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dave951 said:
As for dropping membership, I'm sure Covid had some effect but I'd also like to examine the demographics of the membership. If the bulk of the membership is over 65, then the mortality rate will be high and new membership will have to be at least keeping pace with that just to break even. That is just one more reason to REACH OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE!!!!! We have a similar demographic problem in the N-SSA and hopefully our BoD is cognizant of that fact but at times I don't think some of them can find their backsides with either hand.
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I'm not sure the demographics (at least as far as aging membership) explains all of the decline, but I'm not sure anyone has gathered info so this could be looked at. The economy may also play into this in a couple of ways, as well as the legal climate (for example, I know of a number of former clubs that closed due to the increasing cost of insurance, or who lost their ranges due to increasing urbanization).

I'm starting a project looking at the changes in membership over the past 50 years to get an idea of what other factors may play into it. Having the N-SSA membership numbers for comparative purposes would be very useful--any idea who I'd need to contact to see about getting that info?
 
Might try the President.

Kind of doubt if anyone has really tracked the reasons why. It would be old age, economy, virus, lack on interest, etc.

In 1994 the NMLRA numbers were 15,000.

Know in our org. the membership continues to drop and 2 died last year.

New folks come here daily, most do not stay long.
 
It seems some muzzleloaders are 'hostile' to the NMLRA, some are loyal members, and many if not most don't give a hoot's patoot one way or the other. Some of the Congressional House & Senate members are always blabbing about how the 2nd was coded when all we had were muskets; if King Murphy or another anti-gunner gets into the White House, you better believe "they" will be coming to regulate single-shot muzzleloaders just the same as NJ dies now; a musket is no different that a Marlin.....
 
FishDFly said:
Might try the President.

Kind of doubt if anyone has really tracked the reasons why. It would be old age, economy, virus, lack on interest, etc.

In 1994 the NMLRA numbers were 15,000.

Know in our org. the membership continues to drop and 2 died last year.

New folks come here daily, most do not stay long.
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In 1994, the NMLRA membership hovered around 24,300 (a slight decline from a high of around 26,000). Part of what I'm doing currently is reviewing state-by-state membership over the years (I'm only up to the early '90s). In theory, I should be able to see if there is correlation (even if delayed the length of a typical subscription) between changes in membership numbers and the economy/policy/activities. On the other hand, a steady decline might suggest an aging membership or other factors. (Funny, I've been planning to do this for at least a decade, and spent the cost of a good rifle putting together a set of MB, but didn't actually get started til I'm away from my library and stuck reading scanned pdfs of past issues.)
 
LongWalker said:
In 1994, the NMLRA membership hovered around 24,300 (a slight decline from a high of around 26,000). Part of what I'm doing currently is reviewing state-by-state membership over the years (I'm only up to the early '90s). In theory, I should be able to see if there is correlation (even if delayed the length of a typical subscription) between changes in membership numbers and the economy/policy/activities. On the other hand, a steady decline might suggest an aging membership or other factors. (Funny, I've been planning to do this for at least a decade, and spent the cost of a good rifle putting together a set of MB, but didn't actually get started til I'm away from my library and stuck reading scanned pdfs of past issues.)
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They use to post the monthly membership each month in MB and membership by state and international. I asked them to start doing it again, request went no where.

I use to look at the Texas NMLRA membership and compare it to the TMLRA shoot attendance to get a feel of how many belonged to the NMLRA vs. TMLRA.

In 1994 Texas hosted the Terr. and I had to register the shooters. Most were not NMLRA members before hand.

Seems most at Friendship that I shoot with are over 70, most at the Texas shoots are over 70, some over 80 and a couple over 90.

Will be interesting to see your conclusions.
 
I've always suspected the membership list and numbers were sort of "filler" at times--there were occasional issues without it "way back when". It may be that (for editorial reasons, i.e., "copy space is money") these days it is only put in the minimum times per year to meet some requirement. Most of the time for most folks, it is "administrivia" and skipped over.

I hadn't thought about asking state associations for numbers by year--thanks for the idea!

Back in the '80s and '90s, I worked the gate at a lot of NMLRA rendezvous, and worked the registration/scoring shack or as a range officer at more shoots than I care to think about. It was common for folks to wait to renew membership until the first shoot of the year. I wonder if you were seeing some of that?
 
I do not think so as none of them had expired NMLRA cards.

Only reason they were joining, it was a requirement to shoot in a Terr. Most complained about the rule.
 
I joined a couple weeks ago. Don't plan to shoot at Friendship. But I do plan to go to the show and watch the shoot since I'm only 2 hours away. I figured I would join since I would just blow that money on something else anyway.
 
LongWalker said:
I'm not sure the demographics (at least as far as aging membership) explains all of the decline,
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Your compiled study of the demographics won't help, it's just statistics.
The actual problem is the NMLRA has lost it's ability to connect at a local level.
The magazine is a rag,, there's nothing there that can't be found everywhere with minimal searching. There is no "benefit" to having it sent to your door.
"Oh Gee, I'm a member,I get a magazine!", yeah sure, kill a tree and pay the postage,, then stack it on top of the other junk mail to collect dust.

It's the local leadership, the local contact, that builds enthusiasm in a "group" of like minded folks.

And I will tell you first hand that the Minnesota Regional rep of the NMLRA has personally offended 100's of people with his "elitist" manners as he presents himself at local rendezvous and the Regional encampments.
Sure, there's a shoot that happens every year,, but it's all his "friends" that show up,, new folks don't come back a second time.

Want more info about what I'm saying? let's do a PM,,
 
springfield art said:
The NMLRA is very out-front and honest that membership is declining; I recall a few years ago their magazine (Muzzle Blasts) had circulation of about 15K, now, it's down to about 11K. Some of this may be due to the thought that youngsters don't seem to have hobbies anymore, other that staring at a gaming screen! Anyway, the normal membership with the magazine is $50/yr., but for 2023 they have a 3-Year Membership for $100 flat-out, a nice savings for annual members like me. The NMLRA is an important part of the Muzzleloading hobby, weather or not you're a member! I always enjoy the monthly magazine and have gotten many good tips therein.
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I was at the Conner Long Rifle history trade fair event yesterday(Indiana). There was a group from NMLRA and was able to get that 3 year membership. Haven't been a member for years. Won't go to any shoots or events, but like some I like to support this type of organization. I don't duck hunt ,but been a member of Ducks Unlimited for 35+ years, don't Turkey hunt but been a member for over 16 years. Good groups that do good things for lot of good reasons.
 
Ghost23 said:
Well, they haven't sent me my card yet.
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Fast service does not seem to be one of their most important things. After a month give them a call.

Seems they do cards in lots, i.e., when they fell like getting around to it.
 
necchi said:
Your compiled study of the demographics won't help, it's just statistics.
The actual problem is the NMLRA has lost it's ability to connect at a local level.
The magazine is a rag,, there's nothing there that can't be found everywhere with minimal searching. There is no "benefit" to having it sent to your door.
"Oh Gee, I'm a member,I get a magazine!", yeah sure, kill a tree and pay the postage,, then stack it on top of the other junk mail to collect dust.

It's the local leadership, the local contact, that builds enthusiasm in a "group" of like minded folks.

And I will tell you first hand that the Minnesota Regional rep of the NMLRA has personally offended 100's of people with his "elitist" manners as he presents himself at local rendezvous and the Regional encampments.
Sure, there's a shoot that happens every year,, but it's all his "friends" that show up,, new folks don't come back a second time.

Want more info about what I'm saying? let's do a PM,,
Click to expand...

Why continue to bash the NMLRA each time someone does post about the place, it serves no real purpose. The OP posted about cost savings.

After so many "years" we all know your feelings about the NMLRA.

Give it a break, for a change. You bashing them is like posting about cleaning between shots and removing a stuck ball, never ending.
 

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