Following last night’s event is was apparent some parents and members weren’t receiving information from us on either one or both of the two platforms we use to communicate with you, email and WhatsApp – and that caused issues.
It is worth clarifying why we use both:
- WhatsApp is great for sending very quick instant updates of small pieces of information – it is very quick and easy for us to do it when we are short of time and have other things more pressing to do, and very easy for recipients to check and read it.
- Email is great for larger more detailed pieces of information of the kind we send out once a week before a meeting and about up coming trips etc.
The reality is we use both: some things will only go on WhatsApp because they are small, but no less important than others, and don’t warrant a whole email from our web based email list system, other things might only go on email as it will be a pretty chunky piece of info.
Whatever platform we send it out on there are a couple of things that you should know that will help you decide which to use and if you are on our list for them:
- The big important information will always go out on email and will simultaneously be posted to our website – if you don’t get an email once a week from us, despite us adding you to our list when you join CAG, you aren’t on it any longer for whatever reason. You need to be on it, if you aren’t getting emails just let us know and we’ll add you back in again – you can check the website for any updates you may have missed in the interim.
- WhatsApp is quick and easy for us all to take part in – which is great for discussion amongst all members and parents, not great if you don’t want to receive that amount of communications and so you can leave the group after we have added you with your permission. However, if you decide to leave, you could miss something important, such as an update to a meeting time, finish time, car wash opportunity etc. It is entirely your preference. If you aren’t a part of our WhatsApp list because we haven’t added you please let us know and we will get on to that. If you have since left after we added you and you want to come back again please let us know, we will only add you again if you ask us.
We hope that helps. Please let us know if you would like to make any amendments to the way we send information to you.
