When I started thinking about joining a metal detecting club, I kinda assumed that they'd all do similar things. To me a metal detecting club would:
1) have regular meetings in which to discuss club activities, report on expenditures of club dues, plan activities and discuss techniques. And probably a bit of bragging about their recent finds.
2) use the dues to gain access/permission to areas that individuals could not;
3) promote the hobby of MDing to the locals.
So when I went to a local club meeting (name withheld so as not to embarrass them), I was surprised to see that all they did was fuss about the rules for the 'best finds' monthly competition and argue about how to get ready for the next contest. All the dues money was essentially being redistributed to certain (clique-ish) members as prize money. That was it. No organized hunts beyond the semiannual competition where they throw silver dimes over a small field and hunters spend 15 minutes finding them on the surface. No teaching/discussion of techniques or even reviews of available tech. The only fellowship I saw was guys that hunt with each other hanging out together at the eatery. My wife and I were fortunate to sit with another couple that wasn't caught up in the silliness and they said it was like this all the time and they rarely attended the meetings because of it. Bottom line is that there is essentially no reason to join this club unless you like to argue over petty things, are already a member of a clique, or are a total MDing loser who's mommy didn't pay enough attention to them.
I have spoken with several folks since then, both MDers and non MDers, and they all thought that the activities of a club would be pretty much along the lines of what I am thinking a club should be.
Do what do you guys look for in a club. Am I off base here? What are some of the good things you have seen in local clubs?
1) have regular meetings in which to discuss club activities, report on expenditures of club dues, plan activities and discuss techniques. And probably a bit of bragging about their recent finds.
2) use the dues to gain access/permission to areas that individuals could not;
3) promote the hobby of MDing to the locals.
So when I went to a local club meeting (name withheld so as not to embarrass them), I was surprised to see that all they did was fuss about the rules for the 'best finds' monthly competition and argue about how to get ready for the next contest. All the dues money was essentially being redistributed to certain (clique-ish) members as prize money. That was it. No organized hunts beyond the semiannual competition where they throw silver dimes over a small field and hunters spend 15 minutes finding them on the surface. No teaching/discussion of techniques or even reviews of available tech. The only fellowship I saw was guys that hunt with each other hanging out together at the eatery. My wife and I were fortunate to sit with another couple that wasn't caught up in the silliness and they said it was like this all the time and they rarely attended the meetings because of it. Bottom line is that there is essentially no reason to join this club unless you like to argue over petty things, are already a member of a clique, or are a total MDing loser who's mommy didn't pay enough attention to them.
I have spoken with several folks since then, both MDers and non MDers, and they all thought that the activities of a club would be pretty much along the lines of what I am thinking a club should be.
Do what do you guys look for in a club. Am I off base here? What are some of the good things you have seen in local clubs?