25th August 2005 (Sussex Branch)

Hi Jerry,

I can't complain about communications on this one...received the letter last weekend, read the details on the web site and now received the info' via e-mail.

Falling membership is noted and it would be interesting to note the age profile of our membership and if there is a specific group we are losing.

A good number of years ago, Durham had a problem the same as many Branches in justifying the Guild Subs and benefits to it's Members.

Many wanted to be part of the Branch but did not feel they received value for money from the Guild Nationally. Many Guild Members have on the other hand never attended their local Branch meeting

I know much has been done since to reverse this however one issue still remains:

Branches do a hell of a lot for their Members (on a shoestring) and I often think that they compare what they receive from the Branch to what they receive from the Guild ?.

Yes the insurance is there and the magazine but that is about it really ??....although there is now the website and perhaps a Members Only part would prove attractive and help to retain Members. It needs to be exclusive and worth the Membership fee as the premium to have access and participate.

A forum for Members where they can exchange ideas and knowledge and info'....that has a huge value that is not being exploited and reaches all around the world ??.

Regarding the magazine, a few issues to consider:

Is it really worthwhile including the same repeat information pages in each issue (ie List of Officers, Branches, and the Order form for equipment etc......could this be done just via a flyer with the magazine therefore allowing more copy space?

Sometimes the quality of the content of some articles are poor and do not attract everyone (not the photography quality as this is usually superb in Flydresser....but perhaps more content and articles....rather than full page or even two page photos. Have a look at the Grayling Journal as an example of interesting copy.

Perhaps the whole title "The Flydressers Guild" is a little off putting and old fashioned to potential members. A comment I have heard on numerous occasions is it sounds like the W.I. or the "Knit one Pearl One Club"...it is just an observation however it is one that I hear expressed on a fairly regular basis and is not attractive. Also, many think it is for expert tiers only.......how wrong could they be !!!

There needs to be a balance struck between the modern and the traditional and Durham Branch feel that the right balance has not been struck.

I am involved with many Groups and Organisations and know the real work, effort and love that Officials put into their job...often for very little or no reward but for the benefit of the Club Members.

The fact that such a lot is being done and that these current issues have been raised and opened up for debate shows that the "Guild" is on the right track. But we do need some quick wins just to maintain interest in this fast changing world and especially to attract new Members into a hobby, pastime, sport, art that is receiving reduced interest.

I hope these comments are useful as they represent a cross section of views from a number of Durham County Branch & Guild Members.

Please feel free to come back to me as I feel that this a very healthy debate and is worthy of attention if only perhaps a little overdue !!.

Kind regards

Stuart

Stuart Wardle
Secretary Durham County Branch FDG

The Executive Committee
The Fly Dressers Guild

Dear Sirs

Following receipt of your letter regarding the role of your committee and the activities of the Main Guild, we have recently discussed this at our committee meeting and we would respond as follows:

As a branch with direct links to the committee we are very aware of the length and effort individuals go to maintain and extend the membership levels which have seen decline in recent years.  As a branch we have encountered a similar decline but in recent years our membership has increased through no lesser effort.  We appear to have maximised our membership at just sub 100 from our catchment area which extends some 15 mile radius from Brighton, generally finding that new members each year counterbalance those lost.

We actively promote the values of the Guild by instructing at all levels various courses to develop fly tying, and to keep the interest going over the whole year we also have various fishing trips and inter branch/club competitions.  Historically the branch has been split by some individuals who wanted more fishing than tying activities, forming other local fishing clubs with whom we still keep links.  Through this we are aware that most fishing related clubs are experiencing similar membership reductions.

We discussed the question ‘what does the Main Guild do for the branch’ and concluded that we fare no differently to an individual member, receiving insurance cover and four copies of the ‘Flydresser’ annually.  We advertise in this publication but can confirm that we have had not one individual who may live in our catchment area, but is already a member of the Guild, contact us to join.  It appears people who join our branch do so for their own aims, not ours, mainly attracted by the instructional courses initially.  

However, without the Main Guild we would not exist.  An increase in advertising funded from revenue generated by cost savings may give the branch, and Guild, more members. This in turn would benefit the branches’ activities with increased subscription revenue.  To this end it would help the branches if new members recruited directly were given details of their local branch (the branch being advised, too) so that they can be advised of any activities of that branch.  We do receive from the Membership Secretary a list of members in Sussex from time to time, and follow up those not known to us.

Most of us have now read the article in the ‘Flydresser’ of another branch’s opinion on things and to a degree we can sympathise with some of the statements made, but rest assured that as said before, without the Main Guild our branch would never have been formed.   At a local level the branch uses every opportunity to promote itself and try to maintain or increase membership but each year natural degradation means we lose members.  We have posters displayed in most of the local fisheries and tackle shops, and provided demonstration stands at tackle fairs, game and country fairs and the South of England Show – even owning our own tent for this purpose.  The hardest area is bringing young blood into what is perceived as a mature hobby!  Perhaps this is an area we can all try to promote to increase membership for the future by reducing fees at this level? 

We hope this satisfies your request and should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the branch committee.

Yours Sincerely
The committee of the Sussex Branch of the Fly Dressers Guild