Rebirth of CCA

[Bonefish]

BP,

Your point is well taken. I'm sure you have much more experience with this than I do. First and foremeost, I'm posting this to get more exposure for the overall cause. RFA may have done more for you and associated programs than the others. This posting is not a demand for attendance but another area of access for people who wish to further the cause. If you think it is not worth your time and effort to be heard by another group than that is your perogative. I would just state that in the end aren't we all rooting for the same thing?

[PNG]

Originally Posted by Bonefish

BP,

Your point is well taken. I'm sure you have much more experience with this than I do. First and foremeost, I'm posting this to get more exposure for the overall cause. RFA may have done more for you and associated programs than the others. This posting is not a demand for attendance but another area of access for people who wish to further the cause. If you think it is not worth your time and effort to be heard by another group than that is your perogative. I would just state that in the end aren't we all rooting for the same thing?

Soooo what is your "cause"?

[flatts1]

===================================
Bonefish wrote:

Here's an important message from J.P. Fischer (Orvis Boston fishing manager) about the possible reawakening of Coastal Conservation Assn. - Massachusetts Chapter.
===================================

Bonefish,

I can't make the meeting, but FWIW I've been around and around with this already with past CCA members (including myself). The consensus I inferred was that the original problem with the Massachusetts Chapter of CCA was that it was lead by fly-fishing zealots/elitists who alienated others in the group who might have preferred to fish with other gear types.

That said, I notice that that the message that you forwarded is from a manager at Orvis. As a past CCA member, I'm already not getting the warm and fuzzies. I hope I'm wrong. What assurances would there be that we would not be in for more of the same.

Best,
Mike Flaherty
Wareham, MA


"The problems we have today will not be solved by thinking the way we thought when we created them."
- Albert Einstein

[Offshore]

I just have two questions for the national organization:

Everyone knows the last Mass. Chapter went broke owing a bundle to the national organization. How much do they owe ?

And, do you expect a new chapter to assume those debts ?

[BasicPatrick]

Bonefish,

My point is that political action requires consitant work in developing relatioinships and trust. Becoming part of the process and participating. Why would I be interested in something new to do what is already being done for me now???

Also, in the recreational fishing community there are very few willing to get even mildly involved. Adding more organizations just further dilutes the strength of our message. When recreational fishers are split there is just too much redundancy in effort and less actual gain.

Another point is money. Pure and simple money is required to get things done. Whether that be to stipend or reimburse expenses, enable representatives to stay in the hotels where most of the action is done around meetings not in meetings. Funding is also needed for information campaigns, press releases, mailings, conference lines, etc, etc, etc. Once again the more diluted the community the weaker we are.

Another reason I am good with RFA today is that instead of forming a MA chapter asap they took some years to reach out to the established local organizations and work with them, assist them and let them make the call on local issues. This worked because they came to participate and be a part of, sharing expertice but not runing over what has existed for years.

I am far from closed minded, I am just a part of something successful now that has been around and joined the cause, not tried to take over the cause.

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

Bonefish,

My point is that political action requires consitant work in developing relatioinships and trust. Becoming part of the process and participating. Why would I be interested in something new to do what is already being done for me now???

Also, in the recreational fishing community there are very few willing to get even mildly involved. Adding more organizations just further dilutes the strength of our message. When recreational fishers are split there is just too much redundancy in effort and less actual gain. Another point is money. Pure and simple money is required to get things done. Whether that be to stipend or reimburse expenses, enable representatives to stay in the hotels where most of the action is done around meetings not in meetings. Funding is also needed for information campaigns, press releases, mailings, conference lines, etc, etc, etc. Once again the more diluted the community the weaker we are.

Another reason I am good with RFA today is that instead of forming a MA chapter asap they took some years to reach out to the established local organizations and work with them, assist them and let them make the call on local issues. This worked because they came to participate and be a part of, sharing expertice but not runing over what has existed for years.

I am far from closed minded, I am just a part of something successful now that has been around and joined the cause, not tried to take over the cause.

Bless you and Thank You, and those like you Patrick...I agree with all of your statement, but, I put a couple things in red in your quote that jumped off the page at me... Those of us that do what we can, and would like to participate more, but cannot due to family and work, owe people like yourself a whole pile of gratitude.

[BasicPatrick]

Karl,

thnk you for the kind words. I do what I do for very deep rooted reasons. It is nice when noticed and ?I just wanted to say thanks.

can yopu feelit coming

send plugs to.......oops, a bit of BM came out in me

thanks buddy