Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Meeting

[eric1978]

I got my rejection letter for joining the forum from them today.

Huh?

[ness]

I've done a crapload of volunteer work over the years. One thing you always encounter are naysayers, complainers and people who want others to do the work. I found a number of creative ways of offloading the problem members, on numerous occasions. And things always got better without them -- ALWAYS. Believe me, you're in a much better position than if they show up at a meeting and poison the atmosphere.

Gary -- PM me and I'll send you my dues, even though I rarely fish for smallmouth and don't live in SWMO. I admire your can-do attitude, and I can see past my monitor. This is a GOOD thing, and I wish you the best with it.

[Gary Lange]

You are oh so right Ness. We had some bad apples in the ISA also but they were weeded out. It is a fact that 95% of the ISA members don't participate directly with the outings and work projects but the dues are what they consider important and they are right. I guess some of them have Grandkids or Kids that they want to leave a Smallmouth to catch and a place for it to swim.

[msamatt]

With all respect siusaluki, my only sources of info was the MSA web page, forum, Bronze Back News, and postings from MSA members here.

I think the MSA has made it very clear that they don't care for my due money or input. I got my rejection letter for joining the forum from them today. Its nice to know that Matt and company can post about you and you can not either agree with them or defend yourself.

But let me make a couple of other points. I don't believe that the smallmouth are in the peril that some members of the MSA would have you believe. Postings by the "guru" may be some evidence of that. Al's year end report wasn't to shabby either.

I don't believe that the answer to bigger smallmouths lies soley in changing the regs. I think most MDC biologist will agree that there are many other factors, as I have stated before, that play role and must all come togther to accomplish that.

But lets just say that the stars all aligned, and everything was perfect and we had the "World Class Fishery", would that make the streams more crowded with anglers from all over the US? I think the streams in SW Mo are already world class in that I can fish all day and not see anyone. I can catch plenty of fish. And I can catch a few fish every trip that anyone would be proud to reel in. And the scenery is beyond words.

Anyway, that is just some ramblings. I mean no harm.

Chief:

I know you don't mean any harm and I really do appreciate your comments and your different point of view even if I don't necessarily agree with all of your conclusions.

I don't know why you were suprised that we didn't allow you to register for the forum since it states right on our home page "Anyone can read most, but not all of the topics. Only MSA members can view and post after registering." The forum is a communication device that we created and maintain for our members. That's not all that unusual. For example, the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, which is a fine organization also has an online forum. When you register to participate you'll read the following: These forums are intended for use by the paid members of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.

I also don't think that changing regs is the only answer to helping sustain our smallmouth fisheries; however, if the Missouri Conservation Commission were to adopt regs which are something other than our current 6 12" fish statewide limit, I do think, if all of the factors are conducive to producing larger smallmouth, that such regs changes will help create the potential for having streams produce more of the nice pigs we see Nick Hamra hoisting in his photos.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Huh?

Huh?

This is the response I recieved from the MSA:

Chief Grey Bear,

Regrettably, your application to join Missouri Smallmouth Alliance has been

rejected.

Regards,

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Team.

You are oh so right Ness. We had some bad apples in the ISA also but they were weeded out.

I think I am starting to see the trend here. And so are others.

Anyone who questions or has a different point of view is a bad apple and must be expelled or not allowed to join.

That is ok though. I am not upset about it.

[Trav]

This is the response I recieved from the MSA:

Chief Grey Bear,

Regrettably, your application to join Missouri Smallmouth Alliance has been

rejected.

Regards,

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Team.

I think I am starting to see the trend here. And so are others.

Anyone who questions or has a different point of view is a bad apple and must be expelled or not allowed to join.

That is ok though. I am not upset about it.

Haha.....

darn Chief!! This means I have no chance if a nice guy like yourself is questioned. Oh Well........

Maybe you need to offer more money??? I hear sometimes you have to line a few pockets to be an elitist. Does anyone have Oprah's number for Chief?

[KCRIVERRAT]

Huh?

Another..... huh?

Dan had a long post...and a good post... (he referred to Chief's comments)From what I could tell, he was welcoming people with opinions like Chief's to come to a meeting. I respect everyone's opinion's about the MSA. Didn't know there was an MSA forum, and didn't realize there was an MSA board (or something like it) that could disallow someone from joining the MSA forum. What's the deal with that?

If it even matters, I'm an MSA member.

I'd like to know why Chief was not allowed to join the forum.

[msamatt]

This is the response I recieved from the MSA:

Chief Grey Bear,

Regrettably, your application to join Missouri Smallmouth Alliance has been

rejected.

Regards,

The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Team.

Chief:

If that's what the e-mail read then you've just done me a favor because the article "the" needs to appear before Missouri Smallmouth Alliance" and the word Forum needs to appear after it. As I mentioned in my earlier post we rejected your application to join the forum because the forum is for members of the Alliance. If you thought that by applying to join the forum you were also applying to joing the MSA, then I apologize for the confusion.

I think I am starting to see the trend here. And so are others.

Anyone who questions or has a different point of view is a bad apple and must be expelled or not allowed to join.

That is ok though. I am not upset about it.

[Chief Grey Bear]

Chief:

I know you don't mean any harm and I really do appreciate your comments and your different point of view even if I don't necessarily agree with all of your conclusions.

I don't know why you were suprised that we didn't allow you to register for the forum since it states right on our home page "Anyone can read most, but not all of the topics. Only MSA members can view and post after registering." The forum is a communication device that we created and maintain for our members. That's not all that unusual. For example, the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance, which is a fine organization also has an online forum. When you register to participate you'll read the following: These forums are intended for use by the paid members of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.

Looks like we must have been posting at the same time. I didn't see your post.

My bad Matt. I guess I missed the part about being a member to join the forum. Sounds reasonable to me.

I am glad we see eye to eye on your first sentence. Buzz and I don't agree all the time either. Even though he is always wrong , he tells me, "You ain't changing my mind and I anin't changing yours!"

This may sound a little funny but even though we don't agree some things about the MSA, I will agree it is a good cause. And if you don't mind my frankness, I will still contribute with opinions, thoughts and ideas, even though I may not contribute with my due money.

[msamatt]

Chief and everyone else:

I'll clear a few things up. To be honest it was some of Chief's and Gary Lange's criticism back in December which was the impetus for us to finally creating an online forum for our members. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the following message appears right on our home page: "Please take a look at our forum. Anyone can read most, but not all of the topics. Only MSA members can view and post after registering."

Admitted our rejection of Chief's application to register for the forum could have been worded more clearly but that's what it was a rejection of his application to join the forum because he's not a current MSA member. Why is the MSA forum for members only? A) We're a strictly volunteer organization and creating and maintaining a good online forum takes time and effort, just ask Phil. It was created by a member as a means for the rest of the members to share information with each other and is one of the benefits of membership.