Mike L is correct.

Neither Mike L, nor I are attacking your organization, we are only replying to the request that you had asked this board to do. Part of your request was; "$40 a year to much? I just can't understand the huge number of passionate posts about personal preference in tools to fish with and over 3000 Piscatorial Pursuits BB members and at least that many lurkers why WSC has less than 200 members. I would really like to have some feedback please."

It appears to me that $40 dollars a year may be a "little bit" to much for a few members to explain to their wife's. For the vast many, that probably isn't the case here, but it is a factor that your organization must address.

I know that when I was the business manager and treasure of a fairly large sport fishing group (the Friends of the Cowlitz) money was always a big problem and every time we raised our membership dues our membership would suffer to some degree. Every group truly believes that their organization is worth their price to join, and that is normal. But if you look at the bigger picture, i.e. $40 dollars here, $35 dollars there, $25 more hear, etc, etc, a guy may be past his limits, and just can't justify to his other half spending another $40 dollars. That's only one view point.

On your second question; "I am a little bugged about your comment about great paying jobs, if you could please quantify that for me". That was not intend to flame you or anyone else, that conclusion came to me after reading the tread "What pays the bills"

After reading that thread, it sounds to me like there are some pretty good paying jobs out there that members of this board are now holding.

Secondly, if your organization is to grow and survive, you will need to spread out your organization much further then the internet. You will need to hold many meetings outside your "local area". It has been my personal experience that founding members always tend to want to say in their own local area when they hold their meetings. That's not going to cut it if you want new memberships! I don't know if your organization is doing that now, but it's pretty much a common practice among most organizations.

No one wants to travel for 1 to 3 hours for a meeting and then find out when you get there, that you're the only one attending. Believe me it happens all the time. Running an organization is never an easy task. It takes lots of money, lots of volunteer time, and lots of support. Take away any one of the above, and your organization will be very short lived.

Finally, you are probably now realizing that your mission is not overwhelmingly supported by the many (less then 200 members).Your cause may be a noble one, but not one that is widely supported or shared through-out this state. In my opinion, if your organization is to grow, you guys need to change your "mission statement" to gain more public support. Like it or not, running an organization is no different then running your own business. And that requires making hard changes to survive. Sometimes those changes are so tuff that the founders can't accept it and the organization just fades away. Believe it or not most sport fishing organizations fail fairly early because of the demands are just to great. Good luck, it sounds like you guys will need it.

Cowlitzfisherman
Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????