Starting/Rekindling a retriever club....

[jb504079]

We have a retriever club in my town, of which I'm a member. I used to get emails and notices about training days, and I went several times. I was the only one for a while. Thing is, the club has all but dried up and disappeared it seems. I have recently reached out via Facebook (cause to be honest, I only know a few members), but it just isn't working that well.

I may be well out of my league here, but what are some good ideas to rekindle a once active club? I live in a part of the country that is full of retriever owners, goose and pheasant hunters, and people who love hunting dogs.

I would love to hear what some of you have done to rekindle your local clubs. I'm sure it's happened in other places.

Thanks everyone.....just would like to see our club get back to what it used to be.

[Raymond Little]

Dood, your the only member and calling it a klub?? Buy a couple of cases of beer, somebody will show up with a hound in the bed of the truck to hep ya drinkem.
If a dog club were a viable entity in A town I am sure it would exist already or have more than one live member. I appreciate your gumpshun but you may be try'n to push a rope. Let us know if you get it going.

[Ted Shih]

Don't have any great ideas.

But, one of my favorite field trials was the Texas Panhandle Retriever Club. Great, fun, and unique grounds

Good luck!

[jb504079]

Dood, your the only member and calling it a klub?? Buy a couple of cases of beer, somebody will show up with a hound in the bed of the truck to hep ya drinkem.
If a dog club were a viable entity in A town I am sure it would exist already or have more than one live member. I appreciate your gumpshun but you may be try'n to push a rope. Let us know if you get it going.

Who said I was the only member? Actually, it was once a thriving club from what I hear. They put on two hunt tests per year, had a rather large and active training group. May seem like a wolf pack of one to you, but I happen to know there were many members at one time.

Just tryin to make it a wolfpac of several....know what I'm sayin bro!?! Not many "hounds" up in these parts either....

[Raymond Little]

Would try to post notices at the academy's in town about club formation, try AKC, local sporting goods classifieds and Internet sites in region.

Just funnin ya

[jb504079]

Good ideas....

Thought maybe some members were on RTF....I'm sure they are, but if its anything like the club here, they probably haven't posted in 2 years....

[Lonnie Spann]

We have a retriever club in my town, of which I'm a member. I used to get emails and notices about training days, and I went several times. I was the only one for a while.

You were the only one who showed up? Did the club move and not tell you? Are you telling us that you are the Joe Dirt of your retriever club?

I really don't know what to tell you. Go to the HRC website and look for clubs that are close by and make some contacts.

Lonnie Spann

[FOM]

Use to run their NAHRA HT....if they ever get going again, I'd more than likely run a FT, but if my memory serves me correctly, they were mostly HTs...only a handful of FTs? Best of luck...

[pmw]

This may not work in the US but if you have lots of hunters you could try appealing to the ego that goes with a well trained gundog on the duck swamp eg collecting downed birds the next person can't! People with young dogs now could be helped for next duck season. We find that quite a lot of people want a trained duck dog but not necessarily for trialling. This might then lead on to some sort of competition - or at lest that what we are hoping.

[helencalif]

You said you know a few members. Have you talked to them? Are you sure the club is dying or are you just not being contacted any more? Funny thing to ask.... did you pay your dues?

That is a serious question I am asking. Members forget to pay their dues, get dropped from the roster, and wonder why they don't get any training day notices or meeting notices.

If the club is truly dying and near dead, the best advice I can give is to contact as many old members you can locate and try to revitalize their interest in saving the club. Be prepared to attend meetings and volunteer to help at club events. Clubs die because the movers and doers get burned out. Every club needs new blood. Club sponsored training days that are well advertised can bring in new members. You need to encourage their interest and get them involved in the club.

I think it would be easier to rekindle a club than start a new one from scratch. If you don't have the time and are not interested in becoming active to rekindle this club, it will be easier for you to find a club elsewhere and join it.

Helen