Cal Trout, TU, or FFF: Who should get my money?

[bcarter395]

So, I thought it was about time that I join a conservation group to get a little more involved in what happens with our sport here in California, and I want to get some opinions on what org's you support or can't stand and why. -Cause only one of these groups is getting my coveted $35!

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Good question, I've been wondernig the same thing which is why my lazy butt hasn't paid to join any yet.

[NorcalBob]

Tough call. I've been members of all three for over 30 years. However, as of today, I have let my FFF and TU memberships expire recently for the following reasons. I am still a CalTrout member. TU: TU upper management forced local chapters to NOT take on issues involving land access, in order not to pi$$ off the big rich dudes (like Ted Turner, who donate a lot of $$$) who want to block off all their lands to public access. Eventually, after a decrease in membership, plus a lot of other reasons, TU now has rescinded the land access issue ban for local chapters. I may rejoin, or I may not. FFF: I let my FFF membership expire because of their "100% FFF membership policy". Recently, Chris tried to join up with a local club, and was told he had to become a member in the FFF in order to join the local club as it's required that this club have 100% FFF membership. So it would cost Chris $25 a year to join the local club, plus another $35 to join the FFF for a grand total of $60 a year. Chris declined, being a poor recently graduated underpaid fishery biologist, as he's not interested in spending another $35, to join an organization he has no interest in joining. So now, a local club, (which Chris just happens to be a working biologist on their local river), just lost a new member. I really wish someone would explain to me (in logical terms) how the FFF forcing people to join another organization, is helping the sport of FF grow. Sorry FFF, but I ain't buying it. As usual, YMMV!!!!!!

[ldr]

Is that an FFF policy or the local club's? I belong to the Long Beach Casting Club, and the club's connection to the FFF is certainly strong, but we have no requirement to join.

[mk4]

So, I thought it was about time that I join a conservation group to get a little more involved in what happens with our sport here in California...

Who says you have to join a conservation group. You can get involved in conservation without having to pay dues.

I'm reluctant to send any kind of money to group without full transparency in regards to all the funds.

[NorcalBob]

"Is that an FFF policy or the local club's?"
FFF policy. Started a few years ago. Clubs already in existence were grandfathered in under the old rules, and have to pay a "penalty" of $x for each non-FFF member as part of their annual dues. It's a complicated formula of $x for FFF members and $x for non-FFF members. My club ignores this rule, and we just give them a flat fee, just like we always have. The FFF has always cashed our check, sooooooo.......... New clubs must adhere to the 100% FFF membership rule. And I'm pi$$ed at that. It's costing local clubs members, and how is that good for FF? And now the FFF is complaining that their membership is declining, DUUUUUUHHHHHH!!! In addition, none of the $$$ collected by the FFF under this rule is returned to the local club in any way, shape, or form.

[briansII]

I'm currently not a member of any of the above groups. Like Bob, I had issues with both TU and Cal Trout. No issues with FFF, but now that Bob brought that one issue up.......... My "conservation money" now goes to more grassroots efforts. I pick the ones I want to support, and for the most part am happy with that method.

MK4 makes a good point about where the membership dues end up.

briansII

[DubL HauL]

Bcarter395 where abouts are you any local clubs worth getting into? Looking forward to your upcoming fishing reports!

Andy

[Artin]

I say give it to the org. That produces a comprehensive list of secret fishing spots!!!


:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:


Artin

[sschung]

"Is that an FFF policy or the local club's?"
FFF policy. Started a few years ago. Clubs already in existence were grandfathered in under the old rules, and have to pay a "penalty" of $x for each non-FFF member as part of their annual dues. It's a complicated formula of $x for FFF members and $x for non-FFF members. My club ignores this rule, and we just give them a flat fee, just like we always have. The FFF has always cashed our check, sooooooo.......... New clubs must adhere to the 100% FFF membership rule. And I'm pi$$ed at that. It's costing local clubs members, and how is that good for FF? And now the FFF is complaining that their membership is declining, DUUUUUUHHHHHH!!! In addition, none of the $$$ collected by the FFF under this rule is returned to the local club in any way, shape, or form.

Bob.

We just had a serious debate over this FFF fee schedule and our clubs payment at the FFCOC board meetings. We also were giving a flat fee too for quite a long time. It was decided by board members long ago, so it was ancient history to me. Some of the "old guys" actually felt slighted and ignored ( as the story goes) by the FFF regime back then, so they felt the FFF only was worth so much. Our club has made a decision, and is moving forward. As for members being required to be part of the FFF to be a part of our club is not required. Otherwise I would have to join the FFF. Personally I belong to none of them. There really is only one project that really mean anything to me, and that is the TU stealhead restoration project on the San Mateo Creek. Unfortunately other conservationsion groups do a way better job at taking care of my fishing grounds than the FFF. TU or Cal Trout.

Shane

[RiverRat]

But as of March 1st, 2011.....................from their website http://www.fedflyfishers.org/Default.aspx?tabid=4359

Charter club category REQUIRES every member to join the FFF.

An Affiliate Club does not require every member to be join the FFF.

Please Note that this page is for current FFF Affiliated Clubs who affiliated prior to March 1st, 2011.
This club category is no longer available as of March 1st, 2011
Clubs wishing to join the FFF may do so by becoming an FFF Charter Club
For Information on Charter Club - Click Here

A Charter Club is one in which all club members join as individual members of the Federation of Fly Fishers.
No annual club dues are collected from our Charter Clubs and they fall under the FFF's 501(c)(3) status.
Both established clubs and brand new clubs can join under this club category.

Requirements:
1) All club members join the FFF or are already FFF members.
2) Provide your club roster and list of new officers annually to FFF Headquarters.
3) Provide financial statements to enable the FFF to incorporate the information on to their group Federal tax return.

So send your yearly local club dues to a national organization so your local club has no money for speakers, conservation projects, classes...makes sense to me.

Bye bye Federation. You can't coerce clubs into joining. You get free legal support though

shane

[NorcalBob]

Shane, Thanks for that very current info.
Man, that is gonna cause a howl of protest in my club, as we were grandfathered in as an Affiliate Club (since we were formed even before the FFF existed!), and never had to make a serious decision about being affiliated with the FFF. We always have been affliliated because it was relatively cheap. Now under this new rule it looks like that serious decision is gonna have to come. Good thing we already paid our 2011 dues and the FFF cashed the check! Now we can wait until 2012 to decide! Oh #$&%, I'm the club President in 2012!
I don't know the exact number, but I would guess less than 25% of our club are current members of the FFF. And I doubt the other 75% are willing to fork over an additional $35 a year to the FFF.
"So send your yearly local club dues to a national organization so your local club has no money for speakers, conservation projects, classes...makes sense to me. Bye bye Federation. You can't coerce clubs into joining. You get free legal support though "

Yep, looks like my reign as President in 2012 is gonna be a short one (yippeee!) as no way in $%^& am I going to support this extortion attempt by the FFF!

EGADS, what are those guys in the FFF thinking???

[NorcalBob]

"We just had a serious debate over this FFF fee schedule and our clubs payment at the FFCOC board meetings. We also were giving a flat fee too for quite a long time. It was decided by board members long ago, so it was ancient history to me. Some of the "old guys" actually felt slighted and ignored ( as the story goes) by the FFF regime back then, so they felt the FFF only was worth so much. Our club has made a decision, and is moving forward."
Please tell me Shane, was the decision made to bail from the FFF, or to pay the "extortion" fee, or just do like us and continue paying the flat fee until the FFF stops cashing our checks? Inquiring minds want to know, especially since this inquiring mind is gonna be club Prez when this issue raises it's ugly head!

[Pete]

Thanks for all the information. I think I'll just keep paying club dues and let the club decide what conservation issues we want to tackle.

So what benefit is there for a club to be affilated with the FFF? Or for that matter any of the others, Cal Trout or TU?

[NorcalBob]

"So what benefit is there for a club to be affilated with the FFF? Or for that matter any of the others, Cal Trout or TU?"

That's a really good question, and I wish I had an answer!!!