Last Updated 4/24/2004
(Rolling Meadows, IL - April 13, 2004)
Dan Ehrmann is a very passionate man. As President of the Windy City Morgan Owners Group, he's always on the lookout for more time and better ways to share his enthusiasm for "the fine workmanship and quirky engineering that characterizes every Morgan car." But as anyone who has ever belonged to a club, association or other membership-based organization knows, a lot of time goes into managing the group and its activities, leaving less time to actually enjoy the common interests. And the smaller the organization and fewer the resources, the more difficult it is to find aperfect balance. Here is where Ehrmann saw the opportunity to parlay another passion - technology - into a big idea that is ClubExpress (www.clubexpress.com).
"Employing Internet-driven automation, ClubExpress delivers the three things organizations want most,"said Ehrmann, head of Gembrook Systems, LLC, the creator of ClubExpress. "First, they want tosimplify the administration of the club so they have more time to pursue their interests. They're lookingfor a more efficient and reliable way to process paperwork, collect membership dues and provide moreaccurate information to club administrators. Second, they want to create a richer club experience withbetter communications tools and more features for members. And third, they want powerful yeteconomical tools to market and grow the club, attracting new members to a vibrant, active organizationthat allows members to expand their knowledge and share their enthusiasm with others."
ClubExpress serves these needs with a comprehensive Internet-based platform that combines a fullycustomizable Web site with a membership database, communication tools, and administrative functions.Each club web site includes a front end for general information/promotion, a members-only content areaand a secure back end for the administration of club services and transactions.
The concept was developed by surveying the needs of dozens of clubs of varying sizes and in manyinterest areas. "We spent hours sharing our experiences and needs with Gembrook's team," said MikeRadomsky, president of the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association (COPA), a 1,250-member national clubof private pilots. "ClubExpress is a testament to how well they listened."
Previously, tech solutions providers had passed up this market niche because most of the players aresmall, local organizations with fairly limited resources. But being 'one of the little guys', Ehrmanninstead saw opportunity. "ATV enthusiasts are some of the most passionate hobbyists you'd ever hope toserve. ClubExpress brings these groups together within one network, but still allows them to retain theirunique identities." With a shared platform solution, the cost of developing sophisticated softwareapplications suddenly becomes affordable, and small groups with very limited budgets can now offer theirmembers an online experience as enriching as those with far greater resources, all without needing a techguru in the group.
"We provide a platform that allows ATV enthusiast clubs to fully manage their operations andcommunications online, with absolutely no training and with a far smaller time commitment," saidEhrmann. "We made sure that our platform is simple to use, but flexible enough to allow moreexperienced users to add their own elements." Administrative features include an online membershipdatabase, member sign up and renewal services, dues collection via secure credit card processing andcustom reporting capabilities. Custom modules are provided for news, document sharing, committeework, events, calendars, member interests and more. ClubExpress even facilitates the sharing ofinformation, ideas and finances among national and regional clubs with local chapters, and between clubswith common interests.
"Organizations should be driven by a collective passion, not an ability to collect dues," remarkedEhrmann. "ClubExpress provides all the tools to make membership as rewarding as it can be by puttingthe focus back on the passion. That's our mission: More Passion, Less Paperwork"
ClubExpress is based in Rolling Meadows, IL. The product was launched in March, 2004 and has begunhosting its first organization sites. Please visit www.ClubExpress.com for more information.