The future of the IBO
 

If the 2 year contract with Snow Shoe can not cancelled, what about the 3rd year option cancellation.

I think that it is time for the IBO to start thinking about establishing their own central location to hold the yearly championship. If it is necessary to own the property to do this than now is the time to start looking for such a location. This property should be in a central location of the northeast where the majority of the membership is from at the present time. Such property could serve as a Headquarters for the IBO and would a establish the organizaion as a permanent home for the records and functions of their daily efforts. There may be obsticles that need to be cleared but the first step will be in the best interest of the organization' s membership. This could become a tourist attraction for all archers not only the IBO members and could help increase the overall membership.

As a bowhunting organizaion there is no reason that it' s members can not share all aspects of archery and its recreational function. Bowhunting has been served well by the IBO and the growth of Tournament archery has only to served to make many archers better qualified to be bowhunters.

The longest journey begins with a single step and it is time for the IBO BOD to make a move toward establishing the IBO as a permanent and constructive organization with a permanent home. Increase the dues and give the membership something that is really worth the increase. Bring the membership into developing more of the future and less of questioning the past.

RE: The future of the IBO
 

I don' t think I could disagree with you more, but I respect your opinion.

I don' t think that it would be at all feasible for the IBO to build and maintain their own facility for hosting World Championships or any other event. The logistics alone would be mind boggling and I' m sure that Judy already has enough on her plate without that! :o) There are so many issues to consider with a proposition such as this, issues like lodging for 7,000 people (the unofficial number of people who checked into the World Championships), food services, who' s gonna cook it and serve it?, range set up, registration, and the list goes on and on. On a scale of feasibility from 1-10 I think that the idea rates a -9.

However, yes, there are issues that should be considered when deciding who will help host such a huge event, and I think that Sonwshoe, while we might not agree with everything they do, has done a more than adequate job. Can you fault them for wanting to make money? Yes, a 59% increase for rooms is WAY out of line, but in the end they lived up to their contract with the IBO, thanks in large part to Judy' s efforts (way to go toots!). And you can be sure that if there is a renegotiation of the contract when it comes up for renewal that the IBO will do everything they can to protect it' s members from drastic rate increases.

When folks start complaining about how little the IBO does for it' s members, it' s a fairly clear sign that not all the facts have been presented or considered. I know that everyone wants them to do more, but as a young organization, they have to pick and choose their fights carefully. The causes that they have supported over the years have benefitted not just bowhunters but hunters in general as well as archery as a sport. For example in the state of Virginia they were major contributors to the effort to pass an amdnment to the State constitution giving all residents of the state the RIGHT to hunt, trap and fish, a fight that ensures legal foothold in battling the " anti' s" in the future as well. They make the absolute best they can with the funds and resources available to them. If the IBO membership were polled though, I think you would find that the vast majority would not be in favor of increasing the membership dues to the point that would fund an " IBO Central" such as you suggest. The first vote against it would be mine.

As I said I value your opinion, but in this country girls mind, it just ain' t gonna happen. :)
:)

RE: The future of the IBO
 

Well I can not spend the time that it would take to inform you about certain things that you have not mentioned but I will take time to present a different side of the questions that you asked.

The issues of Lodging (7000) is inflated it would seem considering the number of archers that were registered. Using the figures posted on this forum there were 2003 +/_ shooters shooting the money round and 553 +/- shooters in the trophy round. Housing was limited to the facilities available on the mountain unless you were willing to drive a considerable distance on 2 lane roads to other facilities. The cost of housing is a question that is a individual thing depending on need.

Food is something that is not at all outstanding and in fact was very limited and with out question was higher than usual.

Parking was poor at best and many persons were asked to ride busses with their equipment in hand to and from events and shooting ranges.

Shooting conditions were poor and at times dangerous to navagate between targets.

As for increasing prices for membership this is being done when you hold the World Tournament at a place where entry fee is $20.00 more than any other IBO sponsored event. When housing cost are higher and the cost of food or dining are much higher.

When you have a host that is the only major advertiser other than AMO members you are limiting the dollors that advertising sponsors will pay in a comericial area of a city.

When we pay dues to belong to this organization that should cover the overhead and some more money left over for the Bowhunting issues. As for polling the membership about dues increases if presented with a plan I believe would be ok with the majority. Was there a poll for the increase in shooting fees at Snowshoe or the Shooter of the year program? I don' t believe there was but I could have missed it.

To give you a basis for judging what I have posted here let me use the other Three major shoots that the IBO sponsors each year and a host club runs.

I will use Erie as an example: We shot the same number of targets, the registration was $20 less, we had housing that was just as good or better at a much affordable cost and with a much bigger choice. Parking was reasonable and help was available if needed to and from the courses. The roads were much better and the variety of things to do and the place to go were much better. The weather was a subject that no one can control however nothing happen that would cancel the shoot at any of the 5 or 6 shoots that I have attended there.

There has been a difference in the numbers of shooters there however the difference is not that big when you compare the shooters who were shooting for money with no trophy round. Erie had 1561 shooters as posted on the IBO results compared to 2003 shooters (posted on the Results +/-) which means that there was only a difference of 442 shooters at a World Event.

Regarding Judy' s efforts. There is and to me never been a question about her abilities or efforts to further the organization. I don' t know how much input she may have in the final decision of the BOD but I' m sure that she would represent the IBO members to the best of her ability.

I can not list facts pertaining to the issues that IBO has made regarding bowhunting and the defense there of. Communications is one thing where I think there should be more effort. I think, is a key phrase in the conversations that many IBO members have but better communications of some kind would improve much of these conversation to a positive thing based on published facts.

I am basing my opinions on the facts as I know them from the available sourses.

If my suggestion still rates a -9 at least it is one that looks forward with optimism and can be disproved with other information that may be available although unknown. In the seven years that I can recall attending the IBO World shoots, I will let you tell me where I have missed the bigger and better changes that have been made to make me want to go to the next one regardless of the history of this event.

RE: The future of the IBO
 

Why not someplace like the Kentucky HOrse in Lexington, KY? It has more land than you ever use, camping facilities and motels everywhere with a airport very close by and IBO could really help the Archery in Schools program with just such a move.

RE: The future of the IBO
 

fasstfletch centrol location would be in the midwest nebraska kansas iowa.

RE: The future of the IBO
 

All these places sound great to me. First we need to have the people that make these decisions and then create a plan. It could be done if enough people want it.
The IBO wants to to international but first we should strengthen our home organization.

RE: The future of the IBO
 

Regarding the rates at Snowshoe. We received many calls from our members about increases when booking for next year. There was alot of confusion, so I called our Marketing contact at Snowshoe to make them aware. Snowshoe took it from there. I was merely the messenger.
:)
Judy

RE: The future of the IBO
 

Fastfletch, all the numbers, food etc you mention are all debatable, what I don' t think is that hasn' t been brought up is manpower.

I believe the IBO itself is very small in terms of manpower. when a shoot of this size is put on, it is not setup, taken down and run (check in/out, rangers etc) by the IBO, this is done by a " host club" . These folks are the workhorses behind any shoot.

If the IBO went down the path you suggest, which is worth hashing out a bit I believe, but shy towards Buffy' s opinion), manpower would be a huge issue, who will cut the trails, set up targets, mark the trails, put out water, patrol the ranges, man check in/out tents, tear down and clean up the course. all this is currently done outside the IBO personel.

A huge part of hosting the shoot is finding someone to host it, I believe this is why snowshoe still has it, when the first 3 years where up, nobody wanted to host it.

--Bob

RE: The future of the IBO
 

Again, I totally respect your ideas. My statements were, as I stated, my own personal opinion. There certainly is some validity to your ideas, it would be pretty darn cool for the IBO to have their own ranges and facilites to host an event such as World, the Triple Crown, Indoors, etc. I certainly would make use of them if that ever came to pass. I' m not against the idea but I just don' t see how it could be achieved. Maybe I' m thinking on too small a scale.

Of course, there will be people who will be upset because it would be a longer drive or flight, to go to that one central location... So many things to consider...

I do see your point, and if you can figure out a way to do it without compromising what the IBO has already accomplished, go for it. I' d bet that the BOD would be interested in hearing yor plan. Good luck with it.

RE: The future of the IBO
 

This is not my plan, it is a suggestion so that if there is enough interest by members the IBO BOD can consider looking further into how it can be done. Each and every member that thinks that this could be accomplished over a period of say 2 or 3 years should make their suggestions known.

The manpower problem should be one of the smaller problem. There is always a way that manpower can be applied to any job. Volunteers, paid help, etc.. I am not sure how they do this but Hocking College has people that they pay to the target set up. The amount of paid labor I can not tell you but I' m sure that this could be worked out. At the amount that we are now paying It may be possible to hire the whole thing done. The IBO in a nonprofit organization I think there fore they should have more money to work with using the present entry fee than Snowshoe Mnt.. Additional dues should buy many other things if they are designated to be for the tournament shooting division of the IBO. The bowhunter defense fund gets good support at these shoots and I believe that at a permanent site there could be courses set up for the same use which could be set up for year round use. Any site that would be created should be set up for multiple use.

A permanent site could be something that could be used by other clubs for shooting, for a Hall of fame for the IBO members, Hunting exhibits, Record Hunting harvest etc. Such a place would be good promotions for Bowhunting, the IBO AND all of Archery. If we say it can' t be done we shall always be like other archery organizations for the most part unknowns. If we think that it may be possible and we can assemble enough people that believe it may be possible we can attract many individuals that will contribute and want to be part of a growing organization that can unite archers.
Show me a plan that is worth it and I will increase my dues to $l.00 or @2.00 bucks a week (Yearly dues $50 to $100 depending on the total plan).