DEMA Calls for Nominations for the 2013 Reaching Out Awards

Deadline to Submit Nomination Forms is 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, April 19, 2013

 

DEMA is honored to request nominations for the 2013 DEMA Reaching Out Award, asking the Diving Industry to submit the names and qualifying information of those Industry professionals who have made a significant contribution to the sport of scuba diving.

 

Each year DEMA recognizes Industry professionals who are “reaching out” in some special way to improve the sport for everyone; those who help develop techniques related to their special areas of expertise. Areas of contribution from past Diving Industry nominees have included photography, training, equipment design, publishing, travel, retailing, water safety, exploration and science. For details about nomination requirements and selection criteria review the 2013 Reaching Out Award Nomination Form. All nominees must have been active in the Diving Industry for a minimum of 10 years, and made a significant contribution to the sport of scuba diving.

 

Since it was first presented in 1989, the Reaching Out Award recognizes those who belong in the Industry's HALL OF FAME. These are the leaders and heroes of our sport. They are the ones who have helped make Diving what it is today. Some have greater name recognition than others, but each is, in his or her own way, as important to the development of Diving as any other.

Diving Industry Professionals Gather to Strategize Future Growth at Latest 2020 Vision Session

DEMA Hosts 2020 Vision Session in Affiliation with DEMA Show 2012 to Continue Gathering Recommendations for the Future of the Diving Industry

 

What is the most productive way to grow the Diving Industry? Would the greatest benefit be derived from attracting younger divers? Or would there be more potential for growth by reaching out to those participating in other active lifestyle sports? Or perhaps increasing the image of the diving professional as a career path? These are just a few of the ideas arising from discussions at DEMA’s latest 2020 Vision brainstorming session, conducted during DEMA Show 2012. 

 

Conceived as a means by which DEMA Member input could help steer the direction of the Industry and Association, information from the DEMA 2020 Vision Sessions are part of the strategic planning process used by DEMA’s Board of Directors. Ideas and priorities from these brainstorming sessions help the Board understand the needs of Members on the ground. It is from these sessions that ideas such as the owner and employee health insurance program and the worker’s compensation insurance program, both open to DEMA Members, originated. 

 

2020 Vision sessions were conducted in several locations during 2011 and 2012 and additional sessions are planned for 2013. At the most recent 2020 Vision Session, held in affiliation with DEMA Show 2012, participants brainstormed how the Industry can achieve key action items from earlier Vision Sessions in 2011 and 2012:

• Sell the "Diving Lifestyle" along with dive travel
• Support & develop professional retailers and their staff
• Create various benefits for retailers, including health insurance and other benefits
• Adapt to new media and use social media
• Make dive travel easier
• Put the "edge" back in diving - make it more exciting
• Promote to a younger audience
• Create a positive first experience for divers
• Provide a local purpose to dive after certification (Promote and use "local diving")

Interestingly, some new ideas arose from this latest brainstorming session, including: reducing barriers to entry, finding more ways to collaborate, using celebrities to get media attention and more. DEMA encourages all Industry professionals to review the brainstorming notes from these sessions and develop their own thoughts to share with us:

• At a future 2020 Vision Session (details coming soon)
• By emailing us at 2020Vision@dema.org

If you have any questions regarding these or future sessions please contact us at 2020vision@dema.org or (858) 616-6408.

Pools Must be in Compliance with New Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements by January 31st 2013

In 2012, the United States Department of Justice issued an extension on the compliance date for the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design for existing pools and spas provided by state and local governments and by public accommodations. The new deadline was set for January 31, 2013 and is rapidly approaching.

 

In order to help eliminate misinformation and provide ample opportunity to comply, DEMA submitted comments on behalf of the Diving Industry during 2012 in favor of delaying the initial March 2012 deadline date for certain requirements of Titles II and III of the ADA. “We believed an extension of the compliance date was necessary to allow for clarification of the requirements and allow impacted Industry businesses to budget and plan for any necessary changes,” commented Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA.

 

According to the Department of Justice, existing pools must be in compliance with the new requirements as set forth by the changes within the ADA Standards for Accessible Design by January 31^st, 2013. Industry professionals using pools in stores and any public facilities are advised to review the new requirements for pool entry and exit, compliance date details, and refer to the ADA website for additional information on immediate compliance with the regulations.

Generate New Business For Your Retail Dive Center by Participating in 2013 Be A Diver Pool Tour Stops

Eight Events in Quarter 1 Alone Provide Opportunities for Retail Dive Center Participants from New York to Missouri

Since it first came into existence more than 10 years ago, the Be A Diver Pool Tour has traveled throughout the U.S. enabling potential new diving customers to try scuba diving in the warm, safe confines of a four-foot deep swimming pool under professional supervision. With 2013 just beginning, the Pool’s schedule is already filling up and 2013 promises to be another productive year for both the Pool and local retailers who participate at pool tour stops.

Since 2000, the Be A Diver Pool has brought the interactive diving experience to thousands of onsite participants at hundreds of indoor and outdoor venues as well as millions of at-home viewers and publication readers through media coverage from across the United States. Pool Tour stop locations are carefully selected using solid consumer research indicating which of the many events across the US already attract potential customers who fit the same prosperous demographic profile targeted by the diving industry. The Be A Diver Pool utilizes effective cross-marketing strategies to bring in new divers to participating stores, thus helping to grow the Diving Industry. Equally important is the tremendous amount of media attention the Be A Diver Pool generates in the local area and nationally. Participating DEMA Member stores often have the opportunity for their businesses to appear on television and in print as a result of their participation.

Each Pool stop is coordinated by DEMA’s “Big Wave” Dave Reidenbach, Retail Membership Manager, in coordination with local DEMA Member Profesional Dive Centers. By working at a local Pool stop, retailers in the area have the prime opportunity to provide a memorable first-time experience to potential new divers and customers. John Wilkins, owner of Rex Diver Center, Inc. participated in the Pool stop at the Norwalk Boat Show in 2012 and was able to “make a professional impression on thousands of attendees.” In addition, he indicates that, “learning to scuba was part of the many television ads leading up and through the boat show,” providing additional exposure to potential customers. Thanks to participating in his local pool stop last year Wilkins signed up multiple participants into the following weekends’ dive class and went away with a list of leads for future classes.

As Wilkins and many other retailers have experienced, the Pool is often a potential customer’s first diving experience and the introduction they need to develop a lifelong passion for the sport. The Be A Diver Pool already has eight confirmed stops in Quarter 1 of 2013 with many more being confirmed for the rest the year and throughout the country.

Retailers who are interested in participating in a scheduled pool stop or who may be aware of an event with potential for attracting new divers are encouraged to contact DEMA’s Pool Tour Coordinator, “Big Wave” Dave Reidenbach at (920) 205-3657 or bigwavedave@dema.org. There are also a variety of different sponsorships available to those interested and detailed information about the various sponsorship packages available can be found in the Be A Diver Pool Prospectus or by contacting Dave Reidenbach.

Website Launched For Water, Sports & Travel Festival

WSTFest.com Provides Valuable Information on Festival Details Including Exhibitor List, Schedule and More

 

DEMA has launched the website for the highly anticipated 2013 Water, Sports & Travel Festival which will take place April 26-28, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The Festival encompasses a series of events for water sports enthusiasts interested in an active lifestyle and participating in water-based sports. By bringing together many water sports disciplines – whether on the water, in the water or over the water – the Festival hopes to encourage future consumer growth and interest in these areas. The WSTFest website provides exhibitors with a wealth of information on the Festival, including updated exhibitor listings, schedule details and more. Visit the website to learn more.

 

The WSTFest website makes it easy for companies from all water sports activities  to participate in the Festival including water sports retailers, manufacturers, clubs/organizations, recreational diving retailers and travel destinations. The Festival is a great way to showcase the latest products/gear to potential new customers, recruit new buyers or inspire visitors with an active lifestyle message, thus increasing the growth and interest in these sports and lifestyles. Included on the website is information to help those interested in participating learn more and get involved with the Festival:

 

EXHIBITORS can find information on exhibit space, a Festival floor plan, listing of other exhibitors and manage their own account.

 

A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS is listed with both pre-Show and Show attractions and activities. The activities scheduled cover a wide range of interests including contests, in-water demonstrations, DiveCaching activities, live music, a lion fish round up and cook-off, demonstrations/shows and much more.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS can find press releases concerning the Festival and the designated contact for all press-related questions.

 

HOTEL INFORMATION and rates are listed along with other nearby options.

 

Additional information aimed directly at Festival Attendees will be integrated into the site as the Festival approaches. Exhibitors and Attendees are encouraged to connect with the Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

 

DEMA will continue to provide information on the Water, Sports & Travel Festival to the entire industry as plans unfold via the DEMA website, Festival website, weekly DEMAILs, social media sites, DEMA blog and other outlets. 

 

The Water, Sports & Travel Festival is presented by DEMA in partnership with the Association of Wind & Water Sports Industries (AWSI), American Canoe Association (ACA), Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA), Kite World Magazine, South Florida Underwater Photography Society (SFUPS) and X-Ray Magazine.

How I (Accidentally) Accessed a Former Employer’s Twitter Account Without Their Password

Guest Blogger: Rachelle Morris, DEMA Membership Marketing & Communications Coordinator

I wanted to share a recent experience with you all in hopes that it might shed some light on the importance of managing your accounts and protecting your social media identity.

I don’t know about you, but between my personal and work logins, I have far too many username/password combinations in my head to keep them all straight. I was recently trying to log into my personal Twitter account, but since I haven’t been logged in for quite some time, I was having a difficult time remembering the correct login combination. So I proceeded with the “forgot username and password” process.

What happened next literally left my mouth dropped. I had the option to enter in my phone number as a way of gaining access to the account that was associated with that phone number. Immediately thereafter, I received a text that included a code to help me log back in. At this point I had just assumed this was my personal Twitter that it was helping me log into – but I was never asked to verify any of the account information….Before I realized it, I found myself staring at a Twitter account dashboard that wasn’t mine. In fact, it was worse: I had inadvertently logged into a former employer’s Twitter account – all without ever entering the current username and password!!!


– JAW DROP – How is that possible?! Here’s how:

It looks like the new social media manager at the former employer had gone in and updated the account with all her new information and I would assume she changed the password as well.

HOWEVER, what she failed to do was check out the MOBILE tab under the Settings tab. If she had, she would have seen my phone number was still listed as the phone that could access the account and Tweet on behalf of the account.

Lucky for them, I am not a disgruntled ex-employee out for revenge. Had I been, I could have done some SERIOUS damage to their online reputation and relationships. Instead, I quickly deleted my information from the account and signed out.

Please, please, please – make sure you are keeping a close eye on all of your accounts. I would suggest it as good practice to change passwords whenever someone leaves the company and had access to ANY account. And be sure to go through ALL the account settings to be absolutely sure they have been completely removed.

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Other recent posts by Rachelle:

• DS12 – What a Show! 
• Instagram, Hashtags and First DEMA Show…OH MY!
• Well Isn’t That Pinteresting….
• Tweet, Tweet…Anybody there?
• Twitter Me This…
• How to Gauge the Success of your Facebook Page
• Searching for a Perfect Social Media Plan

DS12 – What a Show!

Guest Blogger: Rachelle Morris, DEMA Membership Marketing & Communications Coordinator

The past month has been a complete whirlwind. Having attended my very first DEMA Show, I am even more impressed with the professionalism of the Diving Industry! What a fun, intelligent, passionate and welcoming group of people! I met so many incredible individuals and can’t wait to see you all again in Florida for DEMA Show 2013!

Being this was my first Show, I quite honestly didn’t know what to expect. One of the Show features I was most excited about was the opportunity to attend educational seminars and learn from experts of their field. Being the social media fiend that I am, I was eager to attend Evolving Social Media Realities: What You Need to Know with Jason Heller, CEO, Agiliti. He was such an engaging speaker and had so many great ideas; I couldn’t help but take feverish notes so I could share some of them with all of you!

Facebook & Exposure
Did you know that only 15% of your followers ever actually see the content your business or brand page posts? Much of this is due to a complicated algorithm that determines who sees what. The whole thing is -quite honestly- beyond my understanding, but there are apps and programs that can help make it easy for those of us that “don’t do numbers.” Jason spoke about EdgeRank Checker, which is described on their website as “an algorithm that ranks objects in the Facebook News Feed. Pages with high EdgeRank Scores will be more likely to show up in the news feed, than Pages with low EdgeRank Scores.”

With EdgeRank Checker’s free plan, you have access to information like your EdgeRank score, the best average day of the week, worst average day of the week and more. And of course the paid PRO plan has even more insightful data for you to refer to like post grading, industry report, best day + best time + best keyword, and more.

With this sort of information you can leverage your content and maximize your Facebook exposure by ensuring you are posting during the ideal time, on the best days of the week, and using content and keywords that are most likely to drive engagement.

Be sure to check out EdgeRank Checker to see how the free or PRO plans can help you maximize your Facebook efforts!

Track Your Brand

Curious to know what people are saying about you, your business, or brand online? Socialmention* is a great, FREE tool that can help you do just that! You can even use it to see what people are saying about your competition. ;)

How Are My Tweets Doing?

I love Jason’s suggestion for a program that can help track your Twitter analytics: Crowdbooster provides you information on your retweets, impressions, replies, follower growth, influential followers, top retweeters, mentions, and more. What I appreciate is that you can switch between displaying information in table or graph form. Being a visual learner, I love the information being provided in a graph so I can quickly see how our Tweets are doing.

After setting up my account, Crowdbooster sent me an email informing me of the 3 best times to schedule tweets for today. LOVE IT!

Give some of these programs a peak and see if they would be a good fit for you and your social media efforts. The added work can certainly pay off as you start to see increased engagement.

And if you know of any other good resources, please share them here!

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Other recent posts by Rachelle:

• Instagram, Hashtags and First DEMA Show…OH MY!
• Well Isn’t That Pinteresting….
• Tweet, Tweet…Anybody there?
• Twitter Me This…
• How to Gauge the Success of your Facebook Page
• Searching for a Perfect Social Media Plan