Quote:


I think I need to apologize for throwing this much fuel on the fire. I wrote my post with just a bit of ‘tongue in cheek’ and a fair bit of Evan Williams. It was not my intent to start an argument – only to show where this might lead. And, unfortunately, it got there way too quick.

ssdave put it best and I wish I had counseled him first on the right way to respond. He is a far better writer (and more level-headed) than me.

My reasons for not being a member are my own. Whatever the BOD finally decides to do will happen no matter what I think or say. I wish the ASSRA well, but I will remain an ex-member.

Once again, my sincere apologies for the disruption I have caused.

Ex-member,
Jerry H

As I watched this unfold and the usual suspects take the usual seats at the table i found myself of two minds. First this website was started by the ASSRA to give shooters a place to find out more about the single shot game. Secondly it is used as a tool to bring in new members. As such we have been both successful and unsuccessful. Right now we get most of our new memberships from this site. It is also true that the number of registered participants of this site is more than double the number of members in the ASSRA. To answer Andy's question, the membership of the ASSRA has remained relatively stable over the past few years. The members that we loose are roughly the same as the new membership that is coming in. It is the inequity of members to nonmembers on this site that concerns me. 
 I would think that the people who think enough of the site to visit it everyday would feel some obligation to help the site stay alive. Yet that is not the case. There are some here who, while using the site on a daily basis, seem to hold the organization who has been good enough to host the site in contempt. They seem to play us for suckers for putting this site up in the first place. Whether it is moral or ethical to habitually use a service and contribute nothing it its existence is a question that each of you will have to answer. Some of you however may want to re-think your stance on illegal immigrants who come to this country for the welfare and free medical care. 
In this debate each of us must ask himself. Do I contribute or am I freeloading because I can?
The answer is up to you. Your the ones that have to look in the mirror to shave.
40 Rod

40 Rod your answer scored an A+ keep up the good work.

J.Louis

I am not a member of ASSRA, I come to this site on a daily basis. I have never sold anything on this site. I have bought guns. barrels, and moulds from individuals and the professional manufacturers that contribute their expertise to the forums on this site. 
I appreciate the information I've obtained from this site. I've tried to be a responsible, and respectable user of this site. And I'm in the process of readying myself and my equiptment to try shooting Schutzen style in a ASSRA sponsered meet.

I had no idea that I was expected to join ASSRA or contribute money to use this site. No one has ever even mentioned this to me. I haven't seen any notice or even an address to send money to. 
I'm not cheap nor wish to take advantage of anyone. Please accept my most sincere apology. And if someone will tell me how much I owe I will be most thankful. email me please at dorostrander@aol.com

I'm one of the free loaders here so, I thought I'd give my position on the site

I was a continuous member of ASSRA from about March of '85 until I got my last issue of The Single Shot News with the September/October issue (I still have everyone of them, in between those years)

In thoughts years, I lived and breathed single shots and was instrumental in adding to the membership by forming Jefferson State Scheutzen Society in '86 and promoting each member to join 

For a number of reasons, I dropped out of shooting by the end of '97 and turned the club over to a good friend. I found this site in June of last year and I shot my first match since '97 last October because of the renewed interest I got from this very site. I've brought forth views that not everyone agrees with but, I'm sure that's not been all bad

I do try to help people where I can and I've learned a lot myself in these last 8 months because of this forum 

If I start shooting again on a regular basis again, I will rejoin ASSRA again

One thing that I will say about the organization is this........... The leadership has changed in a positive way, It's not ALL about Etna Green now but still at least 60% that way. Many people do not like that mentality and it could be one of the main reason that the members don't stay. It's still basically adheres to the policy that Enta Green first and everything else second. I came to accept that years ago because this is the only organization that holds these rifles in the esteem they deserve. I do know people that haven't continued on because of that. I do understand that, it's where it all restarted but, the sport is much bigger than that and needs new blood to continue on. I personally saw what happened to slug gunning here because of age and lack of interest. It no longer exists, here!

I do think the forum is a good way to bring in new members and I don't like to see people take advange of it for any reason but, I don't see any easy answers, either

IMO the easy answer is if it ain't broke. Don't fix it. Everything was going good for some time than bam. IMO a crazy idea. Of how to make it more private and controlled. Like buying and selling by any member paid or not. If you charge for it. someone will have to pay a higher price. as it will just be added on as a cost to doing business. Or ? it will go to GB or where maybe a lot more people see it. So just don't make much sense to me. But I must admit I ain't very smart or have many devious plans. Let's just quit all the BS and have fun. JMO Whitey

I'll toss in my 2 cents worth, having been a member off and on since early 1980 somehting.

What works:  the local matches and help from individuals; this site - the WEALTH of information and interaction.  The ability to buy and sell - regardless of 'membership'.

What sucks:  the bitching here.  It could be fixed by having a moderator that enforced rules of politeness.

It isn't broken, it works but could be more polite -