The American Beagler Forum

As I was typing and mailing our beagle club newsletter yesterday something hit me and I hope to get some honest responses.....

As I was glancing and updating our membership list I felt very fortunate to have a good number of members and as FTS I get WAY more help than 99% of the other clubs in the Federation.

However, over the past couple of years we have had 10+ younger guys sign up to be members but they are not really "involved". Some have called me prior to meetings or trials wanting to help and do something for the club. I usually tell them I need help selling 50/50 tickets or marshalling and to see me the morning of the trial or come to the meeting prior to the trial so we can talk. This never seems to happen the day of the trial and it ends up being the same fiasco trying to cover everything with the "regulars".

I am starting to think it is my fault as a FTS for not telling the new members specifically what needs done, where they need to be, and how long they will be needed (similar to a new employee).

So I pose 2 answers to the question: I am a member of a club but do not help during the trials or attend meetings because......

1. I do not have time to be an "active member" but I join to get HOY points and to attend the runoff.

2. I do not know specifically what needs to be done but would help if someone told me what they wanted me to do prior to the trial.

I know of a few AKC clubs that are struggling with having enough help to even put on a trial so I hope we can all learn from this. I am sure this also goes on with other Registries as well so feel free to respond, this does not only apply to AKC.

You will not get tarred and feathered for answering with the 1st response. Not everyone has the time to be involved and I actually think that #1 is what happens more than not but if I get a bunch of #2 responses I am going to beat myself over the head for not being more direct and assigning specific responsibilities to new members right from the start.

#1 for me. I live 3hrs from the club I joined. Would help if closer, but I told them that and they were fine with it.

In my opinion its neither one nor two. In my opinion if they have time to attend the trial they have time lend a hand at the trial. Most clubs have about 3-5 guys that do all the work. The rest wont turn a tap unless someone puts their foot down and makes them.

I agree with Aaron. I have been the FTS at two different clubs and have gotten only minimal help at both. We cover at the meetings what needs to be done. Everyone says they will be there to help, but come trial time you have the same two or three that jump in to help. The others are no where to be found. This is why I am no longer a FTS. It is the hardest, most difficult job in the club. It is also the most thankless job in the club. We can educate everyone on what needs to be done, but there are few that will actually step up and help. At least that has been my experience. Good luck with your club. I think that it's great that you get the help that you do.