I’ve been writing a blog since July of 2013 related to Craft beer and related topics on a regular basis, having grown my readership steadily to on average now 2500 views a month. I have also helped local off licences and pubs with their craft beer offerings and how to market these to potential customers.
I acknowledge all the hard work that has been done by others before me, and this had laid a very strong foundation with a fantastic app, which continues to guide people to craft beer in their location. I feel very passionately about the craft beer industry in Ireland and have made some steadfast friends.
I am running against Rueben Gray, a fellow beer blogger and current chair of Beoir. I’ve been reading his blog for yonks. His manifesto is here at Ruebens Blog .
1 Grow the Beoir Membership
We currently only have 370 odd members, one of my focuses for my chairmanship will be more attention given to recruiting more members to Beoir. I propose that we, where possible have a recruitment stand at any of the major events that happen throughout the year. I would also like to host more regular informal events where everyone is welcome to come along and learn about beer, and different styles of beer. I would propose that these would fall into the remit of the regional reps, and can also be used as recruitment evenings. Alongside this, I would have membership sign up posters displayed in any pub that will display them and i’ve had discussions with several who would be more than willing to do that for us.
2 Engage in an “inclusive social media” approach to both new and existing members
While we have an active forum, I believe we can reach out more and go to where people want to be met, and by that I mean using more social media content, using Youtube, Facebook groups, Google Hangouts etc. We will continue to have the forum, but will be delivering our message in new ways. We will publish our Beoir magazine, and continue with our email updates, but we will compliment these things with a regular update from the PRO or Chair using youtube, google hangouts etc.
3 Build on Relationships “One for Beoir, Beoir for all”
Ultimately we support the Independent Craft producers, as a Consumer focused body. If there are any questions re the products, we should engage with the producer directly and not allow it to get out of hand, and only state the facts as we know them. We should act as a conduit between brewer and consumer.
From an advocacy point of view I would like to strengthen our relationship with National Homebrew Club and the Dublin Beer Ladies. There is so much we can learn from these groups with regards to regular events. Also make more use of the skills within our membership for various projects that will come up during the course of the year.
4 Educate, Inform, Demystify, and not Geekify
We need to encourage more people to try craft beer, and we will be a lot more successful if we can become more welcoming and less intimidating. Be more visual, and vocal about the fantastic products that are available, and we can help make this industry sustainable for everyone’s benefit.
5 Promote, Promote, and did I say promote!?
I firmly believe that if we promote our message around the fantastic craft beers and ciders we have here in Ireland that we will build a much larger membership and more vocal consumers group who will have numbers that can not be ignored.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and your consideration for the position of Chair of Beoir.
Beoir – Wayne Dunne for Chairman – Election 2014 – 2015
My name is Wayne Dunne, known on Twitter and Beoir as Irish Beer Snob. I’ve been a member of Beoir since 2013.
Irish Beer Snob 
Wayne, I read your manifesto with interest. I agree with a lot of what you wrote but there is no mention of Beoir outside the Dublin metro area. I accept the population aspects but Beoir is unknown to many “down the country”. I am the Beoir rep in Mid West and plough a lonely furrow. Beoir is a Dublincentric body, what do you intend to do to raise its profile outside of Dublin.
Hi Cyril
thank you very much for your comment.
I myself live outside Dublin but work in the city so get to go to quite a lot.
My vision would be empower regional reps to start running beer clubs in their locality. We may need more reps but we need to start small.
There is already a successful template in the midlands where the venue is not the same each time. Where the idea is there is a menu of beers to try and as a group and discuss. I would hope there should be sufficient funds to help support regional reps run these. Make it a beoir arranged event and can be used to recruit new members. So existing members get it free and non members pay a nominal fee or sign up on the night. Naturally I'd be hoping to get each regional rep a tee, beer mats, budget for printing fliers to stick up in pubs.
Beoir itself doesn't organise the festivals but we do volunteer people to help out. There is one in Doolin a couple of weeks before the RDS but more and more brewers and pubs are starting to organize their own.
I would also propose a meeting or beoir social event in each region each couple of months or quarters where it can be more social cos let's face it beer is a social lubricant.
I'd like to see the local reps really establish strong relationships with the local craft brewery as they really would benefit from an increased amount of local support and galvanize that growth. Could also be great to have the local brewer come to an event to make it personal.
I mentioned the Dublin Beer Ladies in the context that they've remembered that its about being social and if Beoir becomes more social, we will attract more drinkers, which will help grow the industry, and be beneficial for all of us.
We are more than a chair, treasurer and Pro. We are Beoir
Regards
Wayne
I started a beer club in Limerick two years ago. We met on Wednesdays and it quickly dwindled to 4 people. The timing had a bearing, but finding a venue fir a Friday was nigh on impossible. Willing to try again with a bit of support. Have a venue, finding other venues may be a problem.
I still think Beoir needs to leave Dublin in spirit.
I've friends just outside limerick and always dying for more reasons to visit. Whether I get the chair or not if you need a hand let me know and I'll do what I can.
I'd also be using official Beoir channels eg twitter and facebook page for any of these clubs to promote these for you. This helps you with that. But its you that is the area rep and use your skills to make connections with local pubs for this kind of event. Fridays might not work as its a busy night in limerick. Friday works in the more rural areas as Saturday is “the” night to go out.
If you wanna drop me a mail we can chat further and we will see what we can get working. No two areas are going to be the same.
But I agree. We need to remember there are 31 other counties out there. And if elected I'll do my damndest to make more things happen nationally.
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