy at Camp Walt Whitman.
Bunk1 Messenger and similar bulk phone messaging services allow camps to upload groups of telephone numbers to a central database. Camps then record their message and have it sent out to all the numbers in the group or groups they select.
Unlike auto-dialer equipment that mechanically dials one number after another can tie up one (or more) telephone line(s) for hours, calls sent out over Bunk1 Messenger all go out instantly, simultaneously, and through Bunk1 Messenger's telecom channel. Your call goes out quickly and your phone line remains free for use. You even receive a post-call report of how many calls were received and how many could not connect (e.g., phone number out of service).
Bulk phone messaging services often have computer-free emergency options. For instance, Bunk1 Messenger's "Camp 911" let camp directors record and send messages using any cell or landline phone, something that is particularly useful during a blackout or if your internet service is down. Camp directors are even sent a laminated instructions card to put in their wallets in the event of emergency.
CAUTION:
Do not use bulk phone messaging services to solicit new campers. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently established a "National Do Not Call Registry" and rules governing under what conditions telemarketers can contact individuals by phone. Parents with an existing relationship with your camp (e.g., sent a camper to you within the past 18 months) are not restricted even if their number is on the Do Not Call Registry but if you call a number on that registry with whom you do not have an existing relationship, you have opened your camp up to a $11,000 fine per violation.
The bottom line: Bulk phone messaging is a useful new tool for your camp. Use it wisely!
More information:
www.bunk1.com/director_messenger.asp#messenger
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/donotcall/index.html
Andrew Ackerman is the Chief Operations Officer of Bunk1.com. Bunk1.com provides password protected one way camper email and online photo galleries. Bunk1 also provides staffing services and custom website design for camps and maintains a widely used camp search engine. For more information regarding this article or Bunk1, please contact owners@Bunk1.com or call 1-888-465-CAMP.
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