What makes a good club?

[banshee]

I believe that to have agood club you need members that are willing to share the work load.The club that I am in has about 60 members,it cost $25 a year to join and our only other source of income is meat tray raffles at a local pub.We have a mid year and annual dinner that is subsidised by half and a Christmass party that is fully subsidised.It never ceases to amaze me that it is the same dozen or so blokes that turn up for raffle roster,the monthly meetings or pitch in if something needs doing,the rest simply turn up for a free drink or feed when it's on,then these bludgers turn around and whinge about feeling left out.....go figure.

[Nugget]

Thanks all for your comments.
I haven't found clubs that "clicky" but it can take a while to into the group and be accepted.

I was surprised at how important the social side was to many that replied - I would have thought fishing was first and most important.
It also surprising not many considered education of juniors - clinics etc or environment issues that important.


The club that I'm currently a member of is struggling with membership numbers down and hardly anyone fishing.
I'd like to suggest to the Committee some changes but wasn't sure what people want in a fishing club - this gives me some good ideas.
We brought a rule in about 4 years ago that you could only weigh in 5 of any species - I think that works well and discourages the slaughter - it would surprise some that many club anglers - myself included - feel the same way about full eskies as the rest of you.

It looks like a good club has:
- a strong social side.
- welcomes new members straight away.
- has some "lessons" by the more experienced anglers.
- has an social conscience not focusing on numbers of fish.
- a competition once a month


Anything else I should add in there?

Dave ><>

[homebound]

Are there any fishing clubs you guys could recommend around Currumbin?
Not interested in comps but trips, social side and days out are a definite - YES!

[flytime]

Hi Jeffo,
No thats not me. There are three steve dahls on the sunshine coast so i have found out. And that doesn't mean i have split pesonalities # .I've only been on the coast for 9 years.This is the first club i've ever been involved with and flyfishing is my passion.
P.s Phill you are dead right with your response.
Regards Steve #

[jeffo]

ahh thats ok steve! i know a few guys from your club but just cant seam to take the time to pick up a fly rod and learn how to use it!
jackson taught me how to throw one a few years back but thats as far as it goes.
dave- education of juniours is a very important side of the club i think.... its getting the juniours there to start with that is the problem. i was club captain at the ripe old age of 15 and the help i was given at the beggining was priceless and something that i will be greatful for forever. one of the other problems with juniours is that they always manage to clean up all the trophies on presentaion night
as for the environmental conservation side of things i think that there is little we can do in alot of cases! >

[Barrymundi]

I believe that to have agood club you need members that are willing to share the work load.The club that I am in has about 60 members,it cost $25 a year to join and our only other source of income is meat tray raffles at a local pub.We have a mid year and annual dinner that is subsidised by half and a Christmass party that is fully subsidised.It never ceases to amaze me that it is the same dozen or so blokes that turn up for raffle roster,the monthly meetings or pitch in if something needs doing,the rest simply turn up for a free drink or feed when it's on,then these bludgers turn around and whinge about feeling left out.....go figure.

Can someone explain to me please, I have always had trouble with this bit in a fishing club I was a member off. Fundraising by raffles, Expos etc to pay for members fishing activities, ie Subsidised Xmas functions, trophies, BBQ Drinks. The club I was a member of would give away a few dollars to charity but would keep the majority of the money raised from the general public to spend on club activities. Surely, unless the money raised from the general public goes 100% to charity you are Subsidising your leisure activity with money from the general public.
I have always been the odd one out on this view but nobody has been able to convince me I am wrong.

The way I see it is if you sell raffles within the club, go hard and spend the money how you want. If you raise the money from the general public 100% should be returned to the general public.

I don’t need the general public to pay for dinner or help pay for a few drinks.

Al

[whiteman]

Al, as you probably know, we rape and pillage $$$s out of tourists who come to our monthly BBQs and spend up on the raffles. They get a great value feed for the $5, get to have a beer with members, and take stories back down south and overseas of this quirky bunch of yokels who like to sink a few at this wonderful place called "The Landing". So everyone is happy.

To keep bbbalc afloat (get it?) thus supplying food and a social atmosphere for about 15 events each year, we need around $10k (insurance alone is $1k). So we need lots of fundraising. However, we do provide direct funding back to charitable projects in our area and we co-host events with the likes of the P&C and Community Association. We still haven't got the balance right but we're on the right track.

Our members are very supportive and appreciative of our efforts as a committee/club and that's one of the main reasons the numbers are up. The club you talk about seems to need a bit of social direction. As for their recent "event", what a waste of time.

[Barrymundi]

Come on Dave be nice.

Great Club up your way, even if they eat mother in law fish

[banshee]

As the club I am in,is not,nor does it claim to be a charitable organiseation I find your question a little confusing.In your opinion should all parties making money by offering goods to the genneral public hand back the profits come years end?I could just see the local bussiness houses supporting this concept.The answer to your question about why clubs subsidise activities is simple,because the majority of members want it that way,and this country being what it is,the majority rules.In our club prospective members are given a copy of our costitution and rules,if they join great,if they don't so be it.If they join and don't like some thing it is up to them to point out what they consider to be the short comings at monthly meetings and set about sureing up support for a change.I'd bet differing opinions(Blues)would be a part of most clubs meetings,I see this as a healthy sign of a progresive club.We support two Coast Guards,a Hellicopter Rescue Service,a Jet Rescue Boat with donations of a hundred dollars each,we also donate fifty dollars to the local fresh water fish stocking group,why shouldn't we spend the rest on club members?

[DaneCross]

Al,
I don't understand what you're saying, isn't the whole point of fundraising is to raise money to subsidise your activity (whatever it may be)??? Sporting clubs do it all the time. They run raffles etc to raise money to subsidise uniform costs, registration/game fees, trips etc etc... the public dont get any of that back.
Now, unless you are a community organisation, when I buy a ticket in a meat tray at the local pub, I don't expect to see that $2 again, I know that its going to benefit someone else and I'm happy with that.
What is the point of gathering money from within your club to subsidise your club activities? Thats like transfering money from one of your bank accounts to another of your accounts then saying, "Ooh, look how much money I've got, I can afford that such'n'such now"... In the end you're paying for it yourself anyway
Dane

[Barrymundi]

Looks like I have not explained myself, nothing new.

I don't have a problem with people who need to be subsidised my the general public to enjoy a pleasure activity as long as it is clearly stated up front. And members like me can refuse to accept the charity money from the general public is they want too.

A club I was a member off would raises about $10,000 clear profit each year from one event after donating about $2000 to charity. This club at last count had about $35,000 in the bank, this is an ANSA club.

I am the odd one out with my view, nothing new, not trying to start an argument.

Alan

[lures]

Whiteman
I will tell you why your club has grown so quickly.It is because it is not filled with wankers like some Townsville clubs.Your club is based on a social aspect,if joe bloggs catches a 20 kg trev on 15 kg he is not frowned at , because he didn't use 2kg or if he catches a 20kg cobia on 2kg he is not called a cheat.Your club thanks and supports the business's that donate prizes,they do not call you a miserable bastard if all you can donate this month is a bag of hooks.Instead of a 100 dollar plano tacklebox.
Before anybody bags me ,I do have first hand knowledge , I did look after whiteman's club and did get supported by them, I also got called a tight arse when all i could afford to donate was a couple of lures that month to a so called lengendary sportfishing club.Ah the joys of owning a tackle store.
The social aspect will win hands down in any club
regards Gary (the whinger)

[Mad_Barry]

Whiteman
I will tell you why your club has grown so quickly.It is because it is not filled with wankers like some Townsville clubs.

arh, So I'm not alone in my view of most of the local clubs & organisations #8)

sounds like I should go out to balgal for a beer one afternoon.

#

[Lucky_Phill]

Great topic Dave. Good responses form all here !

Yes Dave, I did forget to mention the Juniors.

I think in not to many years gone by, that some of the old heads started to unleash their knowledge on some of the sons and daughters that appeared in some clubs around the traps.

This is evident by the ' youngish ' looking gun anglers of our time.

I don't like to name names, but I'm sure Wishey won't mind ( and he does he'll let me know ).

He has been a club fisherman for 26 years, was Junior champion 3 years, Reserve Grade Champ 3 years, been a A grade'r since 1992, Club Champion 97 & 99, Has competed in many National, State and Local comps and won many titles at them.

This guy is only 34 years of age. This type of person is the direct result of the old heads being willing to teach the young guys and girls. Not only teaching them how to fish, but many other aspects of the game, so that they can improve their skills by their own hand.

Junior development is not just for the clubbies, but we all can do our part, and that invloves, not only fishing technics etc, but being aware of the environment in which we derive our pleasure from.

Club participation in, Carpbusters, Clean Australia Day, Bridge to Bay, Red Nose Day, VMR and Coast Guard information Days, etc etc etc, is what the New Clubs are about, ( in my opinion ).

Yes Dave, I think the ' Social " side to clubs is very , very important.

Cheers Phill

[Barrymundi]

Give me a call Dicko, We can pop up for a hamburger.

Friendly mob, even Whiteman

Al