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HOAFF EDUCATION STRATEGY

by Norm Crisp, HOAFF Education Officer

 

Introduction

 

While the rate at which new fly fishers has been decreasing over the past several years, most sources in the trade expect the decline to decrease and return to a slight upward rate of growth.  At the same time there is a suggestion that there will be a decrease in the numbers of fisherman with years of experience.   These conflicting trends appear to be related to our age structure.  More and more Americans are reaching retirement age.  They have both the time and the disposable income to pursue a sport they had put-off during their work years.   At the same time many of the “experienced” fly fishers are aging to the point where the physical demands of the sport are starting to limit their participation.  This increase in rate of new fishers coupled with a decrease in the number of “experienced” fishers presents a serious challenge.  

 

How do we ensure that the new fly fishers remain active in the sport and become “experienced”?   Survey results from the American Fly Tackle Manufactures Association  (AFTMA) suggest that a very small percentage of people taking up the sport will remain active after 5 years.   The reason the AFTMA suggested for the high drop out rate is frustration.  Of the small percentage that who still active after 5 years, the majority had been trained by professionals or received structured learning.   HOAFF is in a unique position to offer help and assistance to:

  1. Help increase the number and quality of “experienced” fishers, and

  2. Provide the structured learning opportunities that lead to committed fly fishers.

 The most effective way to meet these two opportunities is an education strategy that interacts with other HOAFF functions – Membership and Program – and that is directed at both intramural and extramural audiences.

 

Interaction with Other Programs

 

A viable and focused educational program can assist membership by being both a member recruitment and retention vehicle.  With regards to recruitment, the education program can provide the opportunity to reach new fly fishers by providing them with basic skills needed to successfully enter the sport.  This can be accomplished by developing a series of “Introduction to Fly Fishing” classes.  These classes would not just be “how to cast classes” but also include introductory level classes on fly tying, local warm water fishing opportunities, fly fishing techniques, fly fishing at the tout parks and MoArk trout fishing opportunities.  This series could be aimed at the general public or at specific groups such as women and retirement age populations.

 

Retention of members is critical to the long term success of the organization.  Being a member of HOAFF must make them feel that they are growing and becoming more successful in their fly fishing experiences. To remain active in HOAFF there must be a payoff.  Leisure time is valuable.  An educational program that provides the opportunity for members to continue to improve their skill level may be the payoff.

 

People attend club meetings for a variety of reasons.  Two of the paramount reasons are the social aspect and the meeting program.  The co-coordinated development of the annual schedule of monthly meeting programs and HOAFF’s educational activities would enhance both activities.

 

Actions

  1. Identify club members with an interest in developing and presenting training classes.   

    The club membership roster has people with a wide range of expertise and experiences.  These members should be encouraged to develop educational material.

     

  2. Establish training standards.

    Educational material must not only be relevant and entertaining, it must also be technically correct.  A procedure to ensure the accuracy of HOAFF presented training material must be developed.

     

  3. Identify educational activates and classes desired by the membership.

    The membership should be “polled” to determine what specific educational actives they would like to see incorporated into the clubs activities and programs.

     

  4. Identify new constituencies and develop educational material directed toward those groups.

    Potential sources of new membership and participation in HOAFF are non-traditional groups such as minorities and women.  Developing an outreach network to these groups and developing delivery mechanisms should be expanded.

     

  5. Conduct extramural educational activates which will bring in new members.

    A series of educational activities that are focused on bringing in and retaining new members should be developed.  These activities should cover a wide range of subject matter and be developed to build on each other.   These activities should also be conducted at a broad array of venues in an effort to reach a greater number of potential members.

     

  6. Develop syllabus for class(es).

    For purposes of consistence, a syllabus and standardized presentation materials should be prepared for each class.  This will facilitate several members participating in delivery of the class material.

     

  7. Prepare educational schedule.

    An annual schedule of both, inter and extra-mural educational activities should be prepared and placed on the HOAFF web site.

     

  8. Coordinate educational activates and meeting programs.

    To the extent possible, educational activities should be coordinated with the meeting programs.  This coordination would encourage mini-workshops during the “social hour” preceding the program.