By Dennis Mitchell, Communication Director
The Communications Directorate (CD) manages communications with members through periodic email newsletters, front-page website posts and social media activity. We also respond to general inquiries to the organization from prospective judges, the media or those wishing to use our guidelines for various purposes. Other areas of responsibility include overseeing elections, member badge orders and the member merchandise store.
CD Staff
We added Mark Gudmastad as an Assistant Communications Director. Mark is a communications professional and will help us with social media, the website, and the newsletter. Mark joins ACDs Toby Guidry and Andrew Luberto. Toby manages BJCP badge orders and the merchandise store. Andrew has served as the main newsletter editor and edited the annual report.
Newsletters
The main method of communications between the BJCP and members is email. Automated emails are sent regarding exam scores and promotions (that automation is handled by IT), and the CD oversees emails of periodic newsletters or major organizational news. Newsletters are emailed approximately quarterly to all active judges. We sent four newsletters in 2019; email open rates ranged from 41-48 percent while click-through rates were relatively low and ranged from 4-16 percent.
March: BJCP Board Nominations and Cider Program Launched
June: BJCP Events at Homebrew Con 2019 in Providence, RI
October: Directorate Updates, Pat Baker Award Recipient, and More
December: Creating Good Mead Scoresheets, Directorate Updates, and More
CALL FOR NEWSLETTER HELP! If you are interested in writing an article for the newsletter, please contact Assistant Communication Director Andrew Luberto. We can offer non-judging points for submissions.
Other Member Communication
In addition to newsletters, the CD triages emails sent to the general organizational emails such as info @ BJCP.org, as well as emails from members with account login difficulties like lost passwords or forgotten BJCP ID numbers. About half of those emails were related to account access issues (forgotten passwords or IDs). Other common email topics include questions about ordering a name badge or new pin, asking for permissions to use the BJCP guidelines, asking how to become a judge, or those wishing to provide feedback to the BJCP on various topics.
In addition to email, the CD oversees the BJCP social media platforms as well as a member forum. The BJCP Facebook page continues to be a frequent means of communications between members and with non-members asking BJCP-related questions, and the group surpassed the 5,500 member mark in 2019. Frequent topics include where certain beers should be entered in a competition and discussions about BJCP processes.
The BJCP Twitter (@BJCP_Official) receives periodic questions and mentions and has grown to over 3,000 followers. We were not highly active on this platform in 2019 but hope to use the time of new communications staff to provide a greater presence. We are currently working with the IT Directorate to transition to a new member-only forum on the new website and archive the old forum, which is not being updated at this time.
Website
The CD has been waiting for the IT directorate to wrap up the migration to the new website. Responsibility for maintaining the website is shared between IT, the CD and the other directorates that manage their own content.
BJCP Logo Merchandise
In December 2017, we launched a new BJCP member store with an expanded selection of BJCP logo merchandise through an embroidery-on-demand store hosted by Queensboro Embroidery. This new shop offers a significantly wider range of products, including work shirts (Red Kap brand), polos, T-shirts, jackets, dress shirts, sweatshirts and bags/backpacks. Clothing is available in both men’s and women’s cuts and a variety of colors and brands. Queensboro also offers international shipping, so our members outside the US can now order BJCP logo merchandise. For more details on how to access this new store, members can visit the Merchandise page.
Member interest in BJCP-logo merchandise is relatively low but consistent, with 27 orders placed in 2019. This matches the order total from 2018. Unfortunately, due to web attacks on their systems, Queensboro has closed off access to the web store from many IP addresses from countries outside the U.S. Members can still call to place orders. We are exploring options for international member merchandise.
Member Badges
Unfortunately, 2019 was a rough year for member badge orders with several delayed orders. In early 2020, we received notice of business difficulties from our badge vendor and decided to end the relationship with the vendor, who has served the BJCP well for many years. We are currently searching for a new vendor, and it is unclear if badge orders placed in the second half of 2019 will ship. Once we secure a new vendor (or internal process), we will reach out to those who ordered a badge in 2019 and collect information for those who did not receive their order.
2020 Goals
This year, we hope to complete the following:
- Secure new badge vendor and resume badge orders
- Find a better international merchandise provider
- Increase presence on some social media platforms
- Work with IT in the migration of the new website and features such as a new member forum and automated password resets
- Propose social media guidelines for BJCP board representatives and staff members