|
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | I have sent them two emails within the past 2 months from their "contact us" page and have not received any response.
As I understand it, the chapter I am in does not recieve any assistance from Muskies Inc - the only monies to assist with programs are from chapter fundraisers.
I understand that Muskies Inc is the "umbrella" of all the chapter so strength is in numbers. I think it must be like the NRA, living in WI / MN we never really noticed any local benefits that the communities experienced but may be their help with the sport is at a higher level. Do you have any feedback on Muskies Inc?
The reason I am trying to contact them is that there is no chapter in NW WI and I have received emails from people with friends that want to start one. I have also talked with the local DNR and they are also willing to come and talk at meetings and think a chapter would be great. Do you know how to get someone from Muskies Inc to email or call back?
Thanks.
Don
Edited by dhacker 7/3/2007 12:20 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 136
| Just sent a PM
The work MI does is defenitely realized in local communities beyond just the lakes we fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | a rant response ... it doesn't surprise me at all and i think you've hit the nail yourself. i'm not terribly impressed with the organization and what they do and how they do it at the international level either, but i am impressed with our local group, it's officers and what they do for our local waters here in the headwaters chapter area so i'm a member. i believe that this group would operate and continue to do what they do with or without the association to muskies inc.. i do however think it's a shame that more people don't rise up and call the rest out for what it is ... or isn't to the local club level though. it seems any contention or criticism of muskies inc. gets hit squarely so that it is quickly repressed.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 8863
| Support from International is a topic that comes up often in our club as well... In your case, Don, I think its probably just a matter of getting your e mail into the right hands. Obviously, local issues are handled at the club level, and any outings/tournaments/etc. are funded at the club level as well. But starting a new chapter is something that I am sure there is a protocal for, and probably a specefic person that handles that. Let me do some digging for you.. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Muskies Inc is a very active organization, but is MOST active at the club level. Ever been to a International meeting?
I've personally been openly critical of the International here, and I can tell you they listen. Try contacting the Prez, he's a regular here and a great guy. |
|
| |
|
Location: Athens, Ohio | I'm a bit confused, between the Headwaters Chapter in Eagle River and the Hayward Lakes Chapter in Hayward, you say, "there is no chapter in NW WI"?? First Wisconsin in Chippewa Falls, Central Wisconsin Chapter, and in Mn. there's Twin Cities, and Lake Superior (Cloquet, Mn). Looks to me like you can't swing a dead pike without hitting an MI chapter up there. Where did you want one? m
20 Wisconsin Between the Lakes
8 Wisconsin Capital City www.muskiesinc.org/chapters/08
26 Wisconsin Central Wisconsin www.centralwis.co.nr
6 Wisconsin First Wisconsin www.muskiesinc.org/chapters/06
30 Wisconsin God's Country www.lacrossemuskies.com
13 Wisconsin Hayward Lakes
12 Wisconsin Headwaters www.muskiesinc.org/chapters/12
35 Wisconsin Milwaukee Muskies Inc. www.milwaukeemuskiesinc.com
4 Wisconsin Titletown Muskies Inc www.titletownmuskiesinc.org
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | Just talked with Adam (aka - CommonSense Guy) and we both agree we are in great chapters. In no way am I complaining about the chapter I am in - great guys, great work, and we all love the sport.
Adam gave me three phone numbers of Int members to call including Dave Cates. Thanks for any help esoxaddict - that's what I was hoping to get with my post was a little help.
BTW, thanks Adam.
Edited by dhacker 7/3/2007 1:06 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | Mikie - I am not looking to start a pissing match here. North Western WI I am referring to is west of Hayward - Polk, Burrnett, Barron counties - Lakes such as Yellow, Deer, Bone, Apple River, Wapagasset, Cumberland, WI area and others I probably don't know. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 313
Location: On your favorite spot | Muskies Inc is all about the local level - I'm proud to be a member and enjoy being involved in all the local stuff we do.
Of course there's gripes, we're all musky fishermen! |
|
| |
|
| Just talk to David Cates, and you can apply for new club membership. Work with our club if you have any questions. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Here's the email of the big cheeze:
[email protected]
I don't trust most "contact us" options on websites. IMOP they're unreliable at best.
If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line. If I can't answer the question for you I can get you in pointed in the right direction. Also consider talking to the Southern Cross Roads chapter. They just formed a couple years ago and they'll have a good list of do's and don'ts.
-Shawn
Edited by Muskie Treats 7/3/2007 1:59 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
Location: Elk River, MN | I was able to get what I was hoping for. "Common Sense Guy" gave me some phone numbers and I just talked with David Cates. He is emailing me a packet of information. He is also provided the contact of the MI individual who is responsible for helping with "New Chapters". David was very helpful and was surprised that my original email inquires were not responded to.
David did say that Hayward was the closest chapter to this area and could understand why travel can sometime hinder peoples involvement. Hopefully the packet of information will help us with this possibility.
Thanks.
Edited by dhacker 7/3/2007 2:18 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 79
| Hi I am a memeber of southern cross roads Chapter 54 we started a year ago I think we have around 50 memebers if you want pm me I will give you a phone number of or guys they would be happy to help you out since we are only a Year old www.michapter54.com
Gary |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2361
| First WI is also out by you and have several members that fish the lakes and waters you mention. They might be an asset if contacted. Good luck with your new chapter, hope you become a Muskies Inc. activist. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | If I remember correctly, I thought there was a club that used to exist in New Richmond but shut down to low members. I once lived in the area you described (my parents still reside there) and became a member of the Hayward Chapter. Sorry, if I travel that long to get to Hayward I'm not going to go to a meeting.... I'd be fishing. I agree another chapter could and should be in this area. The catch and release ethic is nearly non existent and I've noticed those who do practice CPR (potential MI members) are doing so in poor form. The best of luck to you! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20278
Location: oswego, il | Don, I think a Polk county chapter is a great idea. Getting a few more lakes in that area would be great too.
Taking a page from what Mr. Worrall said, attent an international meeting sometime and see what goes on. Alot of people have been critical but things are moving forward, albeit slowly but the discussions and necessary things are being hammered on and I think eventually things will be righted. As also what has been stated, the chapters are great and to me it is what makes M.I. for me. I am a proud member of chapter 39, the best muskies inc chapter there is!  |
|
| |
|
| I joined the GB chapter, and then let my membership lapse. I gather that many of this group's initial members were members of a defunct musky club in the area. Just seemed really "clique-ey" and not in any way outwardly friendly. Check that, they didn't SEEM cliquey, they were cliquey. Pretty well established in their little friendship circles, and it was clear they had no room for anyone else, despite a fast-growing membership pool.
Sent the club pres a couple emails regarding suggestions I had for activities I felt would be worthwhile for the club to participate in. No once did I get a return email. Emailed him a picture of me with a fish I'd caught. No response. Sent another email. No response. Finally he responds when I emailed the picture and my lack of response to the guy who created the site, and CC-ed the pres on the email. That got his attention. I was invisible at the meetings. Every meeting it was like the first day at a new school, only I'd been to a handful of meetings already.
Volunteered to help out at their booth at one of the fishing shows. It was like I had open sores on my hands or something. Nobody wanted to shake hands and BS, much less the usual guy's greeting, which is a head nod and a "what's up." It was like I was invisible. I was scheduled to help man the booth, and there were about 3 guys milling around behind the booth, not a one of them said a word to me, or even made an effort of any kind to greet me, say thanks for coming, give me a task....nothing. I would try to make conversation with the guys in the booth, and they'd just grunt something back, or ignore the fact that there was a person there in front of them trying to make small talk.
Weirdest experience I ever had. Just totally shunned on all fronts. Can't say I've ever been shut out at any event of any kind like that before. I'd be curious to know if anyone else joined and then dropped. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | Been there with Muskies Inc. , didn't take me long to see that 99% of their support goes to the Minn.-Wisc. area( which I can understand because that's where the water is), but it didn't do me any good to send money for no return on my investment. They do good work but I couldn't see anything that was being used in my area, so no more money went to them.
Sorry to all their supporters but that's the way I looked at it
Mauser |
|
| |
|
| I beg to differ about 99% of the money in Muskies inc going to MN and Wi. I'm on the board of directors of a MN chapter and we don't get crap from international! Best our members of our club can tell is that the only thing that the international cares about is there magazine and the two international meetings every year. Just my 2 cents worth, I do think that all of the local clubs are very active and mainly support themselves and are a great way to meet other anglers and learn alot about the lakes in the area. Good luck with your new club. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 113
Location: Green Bay, WI | I would like to answer the frustrations that you had with some questions for you. Did you try and shake the hands of the guys working in the booth? We appreciate the help any chapter member makes and would be more than happy to talk with you. I remember that day and as I recall you weren't at the booth all that long. I also remember the idea you had for a rod building class as a way to get a nice rod for a smaller price. Great idea but I was suppose to check up on it for you. How about checking it out on your own and presenting the idea to the group. That's a great ice breaker.
As far as the GB chapter being "clique-ey". I disagree anybody who has participated in any of our meetings would tell you that at most meetings everyone talks to everyone and if no one is talking to you it is your own fault. I have a lot of new friends that I didn't even know 2 years ago I would hardly say that is clique-ey. Sure there are people who have been friends for years that are members that will talk but that is the way it is in any club.
Titletown is a new chapter we are going through growing pains and is everything perfect? Hell no. We are trying however and we deserve that much credit. I challenge you to come to our next meeting on Tuesday night and air all of your concerns. We will listen and be respectful and try to learn from it. Our meetings are open to the public and we welcome EVERYONE. Next meeting is Tuesday at 7:30 at the Green Bay Yacht Club.
Jay Zahn
President Titletown Muskies Inc.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 20278
Location: oswego, il | I do have to agree with what jazon said. I belong to FRV but I goto the Quad County Muskie Hunter meeting too and occasionally goto the Southside Muskie hawks meetings as well. I have met friends at all three places and have helped out all three clubs and was well recieved. Positive attitude is everything and a club is what you make of it. To me the club level is the best part of M.I. and why Iam a member. |
|
| |
|
| Dear Frustrated:
Sorry to hear about your dilemma with the Titletown group. I joined their organization a little over a year ago and I must say that I am totally satisfied with all of the support that I have received from the President and other members when needed. I must admit that it is hard to get into the swing of things in a new group, but you must realize that some of the responsibility must lie with the new member. Sometimes you have to become a little more vocal on your own and do a few more things to get noticed. I feel bad because I have missed some of the recent meetings due to conflicts with other organizations/interests. But, I am still glad that they are an active chapter and that I am a member.
I have been affiliated in some fashion with three Muskies, Inc. groups in the past. I belonged to Hayward Lakes and was their Chapter Secretary for a number of years; I attended Capital City meetings when they were first starting out and acted as their secretary, on occasion, when I lived in the Madison area; I was the Green Bay area’s Chapter Secretary and even President (when we made a last ditched effort to rekindle interest in a struggling group).
The former group, started about 25 years ago, (the DEFUNCT one that you refer to), the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter of Muskies, Inc., did much to promote a viable muskie fishery in the Green Bay/Lower Fox River Valley area. In fact, along with Packerland Musky Club, Dave’s Musky Club, other Wisconsin clubs, support through the International, and the WDNR, that is one good reason why the area MUSKIE fishery is doing SO WELL at this time!
At the time that we had the group, it was determined that we wanted to show no real link or bond to PACKER CITY, as we were afraid that it would “disenfranchise” people of OUTER areas from joining the group. We had anywhere from about 250 members to about 60 members throughout time, if memory serves me correctly… The sad thing came to be that you would see all of the same dozen, OR SO, people doing all of the legwork and promotion for the chapter and all of the same 30 to 40 people showing up at meetings or events. With all of the competing interests in life pursuits for those doing all of the work, it was determined that we could not keep the group going and we disbanded.
I do remember a few of the NEW Titletown people from the OLD chapter, but I cannot say that I think that any are "clique-ey". I think we all have a tendency to develop our friendships based on perceptions of the people we interact with and to form small, friendly groups amongst larger organizations. I am thankful that these people (those doing the work to benefit the organization) have created the NEW chapter in the area and I believe that they are doing a wonderful job in WORKING HARD to GET IT ALL RIGHT!!! Please reconsider your position with Titletown.
As for the initial forum question regarding the contact person for starting a new chapter, please remember that many of the people in the organization are doing VOLUNTEER work and that they may have other duties and responsibilities that have to be prioritized or that command their attention at the time.
Don Swanson, Green Bay |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3164
| Im a ver big supporter of muskies inc,,,however I think it would be of great benefit to have another alternative national muskie org too for the people who dont agree with MI,,We would especially benefit here in Minn where were trying to get more lakes,,,Im wondering 'why'nobody has had the ambition to start one??? Its alot easier now getting something started with multiple muskie websites 2 magazines dedicated to muskies,,3 major muskie expos and about 10 smaller shows. none of ths was available 40 yrs ago when MI was formed |
|
| |
|
| Actually, about 20 years ago would be more appropriate for the start-up of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) Chapter of Muskies, Inc. I must have been thinking about my involvement in the Hayward Lakes Chapter at the time.
For the alternative group to Muskies, Inc. response about NEW Minnesota lakes with Muskies..., in Wisconsin we are limited to our actions for planting/stocking based on the determinations of the WDNR, lake associations, and private lake owners. We can suggest that certain lakes be considered for muskies, but are not able to just go in and plant the fish. |
|
| |
|
| with any group or organization that people have an emotional investment in, the natural response to critical feedback (ie., the club is "clique-ey") is to become defensive and to say "no we're not!" although an understandable human response, it's unhelpful to the growth and improvement of the club.
regardless of your own beliefs about it, there's at least one person who experienced your club as un-welcoming. telling him he's wrong and it's his fault compounds the un-welcome sense he's likely to have from you. if there's one person who's willing to speak up, there are probably others with the same experience who aren't saying anything but won't come back to any more meetings either.
if an organization is interested in growing, the right thing to do is instead to say, "how did we let this happen?" and "what can we do to be better?" it's harder to do, but it's what it takes to grow your club and to make it as welcoming as you say that you want it to be.
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 113
Location: Green Bay, WI | I agree with you Michael. I suppose you are right when saying you become defensive and want to say they are wrong. After I responded to the message I emailed everyone that I had emails for and asked them to read the thread and lets talk about it on Tuesday night.
Like I said we know we are not perfect but I also know that this particular person did not give me this feedback in person. He chose to post anonymously when I know he is a member of this board. I don't think that is fair to Titletown either both to the current members or someone who is thinking of being a member. Were a good group of people and all we are trying to do is make things better for Muskie fisherman in the Green Bay area. I think we are doing that and we welcome this particular former member back. This issue will be brought up at our next meeting. What more can we do.
Jay Zahn
President Titletown Muskies Inc. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The very word, Club, invites reactions like the ones above. Some folks are outgoing and find it easy to make new friends, others find it difficult and are more sensitive to immediate 'of the moment' experience. I've been to the Green bay meetings a couple times, and didn't see anything untoward or 'different' from any other club meeting. Same with the International meetings I've been to, Ducks Unlimited, Whitetails Unlimited, and many others.
There are groups of friends, associates, etc at every meeting, and it's sometimes pretty daunting to charge into the mix and become a part of what's going on. I USED to be really shy, and found that I felt unwelcome quite often. The key here is that at every meeting it's a good idea to introduce new members, and 'assign' a few folks to make sure any new member feels welcome and part of the club.
I'm certain MI will be what it is for a very long time. There will always be the controversy surrounding the International, but one needs to remember that an umbrella group is what has lent the ability to act in a cohesive manner. Independent clubs come and go, and are usually driven by one or two individuals; the really stong ones have 'legacy', most times, giving them 'legs' to last . The International is the 'steering committee' of MI, and I for one feel HUGE progress has been made through the last three selections for Top Brass. Dave is truly dedicated to making MI more of a 'club for the Muskie anglers' than ever before.
As I have said before...Don't like the direction of a club or group of which you are a member? You have two real choices that are constructive; meet with the Prez, express your concerns, and try to make things better, or run for the office next time it's up for election, and get 'er done yourself. Quitting is an option, that's for sure, but not a very constructive one. Democracy is what it is; expressing negatives about how things go without becoming involved to acquire change won't get anything changed at all.
That being said, what IS a guy to do if he feels 'shut out' or unwelcome? That welcoming committee is really important, and needs to be active with each new member for at least 6 meetings. My 2.5 cents, pancakes are ready and the walleyes on the Goon are calling me. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Welcoming new members is one of the harder things for most organizations (not just MI). Here's one of the issues. When the "established" members come to meetings they usually gravitate to their other friends. Not because they don't like new guys, but more because they go to the meetings to see their friends. Now think about the fact that some of these people have been coming to see their friends for decades and they can tend to get in a rut. Also, often times the people who run the meeting are busy trying to keep the wheels on the wagon so to speak. I know that I can be short with people sometimes, but I hope that they understand that it's a time constraint more then anything.
Our chapter is working on a membership retention plan that should help get new members "assimilated" into the collective group (pardon the Star Trek reference). That would include members that will look after some of the new guys as well as some special programs to get people to connect with others in the chapter. That being said, we're all a bunch of volunteers that are doing this because we think it's fun. Just like in real life not everyone in the chapter is out-going or friendly. Anyone joining MI or any other club needs to change their perspective appropriately when entering a group and seek out those types of personalities that mesh with theirs.
Even after saying all of that I know it's still hard. I quit MI two times. It was after I posted an online rant when Dick Pearson challenged me to make a difference that I gave it one more shot. It was Happy Hooker who got me to come back to the TC Chapter to give credit where it's due. Now I'm the President and I like to think I'm making it a better place for both new and old members alike. So what's the moral? Either you have to be persistent as nothing good comes easy or that I'm a thick-headed moron. It could be both
Frustrated, I say give it another try and see what happens.
Shawn Kellett
President
TC Chapter MI 01 |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8863
| I'm not a social guy. Give me something to talk about, start a conversation, and I will talk your ear off. But if you don't say anything? You might get a nod and a grunt. I don't smile much. Words people have used to describe me:
Intense
Intimidating
Scary
"looks like he'd rip your head off if you look at him funny"
When I joined Muskies inc, I made it a point to just go up and talk to people. It's not an easy thing to do. What's my point?
I don't know you, so I can't say for sure, but it might just be YOU. Maybe, for whatever reason, you just don't come across as a guy who is friendly. Sure, there are little groups of friends, and maybe some of those really ARE kind of closed off. But I think once you get to know a couple people and people get used to seeing you around that you might look at Muskies Inc in a whole new light. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20278
Location: oswego, il | One thing our club did was appoint two of our board members as membership directors. One of their duties is to that of the new members, greeting them and seeing to what their needs of our club are and are met if possible. |
|
| |
