“What can the Barbel Society do to make you join?”

[black kettle]

Steve Pope has announced on the Barbel Society Facebook page that he would like suggestions from “NONE BS MEMBERS” on how the BS should change if they are to attract new members. He is emphasising that given the BS Facebook group page has nearly 3,000 members, and very few of these are in membership of the BS, “What can the Barbel Society do to make you join?”

Over the years I have always told Steve Pope that the lack of democracy within the BS was wrong and that because of this it would fall into demise. This has happened with the BS membership falling to an all time low, hence his call for suggestions from “none members” on their facebook page.
I am barred from adding my suggestions because Steve Pope barred me from the BS Facebook page for doing exactly what he is requesting now. Even so, I will give my opinions here;

I am convinced that Steve Pope is the right man to lead the BS back from the abyss but he should listen to those like Lawrence Breakspeare who favour the adoption of democracy. Steve Pope should not walk away from the BS but should remain strong and determined to put right all that which has clearly gone wrong on his watch.

Total clarity based upon total democracy is the way forward. It’s the basis on which our glorious fishing clubs have maintained their memberships for well over a hundred years.

But as I said, I cannot comment on the BS Facebook page but you all can.

Regards,

BK.

 

[binka]

With regard to membership numbers it makes me wonder if, with the advent of social media and so many internet sites, people are just wondering…

What’s in it for me?

If at one time some exclusive information was available to those that joined then maybe it presented a better proposition but with social media offering just that via specialist forums on a take it or leave it basis I’m not sure what a Society has to offer the individual angler?

I’m not really a single species group/society man so there’s every chance I might have completely missed the point of them in todays era.

I believe the foundations for the Barbel Society were laid back in 1994 which was way before the internet became such a powerful, accessible and standard medium and when the best way to share an interest and information was to get together in just the that way that they did.

I've nothing against them and wouldn't join either as I don't feel the need to join a single species group but maybe the answer is not an internally political one at all?

 

[black kettle]

Reasonable reply Bink and pretty much some of my thoughts in there are well.

I still think however Steve Pope is the man to turn around the BS downward trend.

Regards,

BK

 

[greenie62]

....I am barred from adding my suggestions because Steve Pope barred me from the BS Facebook page for doing exactly what he is requesting now...

If the BS stopped behaving in the dictatorial manner described above - it may go some way to restoring anglers faith in the Society and its aims! mg:

 

[black kettle]

Agree Greenie. Obviously Steve Pope has seen the light so is asking for ideas. He's the man to pull it off.

Regards,

BK.

 

[greenie62]

... Obviously Steve Pope has seen the light so is asking for ideas...

Has he seen the light so much that he has unbanned you?

 

[S-Kippy]

Nothing would persuade me to join. I was a member for 1 year and went to a few meetings but I have never felt so uncomfortable & unwelcome in my life. I knew no-one and despite my best efforts nobody wanted to know me. Too busy bigging themselves up in front of their mates. This would be circa "Swim Wild,Swim Free" which I personally thought was the most cringeworthy hippy like logo in the history of the world.

I didn't think this sort of thing was for me and I wasn't wrong. What possessed me to join in the first place I never did work out. Never again.

 

[tigger]

Can anyone tell me what the barbel society is about, I mean what is it, what do they do ?

 

[sumtime]

Nothing would persuade me to join. I was a member for 1 year and went to a few meetings but I have never felt so uncomfortable & unwelcome in my life. I knew no-one and despite my best efforts nobody wanted to know me. .....

You should always wash before you go to meetings, Skip.

 

[binka]

The other point which has just sprung to my mind Lee is a bit of a catch twenty two situation.

Maybe there’s also an element of our old friend “apathy” in this equation too, in that anglers just want to go out and escape the stresses of modern day life without getting involved in the political side of angling (and who would blame them?).

With the greatest respect to them I think that many will fall into this category (myself included with the one exception of the obvious national body which I am a member of) and anything political just represents a straight turn off?

If that is the case then this is where the catch comes in…

Bring up an internal political agenda (even an honourable one that's for the good with a constructive idea and a genuine will to improve things) and you have to maybe ask who’s actually interested… The majority or the minority?

People involved in the political side of a species group will be, I imagine, involved because they care and have a great passion for it and they are a different animal to those mentioned above (again myself included) who just want to go out, enjoy a day’s fishing and be done with it until the next time despite how much they love and care for their species.

Coupled with the media thing i'm wondering just how much the influence of internal politics is affecting the membership numbers and if it's the right tree to be barking up?

Is there any information available with regards to other single species group membership trends that might help to establish or dismiss the politically repellent/apathetic theories if only by similarity or contrast?

I've completely run off track there in trying to establish a reason for a decline in membership numbers, as for the original question of what would make me join I wouldn't for the reasons already mentioned but on a general basis I really haven't a clue I'm afraid, I think there is too much available independently.

Not wanting to turn the question around but if we did...

What benefit would I gain form joining the Barbel Society given the range of free, independent information available to me across the internet and the good head of barbel in the waters I already fish?

 

[bigfish74]

I joined their fb page but not the society and after reading some of the stupid comments on their by individuals (even if the club coould do something for me/my fishing) i wouldnt join.
A gokd few of the people who comment on their are fine but a few well lets say i wasnt impressed by the negative comments/ remarks and moaning moan moan moan i go fishing to get awah from all that

Andy

 

[arthur2sheds]

Aside from not barbel fishing properly for a couple of years, I won't join the Barbel Society because it is just that....! a one species society.... I think that very few anglers these days pursue 1 species entirely... even carpers have a crack at pike and cats because their tackle is geared towards the species, I also happen to agree with the sentiment that anglers nowadays just want to go fishing and leave the politicking and posturing those that want it..

Lets face it, if you look at most clubs they struggle to get officers to do the essential work... I've done that sort of stuff and TBH it's a pain in the @rse, thankless and ultimately disheartening, especially when folk get on your case because fishing is suffering from cormorants, or the bog's overflowing, or their favourite swim has a branch overhanging it....

So why would anyone want to get involved with a society with a dictatorial regime? the society should have democratically elected officers as with any club/society...! just my two penn'orth

 

[bennygesserit]

I wouldn't join for precisely the reason this thread is here there seems to be nothing but political back biting in the whole thing.

Given the millions of "he said they said" threads not only on here but all across the Internet I would be amazed if any sane person would contemplate joining now , ok , maybe a while back the idea of exchanging ideas and conservation of barbel ( in native areas only ) seemed like a worthy ideal but these days no chance all the political in fighting on various fora , remember Fred B and Barbel wars , have made the place a joke.

 

[flightliner]

Definately not for me, all the years I,ve been using the internet the big message coming from the BS is one of dissent, infighting, and splintergroups setting up alternative organisations.
I much prefer flying solo in my fishing these days with the odd day out with a friend or aquintance .
I wish the organisation well in its efforts to move forward but I think it will be somethng of an uphill task.

 

[Jim Crosskey 2]

Well i think the reason i can't consider it is simply that their fisheries are too far away! If they had nice productive bit of water that I wanted to fish that was close to me i would join in a flash and fish it. I think you can get as involved as you want with these things, and I certainly don't want to get involved with political machinations within a single species group - but I do want to go fishing! So give me what i want (nice local fishing) and I'll join!!

(I'm in Oxfordshire, so Steve if you're looking in - a nice bit of the Kennet would be good! Or an Oxfordshire stretch of the thames i can night-fish...)

 

[Steve Pope]

I've fallen a bit behind in the Diary feature that appears on FM, mainly because I've been busy outside of fishing.
This year is the twentieth anniversary of the Barbel Society and that in itself has focused my mind on the future.
I'm putting together an article/diary that will focus on the BS - the past two decades and the future, so I hope that will go some way to at least give you an informed view of what we are about.
If you are interested I have recently put up a good bit of data covering the past twenty years, you'll find it in the articles section of my website.
All the best.

 

[Ray Wood 1]

Interesting topic, Steve Pope and obstacle, his time coming to an end? Is this the same Steve Pope who has run the BS for the past twenty years talking, surely not?

It is no secret that he and I have crossed swords many times in the past, I have however always given him the credit he deserved for forming the BS. I don't agree with many things he has done, but he is absolutely the man to steer the BS out of the dull-drums it now finds itself in.

There is no doubt the heady days of 1200/1300 members are in the past, Steve's job is to now do the captains job and steer the BS back to where it should be. He is undoubtedly the man to do it. He should not be passing the helm to another until the BS is on the right course to safety.

Regards
Ray

Steve, while I was posting you posted the above, why have you waited so long to use your diary to focus on the BS problems? Hope you don't mind me asking but you could have used your diary so many times for the good of the BS.

 

[sam vimes]

There's little they could do. I'm just not the type to join single species societies, even if I do go through periods of reasonably exclusive single species fishing, including a longstanding interest in barbel. I feel that if I joined such a group it would have to be with the intention of contributing something beyond a few quid. I don't have the resources or inclination to do that. I'd prefer to get involved with a local angling club/society.

 

[black kettle]

Good post Bink and no Greenie, I have not been un-banned. Methinks Ive got more chance of being bitten by a daffodil. The BS facebook page has elements within it, much the same as it has within the organisation, which resemble the old guard within the Polit Bureau. One word out of place and your ideas are taken round the back to be shot.

So I'm a bit surprised that Steve is asking for suggestions as to what he/they are doing wrong. Crikey I've been telling him for years as a member and none member and he never bothered to take any notice of me.

I'm wondering if Steve is about to jump ship? NO. That's unthinkable. Steve has always been the mover and shaker of the BS and long may that continue to be the case. I just hope that Swim Wild, Swim Free doesn't end up being Flapping Around, Gasping For Air.

Regards,

BK.

 

[Graham Elliott 1]

Fact is the BS lost many members over a relative short period due to fighting within factions of the Committee and friendships weighing more heavily in outcomes than ability of the incumbents to do a good job in promoting the Society.

Steve should have managed this period far better. ( I've told him numerous times so he knows my views)
Sometimes the price of friendship is too high when its effects are so wide reaching.

It probably would have been a good time for potential and current committee members to have been subject to a democratic election.

Already there is a post on a site from a past committee member criticising Steve for even asking the question on facebook..

I rejoined the Society this past year. In recognition of the work undertaken by Pete Reading and his team and changes in the Committee infrastructure and individuaks.

I am also happy to help out the local Berks regional chap to rebuild the Regional area.