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 > > > _________________________________________________________________ Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfeeŽ Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------