UNITED FRONT NEEDED

[saundy]

Recent happenings make me feel that the problem we rec anglers have is the lack of unity. The people who read, and become involved in things like this chatboard, are the few active ones.
A pro put this to me recently, "how many people belong to Sunfish? They claim to represent the rec angler and only 5% belong to it. Therefore 85% do not agree with them"
Some of the more ancients on the board would remember the story in the old school reader about the sticks. You can break a single stick easily, a few sticks take a bit more efort, but it is amposible to break the whole bundle.
To give any lobby group teeth they must have numbers or be able to cause an upset to normality. What is needed is a magic formula that cures that most debilitating disease, APATHY. Most rec fishers do not want to get involved in the politics. They seem to think that someone else will look after things. WRONG, GOVERNMENTS ONLY LOOK AT NUMBERS. These people need to be convinced that if they do not get involved they may have to find a new hobby.
At the present time I am not a member of Sunfish so they can not be held responsible for my irratioinal thinking. Henry P. is { by tradition more than choice } patron of Sunfish. He certainly dosen't show them any favours. He is bound by the numbers game. Play the numbers game in power and get the big numbers when you retire. That is all pollies do. We need the numbers, either with Sunfish { logical choiuce as it is already structured} or the "bundle of sticks" rec fishers. My thoughts only, would like to see who agrees or disagrees. http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm16.gif

[mick]

i believe that MAXG makes an exelent point on page 2 of "weve been conned again" 4.5 illion rec anglers = 4.5 illion votes. that sort of figure will put the wind up any pollie. #if we could put it to them that, if they dont meet our demands then we will all vote against them. im sure they would take us more seriosly. i believe posting a petition to every fishin club in australia would be a good start. however the lack of feed back and support of my first draft has left me a bit hesitant. i can not possibly acomplish this on my own. with #a dozen or so people willing to help and pay for the postage then mabey uniting the rec anglers is possible.

[jaybee]

:-/ I still havent recieved acknowledgement of receipt of the emails i have sent off to all the parties. Had one board member say he is going to bring it up with his club to get the members to do something..i suppose the more emails / petitions the better...as for your draft mick I beleive you summed it up spot on..thats why I didnt reply and I aplolgise for not doing so....maybe if we can arrange a live conference chat and nut a few things out between all the members on this board we may be able to get something going...dont know for sure..but I do know its frustrating but gotta keep picking at the mortar till the bricks fall..

[Vern_Veitch]

Whilst I agree with most of what Saundy said, I do not agree that SUNFISH has "95% who do not agree with them".
We have a labour government but how many are in the labour party? A lot less than Sunfish I can assure you.
That aside, the apathy of recreational anglers is the biggest threat to outcomes that benefit those same recreational anglers.
How do you get them onside?
Is fishing as important to them as health, education and police? Probably not. Most of them will not give up $20 a year to increase our political clout. Even some clubs will not contribute at a local level. Individual members of some clubs pay less thn 50 cents a year to be a member and then criticise the representatives who are all volunteers with one exception when decisions do not go our way.
I am about to resign from branch duties to focus on my State role in Sunfish but our branch has successfully increased membership by 30% (individual) and 95% (Corporate including fishing clubs) over the last 3 years. This increase is against the trend of membership in almost any other sporting or community group. But it is still not enough.
This still only represents a fraction of the recreational fishing population. If anyone has any ideas, I'd like to see them.
Vern

[saundy]

The 85% against is not my comment Vern, that is the way the pro I was talking to said they see it. As for getting people involved, they say they are right behind you, then when you look for them they are so far behind you can't see them. One thing I have noticed is that some will not pay $20 a year to support something like Sunfish will spend $20 a week on raffle tickets or junk shop lures that are a waste of money. Not only the fishing is suffering from the apathy of the general public. What worries me is what could happen because of it. Australia is the greatest country in the world and it could be even better, but it is slipping away because of the " it's not my problem" attitude. :(

[Vern_Veitch]

Fully agree Saundy. Whether it be fishing, the environment or social issues such as behaviour in public places, the NMJ and NIMBY atitude is a bigger threat than the actions of those who take advantage of the situation.
Vern

[Gazza]

............. One thing I have noticed is that some will not pay $20 a year to support something like Sunfish will spend $20 a week on raffle tickets or junk shop lures that are a waste of money. Not only the fishing is suffering from the apathy of the general public. What worries me is what could happen because of it. Australia is the greatest country in the world and it could be even better, but it is slipping away because of the " it's not my problem" attitude. :(

Hi Saundy ,
Maybe 'they' couldn't find an easy link to follow http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm15.gif http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm15.gif http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm15.gif
http://www.sunfishqueensland.org/central/Support.html

http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm11.gifGazza http://www.ausfish.com.au/chat/images/smilies/cwm11.gif

[mick]

vern

this website is the first place i heard of sun fish. im still not sure of the details but i get the drift of their intentions. mabey they should put some money aside for self promotion. another issue worth raising is i wouldnt be willing to give out any money unless it was clear as of to how the funds were allocated and im sure the general public feels the same.

mick