Hi
It may all be a product of how interests have changed over the years. Sadly,
many people find pleasure only in more modern pursuits (such as computer
games etc.). The inherent awe most people have early in life for nature
(including shells etc.) is generally not developed in a world of fast, and
easily attained return, from popular Man-made pursuits. I know many friends
that have never taken their children on nature walks, talked to them about
animals and plants, nor even encouraged their children to develop their
incipient interests in these areas.
Many of my most treasured memories are of my Dad taking me on nature walks.
My children enjoy computer games etc. but they also enjoy walks in the
country, even looking under rocks in our garden. Maybe its all a question of
balance. Maybe a mollusc-themed computer game (think of Sonic the Hedgehog!)
might help.
Further on in educational life, a move away from organismal biology (in
favour of molecular, non-organismal subjects), may push the interest scale
away from whole animal and plant studies to those of genetics and
sequencing. This is a truism of many biology courses.
Just a few thoughts.
Alex
-----Original Message-----
From: Conchologists List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Paul Callomon
Sent: 19 December 2005 14:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Decline of shell clubs
Dear all,
Are shell clubs in decline? Anecdotal evidence tends to suggest so. I have
yet to talk to a fellow club president here in the USA who does not lament
falling membership and gradual natural attrition. Recruiting new members
seems a particular problem, and one has to wonder whether this is because
clubs aren't reaching people or because the kind of young person who would
join a shell club is no longer to be found.
There are any number of theories about this, but it might not hurt to air a
few more. So: is there a problem? And if so, can it be solved?
PC.
Paul Callomon
Collections Manager
Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General Invertebrates
Department of Malacology
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
Tel 215-405-5096
Fax 215-299-1170
Secretary, American Malacological Society
On the web at www.malacological.org
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