Where have all the Pioneers gone?

ejmaztec · 27-04-2011 2:28pm #1

I propose a nationwide sponsored binge-drinking session to raise funds.

Pioneers under threat as revenue dries up

The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association (PTAA) faces imminent closure unless it can raise new funds, according to its chief executive.

The organisation, founded in 1898 by Jesuit priest Fr James Cullen and characterised by its ‘pioneer pin’ is projecting a deficit of €100,000 for 2011.

At its height, the organisation promoting temperance had 360,000 members. Today it claims between 125,000 and 150,000.

In an open letter to members posted on its website, chief executive Padraig Brady said the deficit had arisen from the decline in the Pioneer magazine circulation and other income sources.

He said the organisation had now reached “crisis point” and needed an “urgent injection" of funds

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0427/breaking39.html

orourkeda · 27-04-2011 2:29pm

To the pub to commiserate

OutlawPete · 27-04-2011 2:30pm

Driven to drink.

Forest Master · 27-04-2011 2:31pm

They're declining with the church, IMO - the 2 have always been interconnected.

I guess people are realising the don't have to be a member of a club to not drink. Same as people realising they can just be good people because they want to, and not out of fear.

Orando Broom · 27-04-2011 2:31pm

No revenue from the club bar.

mikemac · 27-04-2011 2:32pm

http://www.pioneerassociation.ie/who-we-are/26-board-members-a-staff

Have you ever seen so many committees?

I'd be interested to know how much this Chief Executive gets paid.
If he volunteers and get expenses fair play to him

But maybe he fears for his job

My name is URL · 27-04-2011 2:33pm

Will they all take to the bottle if the organisation goes under? Never really understood the point of the Pioneers, if people choose not to drink then fair play to them but doing it for reasons based on flimsy religious beliefs is slightly retarded.

ejmaztec · 27-04-2011 2:35pm

They should merge with the Vintners' Federation of Ireland. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

RichieC · 27-04-2011 2:36pm

A crisis indeed... obviously there's just simply not enough thinking of the children going on anymore... this decadence brought the romans down and will surely be the wests undoing too.

/s

TheZohanS · 27-04-2011 2:43pm

feelingstressed wrote: »

http://www.pioneerassociation.ie/who-we-are/26-board-members-a-staff

Have you ever seen so many committees?

I'd be interested to know how much this Chief Executive gets paid.
If he volunteers and get expenses fair play to him

But maybe he fears for his job

Communications Manager gets €45k ++

Youth and Development Officer €28k++

Dravokivich · 27-04-2011 3:06pm

...out to sea?

MayoForSam · 27-04-2011 3:16pm

There's a Pioneer about 7.6 billion miles away, traveling at 27,380 miles per hour, should reach Aldeberan in about 2 million years, if that's any good to ya.

prinz · 27-04-2011 3:20pm

Forest Master wrote: »

I guess people are realising the don't have to be a member of a club to not drink..

..because it's a handy way to meet people who share your outlook on things? To meet people for social events that don't revolve around the pub/club scene? You don't need to be a member of a book club to read a book for example.

prinz · 27-04-2011 3:21pm

My name is URL wrote: »

..if people choose not to drink then fair play to them but doing it for reasons based on flimsy religious beliefs is slightly retarded.

It's not always done for reasons based on flimsy religious beliefs.

talla10 · 27-04-2011 3:27pm

prinz wrote: »

It's not always done for reasons based on flimsy religious beliefs.

True some people get involved for reasons based on their parents flimsy religious beliefs.

Spread · 27-04-2011 3:33pm

Surely "total abstinence" is anti "moderation". As with most "anti" people, a chip on the shoulder and bee on the bonnet are fellow travellers.

prinz · 27-04-2011 3:35pm

talla10 wrote: »

True some people get involved for reasons based on their parents flimsy religious beliefs.

Well put it this way, the vast majority are probably from a Roman Catholic background. There is no belief in Roman Catholicism that says total abstinence is a must for Roman Catholics. Just because the organisation was started by a priests and there would be a large overlap in membership does not neccessarily mean that the abstinence movement is based on Roman Catholic religious beliefs. Tee-totaller and abstinent movements have existed/exist around the world, because of the origins of the Pioneers they have a Catholic flavour, but it would be incorrect to assume that the only reason to join the PTAA would be because of religious reasons.

My name is URL · 27-04-2011 3:37pm

prinz wrote: »

It's not always done for reasons based on flimsy religious beliefs.

One of the movement's main tenets is that devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is what aids them to resist the temptation of alcohol. They shouldn't need any help in resisting temptation, or indeed feel tempted to drink alcohol, if the choice they have made to avoid alcohol is based on something other than a religious belief.

prinz · 27-04-2011 3:43pm

My name is URL wrote: »

They shouldn't need any help in resisting temptation, or indeed feel tempted to drink alcohol, if the choice they have made to avoid alcohol is based on something other than a religious belief.

Don't be daft, of course people are going to be tempted into things they have decided to avoid for whatever reason. You think vegetarians are never tempted ever to tuck into a juicy steak, or if they do it could only be because their vegetarianism was based on religious belief?

My name is URL · 27-04-2011 3:57pm

prinz wrote: »

Don't be daft, of course people are going to be tempted into things they have decided to avoid for whatever reason. You think vegetarians are never tempted ever to tuck into a juicy steak, or if they do it could only be because their vegetarianism was based on religious belief?

What? I was replying to the point you made about it not always being a decision which is made based on religious belief, I'd imagine that for most Pioneers; the religious aspect is fairly high on the list of reasons why they abstain from drinking alcohol.. I know quite a few vegetarians but am not aware of any who are tempted to tuck into a juicy steak.

Loads of people decide not to drink, but they don't need to bolster that decision by devoting themselves to any doctrine.

prinz · 27-04-2011 4:02pm

My name is URL wrote: »

What? I was replying to the point you made about it not always being a decision which is made based on religious belief, I'd imagine that for most Pioneers; the religious aspect is fairly high on the list of reasons why they abstain from drinking alcohol..

Yet I can't think of any Roman Catholic belief that says Catholics must engage in total abstinence from alcohol. So just what belief is it you are assuming is the reasoning behind it? Besides the fact that it's just bonkers to assume that because someone abstains from drink or anything else the only way they could ever possibly be tempted is if the reasons for their abstention have religious connections.

My name is URL wrote: »

Loads of people decide not to drink, but they don't need to bolster that decision by devoting themselves to any doctrine.

That's wonderful... and I know of some people who joined the Pioneers because it was a way of meeting similar people, not because of any particular religious convictions.

Either way I'm not a pioneer, far from it. Just a bit simplistic there I thought.