Why are or aren't you an NMLRA member?

[Black Hand]

Black Hand, first I am not complaining or doing nothing for the sport. I am very active in our local shoots and club. As a matter of fact, today drove 156 miles around trip to go to a one day shoot. ( the powder gods were against me, shot bad today) What I am seeing here is the same guys that have been doing this for 40 years, sure we get new people all the time but they don't hang around. And out here our Roov's are getting smaller and smaller because the old timers and getting to sick to shoot or are dead. Just from reading I do think there is still a lot of interested back East, but here in central Ca. it is drying off, and that is a fact. And I have many friends in the old car game and they feel the same way. I hope I am wrong and you are right, I just don't see it here.

Doing the same thing (driving to a shoot with your buddies) and ACTIVELY doing something to promote the hobby ARE NOT the same thing. It takes outreach rather than just sitting around shooting the breeze. Maybe the new people show and find or perceive an Old Boys Club and they leave because of that perception...

 

[Juice Jaws]

Doing the same thing (driving to a shoot with your buddies) and ACTIVELY doing something to promote the hobby ARE NOT the same thing. It takes outreach rather than just sitting around shooting the breeze...

First was not driving to the shoot with my buddies shooting the breeze, drove to the shoot with my lovely wife, she shoots better than I do. Not sure what you mean by out reach, but I am very active in two clubs I belong to, holding office, going to work days, and helping all new comer's. I do the best I can for the muzzle loading sport.

 

[Black Hand]

First was not driving to the shoot with my buddies shooting the breeze, drove to the shoot with my lovely wife, she shoots better than I do. Not sure what you mean by out reach, but I am very active in two clubs I belong to, holding office, going to work days, and helping all new comer's. I do the best I can for the muzzle loading sport.

To make it a short answer - you have to leave the confines of safety at your clubs and venture out. Organize events that are friendly to the community, organize a shooting day for kids, have a public lecture series, hold seminars, etc. Outreach means going to them instead of passively waiting for them to come to you...

 

[Dave Marsh]

D. Buck Stopshere, well said and thank you.:thumbs up:

Dave

 

[fleener]

Buck well said.

Do you go to Friendship? I will be there in June. Be nice to meet you.

Fleener

 

[52Bore]

I agree, well said Buck. Along with some of the other information that the organization does/offers that have been posted by many.

GeneL: you decision not to go to Friendship is your choice. They offer many classes, go back and read some of these post.. The President (and Past) of the NMLRA has spoken to the NRA BOD as well as the United Nations to preserve our ML shooting history & pastime.

 

[helwan9]

WE work with the boy scouts to bring muzzle loading to a the youth. Each year we instruct about 130 Venturing scouts (boys and girls) to shoot rifles and pistols at one event. They are taught how to load and shoot. they look forward to this each year.

George

 

[Nessmuck56]

Had Muzzleblast for years.....also had Classic Toy Trains Mag too.... not anymore....don’t know why...lol

 

[Black Hand]

WE work with the boy scouts to bring muzzle loading to a the youth. Each year we instruct about 130 Venturing scouts (boys and girls) to shoot rifles and pistols at one event. They are taught how to load and shoot. they look forward to this each year.

George

A great example of OUTREACH - bring the program to them instead of waiting for them to come to you. That's how we get more people interested and involved.

If you continue to do what you've always done, you will continue to get what you've always gotten...

 

[Carbon 6]

If you continue to do what you've always done, you will continue to get what you've always gotten...

Outreach to the Scouts seems to be a common practice.
So in that respect it is doing the same as they have always done.

I wonder how often the NMLRA evaluates its marketing and outreach initiatives ?

Of course we have to ask ourselves, "how many of us really want the NMLRA to change and become a different organization" ?

We may not like the results, and that might be the driving force behind many of their decisions.

 

[Black Hand]

Outreach to the Scouts seems to be a common practice.
So in that respect it is doing the same as they have always done.

I wonder how often the NMLRA evaluates its marketing and outreach initiatives ?

Of course we have to ask ourselves, "how many of us really want the NMLRA to change and become a different organization" ?

We may not like the results, and that might be the driving force behind many of their decisions.

I was addressing the oft-heard lament that the hobby is dying out because no one new is getting interested in/exposed to the hobby. I can't say I really care about the NMLRA or BP clubs (organizations), but they could still learn from the successes of others. As I stated previously in this thread, I am not a joiner and prefer to actively engage rather than sitting back and expecting an organization to do it for me...

Thus far, 15 years of introducing kids to the hobby through demonstrations/hands-on crafts & skills/shooting and 12+ years of visiting schools and other organizations for displays & talks. I will continue as long as I am able. You/we (collectively) are the best ambassador(s) this hobby has, as opposed to a faceless organization.

 

[Carbon 6]

I was addressing the oft-heard lament that the hobby is dying out because no one new is getting interested in/exposed to the hobby. I can't say I really care about the NMLRA or BP clubs (organizations), but they could still learn from the successes of others. As I stated previously in this thread, I am not a joiner and prefer to actively engage rather than sitting back and expecting an organization to do it for me...

Thus far, 15 years of introducing kids to the hobby through demonstrations/hands-on crafts & skills/shooting and 12+ years of visiting schools and other organizations for displays & talks. I will continue as long as I am able. You/we (collectively) are the best ambassador(s) this hobby has, as opposed to a faceless organization.

Well said.

There is a distinction that escapes a lot of people. When the MNLRA does outreach, it is first and foremost in their own interest. That is just the nature of running a business.

When you or anyone does it on their own, it is more about the sport.

 

[52Bore]

Carbon6 - BS

 

[fleener]

One of my buddies has quietly donated a dozen or so ML rifles to the NMRLA to be used by the Scouts and youth. If you look you can find opportunities.

Fleener

 

[Carbon 6]

One of my buddies has quietly donated a dozen or so ML rifles to the NMRLA to be used by the Scouts and youth. If you look you can find opportunities.

Fleener

How many of them were inlines ?

 

[52Bore]

Like the NMLRA which understands all ML have their place (except - no smokeless). This site supports all as well - The owner of Muzzleloading Forum recently purchased Modern Muzzleloading Forum.
Thanks to both organizations for continuing and promoting ML in every way they can. They are the best!

That’s why I support the NMLRA, this site and others.. it’s just ML and theirs plenty of room.

 

[Black Hand]

Well said.

There is a distinction that escapes a lot of people. When the MNLRA does outreach, it is first and foremost in their own interest. That is just the nature of running a business.

When you or anyone does it on their own, it is more about the sport.

Carbon6 - BS

EVERY business is in business for its own interests - just because they do other things does nothing to change this. First and foremost, they need to keep the doors open, lights on, people paid and make a profit - everything else is secondary. I would expect nothing less. If you believe they are there for purely altruistic reasons, I have a bridge for sale...

This is why the volunteer is far more effective - they aren't there to make a profit and usually incur all the costs without passing them on to the final consumer. Yes, it is nice when someone makes a contribution to the gas fund, but it isn't expected.

 

[fleener]

all of them were inlines. Not by design, but due to that is what he had left when he closed his retail shop.

Inline or traditional, they both shoot bp, load from the muzzle. A trigger pull is better than no trigger pull. Opportunities are where you find them.

Fleener

 

[52Bore]

Carbon6 - IMO - The NMLRA is not a business, they make nothing, they offer many things/programs for the ML community, don't discriminate any type of ML and are a source of information for many. BS - might not have been the best response, so I apologize. It is a huge Volunteer organization - like many non-profit organizations (with a small office staff that manage some of the programs - I find them incredibly helpful). You don't see their Volunteers, field reps, etc. out asking for $$$ like many other non-profits, they just try to promote and educate people about ML. They really do a lot when you read some of the previous post and for the number of members for the amount of revenue.
All is good.

 

[Carbon 6]

all of them were inlines. Not by design, but due to that is what he had left when he closed his retail shop.

Inline or traditional, they both shoot bp, load from the muzzle. A trigger pull is better than no trigger pull. Opportunities are where you find them.

Fleener

Thanks Art, I appreciate your honesty.