You have also been SO gratious & helpful to people (me!)who live far away
but still would like to participate in your show! THANKS again from
land-locked,ice bound me! JANE


>From: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-To: Conchologists List <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Decline of shell clubs
>Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 17:15:24 EST
>
>Dear all,
>What a great subject! As a 40 year veteran of shell clubs, Active in 4, I
>can
>honestly say that field trips are not it, programs or lack thereof are not
>it, size is not it and whether you have a shell show or some other public
>venue
>is not it. The decline is not due to no young people or distance from
>others
>with the same interest. It is not due to declining shelling spots or
>increasing
>restrictions.
>   O.K. I have shot down all your answers, what then have I seen? Older
>members not bending, would've, could've, should'ves for new members taking
>on
>responsibilities, it is ALWAYS done this way, NOBODY likes that, EVERYBODY
>SAYS. In
>other words, personalities.
>   I have dozens and dozens of examples: 1. Youngish person taking on a
>shell
>show in south Florida, poor girl was lambasted with the aforementioned
>would'ves and should'ves that, guess what, after the show she quit, never
>to be seen
>again. Club is now defunct too.
>  2. As I was taking over the beleaguered, Broward shell club at a scant
>moments notice, an older woman who caused most of the trouble to start
>with, took
>it upon herself to verbally chastise a new member who was taking over
>publicity. The younger woman was a new member and needed to learn the ropes
>and as
>President I am sorry to say I did not follow through with an apology,
>but.... What
>right did the older member have? None. Never saw that young lady again
>either. (I had other problems to deal with there)
>   3. Southwest Florida club, older gentleman, now deceased, came up to my
>mom
>who was reading another members signed book. You ARE going to pay for that
>book, aren't you, he asked, implying that my mother was stealing the book.
>Mom
>never went back and probably not related, but the club folded.
>   4.Same club, younger woman who actually owned the book, and her husband
>tried to help out. Older members had them so upset they quit too. She was
>in
>tears at one point. Is this the way to treat members?
>  5. Recently I was asked to take over another club. ALL the board members
>resigned. There are a lot of new excited members, so I thought I could
>handle it.
>Well, older members who resigned, didn't like the night I had to have my
>board meeting, they didn't like it that I couldn't pull a secretary out of
>thin
>air, they didn't like it that I asked them to call me if they couldn't come
>to a
>board meeting, the new membership chairman wasn't doing the job right. On
>and
>on ad nauseum. Hey, I am doing the best I can. I would have quit, but for
>the
>most part I enjoy the people and the new folks are enthusiastic. So, the
>club
>has halved itself but we are really having a lot of fun. Great programs, 7
>field trips this year with two in the works, great programs, oh, I
>mentioned
>that. Are we going to miss the help, sure, do the other members miss the
>snotty
>people, NO!!!
>   So, if you belong to a club, and have someone take over field trips,
>don't
>criticize everything, if it's not done right or the club has already been
>there. Deal with it and be flexible. If the membership list isn't perfect,
>deal
>with it and try to be nice to those who volunteer. Just because it has
>ALWAYS
>been done one way, doesn't mean it always needs to be done that way.
>   One last anecdote, West coast of Florida club member complaining about
>help, I ask, don't you get a lot of new people coming in, reply, yes but
>they just
>don't understand how WE do things here. So, no volunteers, no new blood, no
>new ideas, another club heading for a fall.
>    Maybe I should write a book. But, take care of your new people,
>understand
>that the newbies may do what has been done years ago. So what!! Don't
>dampen
>their enthusiasm. Nurture your newbies when they do show up and actually do
>something.  Be Gentle.
>  P.S. Art, I remember reading your article about how to kill a shell club.
>Maybe it needs to be reprinted.
>                          Carole Marshall
>
>
>

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