I dunnoh - I think we very much parallel and in many ways are in fact a "club".
We hold meetings, once a month or every other month on Tuesday nights at Hooters (tell me how many "clubs" are adventurous like that
).
We have members that directly participate in legislative & fisheries issues. And a few of our members sit on various "boards" and projects. Speaking for just a few like me, Basic Patrick, Flats, Basstime... etc.
We have past and present Presidents of area fishing clubs as members. Members here that hold officer level positions in several New England clubs.
We have "registered members"
We have club "Tourneys"
We have club Bar-B-Ques
We have a sense of community that few clubs can even approach
We don't have annual dues but we do have voluntary donations, raffles, and fundraisers.
We support MANY clubs. We foster various events from other clubs. We encourage local participation in individual local clubs.
We have "How To" and demonstration get-togethers all the time. We share knowledge and we nurture many new to what we do.
We are decentralized in that since you can access our "club" from your home or work you can be a member from Maine or Maryland. We are cross region.
We have members that are involved in all aspects of the marine and fisheries trades, plug makers, retail outlets, guides, Charter Boats, etc.
And we have a VOICE, one that is and has been listened to. From rallying with other clubs on particular issues and political fights, from direct contact with state legislatures and I've corresponded with the Governor.
We HAVE been asked to participate and field teams in many other intra-club tournaments. This – the MDA - just happens to be the best one.
We don't have annual dues, we don't have by-laws that sometimes can bog down a club, (we have more fights than clubs but less cheating in our tournaments - none in fact that I'm aware of - go figure).
I think there are a lot of the particulars that make us a "Club"
So in many ways with the exception of a formalized committee and corps of officers, we are a club. While not formalized with these officers we do have moderators that could be construed in some ways to be officers, we have people that offer advice, always listend too and most often applied. Sure, we don't follow Robert's Rules or have a constitution but we do have a flow of ethics we try to adhere to (usually) and we do try to do things with common sense. It’s just that our method of communication is different. Instead of sitting on folding steel chairs at the Elk’s Hall or a Tackle Shop, we meet online and are in very frequent communication. It can even be said that in many ways we are a “SUPER” club.
Definition of a club as pertaining to this context:
1. A stout heavy stick, usually thicker at one end, suitable for use as a weapon; a cudgel. (ooops – not this one
)
2. A group of people organized for a common purpose, especially a group that meets regularly: (example) a garden club.
So I disagree in that we are not a “Club” and should be excluded from this event. If we are excluded, I would certainly like the opportunity to present our "case". I think we should be encouraged to participate in this event and others as well. In harmony so to speak, amongst the surf fishing clubs in the northeast...