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Introduction:

The results are in!  We thank the 190 PEF members for sharing their opinions with our Picnic Committee.  The purpose for conducting this survey was to reach out to PEF membership and find out how you would like to see the Conservation Day Picnic organized to make it a fun-filled afternoon to enjoy with co-worker, family and friends.  We were encouraged by the comments and responses given, which indicate that PEF members would indeed like to see more meaningful participation by all DEC employees to a foster the feeling of camaraderie and community.

The report organizes our findings into four basic categories:  Activities/Location; Music; Food; and Drink/Price.  Based upon these results several recommendations are presented which we hope will be considered when organizing any future Conservation Day Picnics.  Found in the appendix of this report, as well as, on the PEF/Encon website (www.pefencon.info), is an exhaustive list of all comments made by PEF members.

It is our hope that the results of this survey is taken in the spirit in which it was conducted and that it is applied when organizing the Conservation Day Picnic for next year.

Activities

The primary reason PEF members attend the Conservation Day Picnic is to socialize with DEC employees, while being able to enjoy an afternoon of fun without the need to charge the time, according to 79% of the members responding to this question.  The reasons for member not attending ranged from the claim that the picnic was no longer inviting to families, and too expensive, to it no longer being fun.  The first category we examined indicated that many members preferred variety in activities to make the picnic worthwhile attending. 

Of the 190 survey respondents, volleyball (chosen by 59% of respondents) was the most popular activity.  Most other activities appear to have enough votes to justify their inclusion with the possible exceptions of presentations/mini lectures (9%) and scheduling to allow for children (11%), but with interested volunteers, even these may be possible.  There were a variety of other picnic activities suggested, such as tug of war, water balloon toss, dunking booth, raffles, commissioner for a day contest, sack race, frisbee golf, rotation play, soccer, campfire, badminton & a variety of children=s activities.

All listed pre-picnic events (golf, bicycle ride, canoeing/kayaking, fun run) appear to have enough interested individuals to justify their inclusion.  However, as the events are most likely mutually exclusive and many individuals chose more than one event, not all respondents would be available for each event.  Several other events were suggested, such as sailing, hiking, tubing, environmental work project and river cruise.

Suggestions for Presentations/Exhibits were: Geology of the area; Wildlife presentations/Wildlife rehab exhibit; Forest fire fighting/law enforcement exhibit; Juggler; Magician; Fire works; Something not too intense - more fun than work!; Anything related to conservation & environment; Gardening, animal care; Each Division should have a booth; Outdoor demo, presentations; Nature hikes; Employee hobby exhibits; Mountain bike demo (or something similar); Antique Car Show; and a T-shirt artwork contest.

#4. What activities would make a good picnic?

#5.  What Picnic location would you prefer?

Of the 177 people who responded to the question, seventy percent (70%) chose Saratoga State Park as an acceptable choice.  Forty eight percent (48%) of all respondents chose Saratoga exclusively (i.e did not want to go anywhere else).  Respondents (>150) cited beauty, amenities, space and potential for many activities and support of State Parks as reasons to choose Saratoga. Although several stated that Saratoga is close to home, the drawback for many was distance from home and work.

Thirteen percent (13%) of respondents selected the Elks Club as an acceptable choice.  Eleven percent (11% ) of all respondents chose the Elks Club exclusively (i.e. did not want to go anywhere else).  Preference for the Elks Club was based on proximity to work and home and for one respondent, the venue brings the participants closer together in a positive way.  Drawbacks cited were that the space is too enclosed, too loud, too little lawn space, no room to wander, nothing to do, the space is ugly and has no shade and several respondents said it Asucks@.

      Tallies for Picnic Location Votes

Note:  Total responses exceed 190 because PEF members

             responded to more than one choice.

Thirty nine percent (39%) of respondents felt it would be acceptable to go somewhere other than Saratoga or the Elks Club.  In fact, fifteen percent (15%) of all respondents did not want Saratoga OR the Elks Club.  Desired qualities of other locations cited were that a venue should have natural settings; a variety of things to do, be big, be preferably close to work (if not close to home) and consideration of rotating venues for variety should be made.  Popular alternative choices included Thatcher State Park (15 votes); T- Colonie SP, Grafton SP (12 votes each).  Several other venues were suggested by Respondents (see Suggested Alternative Venue table on next page).

Respondents appeared to feel strongly about their choice of venue.  Only one respondent voted for both Saratoga AND Elks Club and another chose Saratoga AND Elks AND Other.  All other respondents (99%) either chose Saratoga exclusively; the Elks Club exclusively; Saratoga AND AOther@; or Elks Club AND AOther@.  Forty one (41) respondents to the survey cited location as a reason for not attending the picnic.

Suggested Alternative Venues

MUSIC PREFERENCE

#6.  Music Preferences

Of the five choices available, DJ Party Music was selected 33% more frequently than the other options.  Acoustic/Folk Music followed closely with 23% to Live Music at 23%.  At least 25 respondents stated that the music volume was much too loud.  At least 5 respondents suggested that a radio or CD player would be a fine (and inexpensive)  source of music – that the picnic was not so much about the music.  Several respondents stated that, as music was not of critical importance, it might be a significant cost savings to avoid paying for music.

Note:  Total responses exceed 190 because PEF members

             responded to more than one choice.

#7.  When should music be offered?

Of the 190 PEF member responding to this survey, only thirty-eight responded to the question.  Of this 38 feeling strongly enough to provide an opinion, 73% of the members felt that music should be provided throughout the day.  In addition, given the low response to this query, it would be reasonable to assume that this issue is not of strong importance.

 FOOD PREFERENCE

#10.  How would you rate the quality of the catering service used for the past two picnics?

56% of the PEF members responding to this question felt that food was of moderate to low quality.

Positive comments were related to high quality, quantity, variety of foods and level of service provided by the caterer.  There were many comments stating that the food was OK or not bad, but not outstanding.  Negative comments were more numerous and related to poorly prepared or unappetizing food, respondents getting ill, and unappealing cooking methods and presentation.  Some respondents suggested having a lunch-only picnic or having separate lunch & dinner meals instead of food being served all day.

DRINK PREFERENCE

Of the 190 PEF members responding to the survey, nearly two-thirds (62%) preferred to have a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available to drink at the picnic. 

#14.  What would you prefer to drink at a picnic?

The number of PEF members responding to whether the cost of alcoholic drinks should be included in the price of the ticket was rather evenly divided.  Specifically, of the 190 respondents, 83 (44%) preferred a ticket that did not include alcohol in the price, 80 (42%) wanted to have a ticket that included the price of their alcoholic drinks. 

#15.  Would you prefer a picnic ticket that includes or excludes the cost of alcohol?

The comments provided allowed us to get a glimpse of their rationale for their choice.  Less than 5 people stated that there should only be one ticket and that it should include alcohol.  Of the respondents who wanted alcohol in their ticket price thought the beer choices over the last few years were great, and they’re willing to pay for it and that it may be too confusing to regulate two tickets.   However, those PEF members favoring excluding the cost of alcoholic beverages from the price of their picnic ticket felt strongly that they deserved to have a choice, they did not think it fair to subsidize this cost, liability concerns for the Agency in sponsoring an event where accidents may occur from DWI incidents, and finally they felt that it would reduce their cost to attend significantly.

One overriding opinion highlighted is that choice should be an option.  Those that wanted  the price to include alcohol, believed that choice was acceptable if there was a significant price differential.  Otherwise, this group felt one ticket including everything would be better to simplify the process.  Those that did not want the price of the ticket to include alcohol felt that price differential was only reason to separate out this cost.

PRICE CONCERNS

#18.  What is a reasonable price to pay for a picnic?

Of the 190 survey forms returned, 181or 95% responded to question #18.  The amount members were willing to pay ranged from $7 to $35. The amount would vary depending upon what would be included (i.e. alcohol vs. non-alcohol, individual or children only ticket vs. family tickets).    However, $17 was the average price the members believed was a reasonable price to pay for the picnic

#19.  Should PEF/Encon subsidize the cost of the picnic?

Of the 190 members survey, 76% believe that PEF/Encon should subsidize the picnic, only 16% felt the union should not.

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