Detecting clubs

[gerryk]

I am wondering how many here are members of a club.
I am a member of a md club. In te past when i was very active in ham radio, i was involved in two clubs. I learned a lot from the clubs, one club more than the other. I also made some life long friends again one club more than the other. I have been a member of a fishing club. Again i learned a lot there made some friends and got into several tournaments.

As far as the md club i joined, i have made friends there. I got involved and am putting together a program to introduce youth to our hobby. So do you belong to a club? Maybe a quick why you do or dont.

 

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[jmoller99]

Clubs are great things - often you can bounce ideas off of people, or learn how others do things. I prospect for Gold and Silver with a metal detector and I teach people how (mostly to get them past the challenges associated with that specialty area of metal detecting, and help understand the differences between metal detector types - I have 9). I have picked up different approaches as a result of going out with other club members on hunts. We also get to find people with similar interests. Its not just for beginners. Clubs often can get you into areas to hunt that you would never be able to otherwise.

In the UK, you really need to be in a club to do much of anything (A friend of mine from Near Manchester in is in a club and they find some really cool stuff on occasion).

You may not always be a perfect match for the club you join, but its likely to get you off in the right direction if you don't have a good idea of what you should be doing. You'll also find lots of varieties of detectors in use so you can try other peoples gear and find out why they like it. Its generally a win for everyone involved.

Lots of people buy detectors and give up because they had the wrong expectations, or they made a bunch of assumptions that were generally wrong for what they wanted to do, and as a result decided that it was not for them - leaving their detector to collect dust in a closet some where. Joining a club (at least for a year or so) may turn that whole thing around.

 

[Keppy]

Well i did belong to a few clubs years back and what i found in all of them .... They had had a lot of politics & clicks ......So all i can say about clubs they are a pain in the a$$........ And you could not pay me to be in one....... But then i am not a joiner... Some have to join every thing around......

 

[gerryk]

Well i did belong to a few clubs years back and what i found in all of them .... They had had a lot of politics & clicks ......So all i can say about clubs they are a pain in the a$$........ And you could not pay me to be in one....... But then i am not a joiner... Some have to join every thing around......

I would say this forum is a form of a club.

 

[DirtAngler]

I joined a fairly large club thinking I could talk to and discuss metal detecting with them and learn. Found the majority were very tight lipped unless you were a member of their clique and wouldn't give a new guy the time of day. Started my own informal club. More of a small group of guys who get together and BS about detecting and equipment. It has been beneficial as 2 members have let me borrow their machines to try before purchasing one and wasting money on a detector I wouldn't be able to use or like.

 

[Escape]

I'm a member of a club. Well it's sort of a club. Freemasons. Joining was the best thing I ever did.

 

[jmoller99]

I can't argue about some clubs have a lot of standoffish people in them. You will find that anywhere. I have been to club meetings where some of the people there have only the goal to sell you something - that often works out poorly.

A lot of people don't want to talk to new people - they don't know them (if you are one of these too, then you will likely end up with no value going to club meetings). If you can't get started meeting anyone, talk to the club officers - they may be able to break the ice with some people. The club can be a bad match - for example, I no longer coinshoot and really don't have a lot of interest in it (I have been detecting since the late 1980's). However, I know a few people that do, and I'll gladly talk to most people about my experiences and try to answer questions.

You won't walk away with instant friends from your first bunch of meetings in any club - it may take you a while to find people that you like to sit with.

Ask the club officers if they can do some one on one sessions (or know someone who will do that) - you might find out that there are a few club members who enjoy doing it, but you had no idea who they are.

I have been in clubs that did not work out for me in the long run, but I usually ended up meeting people that I learned something from. I have been in other clubs that seem to focus entirely on fund raising (and little else). You never know unless you participate in a few meetings. It can be hard to meet new people. That's likely why online forums are all over the internet.

 

[Keppy]

I would say this forum is a form of a club.

... But i only have to come on here when i want.... Not be some were at 7 pm on monday night or what ever night....Watch the same people get best find all the time..... ....Even i see others with much better finds... I am not talking about my finds i never show or tell about what i find....But all clubs are no matter what type they are full of cliques & politics...

 

[cudamark]

I'm a member of a local club. Success of any club depends on it's members. They can be a great source of info, experience, and companionship. Most will welcome a visitor so go to a meeting or two and see what it's like. Clubs are not for everyone. If you don't like organized hunts, pot lucks, or helping others, they're probably not for you. Clubs can sometimes get permission to hunt areas that are off-limits to others too, so there can be other benefits to joining.