Just sent my ballot in. Looks like there is a big push to move Compton's from the Berrien Springs location. I think a rotation would be ggod Nationally, but I sure would hate to lose that annual rendevous in Berrian Springs. Sure has been good. I hope that whoever takes over finds some good sites to rival or exceed what the rendevous in Berrian Springs has become. Good to see Whip taking over as the vendor coordinator. What's your thoughts on moving or keeping it as is?
When people try to change something that is working just fine, it usually never meets the expectations the designers were hoping for, and then usually falls to the wayside.
Change usually happens when you get people who think they can run things better than the ones who are doing it, and 99.99% of the time it comes back to bite you in the arse.
Isn't broken, leave alone.............
QuoteOriginally posted by Moooseran:
Isn't broken, leave alone.............
I agree
While I believe that the Compton rendezvous should continue at the present location, I also think there should be a second annual event of some sort in the west. Not saying it should be a rendezvous particularly. Maybe a national winter awards/convention banquet or something.
Move it a round the country. Give people a chance to have a closer drive for them and cut down on expenses.
Seen this happen with the GLLI!
Enough said!
I haven't been able to attend the Compton's since it's inception, but know that Berriens Springs is a great place!
I also agree with moving it around. P&Y and PBS move around. Give us western guys a chance at going. Colorado would be a great start.
One gathering is a huge undertaking but 2 gatherings almost make sense. Berrien Srpings is close to a huge population of traditional archers. I'm just wondering if the numbers out west will support another gathering. Maybe the Expo in Waterloo will be some indication as to whether the numbers out there can support a National rendevous. I don't see how Ohio is a prohibitive distance from Berrien Springs, in fact if your less than 12 hours seems reasonable to me. I know the candidate profiles seemed to support some change. I don't think the leadership will impair the organization, good people running.
Often wondered quietly to myself, why National Organizations such as Compton, doesn't tie up with other well attended shoots, lend a hand and be a co-sponsor at varied big shoots around the country to allow some who can't drive that far to participate in the "club" a bit more.
PBS moves around for their "convention" to allow people from varied areas to go, but who knows.
Always a good reason to NOT do some things lay people like me would think should be "easy." :)
Compton's does have a presence at many shoots as representatives are there for membership information and support. I think it makes a huge difference too that they do so much to get kids involved in our sport in many different regions of our country. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. I know if it was changed annually I would probably end up attending more events like ATAR, ETAR, Wisconsin State shoots, and the IBO Trad World.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Vines:
When people try to change something that is working just fine, it usually never meets the expectations the designers were hoping for, and then usually falls to the wayside.
Change usually happens when you get people who think they can run things better than the ones who are doing it, and 99.99% of the time it comes back to bite you in the arse.
Wouldn't ya know it, last year was my first year to attend, I joined comptons and vowed I will attend every year and bring friends.(no fun going yourself) Just my luck, I find a good thing and then it's gonna get changed. Look at the positive side, it could help the membership and growth of the Michigan longbow association, when it don't have to compete with Compton. Yes I'm being sarcastic, but yet there is some truth in this.
Leave it alone...especially since it's a short drive for me from Indiana...
I like where it is at. Great location, history etc.
I am one for Tradition & It would bring tears to my daughter's eyes and mine when I would have to tell her that it has been moved. I trust that the will do they right thing. Semper Fi
Gotta love the regional flavor of the responses. :p
Instead of moving a well established/traditional event, why don't the one's who want a premiere shoot in their neck of the woods put one together. "If you build it, they will come"...As long as you make it worth their while.
QuoteOriginally posted by doug g:
I like where it is at. Great location, history etc.
I thought Mr. Compton was from Nebraska?
That Berrien Springs area seems to get some bad storms. I think the Rockys are way more beautiful also. JMO :)
I drove 700 miles to go and will do it again, Last I checked that area is near the middle of the country, not exactly but close. I would love to have it closer but if it stays where it is that's OK also!
Leave it ALONE !!!!!!
If it ain't broke, there isn't a need to fix it.
Like several other people have already said, put together another one and call it "whatever". Storms or no storms, there will never be a "better" place to hold the Comptons Rendezvous than in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Winterhawk1960
I agree I'm worried that if its moved
it will never be the same. :campfire:
If its possible to keep it thier its the perfect setting!!!!
Atmosphere is important and its hard to beat Barrien Springs overall for the setting.
I would hate to see it moved personally.
Keep the tradition alive thier if possible?
I haven't even seen the ballots and question yet in my mailbox. But this is great feedback, and you can bet that your opinions will be heard.
Compton Traditioanl Bowhunters is far more than just a rendezvous every June in Berrien Springs. Many people associate the name Compton with a great shoot that is held every summer, and never realize or understand the organization behind it and what it does the rest of the year.
But over the course of its existence the Berrien Springs Rendezvous sure has become one of the premier events anywhere in the country. I've been attending for probably 8 years now, and like most of you, would sure hate to lose what has been built up with so much hard work of so many people. It has become one of the highlights of my summer.
I like Doc Nock's suggestion of partnering with other large events. Maybe we can expand our reach through something like that. If I do end up on the board I certainly would like to explore options along those lines. Compton truly is a national organization, and I think we need to find ways to involve the rest of the country.
Whatever happens, please understand what a MASSIVE undertaking putting on an event like the Berrien Springs Rendezvous really is. There is no way it could happen without the efforts of the Berrien County Sportsman Club members as well as all the Compton members and volunteers.
There are a lot of very dedicated people that devote hours upon hours and days upon days of time every year to put this thing together. And as good as they are, I doubt we could get them all to do it two or more times per year! But that doesn't mean that there aren't equally as good and dedicated people throughout the rest of the country.
We'll see what happens in the elections, and I know for sure that I haven't even begun to get a grasp on all I would need to know about all of this. But keep the comments coming - it's all good!
Compton's aint really that national in my book. Every event I have read about happened way out east. The rendezvous might as well be in Yemen since it's over a thousand miles away. If they want to get more national they have to have events in different regions of the country. Moving the rendezvous might not make it bigger but it might further recognition of the organization and attract more membership.
BrownDogOwner, I agree with you. Perhaps Compton could partner with the Western States Traditional Rendezvous, for example. The Elk Foundation has a conventional every year in Reno and Friday evening is always a free night where little or no activities are planned. Might be a perfect night for a Compton banquet held in conjunction with the RMEF convention.
And those are just two ideas. I'm sure that others can come up with even better suggestions.
I read this about a half hour ago and had to think about it for a few minutes before I new how I thought on in for sure.
My first response was no way why would you ever want to move it I love setting up there as a vendor and it's only an hour away. But if you walk through the camping area you see cars from all over the country that travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to attend this great event. It may be a great family vacation to travel west south or east to attend this event and while doing that you may have the chnace to see a part of our country you have never seen before meet, fellow Traditional Bowhunters fellow TradGangers you have never been able to meet. This could be a good thing for Compton's if it is done RIGHT, and not hastly. They need to find places to have the event that are at least as good as Berrien or better each year it will be a huge undertaking for those in cherge not as easy as having the same place each year.
Will we travel every year no, I don't see any way of making that happen with our income but will be happy to see new sites and meet new people when we can, If the leadership decides to go ahead and make the change.
Please only make the change if you are sure it will be a better event and a benfit for Comptons Organization. I am looking over my ballot now and it will be interesting to see where this whole thing goes
Having had a hand in a National organization that puts on an annual event drawing 1500-1800 participants, I believe that it is best for everyone for such an event to have a "permanent" home. Be it on owned property or loaned property. I'd imagine that the current location is fairly close to the population center of the country. In my experience, if you start moving it around every year, it will likely falter. Now if the move would be made to find a better annual site, then that's a different matter.
People don't realize the huge amout of work that the Berrien County Sportsmans Club does every year to get ready for the Rendezvous. We have started already and it goes no stop until the day of the event. Club Members work thier tails off for the event. The number of volunteer hrs. is mind boggleing. I hope the Compton board adds a location and do not move the location.
I know this isn't in the same class as the Super Bowl or Olympics, but events that change locations have to start preparations and plans years in advance. Seems like a lot of work for something that's already a lot of work.
On the other hand, when gas goes over $4 a gallon, it won't matter to me where Compton holds the Rendezvous.
I am trying hard not to be bias. I have loved the Comptons Rendezvous for over 10 years now. I started just going for the day then it turned into over night and now it has progressed into almost a full week of camping. I love the location and not only cause it is close to my home but because it is an awesome setting. It's a short run to the Lake Michigan beaches, there are the towns of St. Joe and Benton Harbor for shopping and very nice down town areas, and the event is right on the bank of the St. Joe river for swimming and even bow fishing if you choose.
To me it's not so much about the location but personally I think Comptons would loose a huge asset by not allowing the Berrien County Sportsmans Club host this event. These people work like crazy to put on a top notch event and in my book they have never failed to do so.
There are some very wise men on the Compton Board of Directors. They have seen the demise of many organizations. They are not going to do anything rash. They understand COMPLETELY the massive undertaking it is to have the premier event they have every year AND the importance of the local club who does the heavy lifting.
I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about this...
(http://i52.tinypic.com/2m2g746.jpg)
The reason the Comptons are such a great event to attend is the volunteers from the sportsmen club that host the event every year. Thank you Berrien Springs Sportsmen Club. I hope they do not change the location or the date. I was blessed to meet people from as far as Australia last year at the Comptons. Leave it alone. :nono:
Originally posted by "Shedrock"
I also agree with moving it around. P&Y and PBS move around. Give us western guys a chance at going. Colorado would be a great start.
:thumbsup:
I live just a little over 4 hours away and yes admittedly I am bias to this being close to me. I understand what the western half of this nation is thinking, and yes it makes sense to want to have an event closer to you. I hope we don't destroy a great thing just for the sake of moving it, with that being said, the great people out west need to come together and put the effort into creating there Compton event, I have seen the effort berrian springs sportsman club puts into this, I have also seen the effort comptons put into it, it is a first class event ! How they combined the outdoor feel of the woods and the saint Joe river in a wilderness camp around the campfire setting, but yet have very nice modern facilities is amazing to say the least. If anything please create another rendevue out west and do not destroy this one.
I haven't recieved my ballot yet, so all I know is what I am reading here.
Dan
One idea is to alternate it every other year. From Berrien Springs to a state out west, then back to Berrien Springs, and so on. That might keep everyone happy. :biglaugh:
I had been a little confused without the opportunity to see the information that came with the ballots. So I didn't know if I just wasn't aware of something or what.
In a phone call this morning with Marv Cochran I was assured that there is no push to move away fro Berrien Springs for the summer rendezvous. The Berrien County Sportmans Club does an amazing amount of work in putting the event on every year, and I don't know how a better facility could possibly be found.
I've been assured that the only "push" or discussion is how Compton can grow into the national organization it is designed to be. A second event of some kind would certianly help to expand the footprint, and that is definately an option that will be explored.
A second rendezvous? A banquet? Indoor or outdoor? All kinds of ideas, and input and suggestions from members who want to get involved will sure be listened to.
Come on bring it right here, New York City, at the Jacob Javitts Convention Center. It's huge and you know us rich New Yorkers can afford to buy new toys. lol
I've been a member since 2003 and this issue of a lack of a western event is not new. It has been around for years and the Compton leadership is certainly aware of the issue. But it must also be kept in mind that Compton is still a relatively small organization. Trying to put together a second event out west on the scale of the Berrien Springs rendezvous would undoubtedly tax the limits of the organization's capabilities.
On the other hand, telling folks out west to organize their own event (as was suggested above) is a slap in the face. The fact of the matter is that Compton has the "names" required to make such an event successful. Without their input and presence we would simply have what we already have.
I personally believe that some type of indoors winter event out west would have the greatest chance of success. Put it in a city like Portland and perhaps eventually it could also grow into an event like Kalamazoo. But I'm not holding my breath waiting for any of this to happen. I think Compton feels that the greatest potential for growth lies in the east, and perhaps they are right about that. That being the case, my suggestion to my fellow westerners is to support your state trad organization and groups like RMEF and work to make what we already have even better.
With the push to get more members, you are limiting the western folk to considering joining a great organization that not all can participate. Many younger familys can not afford to take the time off and still have time to hunt later. I relize and support the idea that it is what we can do for Compton and not what Compton can do for us,but not all people see it this way. I am a member[proud] and will always support Compton's. Also there are trad people all over the west. thanks Dick
Suggesting that the another region starts their own shoot is not a slap in the face. It's a reality check. These type of events take a TON of work.
Why don't you have one out west? (Comptons, K-zoo, ATAR, ETAR, GLLI etc...) Because no one has stepped up and put the work into it. None of these events started out as a big national draw. They started out small and grew through hard work.
Find a club willing to host an event. Put it out there, work to make it succesful. If you want it tied to Comptons or any other org, work with them. Tell them that you are willing do, then ask them what they can do to help support your new venture.
Water it, feed it, make it grow.
Continue to work with and support the org you want to be affiliated with. Don't walk up and say "Hey, you do this over there. Do it here now."
I'm sure flaming arrows are already coming my way.
So in other words, you're telling us westerners to look elsewhere and start our own group because Compton really isn't for us. Funny, but I was under the impression that Compton was supposed to be a national organization, not a regional one. Guess I was mistaken.
Oh, and we do have a western shoot. It's called the Western States Traditional Rendezvous. It's not anywhere near as large as the Compton shoot, but the state trad groups in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California work hard each year to make it a success.
Rich, I hope it wasn't any of my comments that gave you the idea that folks in the west should just organize their own event. I don't think that is the case at all.
If a new event is going to truly be a Compton product, it will take involvement of the board to make that happen. I don't think we could have two seperate groups each doing their own thing and still trying to say it is all the same organization. The Compton board would certainly need to be involved.
Of course, board members, and everyone else involved in putting on any large event like this are all volunteers, and it would certainly take some local involvement to make something happen.
It guess it's a little bit of a chicken and egg thing. We need active members to put together an event, yet I understand why we don't have more members in an area of the country where we don't have an event. Difficult problem? Sure. But in my mind at least, not insurmountable at all.
No, Whip, my comments are definately not directed at what you have said. Quite the opposite. I think you have a good understanding and grasp of the situation. :thumbsup:
I suppose my comments could of been taken that way, sorry if I offended anyone. Please let me clarify, i know the Berrian sportsman club is very pro active in making this a great show, you would need a place or club like this to work with comptons to make it go, as was mentioned this framework might (probably is) already in place. This group needs to team up with Comptons ( I'm not good at politics, so who calls who first is not up to me) I could see that going both ways, comptons would not want to take over an existing event as that could be taken wrong, but for them to start from scratch with no help would also be difficult. Sorry if I offended any of my fellow western tradgangers , I would never intentionally do that, I guess I was just freaking out (being selfish) at the thought of losing this great event.
Dan
Edit: removed double post
Why not have one in the West for the Western states and still have the original at Berrien Springs? Moving event locations can be the Kiss of Death for an event. Just doesn't seem to work out good for anyone!
Dan, not a problem. Thanks for the clarification. :thumbsup:
Again, I do hope I've been clear that I do not favor moving the event from Barrien Springs. Rather, what I favor is a second event of some type in the west. But as both you and Whip have rightly pointed out, this is easier said than done.
Berrien is a great location and only 1 1/2 hour drive for me. I agree that these events were started and grown here. That being said, I would hope that some fair compromise could be found. I may even attend an event in Colorado just to make the trip to new and surely beautiful places. Love me some Comptons!!!!!
Stickbowman and Warchild - There is no plan to move away from Berrien Springs - only to explore other additional options in other parts of the country. :thumbsup: :campfire:
Who has an adequate location and workforce that can handle the event? The amount of work is a major undertaking and I don't think it would be possible to pull this event off without a dedicated sportsman club that is doing most of the work.
That said, I favor holding additional Compton events in the deep south and out west so members in those areas have an opportunity to attend an event. Hard to figure out when to do this since the event at Berrien Springs is each summer and already requires a tremendous amount of work and coordination from the Compton board.
My vote goes for "leave it be". It is a well organized event in a very good location for a large number of folks. Pretty straight forward.
Well, if I had a vote, I would ask for an additional Compton shoot the week after Christmas in southern AZ, southern Cal, or how about Hawaii. Sign me up!
The event is a tremedeous amount of work for the board. Last year was my first year attending and I saw this first hand. It would be too much work for the board to be in charge of two events per year.
Here's a thought. Keep the event in MI and create a comittee of western members to put on an event in the western states. I honestly believe with a little prodding, we could get a committee of 30+ people in the western states to take on this commitment and do a great job.
KANSAS!- center of the US! 8-10 hours from Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Cheyenne, Nashville, Minneapolis, etc. Lots of land and I would bet the new KDWP Secretary would be behind it! . . . . :pray:
I've never got to attend, but I know that the gathering has been successful and still is. If someone else can do a better job somewhere different then I say go to it and a lot of people will attend. But leave Berrien Springs as is :thumbsup: :deadhorse:
Last year was my first time ever attending.
I truely wish EVERYONE could attend a rendevous with the spirit you find at Berrien Springs.
For me, the 6 hour drive is a huge undertaking and it amazed me to find how far so many people travelled to get there.
Comptons as a national traditional bowhunter organization only has + or - 1200 members! Might want to start asking yourself why! By the way I'm a Charter Member. Overall believe in the mission and intent of a national organization. Efforts to address membership have been lacking IMO. NO I haven't been to the Rendezvous, I'm a little busy that weekend. Hosting the event at Berrien Springs seems to be a good enough thing for the people who are able to enjoy it. The folks there do know how to get the job done. Could be difficult to find a suitable location to put on a SIMILAR event. If you think it has to be the SAME good luck with that. People are very capable when they put their mind to a project. The organization needs a push for more wide spread and more membership. All the thousands who've been to the Rendezvous and you can't get them to join. What going on here folks? My ballot has been sent!
I'm going to make the assumption a reply was made to my post. While the intial part of the reply was totaly off base the second half goes right to my point.
If you have a large gathering that is functional and gaining steam then talk to the board members of whatever organization you choose and intiate working together to make your event a sanctioned event for that org.
Initiate the talks, make it happen if you want it. I guarantee a club/locality that comes forward with the desire and a plan will get a whole lot farther than sitting back and waiting for someone else to start a new shoot.
QuoteOriginally posted by Steve O:
Well, if I had a vote, I would ask for an additional Compton shoot the week after Christmas in southern AZ, southern Cal, or how about Hawaii. Sign me up!
AZ in January I will be up for that trip :bigsmyl: