Most hosting comes in packages, to upgrade to a package that allows payment facilities costs very little, £50 a year extra or less depending on the hosting company. Most of the work is done for you and is already set up, requires pressing a button and filling in a few details. Its not difficult or expensive, it wouldn't be difficult for any club to find someone to do it. The point is and why I noted it is because it probably loses potential members, its the cost of one membership fee and probably loses more than one over a year. Its not the case I expect it, it does not bother me its just that more and more this day and age, especially the younger generation, they are used to doing everything on-line, they may very well not bother with downloading forms and sending them off with a cheque or going into tackle shops, they would expect it probably.
A joining fee may very well suit the committee or the club as a whole, but I doubt it encourages membership, in fact I am sure of that. that's the point I make.
If you want to refuse to accept any of these reasons for possible dwindling membership, some personal diatribe of mine, that's up to you; I can only repeat something I said earlier-
"Sorry if I look like I am just doing a downer on clubs all the time but it is what this thread is about, seeing if, how and where clubs can change in some way to compete in the modern world. Put some buzz back into them, give them a new lease of life etc."
I wont bother anymore, your probably right, I have said enough, not so sure your right that I have no right to moan though, pass, I know what you mean- over to you-you got any ideas how that may happen? I have had my turn, you have a go. make a nice change you just nay saying everything I suggest and moaning about me, have a go, fair enough, your in a different position to me, a more enlightened and informed one, you must have lots of ideas, the floors all yours, be constructive.
Hosting costs are largely a red herring, the cost of them, in isolation, being fairly insignificant. However, your assertion that building a website is easy isn't far off the mark, provided you have a semblance of tech savvy. Look around this forum, the average age is relatively old, and, without any disrespect intended, a large number of regular posters can't post a picture or hyperlink. Most committees are made up of older blokes who are just the same. Quite a few will be older still and they don't even have PCs, smartphones or tablets. The prospect of most club committee men building a website is pie in the sky. Unless they manage to find someone within the ranks of the club, they would probably end up paying through the nose for someone to do it for them. You or I sitting on the sidelines saying to a bunch of retired old men that it's easy doesn't make any difference, they can't/won't do it. If you can, I'm sure they'd be incredibly grateful for your assistance.
As for much of the rest, you've already been given answers as to why many of the things you are railing against exist. I may not disagree that some things that happen within clubs aren't good for their long term future. Unlike you, almost whether I liked it or not, I got involved, I learned an awful lot. I found reasons for things I couldn't believe happened. I found out why certain things happened the way they did. I found that certain things that looked a certain way from the outside were nothing like they seemed. Some things I don't like still happen, despite me not liking them, despite me arguing against them. Some things we've changed, even when those changes seemed very unlikely. During my time on a committee, we've changed pricing structures, dropped joining fees, dropped waters, gained waters, introduced and dropped winter tickets, renegotiated leases downwards, collaborated with other clubs and pushed most of the membership to on-line payment.
I'm one of two committee men in my own club that are anything approaching IT literate. Between us, we do pretty much everything in that sphere. I get to go to a monthly meeting in the local town. By default, I get to bailiff club waters. I've built styles, schlepped round the countryside looking for new waters, cleared riverside access and guided new/potential members round our waters. I don't get a penny for doing any of this, not even a free membership, not that I ever expected to. Sadly, the reality is that most just whinge. Even if they are members, they won't even go to an AGM, let alone join the committee. Then there are those that aren't even members.
Some clubs are struggling, and maybe they could do more to help themselves. Other clubs perhaps don't need to do a thing, despite outward appearances. One thing I am sure of is that club committees are invariably populated by people with altruistic motives. They may not be brilliant, they may be misguided or hopelessly behind the times, but they'll be doing what they think is in the best interests of the club. In some cases, they may be fighting a losing battle. Changes in angler numbers and changes in angling fashion may mean that they'll struggle to grow the club, regardless of what they do. Others dawdle towards oblivion due to the lack of folks prepared to step up to the plate and get involved. To paraphrase JFK, ask not what your club can do for you—ask what you can do for your club. If you've got such skills and ideas to drag a club kicking and screaming into the present, get involved. Don't be surprised if you end up finding that some of your bright ideas are non-starters, have been, at least, contemplated before or couldn't have been implemented for the want of people with the relevant skills.
