Please read this Important news item !!! , Thank you

To all Members

Before we start, please do not read any more into this E.mail than it says. It has been very carefully worded to put you in the picture as to certain possible developments within the club. Having read and considered this E.mail the club would then like your own views on what is being considered. There have been no decisions made, no commitments agreed, no money has changed hands, and no one has progressed any further than what is explained here.

The Scunthorpe Police Angling Club has grown over a fairly short period into a club to contend with. We have over 1200 members and numerous fisheries, with an infrastructure which includes a thriving and informative website, club branded clothing, our own maintenance equipment, etc etc.

Some of you will be aware that the club is now trying to progress into junior coaching and certain moves have already been made in that direction. Some will also be aware that my own opinion for some time has been that the club has lacked a certain 'street cred' perhaps due to us not being involved in the local, and national, match fishing arena.

Both of these matters were addressed and would have been introduced in the future.

However, if the club were to succeed in either discipline, due to the limited catchment area and there being no 'bottomless pit' of anglers, we would be struggling against other clubs in the area.

This matter kindled an idea, no more than that, that it may be feasible, and appropriate, for our club and the Scunthorpe and district A.A to merge to form a single, brand new, club.

Clearly one cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs and, if such an idea was to be explored at all, we would need to start somewhere.

To that end, therefore, the executive committees from both clubs met together on Monday evening, 11/08/08, to explore the feasibility of such a merger. Some will spot immediately that this meeting was arranged without consultation with our members, on either side, and this subterfuge was quite deliberate in that the meeting may well have rendered any idea of a merger absolutely unworkable, there would have been no reason to progress the idea any further, and there would have been no reason to trouble the members with the notion, thereby setting off the 'rumour machine' to draw it's own conclusions as to 'sell-outs', 'takeovers' etc.

However, the two sides having met, it has to be said that the notion was not deemed unworkable and a number of advantages were identified for both clubs. It was stressed and accepted that, were these ideas to progress, it would need to be on the basis that it did not involve the take over of either club by the other and would necessitate the dissolution of both clubs with a brand new, single, (not 'combined') club emerging phoenix-like from the ashes.

Clearly there would be a number of issues to be sorted but the executive committees believe that any such problems can be worked through if the decision is made in the future to proceed with the notion.

Both committees are well aware that neither club belongs to us, or is ours to dictate to, so the only possible step now to progress the idea is to canvass the views of our members.

To that end this E.mail is being sent to all those members for whom I have an E.mail address. Your views will be appreciated, along with any fears or concerns you may have. Please, though, reply by E.mail only ..... I do have a full time job and my boss gets fed up enough with the umpteen club related calls I get daily.

It is proposed for the two executive committees to meet again on 28th August so your views in advance of that date would be helpful.

Again, I stress that there have been no decisions made. Please do not make things up as to what is going on, what will happen, etc. The whole truth is in this E.mail. There is no more at the moment.

All the committee ask is that you reply with your opinion and a reason for that opinion. Such replies as 'I want to stop as we are' are valid but not too helpful when the ultimate decision has to be reached. By the time you receive this E.mail, the members of SDAA should also be aware of this notion so please feel free to discuss the matter between your friends and colleagues.

There is possibly a be a big decision to made for both clubs either way and it is not intended to make such a decision without recourse to the democracy that has to exist in club life.

I shall try and reply to all E.mails received for further information or proposals etc.

Without wanting to prejudice anyones views I would like to point out one or two advantages and disadvantages of the idea.

Firstly I know that some of you, like myself, feel a great attachment to the club having built it into what it is today, and along with that attachment goes a certain amount of possessiveness. We all would, however, be members of the new club with, hopefully, the same pride and commitment.

The portfolio of waters would roughly double to the extent where members would be able to fish just about every water in the area, and more besides.

The new club would be able to draw from the full catchment area for it's juniors and match anglers without the need to 'share' these with others.

The new club would continue with the 'best bits' of both clubs so the over all set up would necessarily improve.

The spirit of democracy would continue into the new club and you would vote for the committee members you wished to run the club so you would still all be able to have your say in how the club was run.

I look forward to your thoughts.

Martin Ferraby (Club manager)

Please reply by email only policeangling@yahoo.co.uk
 

WARNING

Please be aware that Scunthorpe Police Angling Club bailiffs are working in the areas that you fish on a regular basis, If you are caught without an up to date permit or a current EA rod licence You will be asked to leave the fishery.

Some irresponsible members have been leaving litter and discarded line at the fishery sites, they have also been using barbed hooks which have been found in several fish.

Please be aware that if you are found with litter in or near your peg even if it is not yours you may be blamed for leaving it, It is all of our responsibility to keep these sites clean and free from litter or discarded line at all times and that means picking it up if you happen to find any that someone else has left.

If you are caught contravening any of the clubs rules then you will be banned, Often for life depending on the offence !

Will all members be aware that there is a two rod limit on the Flixborough pond ? This rule is really common sense on such a small venue with only the choice of a few pegs available to the angler, if there are other anglers fishing near you then please do not fan your rods so that it stops them fishing their swims ?, Anglers should also be aware that bivies and tents of any kind are not allowed on our waters especially as we do not allow night fishing, There is little point on erecting a bivy unless you are going to spend the night at a venue ?

Please remember do not park your cars where they may cause an obstruction ?. 

CCTV being discussed to catch lock thieves, read more below.

Anglers Beware ! Members banned from all club waters  after being caught at Lady pit Farm after dusk.

The club combination is being left on the combination locks when anglers have used them to gain access, please spin the dials so that the combination is hidden when you have entered and left the venues as locks have gone missing when the combination has been left on.

Warning : Fish have been caught at Flixborough with barbed hooks in their mouths ! Be warned if you are caught using barbed hooks on any of the clubs venues then you will loose your permit. Barbless hooks must be used at all times.

Please Note: no anglers are permitted to trim trees or carry out any improvement work to the fishery sites without permission from the head bailiffs or fishery managers, pruning and general maintenance work is carried out with a conservational attitude and must be done carefully using the correct equipment and following safety guidelines, any angler caught will be expelled from the club. 

Please remember these rules are in place to protect the fisheries and natural fish stocks, we have very few rules compared to many clubs but we will not tolerate anglers breaking the few that we do have. 

All members are advised to read and understand the club rulings before attempting to fish, If this or other rulings are broken in the future then offenders will be dealt with severely !!!.  

Use this link to visit the discount section

10% Discount now available at Simpsons Seed Merchants on Ashby High Street, Messingham Road Crossroads, just show your S.P.A.C membership card and you will receive 10% on most baits, ground baits or seeds.