Starting a new club

[spinninbug]

For anyone that is interested we are starting a new club on the west side of the state.  We are having our first meeting this Saturday.  I'm not for sure yet what lakes we will be fishing but I do know they will all be with in an hours drive of ludington.  The goal is to keep it close to home so it can be affordable so everyone can fish and enjoy it without worrying about to much expense.

There are no details worked out yet.  We were approached about this in August,  all we really know is this is going to be a family type club,  husbands, wives, kids and camping.  Talk is fishing one weekend a month on one lake for two days.  I was so suprised to find out how many people want to do this.  We have been wanting to do this for about three years now but didn't know how much interest there would be.  So if any of you would like more info or are interested let me know.  I will know more after Saturdays meeting.

[Rangerchic]

Wow, I thought we had a pretty well established club in the Lundington area! TearDrop Bass ring a bell? I wish you guys would have came to us if this is something you were gonna do. Going behind peoples backs because you are unhappy with a situation is not a real good way to deal with things! The only thing this is gonna cause is hard feelings.

[spinninbug]

Rangerchic,

No hard feelings were ever intended.  There have  been flyers  out since August and the teardrop is a wonderful club.  There are alot of people that want to fish that just can't afford the travel and want to enjoy a more family oriented and relaxed atmosphere. 

[Rangerchic]

Well I hope there is no intention to "take members"! I know people were upset with the way things went this year, but with the conditions it went fine! You have to understand that the members voted on the lakes to fish this year! You guys did not vote and there for maybe did not understand why we traveled so far this year! WE did not know that the cost of gas was going to be so CRAZY either, that is out of our control!

Our club has always been open to famiies and children, but most of our members are men and in turn men fish and want that time fishing with a buddy or friend! Kids are more then welcome, we would love to have more kids!

I wish you luck and I hope that we can all work together

.....off to class!

Rosann

[joshimoto son]

What's the news?

How did the first meeting go?

joshimoto son

[spinninbug]

The meeting went well. ?We got all of our officers nominated and are having another meeting next Wednesday for all the new members to vote. ?Then we will be discussing all the fun things like rules, bylaws, payouts, tourney fees and membership fees those kind of things and I'm sure we will be talking about what lakes we want to fish.

It looks like we will be having around 10 to 13 teams so far. ?With some new faces we haven't seen around here before so that is pretty cool too. ?It's pretty exciting! ?

It seems the format is going to be one weekend a month that is the only thing we know for sure yet. ?

[Duke]

That sounds great Spinninbug! Too bad I live in Indiana  .

I really wouldn't worry about comments about "taking numbers" from other clubs. Other clubs just need to take care of the members they have. If they do that, then they won't lose anyone. Doesn't sound like you went behind anyone's back; rather, someone didn't know what was going on.

Best of luck!

Duke

[joshimoto son]

From what I understand... I think that you have it worked out with the other club so that there is more opportunity for all anglers up there and that hopefully... there will be no overlap.

I think it is really great to see that area start to grow in terms of tournament fishing and things that are available.

Although the word "competition" is a bit harsh when we consider the people and collective efforts of the bass fishing community.
But a little "friendly" competition is good for circuits, it keeps everyone striving to do a little more... And if we keep in mind the ultimate goal (just being able to spend time on the water with friends/family) everyone wins.

Good luck spinninbug and keep us informed.

joshimoto son

[spinninbug]

I will keep everyone informed and thanks for all the wonderful words of encouragement.  I tend to get a little excited when I start working on something that I truly believe in and this new club is one of those things so I could babble forever.

But I will let you all know how the next meeting goes,  looks like the turn out is going to be even better than the last one!

Everyone is really excited about it so it's not just me!

[cameraguy]

I gotta say that I'm a little confused about some of the things posted on this thread.  How does one "take" members from another club?  Don't people have a choice about which club to join?  Different people want different things.  If someone forms a club that offers things that some people prefer, then they will join that club.  Why should there be any hard feelings?  Find people that enjoy the same things you do and sign them up.

And Joshimoto...I'm not sure why you say the word competition is harsh.  I know you're a new moderator and you are probably trying to be friendly, but I guess I don't get the drift on that one.  When did the word competition become harsh?   

[djkimmel]

(HEY! Don't be picking on my moderator!!)

The thing about the good ole USA that never ceases to amaze me is that we are country founded on competition - one of the top factors in a capitalist society, yet people are sensitive about competition too. "Oh, I don't think fishing was meant to be a competitive sport..." Boy, if I had a dollar for every time sometime has said that, like they personally know what fishing should or shouldn't be (in a country that competes over EVERYTHING!)... well, I'd have at least 20 dollars...

That's all I think Josh means - we all compete every day in companies, for resources, with other circuits, other clubs, and the best keep going while the failures fall by the wayside. But we sometimes act surprised that there is a competition at all.

Of course, my kinder, gentler sense of 'competition' is to provide a service that people actually want to the best of my ability without directly attacking my 'competitors' (the opposite of the ridiculous behavior we see every election period such as now for example - throw mud and you'll always get some mud on yourself).

If you do that, whether you're a club or whatever, provide a service people want to the best of your ability, you'll most likely be successful, possibly for a long time. As long as you keep on top of what people want and do your best to give it to them.

Do that real well, and you are too busy to actually take away other people's customers. You will have your customers and they will have theirs' (as long as they are providing the service their customers want too).

If a 'customer' leaves one business/club/circuit/etc to join another, it's because they have found what they want and the first company/club/etc wasn't providing it. The first would not keep them anyway because the customer will always be looking for what they want somewhere, and in a country like ours, eventually find it... somewhere.

I guess I could say all of this much shorter by just saying, take care of your own business (club/whatever) well and you will be successful regardless of what the next guy/club/company is doing.

Anyway, good luck with the clubs. spinninbug, if your club ever wants to hear about the TBF of Michigan more, let me know.

I also know there are opportunities for tournament circuits that run their ship well to pick up more members next year with the end of some other circuits. There are anglers out there looking (they've been asking me) and some of them read on here to find out info.

[spinninbug]

Wow very nicely said Dan. 

We are working very hard on this new club,  with the people that are involved with it I know it is going to be a really good thing.  I'm already anxious to fish is it May yet?

Thanks again for all the kind words of encouragement.

I will keep you all posted and let you all know how the next meeting goes.

[cameraguy]

Dan,  I wasn't trying to pick on ole Josh.  I guess I'm just one of those people who think competition is a good thing.  So I'm puzzled when it's referred to in a negative light and I wonder where that comes from. 

[djkimmel]

Competition is good. It's what made this country what it is (the good and the bad). As they say, it's a crappy way to run a country, but until someone comes up with a better way... it's still the best (something like that anyway).

It being democracy and capitalism. Competition will always make some people uneasy. Again for good and bad reasons.

(btw, I called you back yesterday right away - I was in the shower, not asleep as my wife thought - she was the sleepy one - I know - tmi! - I said, "tag, you're it" but you never called back...)

[Rangerchic]

Sometimes you just know too much and sometimes you know too little! Sometimes you just only hear one side!

I just hope it goes well for all!

RC

[spinninbug]

We have a name!! Woo Yoo!!   We are the West Michigan Bass Casters.  There were some good ones thrown out there but this is the one that got voted on.  Still working on alot of details but wow when you  get alot of people together there are some awsome ideas out there. 

But so far what has been agreed on but still needs to be voted on,
a draw tourney in may.  Not sure of details how that is going to work out yet.  But everyone knows we want one. 

We will be fishing one weekend a month,  2 days one lake.  We will be deciding on lakes in december.  We talked about lakes alot last night.  The big thing is getting a lake that has a campground on or very near so everyone can camp together that wants to camp. 

Our classic is going to be in September.  Not sure how that is going to unfold yet but we are thinking about drawing a lake the morning of the classic.  Still open on this one. 

All of the officers have been offically voted on and excepted. 

We are going to be having a big open banquette in April.  Kind of like whitetails or ducks unlimited but for fishing.  I'm not on that commity so I'm not so sure how that all is going to work but I'm anxious to see how it works and help with it.

We didn't talk about rules and bylaws we are saving those for January and February.  We did set our tourny fees and membership fees.  So we are making ground.

It's exciting getting something new started that you believe in and when you get a group together and see they are as excited about it as you are. 

We were there about 2 hours and had a great time.  Took lots of notes and heard lots of ideas.  I'm sure we will get more as time goes on. 

It just felt good to get a name gather enough money to open an account and feel like a family!!  It's great!

[spinninbug]

We had our december meeting.  We voted on lakes.  Here they are,  Hardy dam for our draw tourney in May.  Hamlin, Tippy Dam and Crystal lake in Beulah.  No dates are set yet for possitive,  I'm pretty sure what months we are fishing but dates aren't set yet.  TD is going to set those.  As soon as I know for certain I will post the dates.

Things are going very well.  Everytime we have a meeting we get new people to come.  And get some new ideas.  I know one thing for certain.  We have a lot of work to do in the next few months so we are ready for season.  And the banquet in April.  So the next 2 months meetings are going to be setting up our rules and by laws.  Then we will be working hard on the spring banquet.  We are really excited about this.  It's not going to be all fishing stuff that is given away or raffled.  It's going to be geared to outdoors,  maybe some guns, fishing stuff and camping stuff,  probably be some taxidermy mounts given away too,  so there will be all sorts of things there for everyone (including wives).  We will be selling tickets for this and our activities director has already started looking for the place that we are going to have it.   I will keep everyone posted on the banquet.  We maybe looking for speakers to be at the banquet too,  so Dan if you know someone that maybe interested? 

If anyone wants info on the new club let me know and will get the info to you.  Either on here or email me.

[djkimmel]

Sounds like maybe your club should check out my new 'Bass Clubs' option...  might be a good place to post up some info...