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What Can Be Done To Get More Members Active In Gun Clubs?

  • 18-09-2012 10:27pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 353 ✭✭


    I have split this out into its own thread. I feel it could be an interesting topic and we might get ideas from other clubs to bring back to our own to get people involved.


    Don't mean to be thread jacking but if needs be mods move this if you think so, should clubs make it mandatory for members to attend fox beats, feed birds mend pens etc... just putting it out there:D


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 83 ✭✭kildarejoe


    Dont know about making it strictly enforced but maybe another approach would be to encourage people to take part by higher fees for non active members.
    Money talks etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 79 ✭✭.james1984


    hi there. in our club we insist that each member provide MIN OF TEN VERMIN. that can be wings or tails. an extra ten euro goes on there membership fee if they dont produce them to pay the fine from region. works for us


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 353 ✭✭Alchemist2


    Cheers dev;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,147 ✭✭✭dev110


    We are a big club with a good few members but it is the same as all the others in that only a handful of members are active.
    These active members only really go after the game birds and don't do enough, if any, vermin control.

    No one seems to go lamping foxes which seem to have exploded around me in the last year. I have 4 cubs shot so far in the last month or two. I need to get out more myself as I know no one else will do it.

    Something needs to be done with most clubs.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 157 ✭✭X1R


    Without a doubt: Yes.
    I am part of a club and there are over 50 members, yet at any meeting that I have attended there have been............................................6 of us at most.
    When I had money (all those years ago) and was rallying, we had a club registar and the club guidelines were helping out at a minumum of 3 club events and 4 other club events.
    It worked very well untill the chequebook boys decided to go against the grain.
    There was a huge split in the club after lads that didn't bother to help out all year sent in their membership forms for the AGM to be stamped and get a reduced fee for "working" members. But the idea was spot on and did work for a number of years.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,204 ✭✭✭dodderangler


    What to do to get more members in a gun club?
    Free guns lol


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,147 ✭✭✭dev110


    What to do to get more members in a gun club?
    Free guns lol

    I would rather get the members already in the club active before bringing more in tbh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 459 ✭✭richiedel123


    I don't think there is any way of winning here. it's the same in our club 3 or 4 of us Return vermin out of about 50 members. At most meetings we would be lucky to get about 9 or 10 lads at it. But when it comes to getting pheasants they all appear. Most lads just join for insurance and birds. I like the idea of putting charges on not returning vermin. Does this work? We tried putting a prize on the 3 highest amounts received but made no difference


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    What do you classify as vermin; rats, foxes?
    Specify & we might come up with ideas!!

    What's the typical cost/membership for working Vs non working members?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,147 ✭✭✭dev110


    There is a few ideas already:
    • Increase fees to inactive members
    • Minimum numbers of vermin must be returned
    • Also there was a post about a points system from another thread that I can't find. You needed so many points before you could shoot game or something like that

    I feel that the returning a minimum amount of vermin every year otherwise membership will increase is a good idea.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Hunter21


    Club I'm in won't leave younger members help with predator control near pheasant pens, won't leave us help raise the birds or release them.

    Few years ago when I joined first I wished older lads would take me out with them to get to know them and learn more but none of that in this club.

    No one really gets on with anyone in the club, as they don't want to know you.

    I'm only in it for the land and do my own predator control on that land.

    Some clubs don't want members active so it seems :(

    Ideas to help activate members-

    -Talk more, communication is a great thing "Hi John do you want to go for a shot next weekend?" can work wonders if people use it.
    -Those that are in the club gather every so often at a local pub for the chat and bit of craic, community spirit would get people up and about too. Not many but a few.
    -Organise a clay shoot in the off season for some sport. Use the clubs coppers to fund a small trophy for bragging rights.. lol
    -Most people have never done a good days pigeon decoying that's an idea, but needs lots of planning for safety and numbers need to be spread out over different fields or different days.
    -Could also get a few lazy lads up to a grain stores to protect the grain from crows. Give something back to the farmer.
    -Points system is a great idea, make people get up and do something.

    -Could always go shooting in the field next to their house, they won't be long coming out then :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Invincible


    dev110 wrote: »
    There is a few ideas already:
    • Increase fees to inactive members
    • Minimum numbers of vermin must be returned
    • Also there was a post about a points system from another thread that I can't find. You needed so many points before you could shoot game or something like that

    I feel that the returning a minimum amount of vermin every year otherwise membership will increase is a good idea.

    That post about a points system is on page 8 of this forum under "How active are your Gun Clubs".
    I can't link it now as on the phone.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 392 ✭✭rabbit assassin


    I left my local club a few years ago for the simple reason that theres an inner circle that consists of the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Vetting Committee. No one in the club has a say except these few lads and it has destroyed the club as its basically their own which is exactly the way they want it. They get to choose how many birds to buy and where to put them and no one is allowed help release them. The thing is that when the AGM comes around and they ask about a new committee, lads say nothing because no one wants the jobs :confused:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 506 ✭✭✭moby30


    We spent years trying to change our club giving out about members doing nothing. Most of the problem was that it was the same old people on the committee and people weren't speaking up either. A couple of us managed to take over the committee and we did make a big difference but Im starting to be of the opinion now that you are in fact better off with a handful of active members rather than making everybody do something as it can actually make things worse. I know now that all these know it alls that have been telling us for years just how good they are and how much vermin they used to get are and always have been bull****ters and the reason they won't do anything is because they don't know how to and pride and embarrassment won't allow them to ask. We did take on a few new members to increase active members and also made it compulsary to be involved in the pheasant rearing and vermin control which in all fairness they did but with even a handful of new members who also actively shoot pheasants it's noticeably more difficult to find land when you do go out for a shot yourself. It looks like being new and not knowing theland properly when they do find a patch with pheasants on it they just haunt it. This year with vermin a couple of the newer members took it upon themselves to do a little fox control which IS great but they did not know what they were doing and did not ask or check with anyone which we always did and with the result when I was out last week myself to do some every single one of them seem to be lamp shy. I checked with the lads and they didn't get a single tail. I know everyone has to start somewhere like I had too and I'm sure over the years they will no doubt become very good at fox control but I can see it leading to smaller vermin counts which is understandable but my concern is that if you are going out night after night and getting nothing you quickly become bored so they will probably give it up before long. Overall looking back on our situation it was hugely beneficial getting the younger guys on the committee but our decision to take on new members to increase active members- I'm not too sure it was the right one.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,070 ✭✭✭EPointer=Birdss


    When there is an inner circle of snakes running the show then without a few manning up to usurp their throne you are goosed as you hold no decision making power.

    For those that do sit in positions of power I think it's very simple.
    Straight for the jugler you should go!

    So, Bar farmers who contribute to the club via land & few others that may have strategic benefit I'd throw every member out of the club. I'd draft up new rules & guidelines that any member who wants to join has to bring a minimum of xx vermin to the board on a given date to be allowed shoot game that season. Id make it clear that this process cycles annually so it's in their interest to maintain their tally all year for fear of missing out. I think the number of 10 above is extremely generous & personally id go lot more.

    Mutiny to the board will be a problem come next election so you'll have to get clever in how you pitch the advantage of what you do. I'd be graphing game released vrs game shot, putting pics of the vermin tallys with the top 5 members highligted. Adding spot prized for them is positive reinforcement also to generate some competition. Free entry, gear etc I'd put this into a presentation for club meetings or into a handout newsletter whatever. Try at least to run the club with some professionalism.
    The deadwood should fall away leaving a core of more interested active members.

    We have a tiny club but each of us do our bit. As you can see from previous posts we are not short of game come the season. Probably also because we all obey our bag limits also but passengers we don't have!

    Remember it's a club but onlt needs 7(I think) minimum members. Extra members are only leeches if they do nothing & putting a flame under their arse can only be a good thing!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,147 ✭✭✭dev110


    widgeon78 wrote: »
    In our club every member has to earn 40 points before he can shoot the point system works like this A is for 3 fox Beats total 15 points B is for a working day at the pen total 10 points C is to feed the pheasants for one week total 10 points and then we have to make up 5 points yourself by doing vermin control be it fox magpie or greycrow mink whichever and I have to say this system works a treat it got a lot of the lazy lads up off there arse its simple if you don't make the 40 points you don't shoot
    Invincible wrote: »
    That post about a points system is on page 8 of this forum under "How active are your Gun Clubs".
    I can't link it now as on the phone.

    Thanks for that Invincible.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,420 ✭✭✭Invincible


    dev110 wrote: »
    widgeon78 wrote: »
    In our club every member has to earn 40 points before he can shoot the point system works like this A is for 3 fox Beats total 15 points B is for a working day at the pen total 10 points C is to feed the pheasants for one week total 10 points and then we have to make up 5 points yourself by doing vermin control be it fox magpie or greycrow mink whichever and I have to say this system works a treat it got a lot of the lazy lads up off there arse its simple if you don't make the 40 points you don't shoot
    Invincible wrote: »
    That post about a points system is on page 8 of this forum under "How active are your Gun Clubs".
    I can't link it now as on the phone.

    Thanks for that Invincible.

    You're welcome dev110 :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,147 ✭✭✭dev110


    I think the inner circle is present in a lot of clubs. This destroys things for everyone else and it isn't a club. It is just 4 or 5 lads doing what they like.
    When a club is being run like that change is needed but it is the same with everything as in people complain about everything to other members but no one will step up to the plate when push comes to shove.

    My club has changed our secretary this year to a 20 year old lad. I think it is a good step but it will be interesting to see if any changes come out of it.

    The club has to run from the ground up and what Hunter was saying actually got me kinda angry. What is the point in not letting new young members get involved when in 10-15 years they could be the back bone of the club. You need to be getting the young lads involved in everything and let them see how enjoyable it can be knowing that fox control will lead to an increase in bird numbers.

    Shooting is a minority sport and needs to be kept alive by teaching us young lads about rearing birds and the tips of vermin control. If this doesn't happen then shooting will just fall by the waste side. I know this isn't the case with all clubs but I bet there are areas where vermin control means you go out and fire at a magpie and that's it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Hunter21


    Is there rules given out by the NARGC affiliated clubs as to how the board/committee should be nominated and voted in at an AGM?
    Also is there only so many terms a member on the board/committee can sit?

    My club has the same chairman for years.
    They are taking money from membership €115 but openly say "we have not purchased any pheasants this year"
    Some of that is insurance.

    I'd like to find a way to get myself and a couple of younger lads onto the board so we can get into the running of the club and push some of the deadwood over and let them know they are not going to have it all their own way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭cavan shooter


    There is a NARGC booklet on running clubs that is readily available

    http://www.nargc.ie/organisation-and-membership/a-guide-to-forming-a-gun-club.aspx


    The in breeding "no" attitude of some clubs is something that NARGC at National level are trying hard to change, however the problem is that clubs are parish based therefore can only be fixed or ran properly at parish level.

    I see alot of "inner Cabals" and anecdotal evidence suggests they are alive an well, however what I also see is the 5 or 6 lads in clubs that do everything for no thanks but plenty of bitching and grief.

    I know one club thats gone to the dogs when the secretary after 6 years said he had enough. Plenty of ringing hands, but nobody has even thought of calling a meeting to try fix it, the secretary is still getting phone calls from members that dont turn up to meetings asking when is the pheasants coming, when is there a game night or clay shoot, and the best one he told me he got a call from a fella that started "you don't know me, Im in the club but don't like meetings and need a hand with the license form"........ My advise is simple organise your club around the People who want to do something, FKUC the rest of them, but be mindful, some clubs are 50 years old, some of the lads that arent active anymore may have been very active 20 years ago and are taking it easy...they may have done their time


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 506 ✭✭✭moby30


    The only way to change the committee is to make some noise and make sure you have the backing of other members and this means contacting them before the AGM. If you dont have enough numbers your wasting your time. Be prepared though it is a thankless job and you will be in the firing line especially if somebody has been ousted. It will also take a few years to make any significant changes. Clubs need to realise though that there will always be lads that dont want to contribute anything and that will always show up to meetings giving out about all the work everyone else did but F**k them as they will eventually shut up or be told to shut up when the rest of the members see the benefits a new and regular committee change can bring. Maybe also consider it might be better having 8-10 people being in charge of everything from the Vermin to Pheasants per year instead of the whole club trying to get involved and making a mess of things. These could be changed every year if wanted and I guarantee better work would be done.The Number one thing though is that the committee should be known to all the land owners wether its just their names and numbers on a christmas card or going to meet them in person as one lesson our club has learned is it works both ways i.e. they have no problem letting you on their land once you dont abuse it and be there when they need you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 459 ✭✭richiedel123


    My club has changed our secretary this year to a 20 year old lad. I think it is a good step but it will be interesting to see if any changes come out of it.

    I recently became secretary of my club thats why I'm looking for ideas. To be honest the only reason I took the job was because I was sick of the way it was goin. I was either gonna leave it or try change it from the inside out. We made rules and have been sticking to them well so far which is a great start. We lost a few of the lads that do nothing because they didn't like the new rules but thats no loss. I suppose it will just take time get it goin right. Hopefully we will get there in time


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,868 ✭✭✭djflawless


    Every club has the same.to be honest if i was told about a club that had all members attending all meetings, events, activities id be shocked.its just the way it is.next time your club is doing something heartbreaking.peck bites.pen builds.beating cover for other lads with guns.that will be the way to see the dedicated ones of your club.everyone else is just there to shoot on the 1st.whinge when seeing no birds.and mostly to keep their licence


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    djflawless wrote: »
    everyone else is just there to shoot on the 1st.whinge when seeing no birds.and mostly to keep their licence
    And I used to think the 2% rule only applied to target shooting :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭cavan shooter


    Sparks wrote: »
    And I used to think the 2% rule only applied to target shooting :rolleyes:

    The best hurlers are always on the ditch....then when you ask them to put their money where there mouth is (figure of speach) they all run for cover.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,868 ✭✭✭djflawless


    Well i didnt take target shooters into consideration because, 1) we have no target shooters in our club 2) dont target shooters have target shooting clubs?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    djflawless wrote: »
    Well i didnt take target shooters into consideration because, 1) we have no target shooters in our club 2) dont target shooters have target shooting clubs?
    Yup; I was commenting on how it's a common problem to both hunting and target shooting.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 353 ✭✭Alchemist2


    I would imagine that in order to implement any new rules the clubs constitution would have to be amended thus a vote would have to take place mind you this would probably not pose a problem as those that attend the meetings are proactive already so it strengthens the case for a committee to expel non active members obviously giving them a choice, your input is required by the rules of the club if it doesn't suit you will have to leave.... as has been said here there are lots of clubs out there where the are a few dedicated individuals who want to make a difference are saddled, without these ppl there would be no club, just imagine if every member of every club was obliged to give up some of their spare time to the cause throughout the year what a difference that would make


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,027 ✭✭✭deeksofdoom


    Hunter21 wrote: »
    Is there rules given out by the NARGC affiliated clubs as to how the board/committee should be nominated and voted in at an AGM?
    Also is there only so many terms a member on the board/committee can sit?

    My club has the same chairman for years.
    They are taking money from membership €115 but openly say "we have not purchased any pheasants this year"
    Some of that is insurance.

    I'd like to find a way to get myself and a couple of younger lads onto the board so we can get into the running of the club and push some of the deadwood over and let them know they are not going to have it all their own way.

    Were you not at your club AGM? How was the chairman elected? Do you have a copy of the club rules?

    I find that a lot off people are too shy to speak up at meetings and challenge the top table on how the club is run.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭cavan shooter


    Were you not at your club AGM? How was the chairman elected? Do you have a copy of the club rules?

    I find that a lot off people are too shy to speak up at meetings and challenge the top table on how the club is run.

    Id also say that a lot of people don't give a crap, I know in our club if a fella showed an interest he would have a job.:) but I do know clubs that are a nightmare for lads, in that the top table will be taken out feet first.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,027 ✭✭✭deeksofdoom


    Id also say that a lot of people don't give a crap,

    Thats true too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Hunter21


    Were you not at your club AGM? How was the chairman elected? Do you have a copy of the club rules?

    I find that a lot off people are too shy to speak up at meetings and challenge the top table on how the club is run.

    I was at my club's AGM only two normal members were at it, the rest were committee.
    He wasnt voted in, they just kept the same board from the previous year as they didnt bring up the topic of elections as crowd was too small (so they say) we said vote anyway but they stuck to there guns.
    I said since I can't get on the board just ring me when any jobs need doing and still no phone call.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,868 ✭✭✭djflawless


    Hunter21 wrote: »
    Is there rules given out by the NARGC affiliated clubs as to how the board/committee should be nominated and voted in at an AGM?
    Also is there only so many terms a member on the board/committee can sit?

    My club has the same chairman for years.
    They are taking money from membership €115 but openly say "we have not purchased any pheasants this year"
    Some of that is insurance.

    I'd like to find a way to get myself and a couple of younger lads onto the board so we can get into the running of the club and push some of the deadwood over and let them know they are not going to have it all their own way.

    Were you not at your club AGM? How was the chairman elected? Do you have a copy of the club rules?

    I find that a lot off people are too shy to speak up at meetings and challenge the top table on how the club is run.
    I used to be afraid to speak up at gun club meetings...untill it came to the stage that all the landowners were judge jury and exocutioner.i then decided 'f@#k it, if i dont speak now im shagged'
    So thats when i decided i wanted to put my name in for a board roll.
    I ended up being voted in as club safety officer (which included the nargc safety officer course) and p.r officer..i was voted in by most members of the club because they knew i was 1 of the only young lads in the club that worked hard and knew how important our little club was.after i was voted in i made it my duty to try get as many members as i could interested in the work the club carried out.but as usual, landowners wanted all the say, so kicking the people that didnt give a****e about the club out was a no go....the money was more important than the clubs wellbeing...it was only after that the everyday, non land owning members of the club realised they needed to speak up.
    Basically, if you think your club is going down the drain, you need to get your backside into action.
    Im not sang every landowner is a greedy feck...but its very easy tell who is when the likes of releases etc come up
    if you dont speak up, you wont want to be in the club.its pointless noone can refuse your opinions or views.therefore let them be heard!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,027 ✭✭✭deeksofdoom


    We'll what you should be doing is rattling the top tables cage at every oppourtunity, in a nice way though without making any enemies.

    Challenge them on every decision, ask 'why' a lot and ask them 'where does it say that in the rules' (that really plays with their heads).

    Or if they come back with something from the rule book (and don't accept anything from them unless they have a hard copy of the rules in front of them) say 'well now, thats not how i'ld interpret that'

    And if the rules are wide open to interpretation get them to change the rules and call an EGM. Make sure that the quorum for electing members reflects the amount of members that will actually show up at the AGM to elect a commitee.

    Wear them out, until they get totally fed up of being questioned on everything they're doing, then at the next AGM have all your buddies behind you and get yourself proposed and elected to the top table.

    If they decide at the AGM that they don't have enough members to elect a new commitee, make an objection, 'where does it say that in the rules?', 'Can i see the members list?', argue your point that there should be an election.

    Elect the chairman first and then go down through the rest of the list of officers.

    It might take a year or 2 to get what you want, just keep ****ing with their heads and tell nobody what your at.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 690 ✭✭✭Hunter21


    We'll what you should be doing is rattling the top tables cage at every oppourtunity, in a nice way though without making any enemies.

    Challenge them on every decision, ask 'why' a lot and ask them 'where does it say that in the rules' (that really plays with their heads).

    Or if they come back with something from the rule book (and don't accept anything from them unless they have a hard copy of the rules in front of them) say 'well now, thats not how i'ld interpret that'

    And if the rules are wide open to interpretation get them to change the rules and call an EGM. Make sure that the quorum for electing members reflects the amount of members that will actually show up at the AGM to elect a commitee.

    Wear them out, until they get totally fed up of being questioned on everything they're doing, then at the next AGM have all your buddies behind you and get yourself proposed and elected to the top table.

    If they decide at the AGM that they don't have enough members to elect a new commitee, make an objection, 'where does it say that in the rules?', 'Can i see the members list?', argue your point that there should be an election.

    Elect the chairman first and then go down through the rest of the list of officers.

    It might take a year or 2 to get what you want, just keep ****ing with their heads and tell nobody what your at.

    Great advice.
    I'll get myself an NARGC rules book and study it inside out so I will have the ammo to throw at them.
    Sound for the advice (you must be talking from experience) :D


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,027 ✭✭✭deeksofdoom


    Hunter21 wrote: »
    Great advice.
    I'll get myself an NARGC rules book and study it inside out so I will have the ammo to throw at them.
    Sound for the advice (you must be talking from experience) :D

    Thats how I took over my club;)

    Make sure you get a copy of your own club rules, every club should have their own ones. Harass the top table for a copy.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,616 ✭✭✭FISMA


    There was a club in an area by my stomping grounds. All myself and the cousin ever heard was - "why don't ye join."

    So we decide to join. The club is very quick to take our money, however, very slow to give us the list of places we may now walk.

    In fact, we never got the list.

    We even were hassled when we tried to get onto land that said "blah,blah, blah, gun club land."

    If clubs want to get more members, they shouldn't mess people around.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,070 ✭✭✭cavan shooter


    We'll what you should be doing is rattling the top tables cage at every oppourtunity, in a nice way though without making any enemies.

    Challenge them on every decision, ask 'why' a lot and ask them 'where does it say that in the rules' (that really plays with their heads).

    Or if they come back with something from the rule book (and don't accept anything from them unless they have a hard copy of the rules in front of them) say 'well now, thats not how i'ld interpret that'

    And if the rules are wide open to interpretation get them to change the rules and call an EGM. Make sure that the quorum for electing members reflects the amount of members that will actually show up at the AGM to elect a commitee.
    Wear them out, until they get totally fed up of being questioned on everything they're doing, then at the next AGM have all your buddies behind you and get yourself proposed and elected to the top table.

    If they decide at the AGM that they don't have enough members to elect a new commitee, make an objection, 'where does it say that in the rules?', 'Can i see the members list?', argue your point that there should be an election.

    Elect the chairman first and then go down through the rest of the list of officers.

    It might take a year or 2 to get what you want, just keep ****ing with their heads and tell nobody what your at.


    I'd add:- Always be constructive and be ever so nice and helpful, it's hard to dislike a nice guy who has the interest of the club at heart... and be prepared to put your money where your mouth is, too many hurlers on the ditch can be a cause of too many problems.

    If you are a lone voice your not going to be heard, like a good politician have done your leg work and be 100% sure that when your motion is moved it will win or at least get people thinking.

    Don't be an empty vessel I have heard loads of suggestions and dare I say bitching about how things are done and should be done from floors of meetings and then when the person is asked to do something or get involved, it's a case of I'm too busy to get involved. You will get one chance, It's a human response for to throw it back at the individual who raises it, especially if it's not overly palatable i.e running the vermin comp, but when that happens you have to grasp the nettle there and then.

    Also you must remember it's the Club that set the rules and the constitution, Then your affiliated to the Region, and only then the NARGC. Fix your problems from within, in business parlance it's upward management, in Politics normally it's referred to as a coup.

    Its great fun really, and its fantastic to watch a stagnant club rise from the ashes, don't make the mistake of throwing the baby out with the bath water old committee members are valuable and like an astute politician you may need them...in years to come you maybe the guy getting cabbages thrown at him.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 672 ✭✭✭ace86


    I have been a member of my own club for about 5yrs or more and from what i have seen from fellows posting is that its the same fellows doing there bit all the time for the club.In the time since i have joined we have made lots of changes which came from the chairman and it started with increased membership due to the financial costs of renting ground which was agreed by members present on the night but also saved money by giving up some ground which had no value or importance to the club saving us a good bit. We also entered the vermin count in the county in which were absent for another of years have a nice few pound made from the money for the club. We dont buy pheasants or rear them but the club did in times gone by and there is a good wild population in the area so keeping the vermin in check gives them a greater chance of survival at least. We have alot of older guys in the clubs but they have done there bit down the years as members of the committee doing vermin control and also rearing pheasants and releasing them into the wild and some are still active.I believe many hands make lights work and i know where fellows are coming from when they see no progress or new changes and it feels like they are stuck in a rut and eventually breaks them down and turns them against the club and the organisation.Its very hard to get people to do something they don't want to or maybe depending on their situation can't.I have seen a few ideas of increasing membership for inactive members which is good but to a small club if 10 left it a serious loss of revenue on the other hand. Geting fellows to make a vermin contribution of a certain quote each year is a good idea especially for new members it would keep fellows interested and active.I Hope that for the future and for all our small parishes and small clubs stay together to hand on to the next generation for shooting like what was done to me by my club and its members.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,081 ✭✭✭terminator2


    I left my local club a few years ago for the simple reason that theres an inner circle that consists of the Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary and Vetting Committee. No one in the club has a say except these few lads and it has destroyed the club as its basically their own which is exactly the way they want it. They get to choose how many birds to buy and where to put them and no one is allowed help release them. The thing is that when the AGM comes around and they ask about a new committee, lads say nothing because no one wants the jobs :confused:
    most clubs in the country are like this


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 83 ✭✭kildarejoe


    There are two ways of looking at this problem.
    1. to get new members who want to be active.
    and
    2. To get existing members to be active.

    As with every club, gun, golf, football etc there will always be those willing to sit back, let others do all the hard work then turn up when there is something to be had.

    Then there is the click that keep all the decision making and information to themselves and no outsider as they see them will ever get near the inner circle.

    If a club really had the intention of being successful and welcoming to new members, it would not be hard to stick an advert in a local paper or even here on boards. But God forbid that someone might join that is not at least your first cousin or doesn't have a couple of hundred acres.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 489 ✭✭patdahat


    5 years ago the older generation stood down and let the new up coming generation take over the club. Everything was sound and if any help was needed the oul boys were there to help. There is about 15/16 member's now, with half of them shooting men and half again doing some vermon control and to know these number's were doubled before the new crew took over. Sense the boy's have taken over they have let the club cave in. All they do (chairman) is send out a text to some of the member's that the insurance money and membership is due. I ask the chairman 2/3 times a year when is there going to be a meeting as there has NEVER been 1 sense they took it over and the ans i get is " there is no point sure no one will turn up anyway". So we cant even get them shifted out off the top table and at this stage I don't know if I want the hassle.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 194 ✭✭syconerd


    Hi my name is john and am looking to join a gun club I’m wishing to get involved in predator and vermin control and was hoping that someone might point me to a club which is open to new members.
    At present I’m a member of the BRC shooting club which is a rifle club with 120 members in Dublin and am chairman of this club for last 2 years and now wish to just get back into hunting and shooting
    I’ve been shooting 14 years and have represented my country both at home and abroad in silhouette shooting
    I’m also into hunting rabbits fox control and deer hunting as well as magpie and grey crow control for a few farmers in Wexford but because it’s a long drive I can’t there as often as I would like too
    So I’m hoping that u may have a place for me as a new member of ur club

    john


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26 Audioslave82


    Hi,

    Just seen this thread and thought it very interesting that you have this situation that seems to have arisen in many gun clubs nationwide. And having a brief read through the content it seems as if most replies come from established gun club members. And i cant help feel that its interesting that im sure others reading this in a similar situation to myself are thinking "typical and unfair".
    I am willing to shoot vermin all day long week in week out but im one of those guys thats moved from dublin to the midlands and as such find myself victim to "closed shop" gun clubs.
    Im sure there are plenty of young lads looking for a start in hunting/shooting that would work like demons on feeding and cleaning game birds etc prior to release and also get some shooting knowledge by shooting vermin too, but like myself find they cant get into the club.

    Im not trying to start the "closed club" politics arguement but surely you can see the irony?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 194 ✭✭syconerd


    and people wonder why shooting is a minority sport and why there are not as many younger members starting to shoot
    if clubs dont allow new members to join then they will go the way of the dodo and thats a shame


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