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| I've been a member of Muskies Inc. for 6 years, and like any organization I belong to, I want to see it succeed. I see a lot of people posting here, some that I know are MI members, and quite a few that I suspect are not. If you wouldn't mind, I'd just like to know why you would choose to NOT join Muskies Inc? I'm not trying to sign anybody up, I just would like to hear the reasons why. Maybe Muskies Inc. could use that information to make changes that would attract more members? I see the figures thrown around about how many fishermen in the USA are targetting Muskies, and I know the membership of Muskies Inc. MUskies Inc. members are a pretty small part of that overall number.
Are there no Chapters near you? Are the Chapter meetings held too far away? Are the annual dues too high?
Whatever it could be, I'd really be interested to know. You can e-mail me at [email protected] to keep your privacy if you prefer, but please reply. Thank you very much. | |
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| Brad,
there's a long thread on this exact topic from earlier this spring (March).
you'll find it here:
http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=25... | |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I am a proud member of the Fox River Valley chapter. I think the group of guys we have doing things for our club make it one of if not the best chapter there is. I would be a member even if they were not affiliated with M.I. I also goto meeting and support Quad County and Southside Muskie hawks with some lures and info too. Also good clubs.
I think the international side has it's good points and bad. I would like to see them make a bigger effort to grow the organazation. I think hiring a marketing/advertising person for the magazine was a great move. Having been to an international meeting, there are some great people in it committed to growing the club but there are some who are not. I would also like to see them have a bigger presence and influence in issues that really matter like the spring hearings and pushing for better mamagement and higher size limits where neded. | |
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| Thanks Lambeau and Todd. I'll check the link out.
Anyone else, feel free to comment. | |
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| Stay away from the world record keeping, past or present. | |
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| I look to the "statistics" page on this site, and see that there are over a 1000 registered users logging in a day. I think that only counts people of the registered variety, and not the non-registered, who seem to make up half (if not more) of the people who come here everyday. Gotta figure that makes up alot of people, and probably a lot more people than are card-carrying MI members.
MI needs to realize that they need to get with the times, and get real. People dont want to pay $35 for a sub-par magazine, when they can get two other magazines (EA and MHM) for a year for probably about the same, if not a little less if they look for deals. The 'lunge log is a joke: how many lake xs do you need to read about? People lie and want to win at all costs: the fish inches contests are a joke. MI clubs raising funds and giving out money through tournaments, then calling "big money tournaments" bad is hypocritical. The MI website is a joke.
If MI got more realistic with the lunge log, abolished the contests, got a little less hard-line on tournaments and how you hold a fish, quit printing the magazine entirely, found a way to get more young people involved at the decision making level, and stopped having all the members dues go to MI International, then you'd see people joining more often. Be a little more INclusive, versus EXclusive.
BUT, I will say that the fish stocking, the community work, and the like are great things that MI does. No one can take that away from MI. David Cates was a GREAT choice as a President, and he's a member of this site, maybe he'll see this and the thoughts on the other thread, and take some of this to heart.
Just like MI revolutionized C&R, totally moving towards muskie conservation, maybe they can revolutionalize their own internal workings. Otherwise, sites like this one could be the way that new muskie fisherman will go. It's free, there are contests, speakers in chats, tourney coverage, muskie people meeting other muskie people, new information everyday, and even outings. The only thing they dont do is stock fish, which I said earlier was the greatest thing MuskieInc. does.
Maybe I'm missing stuff here, but this is one guy's opinion, and you asked.
Brett | |
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Posts: 8781
| Dual citizenship for me, FRV #39 and South Side #7
Actually switched my affiliation to FRV but I still go to the SS Meetings.
Why would someone NOT join?
We get a lot of people complaining about the membershipfee. "What do I get for my #35?"
Kind of a silly question considering that you probably have 200 $15 lures, a $30,000 boat and half a dozen combos...
The bottom line is that we can't rely on the DNR to build and maintain our musky fisheries -- they don't have the time or the budget, and frankly in terms of revenue, tourism dollars, and the fishing industry as a whole, muksies are trivial.
The clubs do a great service to the fisheries and they are a great way to network.
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Brad, I think the real question is how do we get people who are members of MI INVOLVED.
Our chapter has 600-700 people in it and the same 20-30 people do pretty much everything in the chapter. All the stocking, youth programs, Vets Home opener etc is done by the same people. We're getting some new blood in, but that gives some of the oldtimers that were getting burned out and excuse to take a break.
When we held the Int'l Banquet, I was talking to our fearless leader and I think I threw him for a loop. We were having this same conversation and I brought up the angle of "people don't want the product of MI". He dissagreed, but if you look at the turnover we have in the organization, the static membership number, and the increase in people fishing muskies, the only conclusion is that people don't want to buy our "product." I think that the MI product is good, but I also see the TC Chapter "product".
Each person's perception of MI will be directly related to their chapter. I even go so far as to tell people that yes we're part of a greater whole, but it's at the local level that you need to look at. If anyone expects the International to do all these great things and give the individual chapters all this support and free-bee's then you're expecting too much. There's about 10-20 people that do all the work at the Int'l level (same # of people as the chapter level). These VOLUNTEERS devote countless hours to MI as a whole. If you divide their efforts by the 50 chapters we have in MI it doesn't leave a very big slice of pie for each chapter on their own. If we had more people INVOLVED at the Int'l level there would be a larger piece of pie to hand out to the chapters.
The philosophy I took when taking on the Presidency of my chapter was the old "build it and they will come". I've devoted countless hours (and lots of my own money) to stocking and getting our chapter back in the rearing business. In my mind, that's what got MI going and that's the one thing that ALL muskie anglers can agree on. I also believe that improving the fishery is the most important thing that MI should stand for. As a result, we've seen quite a few people joining that were drawn in by this. These people are also the most involved new members we have. Can we be doing it better? You bet! Do I have any more time to give the club over and above what I'm doing? Nope. We need others to step-in and step-up to continually improve.
You're always going to get the "subscribers" and there's nothing wrong with that. We need numbers of members to spread out some fixed costs in the organization. It's just that we need to turn more of them into "Indians" and then into "Chiefs". That's the only way this organization will continue to improve and grow.
Shawn Kellett
Edited by Muskie Treats 6/26/2006 2:45 PM
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| My 1 year experience with MI was a good one. i met a lot of people from the 3 rivers chapter.
some of which, i had already known.
MI has done more for musky fishing than any organization thus far...BAR NONE.
if you want a good supplement or alternative, go to www.easternmuskiealliance.com and join.
your money will GO where you designate it to.
i had a choice to make EMA or MI...i chose EMA this year.
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I agree, David Cates is a good guy and his impact on the club is not yet felt. Like I said, he was able to get somebody to go after advertising for the magazine, that will make it more solvent and self sufficient. Everything takes time. At the international meeting we hosted, they voted out a guy who was not at the meeting yet. Once he came, I could see why, he was a boat anchor for the international. That was a good move but there are more like him.
Don't anybody take this the wrong way, for one, I don't fit into this category. Get the white collar people in the club invloved in the board of your club. They have the time during the day to make phone calls and get things done unlike more blue collar types that can't do sales type stuff and track people down like somebody who has a desk and a phone in front of them most of the time. I am probably one of about 3 people who are not in front of a phone and the people who are can really get things done. That does not mean blue collar workers like myself can't contribute, just not always at the same opprtunity level. | |
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| Not to beat a dead horse, and I agree that MI does some great stuff in the community, but only at the LOCAL LEVEL. Basically, a group of guys, with insurance backed up by Int'l, gets together and does good works (fish stocking, vet groups, kids groups). Beyond the insurance, and a sub-par magazine, where does the $$$ that goes to Int'l, GO? I want to know where my money goes!!! Is that so much to ask? If it's going to merely fund the magazine, then either something new needs to be done with it to improve it VASTLY, or it needs to be scrapped.
AND, none of you answered my thoughts on why many people dont join MI. What happens whenever this question comes up is that an MI member asks, then people tell their reasons for not joining, and MI members say why people should join MI. No response to the issues that people bring up, just more of the same sales pitch. And of course, the usual, "I guess thats the ME generation" huff that is in response to the "where do my dues go".
Like it or not, the sale pitch isnt working, and maybe some of these issues need to be addressed. 7K members vs. 14,000 Musky Hunter Magazine subscribers, and nearly 3,000 registered users on this board, with alot more who are coming here as "guests". Something needs to be changed, or MI isnt going to attract the members they are looking to bring in.
I'll post my thoughts again here, so you can respond:
MI needs to realize that they need to get with the times, and get real. People dont want to pay $35 for a sub-par magazine, when they can get two other magazines (EA and MHM) for a year for probably about the same, if not a little less if they look for deals. The 'lunge log is a joke: how many lake xs do you need to read about? People lie and want to win at all costs: the fish inches contests are a joke. MI clubs raising funds and giving out money through tournaments, then calling "big money tournaments" bad is hypocritical. The MI website is a joke.
If MI got more realistic with the lunge log, abolished the contests, got a little less hard-line on tournaments and how you hold a fish, quit printing the magazine entirely, found a way to get more young people involved at the decision making level, and stopped having all the members dues go to MI International, then you'd see people joining more often. Be a little more INclusive, versus EXclusive.
Brett Yarmouth
and again, I believe David Cates WILL push MI in the right direction, and I do believe the mission and the stocking actions of MI are great things. Just not great enough to get me to give my money for a magazine I dont want, especially when I can go to MI, help my local clubs with efforts, without having to pay. | |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | I like the things MI does and I like their magazine - even if it is a little bit humble compared to others. They do a lot for the resource and offer a lot to those that want to get involved. My only regret is I don't have more time to help out. But the kids are getting older and that will change soon.
I also really like the people in my MI chapter, the North Metro. Lots of nice people and good fishermen/women there. I learn a lot just talking to folks at the meetings.
I think people who fish for Muskies are missing out if they aren't part of MI. Yeah, it isn't a pefect organization, but what organization is? There is much to get involved in and one doesn't have to do anything if one doesn't want to. But joining can open up a lot of opportunity that would otherwise wouldn't be there. Opportunities to help out, make friends, learn new things, and be part of an organization working to have a positive impact on Muskie fishing.
Just my two cents.
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| Personally, I think Muskies Inc. simply needs to get back to basics, operate in a manner that is fiscally responsible, and fund the programs Muskies Inc. was founded to promote.
How is it that we have an organization that has $0.00 in the 2006 budget for Youth and Research?
I'd rather see the magazine get dumped before we let programs go unfunded.
Mandate that MUSKIE magazine be financially independant of membership dollars or discontinue publication.
Brian Sanger, Pres.
Chapter #53
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Posts: 8781
| Why don't people join?
1. They're too cheap to pry open their wallets and spend $35
2. They're afraid someone might ask them to DO something
3. It's a fishing club -- it paionts this picture of a bunch of fat hairy guys in flannel shirts drinking beer and talking about fishing.
4. They have wives, kids, jobs, etc. that make it impossible for them to commit to something where you're expected to show up once in a while
People complain about the magazine. If you want a $35 magazine subscrpition, then get EA or MH. If you expect a $35 magazine for your membership dues, than don't expect anything else.
I'm not saying there aren't flaws with international, but keep in mind this ain't a for profit organization -- everyone doing anything is volunteering their time.
Is the lunge log BS? Only if you send in false information, and that's on the membership -- there's no way international can verify what you submit.
I think the bottom line is that people aren't joining because it requires a commitment -- you have to pay your membership, and then when you do, you feel obligated to go to the meetings. And then when you go to the meetings you feel obligated to buy raffle tickets, help out in some way...
People don't want to give of themselves, whether its money, time, or even getting in the car to drive to the meeting and sit there in a chair...
And I think the other reason is people really aren't into musky fishing enough to go join a musky club.
I've tried to talk friends of mine into it and they basically all said the same things
1. My job -- I can't make i to the meetings, I'm always out of town
2. My wife -- she'll get mad if I'm gone Wednesday nights
3. The money -- It's $35, what do I get for it (not what does my $35 help fund, how does it help
4. The crowd -- it's a bunch of fishing guys who drink beer and talk about football (is that bad?)
5. I don't fish here so why bother? I do all my fishing in Canada/Minnesota/Northern Wisconsin
6. Nah, if I do that my wife will want to go, and then she'll meet the other wifes and pretty soon I'll have to f'in take her out fishin all the time... (yeah one guy actually said that)
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| Thanks for all the replies, there are a lot of good posts here. I actually have to leave for a Muskies Inc. meeting, but I'll respond to a couple of posts first.
As far as getting more participation, I think it's never going to happen. I've been a member of the Jaycees, and the President of a Bass club. All of these organization are exactly the same in how they're run. The same 5 guys are doing all the work. We've tried to change it a bunch of times, and nothing ever seems to work. It's better to just go on as you are, instead of delegating jobs to people and really ticking them off. Right now for my Muskies Inc. Chapter, I'm the 2nd VP, Newsletter Editor/Publisher, Club Photographer, Research Director, Chapter News Writer for the monthly magazine article, and if that was not enough, I'm an ALD. Until recently, I was also the Tournament director for our Wednesday Night League, but I got someone to take that over. Someone has to do these things, and even though it takes a lot of my time and pays zilch, I do it. I do it because I believe in Muskies Inc. and want both our Chapter, and the International to succeed.
As far as the membership dues, I think you get out what you put in. Is the magazine alone worth $35.00? No. But I look at it this way. You also get to go to the monthly meetings, where a lot of information can be obtained. We've recently had Luke Ronnestrand, Brad Hoppe, Rob Kimm, and other speakers at our meetings. Do you think listening to guys like this talk for an hour and a half each month is worth $35.00? At least. Tonight, and at all of our summer meetings, we go around the room and every member talks about the success he's having right now. You'll learn about what lures are producing, what lakes are hot, etc. Worth well over $35.00 in my opinion.
Anyway, I need to get to the meeting. I'd love to hear more opinions if anyone else wants to share. Thanks again. | |
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Posts: 194
| Here's my 12 cents. I joined last November. I don't really care to see such a high percentage of my dues go to pay for a midlle of the road magazine. I joined because I liked MI's history of fishery improvement. I applaud the CPR efforts MI pioneered and I'm thankful for all the Muskies they've stocked for everyone to catch. I think I would rather give that money for dues directly to the stocking efforts of my local club. Another thing I've noticed is the value factor. It was mentioned above that some don't like the MI "Product." I find some truth to this theory. You don't have to be a member to join in most every activity MI provides. This includes monthly meetings with speakers, most of the outings, raffles etc. It kind of takes some value away from the reasons to join. Most of what MI sells is access to the website (Yawn) and the ever controversial 'lunge log, a mediocre magazine, and guilt. "Join Muskies Inc. Look at all the great things we have already done for you for free. Don't you think you should give us some money to help pay for it?" That goes to another item on the list of why do people quit MI? MI is a finacial commitment much beyond the annual $35 dues. If you go to a meeting there's always some kind of raffle or fundraiser or something to pull more $$ out of your pocket. Also, I haven't exactly been too overly impressed with the local member's welcome mat. Everyone I've met has been nice for sure, but I have noticed some large egos. Clicks, egos and politics are always going to be a turn-off, and MI has formed a reputation for it's clicks, egos and politics. I probably haven't come off as the most friendly person either with them, though, so I figure this is a wash of an issue for me. I just hear other folks mention it (Chapter clickiness, egos and politics) so much I felt it needed mention. Overall MI is a great organization that does tons of good for the fishery, but there are definately some issues that could be worked on. Mainly, I think it's the value for the $$ thing that keeps people away. I bet more people would join if MI could tell them the money paid in dues went straight towards their local fisheries, whether it be stocking or habitat improvement or whatever. One more thing that might have turned some poeple off might be the outings. MI outings can take over a lake just like a tournament can. MI outings are usually not advertised quite as well as a tournament is either. All of a sudden a guy heads out his door, drives five or six hours to Northern WI somewhere, and finds out the lake he's been studying about has a MI outing on it that weekend and the pressure is quintupled. It happened to me once, and I thought I had done all the necessary pretrip pressure research. I still had plenty of great lakes to fish, but I was still dissapointed. | |
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| I have been fishing muskies for 20+ years and within the last 6 years I have been fishing the Minneapolis Metro very heavily. The reason I am not a muskies inc member is that they haven't done anything to convince me that they have the ear of the MN DNR in any way that will expand the number of lakes currently being stocked. I know they stock the HE!! out of White Bear and recently Tonka but these aren't new fisheries. In fact I can point to 3 lakes in the Metro that will NO longer be stocked with pure strain muskies(aprox. 700 acres)
They also ask people to get involved and contribute but only on the way they want! I laughed out loud when I saw the previous post about more Chiefs and less Indians. They want grunts plain and simple. I tried going to a local chapter president regarding the abandonment of the lakes I refrenced above and in the end it went nowhere because he thought he could better get across the ideas and that it should be a united front. More like his front and his ideas.
Bottom line they need to show me that the DNR will ever listen to them regarding expanding the Metro range! | |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I am a member, but am not a huge supporter or detractor. I belong to a club a long way from here, but think it's one of the best.
Each club is what it is because of the Members of that club; yes, the few do most of the work as the many join and either attend meetings and projects or choose not to, that's human behavior, NOT a trait strictly of MI clubs. It isn't reasonable or even a chance of an ice cube in July that the clubs will ever be able to dictate fisheries management to ANY DNR. Work with them, yes, cooperate in stocking waters in which the DNR approves assistance and stocking, yes. Force change in management because they say so? Nope, not in the cards.
The Magazine is also what it is. The clubs and International have options there. If the general membership doesn't want MI Magazine, then I'm betting it will not continue. If the general membership wants it, then it will continue if it's fundable, which it is. The MI Magazine desperately needed a sales and marketing plan and people to put that plan into motion, another recent change I have seen to the positive. I like the magazine, and read every issue. As a businessman, I also encourage advertising in that magazine and find that advertising successful.
I don't think the individual clubs would have the overall impact they currently have or have had in the past without an umbrella organization, in this case the International. Could things work better? I don't know, but in the last 10 years the International has been changing constantly but slowly, IMHO moving toward more involvement from members and the clubs to which they belong and a more 'open' attitude. The Old Guard that was actually far too reclusive some time ago has passed the torch, IMHO, which is a very good thing. The new Prez is a well grounded, concerned and capable leader, and more positive change is inevitable.
It's a choice each of us have to decide if we want to be part of a Club like MI, what our personal involvement might be, and it's always touchy when one asks the 'public' what needs to be done. The 'public' rarely responds. Those who do respond from the general public are easy to spot by the tone and content of their answer, and so are those with an agenda or complaint. It's a job in itself to figure out what positive and applicable information or advice can be gleaned from a topic like this one.
Want to change things in the MI International or your local club? Then join and DO something. If you just want to sit on the sidelines or the gallery and complain, be critical or plain unfriendly, then please be careful not to be insulting of those who DO work hard for the muskie fisheries, catch and release ethic, and comradery each club shoots for in the first place.
If you ARE a club member, remember that what you say and write will be heard and read by those you are addressing, and it's just not a good idea to be rude or disrespectful in an attempt to prove that MI club members are not rude or disrespectful. | |
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| At the Muskies Inc. Fall Board meeting that will be held this October in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, they'll decide the fate of Muskie magazine. We were going to vote on whether to decrease the number of issues at the Spring meeting, but decided that since we had just hired a new advertising person, the magazine should be given a chance to become self-sustaining. I like getting twelve issues a year. I read the articles, hell I've even wrote a few of the articles, and although it may not be on par with the other two magazines, it's not that bad. It's available in schools for students to read too.
In October, maybe it will be decided that they only print six issues a year. Maybe 4? Maybe things will improve and we'll still do 12? We just need to wait and see.
By the way, at my Chapter meeting tonight, they approved the funding for the brochure project I did. Thanks to the Fargo-Moorhead Chapter for doing that, and helping to spread the word. | |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I just feel the need to clarify a couple things to Guest aka DJS.
"The reason I am not a muskies inc member is that they haven't done anything to convince me that they have the ear of the MN DNR in any way that will expand the number of lakes currently being stocked."
-In the past we all relied on Frank Schnider to deal with the DNR. Since his passing, we've been developing new relationships within the DNR. Infact, I'd go so far as to say that we're developing better relationships then those that have been in place of late. The fact that Minnetonka was infact stocked by the DNR this spring is one example of that. Like I've said before, we're building the foundation onto which we want to build a better fishery.
"I know they stock the HE!! out of White Bear and recently Tonka but these aren't new fisheries. In fact I can point to 3 lakes in the Metro that will NO longer be stocked with pure strain muskies(aprox. 700 acres)"
-Our club started WBL and we're responsible for keeping it going. We saw a need to get some fish into tonka because the numbers have fallen. In the past 2 years we've spend over $20,000 in stocking and rearing. We would love to stock more waters but we're handcuffed by our resources. In past years our chapter was broke and had no money to stock and/or there were no fish available from private sources.
As far as Calhoun, Isles and Cedar, they were never supposed to be managed for pure strain. The current direction from the top brass is that they don't want to manage them for pure strain. It's on the table for review in the 2007 stocking meeting, but these things don't happen overnight no matter how much we want them to.
"They also ask people to get involved and contribute but only on the way they want! I laughed out loud when I saw the previous post about more Chiefs and less Indians. They want grunts plain and simple."
Read it again. I said we need to get the subscribers to become Indians and then turn them into Chiefs. Meaning, get them involved in the small stuff ie have them help with the raffle, tournament, kids programs etc and then get them to manage one or become an executive officer. None of the volinteers in my organizations want to be in the same post for extended time periods. It's important to infuse new blood into the organization to keep it fresh.
"I tried going to a local chapter president regarding the abandonment of the lakes I refrenced above and in the end it went nowhere because he thought he could better get across the ideas and that it should be a united front. More like his front and his ideas. "
See the above about Calhoun. I would rather see it as a pure strain lake as well, but it's not in the cards as of today. I am willing to be patient enough to wait to see what can be accomplished tomorrow though. They are aware of the concern and in time it will change. Anytime you want to be successfull working with a government agency (especially long term) you have to realize that NOTHING happens overnight. Trust me, you don't want things to work that fast because if they did the muskie program would constantly be getting the short end of the stick.
Bottom line they need to show me that the DNR will ever listen to them regarding expanding the Metro range!
Which lakes do you want stocked? I think pretty much every one that meets the DNR's standards for muskie management is currently being stocked. The DNR also thinks that having 20+ lakes withing 50 miles is plenty good.
Also, where are we going to get the extra fish? The DNR currently can't meet quota on the lakes we've got right now. We're working with the DNR on some long-term solutions to this. I say long-term because we believe we're going about this in a solid way that will pay off for years to come, not a bandaid.
Next year when you buy your licenses (both locals and out of state) you're going to be asked if you fish muskies. Unlike in past years, a % of these people are going to be called by a polling agancy. What we're looking to accomplish with this is that we want a realistic count on how many people are fishing muskies. Once we have some hard date, we can go to the DNR and ask for increased funding of the muskie program based on these numbers. The current muskie funding is based on the 1992 estimate that 2% of all fishermen fish muskies. I know it's at least 6% and as high as 12% when you add all the out of state people.
Our chapter is also getting back in the fish rearing business as of this year. If we can successfully keep our fundraising going and keep our VOLINTEER base up, I believe that in future years we should be able to raise enought fish to start stocking new waters. What my goal would be is to have our chapter devote some % of these fish to stocking new waters. This % would vary from year to year based on need and yield. Once we can determine that the body of water is going to be successful, then we'd ask the DNR to come in and maintain. Then we would be free to look at new bodies of water. That way the DNR isn't out of pocket getting a lake stocked and we're helping ourselves to increase the range.
At the end of the day, we're all a bunch of volinteers doing the best we can with what we've got. No matter if you're talking about the local chapter or International, everyone has good intentions. Everyone puts in more hours then they probably should. Everyone gives up valuable fishing time and everyone wants to see a better muskie fishery and a better MI.
When I have a chance to site down and talk to people about MI, I always cite how Dick Pearson once challenged me. One day back when Muskie Central was the big thing I was squacking off about many of the grips that many have cited in this post. His response to me was something like: "You bitch about it but what are you doing about it" "with all of it's faults, Muskies Inc is the only thing we've got so we can either make it better or leave it as it is." That old coot (now friend) was the motivation I needed to throw my hat in the ring. I sure wish I knew how to motivate others the way he did for me.
So to get back to the question, why should someone join MI?
My answer: to make it better.
Shawn Kellett
President TC Chapter MI
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | A few things here:
- Its easy to criticize. Anyone can do that.
- Its hard to get involved a great deal for many people due to work schedules, family obligations, etc.
- Everyone can help in some way. Joining MI is a start, buying raffle tickets, and volunteering with projects on a can-do basis is another. It doesn't have to be a large commitment - just do what you can.
This whole discussion has made me realize that I need to get off my butt and get involved in at least some small way. Just being a member of MI doesn't necessarily help so much. One thing is for sure, I can do more than I currently am.
So, how about those of us who aren't involved already stop criticizing, get off our butts, and try contribute in some small way? Hmmmm? 
Edited by Herb_b 6/27/2006 9:38 AM
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| weve got new lakes comming to Minn....Many Point by park rapids,,,Rice by brainard,,,,,,,these were lakes pursued by Fargo Moorehead,,Brainard chapter,,,,,,also St Cloud chapter is trying for the Horseshoe chain,,,,And if we can get ALL muskie anglers MI or not to show in Brainard for the Gull lake public input meeting we can add another 14,000 acres which is the equiv of another Cass or Minnetonka I know Brainard chapter is doing a great job pushing for that,,Minn MI chapters are kick ### and taking names,,,,one thing I find intresting is that people point to the fact that 0nly 10% of all musky anglers are MI members,, when we had the public input meeting for spearing on french lake about a dozen muskie anglers showed up ALL MI members that I recognised,,,"so" if we go by that established 10% and 12 MI members showed up then then there should have been 108 non muskies inc anglers at that meeting,,,where were they???? in fact where are ANY of the non muskies inc anglers when these meetings are held... | |
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Posts: 42
Location: Madison, WI | For me it comes down to two items:
Commitment – the local meetings are at an inconvenient location and time. I have work and family obligations that do not lend well to spending time at more meetings.
Unwelcome feeling – the local chapter seems too cliquey. It has been several years since I have attended a meeting but at the meetings I attended in the past, I never once had a member even acknowledge my existence, let alone make me feel welcome. I was completely ignored. I don’t expect everyone to trip over each other to make me feel welcome, but is it too much to ask to have ONE person come up and say hello? I know that our local chapter has done great things for our local lakes and I appreciate all they have done. But I do not want to be associated with a group that leaves the impression that they think they are better than anyone that is not a member.
The $35 fee is not an issue; we all spend more on lures & equipment each year than we would on a membership. Active membership will likely put more fish in the boat than all that new equipment in the long run.
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| We have had at least one new member at each of our meetings for the past 6 months in the F-M Chapter. Every new member attending their first meeting receives two new Bucktails, plus a door prize ticket. I've seen more than one new member leave their very first meeting holding $40.00 worth of lures in their hand. We also started introducing ourselves at the meetings. We go around the room, and each member says their name and if applicable, what position they hold in the Chapter. Some meetings are not as well attended as others, so sometimes we skip that part, but we usually do it.
I have heard that in the past, the Fargo-Moorhead Chapter was even kind of snobish toward new people, but not anymore. I doubt anyone feels left out or ignored. Maybe some other Chapters are happy with their member numbers, and are not looking to get any more members? We are glad to have people join, and will take anyone who shows up. We have people drive from an hour and a half away to attend our monthly meetings. I myself drive an hour, sit in on the meeting for an hour or so, and drive an hour back home. It's worth the effort every month.
Go to a meeting or two and check it out. You don't have to join Muskies Inc. to attend a meeting. We have guests all the time. Check it out, and if you don't feel welcomed, don't join. If you like what you see, and feel comfortable, sign up. Thanks. | |
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Why not join Muskies Inc?