Mr. Silversmith, Help

[DustyRoundup]

Howdy,
Ive been reading posts, concerning clubs.
As I live in Montana, and I tell ya, I can not find a single club.
So, I figure, I'm going to give it my best this winter ,to start one.
I dont really care about "Positions, or Titles" for myself.
I just want to get out and have fun , with others of the same interests.
My problem, how to start?
I have talked to a Dealer, in the area, and he said, he would help, maybe throw in something about a club or event, in his spring advertising, when he advertises metal detectors.
Thats a plus.
I have been looking at the FMDAC, and I think being affiliated with them would be a plus.
(but that takes 5 members)
I am new to detecting, and last year I contacted every agency i could to KNOW the laws governing detecting.
From Federal, to State, to County, to city.
I keep theyre names and numbers in a tally book, on my person to cover my butt in the case of a greenhorn official stopping me from doing something I have permission to do.
So , that said, I do believe in the ethics of our hobby, and I do research everything possible , to make sure I'm not breaking laws or stepping on toes.
I think it would be nice to have newsletters to inform people, that dont have the time , or take the time to research.And for us newbies.

So, what would be a good way to start?
I'm thinking, maybe put together a hunt for next spring, advertise well in advance.
Then , at the hunt, have a sign up sheet, for those interested in joining and building a club.
Then , have a meeting, and go from there,
Let the club decide then , the when's, where's, and who's .

Is there an easier way? LOL
Sure seems like alot of work.
Any Ideas from those of you that have started clubs?
Anything I should know?
Any and all help , advice,
Will be Greatly appreciated,
Sincerely
Dusty

 

[Silversmith45]

Starting a metal Detecting Club.

I must admit that it has been a while since I've been a club member. I just don't have the extra time right now.
It looks like you've done a lot of research already. It's a good idea to know the laws concerning detecting in your area. A local dealer should be of a help there too. He has a lot at stake in that area. Any club support from him will be helpful too.
You can't have meetings until you find a place to hold them. Usually there are places that will let you use a meeting room for such events. Here at one time, the local water department had a room for us to use. Another site was the City Building in a nearby town. Currently I believe the local club uses a meeting room in the local Gander Mountain store. Most of these are available at no charge for non-profit organizations. If they have a fee, keep looking.
I would place flyers about the club several weeks ahead of your first meeting. You local dealer would be a good place to start. He can spread the word to his customers and future users. Place your telephone number on it so people with questions can get a hold of you. Also you can get their telephone number and call and remind them about the meeting a day or so ahead. A lot of people just plain forget.
This is where a newsletter comes in handy. It reminds them of the meeting and gets them in the detecting mood. It doesn't have to be fancy. Just remind them of the time and day. Once the club gets going, you can have articles about detectors, how to dig holes, and things like that. I used to exchange newsletter with other clubs in the surrounding states. It informed us of events that they had coming up. I met a lot of nice people that way. This all took place before the Internet. I would be lost using it today, but surely you will have some members computer savvy. Some current newsletters are in the form of e-mails. If you start one, put me on your list.
Stamps cost money, so you will have to have some dues to pay for things. It is usually an annual dues. You can decide on the amount at your first meeting. To high, and nobody will join, and to low, you won't cover expenses.
You will need to elect a Club Treasurer to handle the money. Opening a bank account for the club is best. I was in one where the president keep the money in his own account, and even with our dues, the club was always broke. Another way to raise money is to have a 50/50 pot. It's a drawing each meeting where the members (and guests) buy a ticket (25 cents or so) for a drawing. What ever the total amount is, the winner gets half and the club gets the other half. Sell ten dollars worth of tickets,the club gets five dollars and the winner gets five. Each month a couple of members can furnish prizes to raise money. Tickets are sold to win them. They don't have to be anything expensive. We had everything from books on metal detecting, coin probes (not pin pointers), coins, to homemade cakes and cookies. We usually had a free door prize drawing too.
To keep people interested, you need some sort of a program at the meeting. We had a token collector give a talk. He also identified any tokens that members had found and bought any they wanted to sell. Several members gave programs on trips that they had taken. One was on the mountains of Colorado and another was the Diamond mines of Arkansas. A local Metal Detector Dealer can talk about the latest detectors and answer questions about using them. Maybe you can work out discounts for club members. It could help both of you.
You can also have a finds of the month. Members bring in things that they have found to display and lie, I mean tell about finding. Once the club gets going, you can award small prizes (usually coins) for the Best Find, the Oldest Find, and the Most Unusual Find. You can decide that yourselves.
I never was much on having a lot of rules. As far as I was concerned, we were there to enjoy our hobby. Perhaps thats why I held the office for six years, and did the newsletter for eight. Still you need some kind of rules. If nothing else, to get rid of troublemakers. Our first club almost came to blows over a couple in it. It got to the point to where we started a new club without them. At the time, we didn't have any other way to handle them.
the high point of each year was our annual club hunt. You had to be a member by a certain date to take part. We had an entry fee and had to donate a decent prize (no junk) for the hunt. It had to be in ahead of time so we could buy prizes. A late fee was added for those who didn't get it in on time if they wanted to hunt. We buried tokens for different prizes and a lot of silver coins. They weren't anything special, but hey, a silver coin is something anyone likes to dig up. If they scratched it, that's their fault. You can decide the entry fee by how many members you have. Still you want enough prizes and coins so that everyone has a good chance of finding several. During the year, we tried to find places for the club to hunt. It could be just a park, or someplace old. We usually had a picnic lunch during them. You would be surprised how many times a club can get permission where an individual can't. We got to hunt an old horse track from the turn of the century (1900). We really cleaned up on that one. I got a Barber Half and an 1877 Seated Dime myself. Another member found about a dozen Barber Dimes. This was all with detectors which you would call almost antique now. One hunt was a night hunt. It was held after dark with no lights allowed. At the start of the hunt, we took a number of coins (clad) and just threw them out into the grass. You had to use your detector and find them by feel. no pin pointers allowed at this one. It's actually a lot of fun. At the end of the year, we held a Christmas party and exchange gifts.
To make a club a success, it needs a driving force. Someone who really wants it to succeed. Still to do it, everyone needs to help. One person can't do everything, and it isn't fair to ask him to. Sooner or later, he will have had enough. You all need to put something back in for what you get. As I said before, the main thing is to have fun. When people get greedy and don't want to share experiences, it isn't fun anymore. Club members can help each other with their questions. It's a great place to find hunting partners, and one of the best ways for someone just starting out to lean what it's all about.
If you can't find one in your area, or one that you like, start your own. What you make of it is up to you. Any questions? I don't know if I answered any that you had. I'm sure there are a lot of other members of different clubs on the forum. I doubt if two clubs are the same. Here's their chance to give their view. Have fun. That's what it's all about.
I really enjoyed our meetings and looked forward to them.

 

[DustyRoundup]

Thanks

Hey , Thanks Silversmith,

Ok, so I guess , I should try and get a "1st meeting" scheduled.
Then let it fly from there. (? hopefully it fly's LOL ?)

I agree , let the club, or new members , vote, and make the club up as they want it. i.e. dues, officers etc.

The newsletter, so I took it that i should make one up PRIOR to first mtg.?
OK, I guess I can do that. I hadnt thought of that.

Thanks a lot, for the run down .
I will be re reading that post , as time goes on.
I guess I need to change gears , and focus on a newsletter ,and find a place for a mtg.

Thanks again Silver,
Dusty

 

[Silversmith45]

The newsletter, so I took it that i should make one up PRIOR to first mtg.?

You don't really need a newsletter until you've had your first meeting. So far you don't really have much to write about. Information about when the meeting will be held and what it's going to be about can be on the flyer announcing it. After your first meeting, you can tell about the election of officers (Which probably should be put off until the second or third meeting to see if they are serious about starting a club) and other ideas brought up. This newsletter can be sent to those who attended to more than anything, remind them of the next meeting. Don't send it so early that they will forget by the time the meeting is held. They don't have to be long to start. One page would work for your first one. You will have more to write about as more meetings are held. Finds, winners of prizes, coming events, birthdays, and things like that. Perhaps having a club hunt at a local park if nothing else. Be sure the members know how to dig a proper hole if you do. A bunch of ugly holes can cause them to be put off limits to detecting. Your first thing you need to do is find a place to hold your meetings. If you can find others as interested in having a Metal Detecting Club, it should be a huge success. Good Luck. Silversmith45.

 

[DustyRoundup]

Thanks again

Thanks again Silver,
I am posting , sort of an "update" on a few sites.
I have noticed quite a few views, but no interest,
I feel that of those views, there has to be a percentage of them,that are native Montana'ns.
So, Im going to try to build interest.
If you could, check out my post in the clubs ,events forum.
Thanks
Dusty

 

[Silversmith45]

In the Metal Detecting Clubs-USA section, It says that there are three clubs in Montana. One in Lincoln, one in Manhattan, and another in Helena. You might contact them for assistance too.

 

[DustyRoundup]

Hmm?

I know that the club in Helena is no more.
The feller that ran it passed away,and nobody knows anything elese.
I didnt know about Manhatten, and Lincoln
I will search them out
thanks again
I appreciate the help
Dusty