STEVE POPE

My final post on this thread ,to all those who are that interested, get hold of a copy of the BS constitution, its all in there. As I've said before you can't please everyone. All the best to SAA and RSSG and everyone else who does their bit for angling. Good night and roll on June 16th.

Hi Phil, If you speak to Mike Heylin I'm sure he can give you the info you are seeking, after all he is a BS member. Failing that, and as you are obviously so keen to know, I think you asked the same question about this time last year, just for you; The BS is democratic in so much that it is ultimately governed by the membership, governed in this sense meaning " to be a predominant influence on". Any committee that acts without listening to the great majority of its membership would be extremely foolish and the BS committee are not fools, of that you may be assured. Or it could be called a benevolent dictatorship, benevolent as in showing goodwill, friendship and kindly. Dictatorship as in oxymoron. Whatever you choose, it works well. Obviously you can't please all the people all the time, some you can never please, but thats life and I won't be losing any sleep. I sometimes think the close season is becoming open season.......... All the best.

Hi Phil, If you speak to Mike Heylin I'm sure he can give you the info you are seeking, after all he is a BS member. Failing that, and as you are obviously so keen to know, I think you asked the same question about this time last year, just for you; The BS is democratic in so much that it is ultimately governed by the membership, governed in this sense meaning " to be a predominant influence on". Any committee that acts without listening to the great majority of its membership would be extremely foolish and the BS committee are not fools, of that you may be assured. Or it could be called a benevolent dictatorship, benevolent as in showing goodwill, friendship and kindly. Dictatorship as in oxymoron. Whatever you choose, it works well. Obviously you can't please all the people all the time, some you can never please, but thats life and I won't be losing any sleep. I sometimes think the close season is becoming open season.......... All the best.

Hi Cranfield, A bit harsh I do believe. I note Mr Barnard is a soldier, now bearing in mind I'm not the biggest chap out there woe betide me if umbrage is taken. Constructive comment and constructive criticism is always taken on board, other comments, well you can make up your own mind.

Hi Cranfield, A bit harsh I do believe. I note Mr Barnard is a soldier, now bearing in mind I'm not the biggest chap out there woe betide me if umbrage is taken. Constructive comment and constructive criticism is always taken on board, other comments, well you can make up your own mind.

It never ceases to amaze me how far you can come on a thread with eighty or so posts. You start off about the close season, have some banter , discussion and humour along the way and then end up with words like stagnant, self promotion and power. I note that there is a Mr Barnard in the Barbel Society, if you are one and the same perhaps you would like to air your reasons for discontent on the BS bulletin Board, or better still the AGM is only a few weeks away. Keep smiling

It never ceases to amaze me how far you can come on a thread with eighty or so posts. You start off about the close season, have some banter , discussion and humour along the way and then end up with words like stagnant, self promotion and power. I note that there is a Mr Barnard in the Barbel Society, if you are one and the same perhaps you would like to air your reasons for discontent on the BS bulletin Board, or better still the AGM is only a few weeks away. Keep smiling

Had an interesting, perhaps I should say disturbing discussion with Angling Times today regarding a story for next week. Bearing in mind all the hooha regarding the CA, I'll put this one to you. If the NFA start to push for the abolition of the rivers close season how are things likely to develop within the corridors of power? Men like John Williams will continue to exert pressure and men like Ken Ball might just listen. Once again people will be put to the test and I for one would not want to see this issue given up in the name of unity. I'ver said it before and I'll say it again here, too many people playing the political game are wearing too many hats. This believe it or not goes to the root of almost all the issues that cause such great division. The Barbel Society is still biding its time and with good reason.

Had an interesting, perhaps I should say disturbing discussion with Angling Times today regarding a story for next week. Bearing in mind all the hooha regarding the CA, I'll put this one to you. If the NFA start to push for the abolition of the rivers close season how are things likely to develop within the corridors of power? Men like John Williams will continue to exert pressure and men like Ken Ball might just listen. Once again people will be put to the test and I for one would not want to see this issue given up in the name of unity. I'ver said it before and I'll say it again here, too many people playing the political game are wearing too many hats. This believe it or not goes to the root of almost all the issues that cause such great division. The Barbel Society is still biding its time and with good reason.

Everyone who posts on this type of thread makes a valid point.Simply put it is an issue that divides rather than unites. Some one should have realised that. The overriding problem as I see it as that Anglings public relations and Communications set up is quite frankly abysmal. I'm not going to knock anyone here and would say that angling politics is a thankless task HOWEVER that is no excuse. So, my message is simple, sort it out, get the right people in to put across the right message, not only to the powers that be and the general public, but to ALL anglers. Our basic PR is non existant. Surely it can't be beyond the wit and imagination on those who seek and hold some sort of authority. Until we actually get the right people in the right positions with a mandate approved by the majority , this constant disagreement over many of the perceived major issues will continue. So, before you come back at me, this is an observation, not a dig at any one in particular, more the structure.

Everyone who posts on this type of thread makes a valid point.Simply put it is an issue that divides rather than unites. Some one should have realised that. The overriding problem as I see it as that Anglings public relations and Communications set up is quite frankly abysmal. I'm not going to knock anyone here and would say that angling politics is a thankless task HOWEVER that is no excuse. So, my message is simple, sort it out, get the right people in to put across the right message, not only to the powers that be and the general public, but to ALL anglers. Our basic PR is non existant. Surely it can't be beyond the wit and imagination on those who seek and hold some sort of authority. Until we actually get the right people in the right positions with a mandate approved by the majority , this constant disagreement over many of the perceived major issues will continue. So, before you come back at me, this is an observation, not a dig at any one in particular, more the structure.

Hi Phil, Interesting post. I'm off fishing now until midnight on thursday and will give this some thought while on the bank. A first response is that I truly believe as long as those of influence promote the "right" ideals the potential for problems will decrease. We all have a duty to act responsibly with regard to our clubs, the habitat, the fish and to each other. Also, barbel anglers are a different breed to carp anglers, we have a different mentality.But I do realise that many carp anglers are now seeing the light and taking up barbel fishing, they will bring good ideas, but it is up to the experienced barbel angling fraternity to set the tone. I really believe that. I say that as a person who has a great deal of time and respect for the likes of Kevin Clifford, Tom Paisley and Chris Ball. Indeed we work together a great deal. But this topic really warrants an article rather than a posting,I was going to write on this very subject for "Coarse Angling Today" a couple of months back, but just haven't got round to doing it. I will put pen to paper. [ 11 March 2002, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: STEVE POPE ]

Hi Phil, Interesting post. I'm off fishing now until midnight on thursday and will give this some thought while on the bank. A first response is that I truly believe as long as those of influence promote the "right" ideals the potential for problems will decrease. We all have a duty to act responsibly with regard to our clubs, the habitat, the fish and to each other. Also, barbel anglers are a different breed to carp anglers, we have a different mentality.But I do realise that many carp anglers are now seeing the light and taking up barbel fishing, they will bring good ideas, but it is up to the experienced barbel angling fraternity to set the tone. I really believe that. I say that as a person who has a great deal of time and respect for the likes of Kevin Clifford, Tom Paisley and Chris Ball. Indeed we work together a great deal. But this topic really warrants an article rather than a posting,I was going to write on this very subject for "Coarse Angling Today" a couple of months back, but just haven't got round to doing it. I will put pen to paper. [ 11 March 2002, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: STEVE POPE ]

Hi Elton, You are not wrong. Ninety percent of anglers just want to go fishing, nothing wrong with that. The other ten percent like to get involved to some degree or another and that's fine, they do that because they WANT to and they ENJOY what they do. No one is going to change the world, you do your bit because that is what you like to do. Everyone is blessed with different skills, the secret is knowing how to apply them in a way that fulfills you as an individual, helps and perhaps educates others and perhaps leads the way for others to follow and then move on. Too many get lost in their own importance once they embark on a mission, big fish in little puddles etc, but and this is the point there will always be those who wish to do something else and even if the impact is minimal it is right that they do so.

Hi Elton, You are not wrong. Ninety percent of anglers just want to go fishing, nothing wrong with that. The other ten percent like to get involved to some degree or another and that's fine, they do that because they WANT to and they ENJOY what they do. No one is going to change the world, you do your bit because that is what you like to do. Everyone is blessed with different skills, the secret is knowing how to apply them in a way that fulfills you as an individual, helps and perhaps educates others and perhaps leads the way for others to follow and then move on. Too many get lost in their own importance once they embark on a mission, big fish in little puddles etc, but and this is the point there will always be those who wish to do something else and even if the impact is minimal it is right that they do so.

Morning Elton, These Infopop bulletin boards are the business, are they not?!! Steve.

Morning Elton, These Infopop bulletin boards are the business, are they not?!! Steve.