Civic organizations have been in decline most of my adult life. The 2000 book Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam documented the late 20th century decline in these organizations and associated social connections. Expanding work expectations, later maturing families, and electronic media beginning with television led Kiwanians, Rotarians, Knights of Columbus and Shriners, bowlers and softball players became generally groups of older folks, either executives or retirees. By the 2010s, as the internet became everywhere in-person meeting groups became extremely rare. Then the Covid pandemic killed nearly all remaining vestige of any civic network. Nowadays opportunities to gather are rarer than hen’s teeth, and most member-driven outdoor organizations are down to a few holdouts, folks who’d otherwise just meet for lunch every month or so.
My fly club was no exception. Once vibrant and strong, club membership had aged, key members had passed away or otherwise ceased engagement. Similarly archaic membership rules had made it difficult to re-invigorate the body. Our meeting attendance was dwindling. As Covid prevented us from meeting in person and Zoom went over many members’ heads, we looked to be headed to the scrap heap.
For most of my life I’ve been a fly angler. I’ve pursued it as a solitary activity, or as an activity with my immediate family. But as I approached 50, I had some co-workers and friends with which I enjoyed angling and outdoors. Some had joined the more exclusive of the local fly angling clubs. As they retired I realized I’d not see them at all unless I joined too, so I applied and became a member. And as I hate to be in a boat and not pull an oar, I volunteered for some club activities and committees with which I’d been comfortable in other non-profits.
It was the first recreational club I’d joined. I had a lot of time devoted to conservation or public land organizations. This recreational club is way more diverse in terms of people and backgrounds than the others were, and way more interesting. During Covid I was remarkably isolated. I recognized the value of community, even the Zoom community this club represented. So I actually engaged more. And I fell in with some visionary folks who felt that since we’re a fishing club, we should go fishing. Together. With other anglers. Simple.
My original friends who joined the club are all gone now. But I’ve made new friends, and been introduced to fishing places and techniques I’d have never known otherwise. And in my late 60’s I’ve found learning is a wonderful thing to do.
Making new friends and having more fun are things we don’t associate with adulthood or retirement ages of our lives. Civic engagement allows us to do that….gathering and working together toward a goal as we all know is a terrific way to build community and relationships. One of the biggest afflictions of retirees and older folks is a difficulty in making friends. New friends mean new ideas, new experiences. Those are good for you and make living longer worth the trouble.
In most and my club, we’ve a wide range of individuals who bring lots of things to the table: tools, effort, insight, experience, interests, and yes baggage. Yes, we’re struggling to attract younger folks as members, attract women anglers, attract those whose backgrounds are not immediately that of the “traditional western outdoorsman”. We have made progress, and stuff takes time. In the end, we’re rediscovering what those that started this club in the post-Korean War era knew … forming a group of folks that wants to go fishing is a good way to go fishing. Folks want to fish. Folks want to learn about fishing from other folks. It’s fun to meet at a place and fish. Maybe have a lunch or a beer in the parking lot with folks you know a little bit. Talk about the day. With jokes and dogs and gigantic fish stories and small fish stories and maybe a trophy award later in the month to let others who could not attend in on the fun. In that way you make more and new friends, learn and do and catch more fish, and have more fun.
On the web, this board and others foster a sense of community I find very attractive. Folks get together from time to time, and the crowd narrows and widens as things evolve over time. I gather with a couple of you irregularly, and with a couple other groups of widespread old friends on occasion. But we're fairly anonymous, and I still mostly fish alone or with my dog.
But before you dismiss your local club as just a bunch of old guys, invest a few hours and attend a meeting of a nearby local fly club. Be open minded, share your knowledge, ask questions, maybe volunteer for some small thing: local adipose fin cutting, a maintenance day at some local access. Attend a fly tying night. Be friendly, trust and be trustworthy. Make some friends and go fishing. Over time I think you’ll find what comes back to you is a great deal more than you imagined.
My fly club was no exception. Once vibrant and strong, club membership had aged, key members had passed away or otherwise ceased engagement. Similarly archaic membership rules had made it difficult to re-invigorate the body. Our meeting attendance was dwindling. As Covid prevented us from meeting in person and Zoom went over many members’ heads, we looked to be headed to the scrap heap.
For most of my life I’ve been a fly angler. I’ve pursued it as a solitary activity, or as an activity with my immediate family. But as I approached 50, I had some co-workers and friends with which I enjoyed angling and outdoors. Some had joined the more exclusive of the local fly angling clubs. As they retired I realized I’d not see them at all unless I joined too, so I applied and became a member. And as I hate to be in a boat and not pull an oar, I volunteered for some club activities and committees with which I’d been comfortable in other non-profits.
It was the first recreational club I’d joined. I had a lot of time devoted to conservation or public land organizations. This recreational club is way more diverse in terms of people and backgrounds than the others were, and way more interesting. During Covid I was remarkably isolated. I recognized the value of community, even the Zoom community this club represented. So I actually engaged more. And I fell in with some visionary folks who felt that since we’re a fishing club, we should go fishing. Together. With other anglers. Simple.
My original friends who joined the club are all gone now. But I’ve made new friends, and been introduced to fishing places and techniques I’d have never known otherwise. And in my late 60’s I’ve found learning is a wonderful thing to do.
Making new friends and having more fun are things we don’t associate with adulthood or retirement ages of our lives. Civic engagement allows us to do that….gathering and working together toward a goal as we all know is a terrific way to build community and relationships. One of the biggest afflictions of retirees and older folks is a difficulty in making friends. New friends mean new ideas, new experiences. Those are good for you and make living longer worth the trouble.
In most and my club, we’ve a wide range of individuals who bring lots of things to the table: tools, effort, insight, experience, interests, and yes baggage. Yes, we’re struggling to attract younger folks as members, attract women anglers, attract those whose backgrounds are not immediately that of the “traditional western outdoorsman”. We have made progress, and stuff takes time. In the end, we’re rediscovering what those that started this club in the post-Korean War era knew … forming a group of folks that wants to go fishing is a good way to go fishing. Folks want to fish. Folks want to learn about fishing from other folks. It’s fun to meet at a place and fish. Maybe have a lunch or a beer in the parking lot with folks you know a little bit. Talk about the day. With jokes and dogs and gigantic fish stories and small fish stories and maybe a trophy award later in the month to let others who could not attend in on the fun. In that way you make more and new friends, learn and do and catch more fish, and have more fun.
On the web, this board and others foster a sense of community I find very attractive. Folks get together from time to time, and the crowd narrows and widens as things evolve over time. I gather with a couple of you irregularly, and with a couple other groups of widespread old friends on occasion. But we're fairly anonymous, and I still mostly fish alone or with my dog.
But before you dismiss your local club as just a bunch of old guys, invest a few hours and attend a meeting of a nearby local fly club. Be open minded, share your knowledge, ask questions, maybe volunteer for some small thing: local adipose fin cutting, a maintenance day at some local access. Attend a fly tying night. Be friendly, trust and be trustworthy. Make some friends and go fishing. Over time I think you’ll find what comes back to you is a great deal more than you imagined.
