John, Whitefish was a rough one.....attendance was at an all time low. Blame it on gas prices.......blame it on the bossa nova. Bottom line is blame, is not the way to solve the problems. The way to solve the problems is to establish a MUCH better line of communication between membership and administration.....and to insure transparency in decisions making.
First of all, it is very hard just to get voluinteers to step up to the plate and take on the responsiblity of taking on the various jobs of making an event of that magnitude succeed. And once they do.....they very often do not want to share decision making. That's understandable to a degree, but it must be done in spite of the hassels that accompany it. Nobody knows all the answers, and everyone has to be willing to listen to others opinions. When an event such as Conclave is over.....there needs to be IMMEDIATE meetings to uncover problems and get set on a course of action to solve those problems. This is much easier said than done. It is well known that a fresh point of view and new imput is always needed to solve the burnout problem that always shows up when someone has been doing the same job year after year after year. But, as soon as you get fresh blood in there to take over, you also get inexperience. So it's a bit of a catch 22. The newest (or one of them) agreements made by the Tyers Group (which is now 100% responsible for the "tyers" part of the conclave), for instance, is to have whoever is taking over the chairman's seat each time, stay on an extra year to help the new chairman do his job to the best of his ability. And the chairman of that committee is only going to be the chairman for a three year period from now on.....hopefully eliminating burnout. His first year, he or she will have the help of the old chairman.....then he will do two years on his own and then help his replacement for a year. i think it's a good new idea. From: jbal...@a5.com To: vfb-mail@googlegroups.com Subject: [VFB] Re: FW: WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE FLY FISHING SHOWS, THE FLY TACKLE DEALERS SHOW (AFFTA) AND THE FFF Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:01:58 -0500 I didn’t make the conclave this year due to family issues, but I WAS @ the Conclave last year in Whitefish, MT. I thought it was very disorganized; had issues w/ registration online that required multiple phone calls, Mike volunteered for several things ahead of time but never received any correspondence in spite of e-mails & phone calls, we had an on the water class that not only had poor directions for the participants but the guides weren’t informed of where, when or how many were going to be there until we showed up. Volunteers for the silent auction were hit or miss & Lord only knows what the live auction would have been like if I hadn’t been there. I understand what non-profits & volunteer events are like, but I expected more. From: vfb-mail@googlegroups.com [mailto:vfb-m...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mark Romero Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 7:36 PM To: virtual fly box Subject: [VFB] FW: WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE FLY FISHING SHOWS, THE FLY TACKLE DEALERS SHOW (AFFTA) AND THE FFF Jeff, i appreciate your concern.....but you need to know how things are. I get emails like this one below alllllllll the time. And trust me, i have been fighting for the FFF for years. I happen to have more than one VERY inside track on the inner workings of what goes on behind the scenes of the FFF National. I am a very serious supporter of the organization and have been for many years.....but, i also stand for something more than just standing by and watching things go sour. Thank you very much. If you'd spent as much time as i have doing FFF conclaves all over the country, you'd know how disenchanted many members are.....we ALL, need to do something about it. mark.....now read below..... From: rick...@hotmail.com To: markflie...@hotmail.com Subject: RE: WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE FLY FISHING SHOWS, THE FLY TACKLE DEALERS SHOW (AFFTA) AND THE FFF Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:03:36 -0600 Mark, I think that the FFF Conclave was the worst organized event I've been to. I was really disappointed in the lack of advertising they did for the conclave, not every many of my friends knew about it until after it was over. My view is based on the fact that I didn't know if I had been accepted to tie until the Conclave was only a couple of weeks off. I know of fellow tiers that wanted to tie and had contacted the tying chairperson without getting a reply. In another instance, my friend was told to show up and they'd see there was room. I saw many spaces left open. We were told that the tiers could join the FFF for a reduced rate and when I went to join up the two individuals manning the desk were busy talking to each other and did not bother to wait on me. This happened twice. I used to think that this was a well organized organization...not any more. I think they are a bunch of "Rich Good Ole Boys" and am not interested in being a part of the FFF. On a personal note, I was very interested in your tying demonstration. I really did enjoy meeting and viewing several of the fly tiers. I was saddened to hear of Matt's passing, I was looking forward to developing a friendship with him. Are you located in Denver? If so would you be interested in coming to Fort Collins to do a tying demo at Angler's Roost. Please let me know either way. Best regards, Rick Takahashi From: markflie...@hotmail.com To: kenra...@msn.com; al...@larsonfineimaging.com; al...@aol.com; ew...@msn.com; cronin...@aol.com; rjames...@aol.com; bobwire...@msn.com; byagn...@q.com; martinez...@comcast.net; elkkil...@comcast.net; ct...@templelaw.comcastbiz.net; ctc...@aol.com; dal...@q.com; adgf...@msn.com; dryo...@hotmail.com; dickv...@yahoo.com; jarm...@aol.com; ddgi...@ecentral.com; drussro...@comcast.net; dkgeer...@comcast.net; fco...@du.edu; g.roth...@comcast.net; naf...@mtintouch.net; southplattej...@comcast.net; hat...@aol.com; jerryeuba...@comcast.net; rnager1...@aol.com; jjharco...@msn.com; jhk...@earthlink.net; jarvi...@comcast.net; j_wal...@msn.com; judy.bax...@uchsc.edu; kkoprow...@mcgeadysisneros.com; kenthigg...@comcast.net; kristinwe...@msn.com; drlouf...@hotmail.com; iceman...@millect.com; mahlonoz...@comcast.net; m...@jazzmarkgallery.com; mat2...@hotmail.com; neilwf...@aol.com; nsch...@pinnaclerea.com; pdwoller...@comcast.net; regp...@comcast.net; fly_fisher...@att.net; rhpisca...@aol.com; rick...@hotmail.com; macpo...@aol.com; sbarc...@slifersummit.com; sst...@comcast.net; mtnsha...@indra.com; st...@globalflyfisher.com; s...@coaldale-co.us; wzav...@aol.com; wmjrtheot...@aol.com; misakoflyf...@gmail.com; notice-reply-i7busbkrpw65...@ga-mail.action.wilderness.org; writbe...@yahoo.com; sa...@flytyingtools.com Subject: RE: WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE FLY FISHING SHOWS, THE FLY TACKLE DEALERS SHOW (AFFTA) AND THE FFF Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:16:21 -0600 My wife (Misako Ishimura), and i joined the FFF in 1994 i believe it was......we have both since become Life Members.....myself first and my wife later on. Misa is an FFF Certified Casting Instructor, and i have tyed at the International Conclave since 2002. She now also tyes, and at this most recent Conclave in Loveland, she taught a class on tying and fishing the Czech Nymphs along with Leslie Wrixon. Leslie was the head instructor for the tying portion of the class in the morning, amd Misa was the head instructor for the fishing part of the class in the afternoon and eve. The class was very successful. We have been ardent and staunch supporters of the FFF every since we joined.....but we have serious issues with any CEO who takes $90K a year of our money and an expense account, for a number of years, to basically do nothing to get the organization out of it's financial situation. We hope that a very serious lesson was learned by the FFF about hiring someone to do a job and paying them an absorbatant amount of money to get it done, only to watch it all squandered with no results. That type of behavior is exactly what will losse the organization membership, ten-fold. People are not stupid, and they do not like being taken advantage of. They want to help the resource and the habitat thereof.....not support CEO's that fly all over the country at the memberships expense to play golf, or take their wives shopping. Which is not to say that that is what was happening.....but from the things you hear on the grapevine.....one begins to think that anything is possible. Do not misunderstand, all i am saying is that we need to be MUCH more prudent as to where are money is going and how it is being spent. Yes, OUR money. If the FFF is to grown and prosper, it needs to be held to a much higher standard and made to be held accountable. Not for profits have a way of getting out of control at times, by putting the needs of it's board before the needs of the cause for which they stand. The office staff and administrative people must be paid. But i wouldnt mind seeing an all volunteer board at all. Or perhaps a board made up of those who would actually be required pay, to be on the board. That, just might keep the playing field even. Just my two cents. From: kenra...@msn.com To: al...@larsonfineimaging.com; al...@aol.com; ew...@msn.com; cronin...@aol.com; rjames...@aol.com; bobwire...@msn.com; byagn...@q.com; martinez...@comcast.net; elkkil...@comcast.net; ct...@templelaw.comcastbiz.net; ctc...@aol.com; dal...@q.com; adgf...@msn.com; dryo...@hotmail.com; dickv...@yahoo.com; jarm...@aol.com; ddgi...@ecentral.com; drussro...@comcast.net; dkgeer...@comcast.net; fco...@du.edu; g.roth...@comcast.net; naf...@mtintouch.net; southplattej...@comcast.net; hat...@aol.com; jerryeuba...@comcast.net; rnager1...@aol.com; jjharco...@msn.com; jhk...@earthlink.net; jarvi...@comcast.net; j_wal...@msn.com; judy.bax...@uchsc.edu; kkoprow...@mcgeadysisneros.com; kenthigg...@comcast.net; kristinwe...@msn.com; drlouf...@hotmail.com; iceman...@millect.com; mahlonoz...@comcast.net; markflie...@hotmail.com; m...@jazzmarkgallery.com; mat2...@hotmail.com; neilwf...@aol.com; nsch...@pinnaclerea.com; pdwoller...@comcast.net; regp...@comcast.net; fly_fisher...@att.net; rhpisca...@aol.com; rick...@hotmail.com; macpo...@aol.com; sbarc...@slifersummit.com; sst...@comcast.net; mtnsha...@indra.com; st...@globalflyfisher.com; s...@coaldale-co.us; wzav...@aol.com; wmjrtheot...@aol.com; kristinwe...@msn.com Subject: WHATS HAPPENING WITH THE FLY FISHING SHOWS, THE FLY TACKLE DEALERS SHOW (AFFTA) AND THE FFF Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:46:45 -0600 FRFF Members & Friends, I’m sending this to update all of you about what’s happening in the fly fishing world and its’ impacts in the Denver Area. As you may be aware both fly fishing shows are going to be on the same weekend in January for the second time in three years. The Fly Tackle Dealers Show (AFFTA) for the public is teaming with the International Sportman’s Exposition (ISE) Show from Thursday, January 7th through Sunday, January 10th , 2010 at the Colorado Convention Center. The Fly Fishing Show is running from Friday, January 8th through Sunday, January 10th ,2010 at the Denver Merchandise Mart. Who said fly fishing isn’t competitive??? The Royal Gorge Anglers attachment above gives and interesting perspective on the just completed Fly Tackle Dealers Show (AFFTA) in Denver. The AFFTA Show will probably move to Salt Lake City, UT next year. The second attachment above gives the latest information on the Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF). The Front Range Fly Fishers (FRFF) is a long time member club of the FFF (club # 28) and is impacted by FFF. If you didn’t make it to the 44th Annual FFF Conclave in Loveland, CO this year, you missed an interesting opportunity. It looks increasing like the FFF won’t be holding a Conclave in Colorado again. It also looks like the FFF has decided not to move their headquarters to Loveland, CO. May you live in interesting times, Ken FRFF Programs & Fundraising Chairperson Cell: (720) 363-0697 Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.112/2389 - Release Date: 09/22/09 17:54:00 _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the "VFB Mail" group. To post to this group, send email to vfb-mail@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to vfb-mail-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/vfb-mail?hl=en VFB Mail is sponsored by Line's End Inc at http://www.linesend.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
