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.  

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.  

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.      

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!  . . . .    

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      

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