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12:06 pm
Life Member
October 24, 2012
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OK….this post may seem like I am talking to myself.
For the past 14 years I have wondered why we have not grown as an organization…in leaps and bounds, as we should have….
Several times each day I go to the BHA website and I am so disappointed at the lack of activity. Here we have the ultimate vehicle to communicate, discuss ideas, plan, post photos, and to better organize activities to grow our membership .
Since Glenn developed this website only 284 members have signed up to use it! The most users EVER at one time is 33! The TOP POSTERS list is missing all but ONE of our own officers!!
Where are the members? Where is the organization? Where is the passion to excel?
I see other organizations like Ducks Unlimited, NRA, NWTF, Buckmasters, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and others excel in membership, activity and growth. What do they have that we don’t? A mission? A goal? Dedicated members? A creative board and officers? A staff that brings sponsors?
This next year, the Central and Southern Zones will begin an experiment to gain and regain more shooters and 3-D attendance by encouraging bow hunters to try 3-D…to, hopefully bring ASA shooters back to our BHA 3-D shoots and ….advertise more.
September 7th was an eye-opening day for me. I was hopeful and, at the same time, very nervous about our Tuscaloosa shoot that day. I had advertised, sent announcements in the newspaper, gave out flyers to Chapters and even handed out flyers at our BHA banquet. I had posted a “Challenge” on our website to our BHA members. I talked about our shoot and the great door prizes that were to be given. I could have spent more money or called each of our BHA members, but I thought , if everything else was too little….I could depend on our BHA family to support this “only BHA archery shoot in the state”. I knew that it was opening day for dove season and others might have plans for “work day” at their hunting clubs, but I was HOPEFUL that the BHA family might just come together for this shoot.
The bright spot of the day was that many saw and heard the advertising and many NEW faces were there to enjoy the day of archery. In that way, our shoot was a tremendous success! The Central Zone and the Southern Zone showed up for support.
I saw no one from the Northern Zone!
Of all the BHA members that usually support their own Chapter and their own Zone…MANY did not answer the call to support this “only BHA shoot in the state”. Understand, this is not a whining post from me or my Chapter! This is the realization that we, as a whole, do not support our OWN organization. We, as a whole, do not feel that each BHA Chapter needs support from other Chapters. We, as a whole, do not communicate, share creative ideas, organize teams, develop goals, monitor our growth needs, increase active membership, involve ourselves in activities to grow and reach out.
Most of our members don’t even involve themselves with posting on our website.
If we cannot get our OWN MEMBERS to support the organization…how will we ever grow?
The answer is…we will not.
I don’t expect an answer or reply to this post. The members that DO post on the BHA website are “active” members and show support for BHA.
The ones that are not active on the website are the ones that need to read it……………………………………..but, like I said, It may seem I’m talking to myself.
The following users say thank you to Larry McAfee for this useful post:
headshot, nighthunter2:50 pm
Member
November 6, 2012
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Larry.
i also check the site 4-5 times a day, and it does get pretty lonely around here. As for the lack of members on the site shouldn’t that reflect the number of members we have in BHA? why is it that when your BHA membership is turned in that your not automatically registered as a user. That”s the biggest problem i see with the lack of activity is that it’s just way to hard to Become a member. some will say that all you have to do is call Glenn. But he is Busy and it takes time that he doesn’t have. somebody needs to come up with an easier way to get members to sign or Log in.
The following users say thank you to headshot for this useful post:
nighthunter, Larry McAfee
Scottie, I have to disagree with you somewhat….those that become a member online get registered generally within 24 hours. I receive an email immediately after someone pays their dues.
As far as if you join through someone that has them complete a form and mail their form in and check in then yes…time will expire while in transit to Charmen and then she will notify me via email who has joined. It may take days or weeks depending on how long the person that receives the application and money holds it. Some stores may hold it a long while until they have enough to send in.
My best advice is to have everyone that can, join online….BHA receives the money immediately and the member is recognized as a member thru the system immediately. Charmen is notified by me immediately and adds them to our roster as well as the Zone Directors and President are notified who has joined and where they live. Immediately is about as fast as I can muster at my old age.
Charmen and I both work very hard to keep the process simple and effective with what we can afford to do. We are also currently looking for new software for membership database. But that probably will not affect the Forum access. that is different company and software. If it can interface with each other then a miracle has occurred.
As far as Forum Access, i am not aware of any problems over the past year. If you have particular instances please let me know so I can solve them. Managing the forum access is part of my job as webmaster.
As far as Forum Activity, 80-90% of members will never post anything. They are accessing the forum to gain knowledge and information. That is probably why they joined in the first place which is the main reason I joined. But that is typical in any organization. I have belonged to fly fishing clubs, photography clubs, churches and they are all the same…..all activity comes from 10-20% of members. It is funny that the 10-20% gain way more knowledge and information by doing and being involved than those that just visit to learn ever will. It makes no sense but that is how people are. I have been in meetings that the same people attend month after month after month and never talk to any one. They just come and sit down and listen to learn and get up and leave. The pay their dues every year and just attend. Why don’t they become involved…..IDK!!!
Most of the postings are regarding 3D tournaments and scores. Very little about bowhunting, bowfishing, etc. Apparently nobody wants to discuss those topics or they feel that ALDEER.com is the place for that according to some. Few of us has tried and topics quickly die. It may be that our organization is so small that there is not enough doers to keep people visiting the forum. Who knows. This forum has been up a year now and only 2,897 posts…total…probably 75% of those has to do with 3D tournaments. Very discouraging.
And Larry you are right…..only one of the officers uses the forum as a communication device and uses it very well I might add. Her posts are timely, specific and informative. She posted a great thought provoking question the other day.
You will have to contact the other Officers and Zone Directors and Chapter Presidents and ask them why they are not posting information and updates and etc. about BHA, Zone news and the Local Chapters. I believe that not doing so is a FRICKIN’ HUGE MISTAKE! on their part. I do have a section set aside for Chapter Presidents to post about their chapters news and events. I encourage Chapter Presidents to post news and rallly the troops so to speak regularly. There is more to BHA than 3D….surely.
The following users say thank you to BHA Webmaster for this useful post:
Pass thru, Larry McAfee, nighthunterBHA Webmaster
10:50 pm
Member
Life Member
September 19, 2012
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only one officer? The central zone director has over 200 posts on here, I have over 60 posts giving information on tournaments, scores etc. for our southern zone. I have answered many private messages and countless phone calls and emails. Our president has over 100 posts on here answering many various questions and topics.
I don’t think that communication on 3D events is a problem. Every year when 3D season ends, this forum goes almost totally dead for the next three months or so. I realize that we are a bowhunting organization but 3D tournaments are what drives the traffic on here and what keeps members coming back year after year.
12:37 am
Life Member
October 24, 2012
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At the bottom of this page are stats. One of them is “Top Posters”…where it says I am at the top with 236 and the bottom is 51. Are these stats wrong? Is someone not being counted?
We have just completed our 3-D season and only have 284 members registered.
Danny is correct. This site will get cobwebs for the next 4 months.
What do we need to bring the “troops” together?
We will hibernate for the next few months when we should be planning and coming up with creative ideas to reach new members and to keep the members we have.
This website is an excellent tool for discussing and forming a plan to increase membership and attendance at ALL BHA Chapters for 2014.
Let’s hear (or see them) on this thread!
One thing that I will do for the Tuscaloosa Chapter is to be more involved with everything archery….Our Tuscaloosa Chapter members need to USE this website to share ideas and experiences. Each Chapter president needs to encourage member activity on this site.
I have said this for two years now and it has fallen on deaf ears (and I thought I was deaf)….The BHA Trail Shoots need to offer prizes at the end of the Trail Shoot Schedule for shooters that attend ALL the Trail Shoots. Several prizes including bows, arrows, accessories, hunting and camping gear, hunts, etc. can be given to several (by draw) that have attended ALL 6 Trail Shoots. This will bring and KEEP more shooters for all 6 shoots. We always have a “drop out” of shooters when they see the scores posted and get discouraged…thinking they cannot win. They CAN WIN if they stick with the shoot schedule. Incentive is the key to retaining shooters for the whole Trail Shoot Schedule. GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO SHOOT FOR!
Why not do the same thing for recruiting NEW members. Give incentive to our members to recruit NEW BHA members. For each new member, the “sponsor member” gets points. Total points will be talleyed at the BHA State Championship and First, Second and Third Place will recieve prizes. We have sponsors. Let’s ask them to pitch in. Our membership will increase and BHA will grow.
Chapters need to ADVERTISE and to become VISUAL. Announcements in EVERY major newspaper shoud be sent for EVERY BHA shoot in the state. Our BHA Editor should contact every major newspaper in the state (especially the counties where we have Chapters) to INFORM and ANNOUNCE EACH BHA shoot throughout spring and summer. This should be a weekly announcement. It is way past time that we begin to make an IMPACT! How do we expect people to KNOW we exist when we do NOT organize and plan and execute. We are in the e-mail age! Weekly e-mails to ALL major newspapers for EVERY BHA Chapter shoot and event should be planned and set in motion BEFORE our first shoot of 2014.
Other ideas???
5:19 pm
Member
October 24, 2012
Offline
At one time there was a discussion about having to be a BHA member to post on this site. What was decided?
My comment at the time was that the more post the more information and the more excitement would be generated and my feelings were that limiting the posters would hurt the site. I still feel this way. I also know that the site monitors can delete or remove any undesirable post that they want. So why not let someone from Alaska that is never going to be a BHA member post here as long as their post is appropriate?
If you look back through your records, you will see that I didn’t make a single shoot this year. I didn’t even come out to a local shoot and chat. I don’t know why. I just didn’t feel like coming for some reason.
5:46 pm
Life Member
October 24, 2012
Offline
…and we missed you, James….and a ton of other folks that missed out this season!
BHA Chapters need participation from other Chapters and members to survive,…and hopefully, thrive.
The NEW rules for the Central and Southern Zones were reworked to offer more FUN to our shoots and entice bowhunters that have never even tried 3-D shooting. The other rule changes will make it EASIER for ASA shooters to come to BHA events.
We are eliminating the excuses for folks to TRY 3-D and join BHA.
This website is user-friendly. Some areas are FOR MEMBERS ONLY and the rest is for folks to sign up and chat….
Problem is…that MOST of our members are TIGHT-LIPPED or have little or nothing to offer opinions, suggestions, news, ideas, insight, or …just don’t care.
9:32 am
Life Member
October 24, 2012
Offline
Well, I first posted this on September 17th….today is September 29th.
So far, there has not been a response from the BHA president or the BHA vice president…two of the main officers that should be monitoring this website and RESPONDING to posts.
Where are all the BHA Chapter presidents? EACH Chapter officer should check this website DAILY and USE it to its fullest.
How will we ever grow to our potential when we have a lack of INVOLVEMENT from our officers and members?????????????????????????
7:59 am
Larry/Glenn,
I appreciate your posts and comments on trying to take BHA to the next level. I have been watching and waiting to see what kind of response you received from this post. All I can say is SAD. This post should have received more responses from everyone in BHA. We can’t take BHA to the next level UNTIL everyone chips in and helps. Officers, Presidents, Directors, Members. The best way to take BHA forward and make it the organization it SHOULD be is involvement. Not just on the 3D side and not just during the 3D season. I know some give more than others to help this organization survive and thrive but until everyone gives it will remain the same. We have the tools in place to make this a premier organization but we are doing nothing with them. They are sitting on the shelf rusting and just like tools that rust eventually they will be worthless. I am not saying that everyone needs to volunteer time or effort as most people have other obligations but is it too much to ask for everyone to use word of mouth? All you have to do is tell someone about BHA and how we are FAMILY. As in any family, we will have our disagreements and our opinions on how things should be done but just a simple conversation with someone that doesn’t know about BHA is the best way to grow this organization. Is it too much to ask from our membership? I think NOT! Did you know that there are archery clubs within our state that are NOT members of BHA??? I wonder why and what it would take to get them to join. I know everyone knows someone that bowhunts or shoots 3D in the off season. Why not ask them why they are not members and why not invite them to a meeting or a shoot???? Are you ashamed???
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nighthunter, headshot, Larry McAfee, Mike Crenshaw11:42 pm
Member
March 21, 2013
Offline
i will chime in, even though no one talks to me unless i mess up., but i can ramble with the best of them, thanks to the stroke of 20months ago.my wife ask me am i talking to myself, i always say yes when i want to hear an intelligent man talk 
MIKE CRENSHAW RETIRED oif veteran Bear Attitude r t h MY CHAIN OF COMMAND1GOD/2 FAMILY/3 HUNTING IN THAT ORDER.my cell phone is 256-698-1606
11:45 pm
Member
March 21, 2013
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i read in the janurary issue of aon, we are going to be shooting crossbow at the 3D events, i thought oh good i can drag mine out, then i have a barnett Jackal, which i really love, it shoots so sweet, a little tough to cock, but i should be ok soon, with it.
MIKE CRENSHAW RETIRED oif veteran Bear Attitude r t h MY CHAIN OF COMMAND1GOD/2 FAMILY/3 HUNTING IN THAT ORDER.my cell phone is 256-698-1606
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