Compton 25th year

[toddster]

Who all planning go to 25th anniversary?

[Wudstix]

19 hours and 31 minute drive, I'll probably pass this year.
 

[soap creek]

It's hard to believe it's been 25 years already. We are planning on being there. We have a vendor spot reserved. Come by and say hello. Always nice to put a face with a name.

[Bowguy67]

I won’t. I have a hard time figuring why I would support them. What exactly are they doing in my area or for local kids? Nothing but it’s a national supposed organization. Can’t figure what I’m missing. Seems all talk good about them and I’d tried to stay positive but chose to pass. I wrote to the officers regarding my concerns and got no decent response. I’m not against them mind you, can’t see why I’d be for em either.

[Bow man]

We will be there would not miss it.  If any one has questions and concerns contact Bryan Burkhardt   [email protected]

https://www.comptontraditionalbowhunters.com/2024-rendezvous

https://www.comptontraditionalbowhunters.com/youth-program

https://www.comptontraditionalbowhunters.com/about-us

[soap creek]

Thanks Bow-Man for posting the links for Compton Traditional Bowhunters. I support them and am proud to call myself a member.

[Maclean]

I too support Compton's Traditional Bowhunters and proud to be a member.  Compton's is a not for profit organization and therefore a volunteer based group. Just like my state traditional bowhunters club, non profit, all volunteer. I'm happy to pay my dues because it helps to keep the club alive. I have found that the more I put in to it (volunteering) the more I get out of it.

[Breakfast Boy]

I'll be there and look forward to it each year. As a proud Life Member, past Board Member and the current Membership Secretary I firmly believe in Compton's purpose and mission of promoting traditional bowhunting. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones each year at the Rendezvous. It's a great event, a lot of VOLUNTEERS put a lot of hours of hard work into it and the support from both members, non-members and the vendors is outstanding.

Bowguy67, I don't know who you spoke with before but feel free to reach out to me if you want. Compton is a national organization but actually we have members worldwide. Some of which travel all of the way to the Rendezvous in June each year because they have such a good time and believe in the organization. However, we are all VOLUNTEERS and can't be everywhere at once. Many of us have full time jobs, families, etc. but do what we do for the love of traditional bowhunting and the organization. If you're not supporting the organization just because Compton "doesn't do anything for you" locally, then I think you're missing the point entirely. I also believe you have not been informed enough as to the programs we have for youth such as donating bows, the scholarship program, the kid events at the Rendezvous and our youth hunts. Like I said, feel free to reach out to me or our President Bryan Burkhardt. Or not, up to you. Either way, we would love to have you attend the Rendezvous and see what we're all about. 

[Bowguy67]

I spoke to Bryan. Listen what you’re saying. We can’t be everywhere. Sounds to me like you’re saying we’re a welfare case. Support the local kids, they benefit. Support the local community, they benefit, the local shoot, benefits local archers or those willing to drive but it’s only convenient to the local people. You say we’re national. What do you do nationally besides accept money from all to benefit the locals? That’s been my point and if you ask Bryan I bet he remembers me asking more than once. I had recommended state chapters. Moving the shoot around, etc. I got excuses. Not invalid ones mind you but excuses either way as to why it wasn’t perfectly possible. So again I ask. If money is only benefitting the locals why don’t the locals pay for it all? I’m not talking at anyone. Please don’t take that from my words. Just consider my point. I really see zero reason to partake. Oh and Bryan brought up the fact of discounted paintings being a benefit. Ok so one tiny perk to all?
Imo I’d rather support financially and time wise with an organization that benefits many through grass root type events. I myself spread myself all over helping different things, groups, mentoring, instructing, etc. I just feel I get more bang for the buck helping anywhere else. I don’t wanna sound broke but I’m blue collar. Can’t afford to just throw money at something cause it’s well intentioned but still very isolated. Hope that makes sense and I hope this is not seen as a bash. It’s not.
To reiterate what I told Bryan after he stated most guys had full time jobs and couldn’t donate extra time. They were volunteers. So expanding to include other areas would have local chapters personal doing the work in that area. I know most clubs, groups, etc have a few doing the work for all. I’m an active participant in a few hunt clubs. At least three have scholarships. We do disabled vet events, kids fishing derby’s, kids pheasant hunts, I teach hunter Ed, archery for the gun club, they do archery too just called gun club.  teach at the refuge, for the pal, for private camps, I mentor or did before Covid for the NWTF. (Also private mentor and help those at hunter ed with no guidance volunteering my time to help.)We do wounded warrior events, women’s events, kids events and beginner events. I teach jakes day for a NWTF chapter an hour or so away. I also judge field trials some 5 plus hours out to support  the beagling community, My dog club has monthly work parties and I’m working most weekends outside deer, turkey seasons, I could actually go on but it’d be pointless. You can see I’m one that does, one that works, supports and at least as much as most. Yea I work full time too and I have/had health issues. I remember I could barely walk after brain surgery. My balance so bad standing/swaying teaching made my toes hurt trying to balance but the kids needed instructors. I was glad to be there. My time and money is placed where it’ll truly be beneficial and as spread around as possible. I just don’t see Compton doing anything to benefit the national community. No reason I’d drive or write a check. Hope that comes out as intended and my point makes sense

[Breakfast Boy]

I spoke to Bryan. Listen what you’re saying. We can’t be everywhere. Sounds to me like you’re saying we’re a welfare case. Support the local kids, they benefit. Support the local community, they benefit, the local shoot, benefits local archers or those willing to drive but it’s only convenient to the local people. You say we’re national. What do you do nationally besides accept money from all to benefit the locals? That’s been my point and if you ask Bryan I bet he remembers me asking more than one. I had recommended state chapters. Moving the shoot around, etc. I got excuses. Not invalid ones mind you but excuses either way as to why it wasn’t perfectly possible. So again I ask. If money is only benefitting the locals why don’t the locals pay for it all? I’m not talking at anyone. Please don’t take that from my words. Just consider my point. I really see zero reason to partake. Oh and Bryan brought up the fact of discounted paintings being a benefit. Ok so one tiny perk to all?

I never said we're a welfare case. And I never said we only support the local kids, community, archers, etc. I guess my question back to you is how do you get this is only benefiting "locals"? And by "locals" I'm assuming you mean folks close to Berrien Springs where the Rendezvous is being held? We send youth bows around the country for boy/girl scout troops, 4-H programs, schools, etc and hold a youth hunt in Nebraska each year for a few youth that are chosen. I promise you the kids that attend the youth hunt are chosen from around the country, including one young man who came from Hawaii last year. Kids chosen to receive our scholarships are chosen from around the country as well. We sponsor a few shoots around the country (Tennessee and Alabama to mention a couple) in conjunction with other clubs and we host the Big Game Classic every two years (a banquet style of event) that does move each time it's held. Colorado, Michigan, Kansas, Pennsylvania...just a few states the Big Game Classic has been held in the past. As a past board member, I can also promise you that the idea of moving the Rendezvous has been discussed and looked into very thoroughly. It's not easy to find somewhere in the country to host such an event and working with the Berrien Springs Sportsman Club for many years has been a great relationship for both clubs. While we put hundreds of kids through the youth event each year at the Rendezvous, quite a few of those kids traveled to the event with their parents to attend from other states. The Rendezvous is our biggest event that puts the most money into the organization so we can do the things I mentioned before. As someone mentioned above, the more you put into this organization, or any other for that matter, the more you'll get out of it. But again, you're entitled to your opinion. I just hate to see the organization judged without first having attended at least one of our events. The friendships alone that I've gained over the years are by far and above worth every penny I spent on a lifetime membership. We might not be what you're looking for in an organization, but I would challenge you to find another group that does more to promote traditional bowhunting than Compton does.

Again, none of this is directed at you personally. We can agree to disagree and I will still wish you luck turkey hunting this spring.   

[Bowguy67]

There’s some decent grass roots stuff you mention there. That was not relayed to me. That makes a difference imo