I gave up joining clubs and causes years ago. And thats across the board.
There's ways to contribute to meaningful things and causes without money. It also keeps things on the up and up. These days message boards are, on the whole, kind of dying out. Without a dedicated core of members driving content and offering their knowledge there's nothing left. That core can revolve, but if it gets to where almost everyone is new, threads go unanswered, people stop coming back. So while some guys don't donate money, they contribute "in kind" which can be valuable in its own way.
Clubs are the same way too. If everyone shows up to one event here or there, who makes things happen? Who plans, sets up, cleans up? Soon events are gone, people forget what they pay for, and it dissolves away.
For around 5 or 7 years anyways I was part of running a buick chat room (remember those things?) and moderating a website/list. You never saw so much bickering and politics, well, I actually guess you wouldn't have since most all was behind the scenes. Quit and even deleted the accounts after burnout.
And if/when I PAY for something, I expect a fair say in how it's run/managed for my contribution. When I know I can't get that, I keep my money. When you don't pay for it you lose the right to b*tch about how it comes out too, and be grateful for what you get. (With cite to non-monetary support of course.)
Reality is, I think enthusiasts clubs and political action groups do not mix. Let them be separate from eachother, and if anything, have separate sister orgs that can appeal to the other membership groups for separate voluntary donations to the political causes.
To the original thread topic, back in the day I attended what was called a hunters education course in our town's 17th century meeting house as a kid sponsored by that major projectile club. Really it was firearms safety and was stuff id learned from around 7 yrs old participating at the volunteer fire dept turkey shoot fundraisers. It was free, and, helped me get a weapons permit as a youngin that the town police chief endorsed for automatic and high capacity.
I dunno if they still do much like that given the political climates. Especially in a town under 500 residents given their finances. But it's what they once did 30-something years back
keep up the good work, folks. glad to see we can have this talk without it degrading into the usual nonsense... I'd like to see said organization go back to their roots of safety, competitions, etc... but that's just me probably.
