Membership survey 2003

Back in June we mailed a questionnaire to 303 members, representing approximately one third of our total membership. The questionnaire was also mailed to those ex-members whose contact info we still had on file; typically, they were still members a few years ago.

The purpose of the survey was to get a better idea of our membership in terms of age, background and how they view this friendship society and its role today. While the questions were somewhat amateurish and the number of replies far too few to meet any kind of scientific criteria, the survey does give us some pointers as to who we are and what we expect from the Finnish-Canadian Society.

And here are the results. The percentages add up to the total number of answers for each particular item.

15% of the questionnaires were returned, covering 55 people. 44% of the responses were from current members, 56% from ex-members.

1. Gender
Female: 52%
Male: 48%

2. Age
0-20 years: 4%
20-40 years: 25%,
40-60 years: 46%
Over 60 years: 25%

3. Nationality
Finnish: 80%
Canadian: 18%
Other: 2%

4. I was born in Canada (or in a third country) and have lived in Finland for the past
0-5 years: 12%
5-10 years: 0%
10-20 years: 44%
20-30 years: 0%
Over 30 years: 44%

5. I was born in Finland (or in a third country) and have previously lived in Canada for
0-5 years: 52%
5-10 years: 28%
10-20 years: 5%
20-30 years: 5%
Over 30 years: 10%

6. I have never lived in Canada but I am interested in the country because of
relatives: 28%
travel: 43%
work: 9%
study: 9%
other: 11% (culture, sports, fishing, hunting)

7a. I have been a member of the Finnish-Canadian Society for
0-5 years: 64%
5-10 years: 16%
10-20 years: 16%
20-30 years: 4%

7b. I used to be a member of the Finnish-Canadian Society for
0-5 years: 50%
5-10 years: 15%
10-20 years: 15%
20-30 years: 20%

8. I joined the Finnish-Canadian Society to meet with/learn about
Canadians: 39%
Finns: 4%
others interested in Canada: 34%
others interested in Finland: 4%
other reasons: 19%

Item "other reasons" included (also in questions 9 and 10): charter flights, general interest in Canada, movies, culture in general, hockey.

9. As a member of the Finnish-Canadian Society I am mainly interested in
parties and events: 30%
newsletter: 28%
website: 14%
language practice: 16%
other: 12%

10. In the future, I would like to see more emphasis on parties and events: 32%
newsletter: 21%
website: 17%
surprise events: 22%
other: 8%

11. I would definitely participate in parties
and events if
closer to where I live: 55%
info earlier in advance: 35%
other: 10% (e.g., events outside Helsinki)

12. Regarding parties and events, the most important thing for me is
being together in relaxed atmosphere: 42%
special topics of interest: 53%
other: 5%

13. I would find the newsletter more interesting
if it had more stories on
"olden times": 12%
this day and age: 26%
interesting people: 28%
facts and info: 28%
other: 6%

14. I would find the website more useful if it were more/had more
up-to-date: 9%
up-coming events: 35%
current affairs: 26%
stories and articles: 30%

15. I used to be a member of the Finnish-Canadian Society but I quit because
"getting old", "too many other things", "not worth the money", "changes in life", "Helsinki is too far", etc.

In short, our typical/potential member today seems to be a middle-aged Finn who has, at some point, lived a few years in Canada; has been a member less than five years; is still interested in Canada; would like to travel there; and wants to meet like-minded people at our parties and events.

By Heikki Kokkonen

December 03

• Around the world
on two wheels
• A maple leaf in the presidential palace
• A view of manufactured landscapes

• Goodwill Ambassador Jari Kurri
• Visitor from Canada: Owen Rose
• Finnish-Canadian Trainee Exchange
• Canada Day 2003 
• Chairman's update
• Canbits and Finnbits
• Caisa International Fair