First Aid Association Nijmegen

“This app is very user-friendly and easy to manage. In the early stages, we discovered that even our member, who is seriously digitally savvy, could get along with the app just fine. That was the signal for us to proceed with the app. We then had the expectation that it would work.”

Perry van de Berg fulfills the role of course coordinator and board member at First Aid Association Nijmegen. In addition to being a general board member, I also take care of the website and membership records. A year ago, the association began using Socie to improve communication. We spoke with Perry about his experiences with Socie.

Can you tell a little more about First Aid Nijmegen?

First Aid Nijmegen has existed for 100 years since October 1, 2023. We celebrated this anniversary with all our members. We are an active association where we provide assistance and transfer knowledge. Currently, we have over 150 members. Each season we host 6 meetings where various first aid topics are covered. We also offer individual modules, such as CPR and event assistance.

Why did you decide to engage Socie?

A year ago we started looking for a solution to improve our communication and that’s how we came to Socie. We tried several programs, including Socie. What we especially like is that members can sign up for classes. Previously we used datepricker.com for sign-ups and cancellations, but this did not meet our needs. We wanted to switch to something simpler, but that proved difficult to find. When we discovered that Socie had a calendar function, we were thrilled. And when the link with our membership records also turned out to work, we were completely happy. The calendar is a very nice feature and using it is very easy. After testing the app with a small group, we decided to move forward with it.

How did the establishment of Socie proceed?

Pretty easy. We started expanding more and more. We continue to add new features to further develop the app.

How did the rollout of Socie go?

To introduce the app to the rest of the members, we gave a presentation at our membership meeting. The rollout went pretty well. The calendar function is very much used and I (Perry) think that is the most important thing.

How were the initial reactions to Socie?

We first tested it with a small group of drivers and instructors. When this went well, we then rolled it out to all members. The percentage of users is very high, which we are very satisfied with. Those who do not use the app are probably not active members within the association. Users are positive about the app.

Who manages or administers Socie?

I (Perry) manage the App. I do try to bring others into this, but they cannot grant rights to members due to AVG reasons.

How do you deploy Socie? What parts do you guys use?

Especially the calendar function is widely used. We also do the bulletin board, newsletters and posting of official documents in the app. Some members are unable to use the app. For these members, we are still mailing all the information. It is impossible to find a means of communication in which you make everyone happy. That’s not going to work. But this app is very user-friendly and easy to manage. In the early stages, we discovered that even our member, who is seriously digitally savvy, could get along with the app just fine. She got the basic functions just fine. That was the signal for us to move forward with the app. We then had the expectation that it would work

What are you doing to keep Socie relevant?

We post messages on the bulletin board, such as fun classes and lectures. Very occasionally, members also post messages on the message board. This doesn’t happen very much. We have created separate groups for members, board, etc.

How do you like using Socie so far?

Very good. There are still some wishes. For this we looked at other apps as well, but what we would like cannot be found or it is very expensive. Furthermore, sometimes we send in a ticket with a request to Socie.