Hi Bryan,
Participation! That's what the general angler puts into the sport, and bodies such as the N.F.A would do well to remember it!
I don't know about others but personally, alongside the money I pour into tackle dealers, local club memberships, day-tickets and rod licences, I also subscribe anually to the P.A.C, A.C.A and, as of this season, the S.A.A.
If the ,no doubt, commendable work of the N.F.A has gone largely unnoticed, they've only got theirselves to blame. They cannot expect every angler to have the same degree of committment or level of enthusiasm as the majority of anglers posting on here are likely to have. If they need support then they need to make their case above others. And I don't believe it bodes any of us well, as anglers in general, to ignore the importance of the 'marginally interested' anglers.
I think it's a rather pompous attitude, all too prevalent in modern angling, this notion that because we 'enthusiasts' are prepared to expend large amounts of our income on our passion, it somehow gives us the right to pour scorn on less serious anglers.
If you're prepared to put back into your sport as much as you obviously have, 'hats off to you' but I don't think it gives you the right to espouse vitriolic rhetoric toward others.
Regards Chris.