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Thread: I quit my club

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Mojave Desert CA
    Posts
    2,420

    Default I quit my club

    After being a card carrying member of a local fly fishing club for 5 years I have decided to call it quits. I almost quit last year but the wife talked me into paying my dues one more year and just go on fishing excursions with them.
    My gripes are this.

    1. After being a member for 5 years there were 2 men who know me by my first name (sort of) and one who ever invited me to fish with him (one time three years ago.)

    2.When at the meetings the pres would ask if anyone had any fishing reports I would sometimes stand to be recognised and be ignored for the more prestigious members reports. When finally recognised I would start my report only to be cut short to go on to the next business.

    3. Prior to meeting I always showed up early to help set up. I would shake hands with folks and try to talk to them and be ignored. A few of them would talk to me but I always had to make the approach. I can't remember one time I was approached by another member. Same thing during a break to prepare for speaker, set up video or whatever. It was like I was a non-person.

    4. I have approached other members by email to thank them for their presentations or other participation at the meetings and never receive a response back.

    5. I have taken photos of New Zealand, Colorado, Montana, Idaho and other places I have visited and fished to share with the club only to have them ignored.

    6. The only time I have been called on the phone by another member was when he was running for president and wanted my vote. He started the conversation by mispronouncing my name. I thought he was a telemarketer and hung up on him. He immediatly called back and introduced himself so I'd know who he was, then invited me to show up at the next meeting to vote for him.

    7. The icing on the cake was the last meeting I went to, about 4 months ago was cancelled, no one at the facility and a note on the door saying it would be held the following week. I learned later all the important members (cronies of the pres and others) were notified by phone or email the meeting was cancelled. It is a 90 mile round trip for me to attend. I decided that night it wasn't worth my time or aggravation to re-up my membership.

    I guess I'm not fly fishing club material because I don't write for Western Outdoors, Tye flies like the member with 2 Norvises, wear an Orvis sponsor patch or have enough money and time to go on week long excursions with the elitists to drift boat fish with highly regarded guides in pretigious and world reknowned waters. I'm a simple country boy who lives to fish. I am me. I don't need them as much as they don't need me.
    There I said it. I will stick with FAOL.
    I'm either going to, coming from or thinking about fishing. Jim

  2. #2

    Default

    Dear Mr. Invisible,
    I almost overlooked this post...

    Just kidding, Jim!!
    Seriously, your experience sounds really horrible, and definitely substantiates your decision not to rejoin that Club!
    That's a bummer.

    You can hang out, chat, and fish with US anytime....and we're GLAD to have you!
    David Merical
    St. Louis, MO

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    3,545

    Default

    I feel that you have made the right decision for you and you are more than welcome to stay with FAOL. Unfortunately, a lot of clubs are going this way and that is why I do not belong to any. The only club I belong to is the Lynchburg Fly Fishing Club and we do not have a president, dues and any of the other things clubs have. We are just a bunch of people who enjoy fishing with a fly rod getting together once a month and eat, visit with each other and try to have a guest speaker at the meetings whenever we can. We are just a bunch of country boys who enjoy eating, fishing with a fly rod, tying flies and shooting the bull. You have an open invitation to come join our club anytime you want to, but, the driving distance for you may become a problem since we are located in Tennessee, but, you are still welcome anytime and I did not have to check with any club members to get their permission to invite you.
    Warren
    Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2000
    Location
    aimless wandering
    Posts
    2,042
    Blog Entries
    12

    Default

    Sounds like the one club meeting I attended 20 years ago, and never went back. But flyfishing isn't something I do that requires large groups of people. In fact, I prefer it alone or with one friend at a time along.

    You are always welcome at the Idaho fish-in. We can't recognize each other over the fire anyway, but some of the shapes and voices get familiar after a while.

  5. #5
    NewTyer 1 Guest

    Default

    Fortunately for me, my TU Chapter Club meetings are great and everybody is friendly and we work hard together to keep up the local fishery. Sorry for your bad experience. Maybe finding a fly shop that ties once a month or something like that may be better

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,156

    Default

    Don't blame you in the least. Appears to be more of a clique than club.
    When you can arrange your affairs to go fishing, forget all the signs, homilies, advice and folklore. JUST GO.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Shelburn,IN
    Posts
    160

    Default

    Like Dennis said;

    Quote Originally Posted by DG View Post
    flyfishing isn't something I do that requires large groups of people. In fact, I prefer it alone or with one friend at a time along.
    I've considered attending club meetings, but why? so they can ignore me because I'm new and young?
    I don't think so.
    Besides, what would it benefit me? see a bunch of people catching fish? why drive a half an hour way, be bored, get lunch, drive another half an hour, so that's $50 just to be bored???
    why? I can do it all right here in the comfort of my own home! lol just kidding you all teach me a lot
    Last edited by TomS; 02-28-2013 at 08:41 PM. Reason: messed up Dennis' quote
    Thomas (TomS) Snyder ( also on Facebook)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Alaska
    Posts
    1,728
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Frankly, I have been to a number of fly fishing clubs that operate as the OP described... No sure, but I think the mindset that makes folks fly fishers does not lend itself to crowds.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Tioga Co. Pa.
    Posts
    297

    Default

    you are welcome to my fly fishing /tying club. You can even be vice president that would make 2 of us in the club..I left T.U. chapter after they would not use my shop but kept asking for donations. and i joined tu in 1970...No more...now only a few close friends that belong come by...
    sandfly/bob
    N.J.B.B.A. #2215
    I did not escape.....they gave me a day pass!
    from the outer edge of nowhere
    fly tying and fishing ghillie..

  10. #10

    Default

    It is such a shame that some clubs are cliques.I have seen so called service organizations that are cliques.As soon as I see that I am out of there.I try to give back when I can.This is why I am content here

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