Are you a Compton Member? Why or Why Not?

[ChuckC]

I am a Compton member, mostly cause for me it is the right thing to do.  They may not be the do all and end all of archery, but they are a really good, family oriented organization.  They do some good thngs.  Spend one weekend at the Rendezvous and you will see what I mean. I don't live in Wyoming, but it is still quite a haul for me to visit, still I have done so numerous times.  I am always amazed at how everybody gets along and pitches in to get things done.

In order to be of national significance, they have to grow.  They can't grow if nobody except those "nearby" join.   It is my belief that if everybody joined, they can have more than one rendezvous. . .  but not yet. Its a dream.  

If they grow, we will have someone representing TRADITIONAL ARCHERS.  That is something that is really lacking out there.

I know we are all hurting a bit with the economy, and I think it is not done with that part. .  but Comptons is really the best game in town for Traditional values and Traditional archery.  

The above is just my point of view.

Go ahead and join up.  

ChuckC

[John Scifres]

I would recommend a more formal set of bylaws and plan for implementing the mission.  Asking people for money without a clear purpose is a recipe for disaster in the end.  Is there anything about the officers, elections, accounting, etc. on the website or otherwise available?  I'm not being critical at all, I just would like to know more about you all.

[GRINCH]

I'm going to join,but like others have said a clearer understanding of their objectives would really help,from my pms with Joe he has some good ideas for the future,and since it is a priority for me to see that my nephews can enjoy the sport I love I've decided to join to ensure they have the right to hunt the way they want.

[dan d]

Originally posted by GRINCH:
since it is a priority for me to see that my nephews can enjoy the sport I love I've decided to join to ensure they have the right to hunt the way they want.

  I have the same priority with my nephew !
Dan

[GRINCH]

Our future is in the kids we teach and nuture into this sport without them we don't have a legacy to share.

[JohnV]

"I like the idea of Comptons, over PBS, that I can still gun hunt and be a member. My kids gun hunt and I still love to go with them, though my own hunting is 95% bow only."

I am a PBS Life Regular Member and former Councilman. PBS does not have any by-laws that says associate and/or regular members may not hunt with a gun. Some do. Don Thomas is an avid bird hunter with his scattergun and a regular member. Some PBS members use scatterguns for turkey hunting. We only require that bowhunting is your primary interest.

[David Mitchell]

Grinch, dan d, just exactly what does Comptons do to "ensure they have the right to hunt the way they want to"?  How is Comptons engaged in the legal struggles that are the only way such can be insured?  Whenever there are legal/legislative issues in our state (crossbow bills for one), I never see ANY of the national organizations here taking a stand--only my state organization, the WVBA.  I imagine it's that way in most all of our states.  That being the case, it seems to me that most organizations that want to be "national" in scope are going to be largely fraternal--"not that there's anything wrong with that" as Jerry Seinfeld would say.  But I don't really need to belong to a national fraternal group that I cannot reasonably get to its meeting--I get lots of fraternal fellowship at my local trad archery club and through my state organization.

It seems to be a clear trend of our current culture that people do not want to "join" organizations.  They prefer to just attend when they can/want to, and that way they are not asked to do anything.  Whether it's civic service clubs, churches, whatever, the trend is definitely away from joining. Comptons, PBS, and other archery oriented organizations are just experiencing that same trend--the competition for members.  We all have to decide where best to invest our shrinking disposable income dollars--for many of us that place is in our local/state groups that are the ones who are on the front lines for our hunting rights and whose events we can probably attend as they are closer to home.

I may as well go ahead and get this little burr under my saddle out in the open.  I have been irritated at Comptons from the beginning of their having the rendezvous so close to Cloverdale's traditional date.  That shoot has suffered in attendance of both vendors and shooters ever since.  They had that date for a long time before Comptons came into being, and to set up the one big event of the year so close to Cloverdale in both date and distance, to me was disrespectful and reflected a lack of concern for the folks at Cloverdale who have worked so hard for so many years to provide a great traditional event for all of us to enjoy. There had to be an awareness that it would negatively impact Cloverdale, and somewhere in there is that fraternal thing being overlooked. Fraternally, Dave.  

[Whip]

As a person who wasn't even a member back at the time Compton was formed and the first rendezvous conceived, I am sure not qualified to address that one Dave.  If I tried I'd be guessing, and no sense doing that.  

As for Compton not being involved in the local fights, that is very true.  Our purpose in existence is all about promoting traditional archery, rather than opposing modern equipment. While we can and have taken stands on equipment, techniques, and concepts that are detrimental to the future of bowhunting, being a political force is not our mission.

I certainly know there is a need for organizations to fight those battles.  And absolutely, I do think that bowhunters should be members of their own local and state clubs and organizations, and if it comes down to making a choice of one over the other, then the local/state organization is probably the way to go if you have a good one.

I do think there is a niche and a need for a variety of organizations with different focuses, goals, and objectives.  No one organization can do it all and be all things to everyone.  

I belong to a number of different hunting related organizations, as do many bowhunters.  Each one offers something different, and that is why I don't just choose one.

[Turkeys Fear Me]

Originally posted by John Scifres:
I would recommend a more formal set of bylaws and plan for implementing the mission.  Asking people for money without a clear purpose is a recipe for disaster in the end.  Is there anything about the officers, elections, accounting, etc. on the website or otherwise available?  I'm not being critical at all, I just would like to know more about you all.

That's kind of what I was getting at when I asked if there was a place where you could see an accounting of income and expenditures.  

What is it that Compton is doing to promote traditional archery?  Where does the revenue go?  I'm guessing the rendezvous is a money maker, not an expense.  It would be nice to see what specifically is being done to promote the sport.

Nothing negative or accusatory, that's just where the rubber meets the road.  How much is coming in, how much is going out, where does it go, and how does that promote traditional archery.

[Whip]

Turkeys (and John and others with the same questions)  The financial information concern is definately one that will be taken up.  There is nothing to hide, that's for sure, and you bring up good points.  

The rendezvous certainly should be a source of revenue, although because of the weather problems the past couple of years that hasn't always been the case.  The income to Compton is from the auctions/raffles, store sales, and memberships.  The camping and shooting fees go to the Berrien Springs Sportsmans club which hosts the event.  

There has been a wealth of information and feedback from this thread, and that is exactly the purpose of it.  We really do want to know what the concerns are, and will be addressing each and every one of them.

[David Mitchell]

Whip, thanks for your gracious response to our comments, questions, and opinions.  You are a very fine ambassador for Comptons.  Threads like this one may just lead me to sign up.  

[Tradlifer]

Thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts and concerns. The growth and future of Compton can only be dictated by the willingness of traditional bowhunters to get involved. Your thoughts have been extremely helpful.                                         Also if anyone is interested, there is a summary of the minutes from the 2010 board meeting in the summer 2010 newsletter. I believe they are also being printed from the 2011 meeting in our next newsletter. If they did not make it to the printer in time for publication, which I am sure they did, they will be in the fall edition.      Thanks, Dave Jarvis