For the latest in the fight for your right to fish, charter, and spearfish, visit http://www.thefra.org

Howie,

I think we should make an area where Denny can post updates and answer questions.

What do you all think?

The FRA will get anything they want here. We are open to ideas as to what is best for the spearfishing community. I know Rich is getting more involved with the communication of the FRA so I will get with him and Denny to see how they want to move forward. I would love to see monthly updates and possibly a monthly chat session with the board members and/or FRA members. Thoughts?

A scheduled chat time would be good, as I am sure Denny would not want to be chained into checking a message board. Like once a month, on a predetermined day, at 8:00 PM??

Does this newer version of Vbulletin support a chat function? That would be pretty kick ass right now.

There are chat and instant messenger options. T

From what I heard they actually had a private section over at SB where they would talk in PRIVATE about sensitive things without information getting out. They let a few or the wrong people in and it defeated the whole purpose of the thing. Thats what Joe Mahoit told me.

I was not a mod on SB. I have heard arguments for and against private rooms. I understand the need for mod communication, but I want to keep everything else public. If it can't be private messaged, emailed, or posted, it probably shouldn't be said. I would like to hear the opinions of our mods to see what they feel is best.

There are chat and instant messenger options.

Was that my job? I got the local cable company signed up. What more do you want?:D

From what I heard they actually had a private section over at SB where they would talk in PRIVATE about sensitive things without information getting out. They let a few or the wrong people in and it defeated the whole purpose of the thing. Thats what Joe Mahoit told me.

There was a mod section to discuss crap. TSB also had their own private section. I personally agree with Howie. We don't need private club sections. That will only drive a wedge between all of us.

We don't need private club sections. That will only drive a wedge between all of us.

Agreed.

:)

We had discussed giving clubs a splash page to host info about themselves and maybe chat. this might save the smaller clubs from having to pay for a dinky site just to have something with the club name on it.

We had discussed giving clubs a splash page to host info about themselves and maybe chat. this might save the smaller clubs from having to pay for a dinky site just to have something with the club name on it.

Good idea!

On another note, we really need to get something up for Denny and the FRA. You can add me to the list of people restricted from viewing the FRA section over on the "other" board.

I am going to let Denny take charge of the format that the FRA will take here. Please get with him, he is already registered and active. Maybe someone can volunteer to be the FRA front man and keep the section updated with the current regulations as they develop. I know Denny does not have the time.

The private pages were part of what killed spearboard. Made it boring. Made people suspect other people. If it needs to said privately, do it with a pm..

There is a private FRA section on spearboard. It started out as the Directors and a few advisors, but admission to the room grew to be a bit of political 'plum' and I started to see some degredation of of the quality of the communication.

I would be happy to host an open forum or chat session. We could even have people email questions in advance so that materials and answers are available at the session.

I would make the session entry limited somehow, as our opponents could get inside of this very easily. Imagine Roy Crabtree sitting in?

I COULD get Roy on for an interview, I am betting. Does this board support streaming video?

Open for all suggestions.

Denny

We can set up a video stream or live chat.

Roy C live on a spearfishing forum? :eek: That would definitely by counterproductive...

It might be a good Idea to keep the top slot open for items that require all of our immediate attention..Critical info, petitions..fast ones trying to be slid in w/o our knowledge etc.

Denny
I understand the reasoning behind limiting access to the chat forum and you probably have not had much time to think the situation over. Just some food for thought from someone who is interested, but does not do too much posting.

If you limit the monitoring of the chat session, who is to be allowed to monitor. If only selected members are invited, does that not follow what has happened in the past? Does that not get into the "selected few" which may lead into the same as SB had? Will we lose possibly some good suggestions or comments from those who have not been previously heard from.

Again, some food for thought. Please keep up the good work. From reading the post on this sight and the other sight, most of us, if not all, support the FRA and what you and others are doing. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Charlie

All of the people in the "FRA Forum" on SB have e-mail. Using a separate forum instead of an e-mail tree is just a pain in the ass. Its just one more extra step to get to the info. My e-mail is more secure than any "private" BB. FRA Board members can e-mails to each other.

IMHO.

Webers

Charlie-
Thanks for the support.
We need some confidentiality for some issues, but an open session would be fine for me at any time.
The private section for the FRA was nice, but I think that it may have caused some hurt feelings on the part of some dedicated FRA supporters who may have felt slighted by not being included.

I get ALOT of great input and advice from my Directors and advisors, as well as many informed members. I like email for discussing the issues.

We also have a conference call capability of up to 100 people at a time.
FRA issues have been discussed by the Directors using this method, which saves travel time for all participants.

Do you have any suggestions? I am always open to considering new ideas and methods.:toast:

During the course of a day I see and talk to many spearos, however very seldom do any of the regulatory issues enter into our conversation. This board has a lot of members who are very interested and concerned about the legislation of our fisheries and keep informed through the forums, but, a lot of spearos do not have or take the time to read all of the posts. If you have not already thought of or tried this approach, would it be possible to contact the local dive shops who have bulletin boards and have them post the information on upcoming legislation and public meetings? Are the spearfishing clubs kept informed of the information through E-mail to the presidents or other officer representation. A request for this information to be added to the agenda for their upcoming meeting may help get the information to several spearos who do not "log on" or "lurk" the web sight.

Again thanks for the time and effort you and the other FRA staff do to keep our fine sport alive and well.

Charlile

Does the FRA operate on the west coast also, or is there another organization similar that works over here?

Does the FRA operate on the west coast also, or is there another organization similar that works over here?

We operate nationally for spearfishing rights. We are growing in all coastal states. Since our current membership base in in the SE US, it may seem as though we are concentrating on only this area. That is not the case, it just appears so because of all the member activity.

Join us. Or at least add your voice to the growing chorus of sportsmen demanding fairness in fisheries management and protecting our heritage of harvest.