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Seeing as the general issue was raised by BadShot in another thread, how would you like to see this "community" change? Let's not hint at subjects or vaguely reference other members. If you would like to influence some change, I'd recommend being specific.
I am just one of the members here and can't make a single leadership decision, but I've also had an uneasy feeling since we've had fellow members run into some legal issues. By posting this, I'm hoping that we can keep it constructive.
Well I think it'd be nice if we were a bit more active (I.E. shoots, info sessions etc like we had planned) but that is certainly up to the members, and we are all on hard economic times and its more expensive to shoot now than in the past...
But perhaps we could still get together and have small courses or something so we can all learn procedures and practices to help us...
I can certainly understand the financial and time limitations. I now have the time but am still limited financially. The last shoot I went to ended up being an over $200 day with fuel and ammo. When times are tough, the hobbies drop down the priority list.
I think it would be pretty cool to go through a training class with the guys here as long as it's not too physically demanding. It's taken me years to get this out of shape and it's going to take more than a couple of weeks to get back in shape. [Weight]
The last two shoots I straped my guns to my Harley to save on gas what does that tell you about my financial situation.
Times are hard right now. If anybody has any ideas chime in we will never all agree on everything but we can at least find some common ground and compromise on a solution.
Maybee we can get a sponsorship from some large ammo manufacturer?
That would be nice, but companies are also doing some belt-tightening.
I'm still shooting .223 & 7.62x39 I bought when it was $100 a case of 1000. Ammo prices have made me slow down a bunch on plinking. Not to mention I'm selling my home and moving into a smaller place, so not much free time for this guy. How did I collect all this 'stuff' [ROFL1]
I'd try to get a larger user base.
One I'd drop the ar-15 from colorado ar-15 shooters from and just make it colorado shooters.
Two I'd make a section for each type of major interest i.e.; AR-15, Pistol, Scatter gun, etc with a for sale section in each to keep everything clean.
Three I'd have a section for the various ranges to post their information and host sub-forums for their membership (for a fee of course). A place where the ranges can post meeting info, range members can discuss range issues or events etc.
Of course this is all just ramblings off the top of a newbs head.
Again, there are models out there to look at and pick and pull the best from.
AR15.COM = tons of great general weapons data.. iffy' community.
LightFighter.net = Well divided and managed content wise. You don't post stuff that is rant like in a review forum there. It gets moved and you receive a warning. BUT there are portions of the site that are Adult, not baby sat or censured (too often).
I know the "mods" are volunteers but there should be a effort commitment to seek out "sponsors" perse. E.G. the ranges across the state. Efforts to keep all of the forum sponsors engaged and not just sucking down storage space.
Things like active communication with the range owners, shop owners ect.. to find out what we can better do to engage them. What do they like/dislike about the site? How can we get them to sponsor charity events.
We should be engaging in fund raisers for the shooting community. Engage with folks like USMC03 (Jeff) and Zak Smith to help sponsor the events they put on, or even better get them to help coordinate the charitable efforts we as a community should be engaging in.
Membership should be strongly encouraged and funded to improve the site and allow for incentives. Hell if the mechanism were better, I'd pay an annual fee for greater access to the site and other bonus features, were they actually available and maintained. Site advertisement should be pushed really hard. Things like business cards placed at every gun store and range in the state! Yeah it'll cost us a little bit in money and effort, but that is how you get things going.
Also to directly disagree with comment made elsewhere.. controversy does drive hits and site exploration. That's Inter-web psychology 101.
One of my big concerns (and this seems to have spurred Greg into starting this) is that we are increasingly either censuring posts and topics or we are feeling increasingly censured. There are valid concerns about CBI and other local and state LE monitoring. We've had events occur with active members that would logically increase their monitoring and crawling of this site. Honestly, what you choose to post is your own burden. Yeah the site would and can be compelled to provide information, but that is a whole other matter and perhaps should be reitterated via the site membership disclaimer and responsibilities component.
What I worry about is folks feeling like this is a community that does not welcome diverging opinions or tollerate them. We have done so with some members for years, but it seems to me that we as a community are becoming increasingly paranoid and closed minded. I for one find the site less and less valuable every time an "incident" occurs. But hey, I'm not paying for anything right?
I think paid member area's would help with some of that simply because it offers access control. Don't get me started on what I believe that should look like, nor what the cost to the site would be, but I'd be willing to offer those opinions from a professional perspective privately.
Hope that was what you were looking for Greg.. everyone else can as always take my opinion for what it is.. my not ever so humble opinion.
PS - another thought would be a minimum post count to participate in the for sales area.. we've talked about it before, but I think something like a 30-50 post min. should be enacted.. paid memberships should still be held to that as well.
Precisely. Thanks!
Don't be shy. Post your ideas.
In case this is directed at me, I'll float an idea. I like the casual plinking shoots, but I'd like to see something a little more formal maybe once or twice a year. A real range, with specific courses of fire, for scores. I sure wouldn't mind paying a fee for the privilege.
And maby some prizes?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gman
I don't see anything wrong with all that has been mentioned. Most seems to be a good idea but also keep in mind that with growth comes problems.
Maby a current news area that would list the big firearm related news for the state and another for the nation. What each major company is up to.
Also i like noobs bieng able to post in the for sale/buy sections. I think it just gives us more cool stuff to look over/buy...
Cant be anything bad about having extra things to buy :)
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by Gman
I kinda like that idea. -Edit- wasn't the "old" forum hosted on coloradoshooting.org? I know there were some server/stability issues, and there's potentially a challenge if the hostname were to change...Quote:
Originally Posted by BulletBill
Opinion: there's already a pretty good breakdown of sections for various interests, though currently only AR topics have their own subsections. If we went with your first idea I think that would have to change some.Quote:
Originally Posted by BulletBill
+1 on those points above, but...Quote:
Originally Posted by BadShot
Don't agree with those. I think you'd need a paid site to follow up on those ideas, but I also think as soon as you make it a pay site you'd lose many potential members. I'm on several forums on misc topics, varying sizes - they're all free.Quote:
Originally Posted by BadShot
To me, it already feels like that (closed, one-sided), and it has since I joined a couple years ago. Leads me to my first request/suggestion:Quote:
Originally Posted by BadShot
1. Create a subforum - call it The Lounge, The Corner Pub, whatever - for ALL non-firearm discussion. I know that General sports a label saying "you can talk about anything in here", but I'd rather see all non-gun talk of that sort by itself, not mixed in with general questions about shooting etc. We don't all have the same political or spiritual beliefs, and it's hard to browse General without getting the impression this place is pretty homogenized.
2. Make logins and PM's secure (https), or at least optionally so.
+100 [Beer]Quote:
Originally Posted by Delphi
That's all I have for now.
As far as making it a "pay" sight(free to use, but encouraged to become a paying member). I think this is a great idea. I am a member of naxja.org, an site for jeep cherokee(xj) owners. Their site is completely free to use, but it is encouraged that you pay a membership fee of something like 25 bucks a year or 100 for 5. the site gets listed as a not-for-profit, and the funding goes into things such as events for the members to attend(for us that could be for targets and possibly building some easily moved target stands/ cover and such for tactical style matches)
When you pay the membership fee for naxja, they change your name on the account to appear in a different color, just to show you are a due paying member, and they send you some nifty stuff like bumper stickers and shirts and stuff. Pretty cool little perk, and its good when im driving around to see fellow cherokee drivers with naxja stickers on their back windows! Just a thought!
Either I'm not writing clearly or my points are not being taken.
1. Paying memberships -
Don't take away from the free memberships, but build upon them. Access to members only forums and or content and materials. Not intended as a large revenue stream, but a funding buffer to add value to club events.
-Side bar .. why I don't go to club events is fairly simple. Other than getting to meet a few of you, there is negligible value to me and many who I associate with in my daily life. Static line shooting is all well and good, but has little to no value in making me a better shooter.
Now if we add some sort of 30-45 sponsored class, training, tips and tricks at some point during the shoot.. well hot damn there's value. Add a little contest and a few prizes.. even better.
Also consider that with paid membership (which we already have for CMP membership folks) that additional user and club management efforts would need to be made, we could actually form the non-profit and take advantage of that... if there is someone(s) to step up and do the work.
2. Advertising -
Yeah this is the only way a web site makes any real income. Do we really need a lot, no. But actively pursuing site sponsors... getting our name out and more can be and should be done if we're going to be more than this small group.
Better teaming with other Colorado and Regionally based shooters organizations could also help.
Guess I'm looking at how to improve the business of the club, not just redividing content or what not. Paid membership doesn't have to be expensive, but it does need a value beyond.. "Hey, you're paying for club shoot prizes for shoots you don't go to"
and again, all just my ever so less than humble opinion.
I'd also love to see us work with other shooting orgs for things like shooting site cleanups or help with community service type shtuff. It could change some folks prejudices towards the black rifle afficianados.
Nothing will ever make those who hate us and our want to go shoot anything we want ever like us. Even if we saved a thousand children with our evil weapons, they still wouldnt like us.
Cleanups are nice and keep our shooting grounds well kept and more enjoyable, but other than that they will never do anything to make people like us :p
Dude, you need to relax. Not everyone is an absolutist. There are shooters/hunters that may feel us black rifle folks are a bit unusual. I'm not talking about trying to convince Sarah Brady.[Eek3]
This is my .02 on some of the points made. First off Roger runs this site as a hobby not to make money. The man has a full time job and a life you must remember places like arfcom is a full time job and done to make a living. This is just a local hobby site if you will, not an international site like arfcom. If anybody wishes to make a donation as I and others have done to help pay for the site PM Roger and he can give you the address to send funds. This is a small site and I do not agree with a paying only members area. I have made many friends over the years on this site and do not wish alienate somebody from a certain part of the site.
The club shoots Marlin puts on were never intended to be formal shoots. They are family shoots that allow us to hang out with friends, meet new members, shoot the bull and sometimes have a BBQ. Many members bring their family including their kids or dog. It is a great way for people to take their youngsters out shooting. It also warms me and other members hearts who own MG's to poison our youth with those bullet hose weapons of mass destruction.(At least thats how Sarah Brady sees it which makes me even happier).
That being said if any member wants to have a formal shoot you are more than welcome to put one on. Any member of this site can hold a club shoot of their own post it in the club shoot section. Pick a date, time, location and discription of the shoot. Anybody that can or wants to come will. There is no site rule that says only Marlin can have club shoots anybody can. The only rules are site shoot rules, the shoots must be conducted in a safe manner all saftey rules apply. All activities must be legal other than that have at it.
Those of you that want to shoot competition go to "Shooting Sports and Events". If you go look you will see that there is always some kind of match you can go to IDPA, IPCA, 3Gun Tom puts on steel matches it is endless. Most of the people that attend these matches are also members of this site so I guess in a way you could call them "formal club shoots".
I am not knocking anybodies ideas they are all great I am just giving another perspective.
Thanks, Tim.
I would say HunterCO was right on the money with that.
The North/South shoots that Marlin has are great, we always look forward to them.
I just wish I had the time and scratch to do even half the shooting events and classes members offer on this site. I enjoy this place 'cause "it is what it is"!
And with that ,thanks to Roger and his band of henchmen for all the blood ,sweat and tears that's put in.
Also Colorado AR-15 Shooters should stay,it's just cool!
But hey, that's just my opinion...okay,Tim did all the work but you get the idea. [Beer]
The best thing to improve the site? Would be for everyone to give me a gun for free. I would feel much better, And I would LOVE the site a LOT more! [Tooth]
Other than that? Let's follow the KISS standards... We are doing fine guys![Stooge]
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...ntitled-14.jpg
lol, J/K. I think the site is great the way it is. Members here have organized cleanups and put together free training in the past on their own initiative. If you want to do something that has value to you, all you have to do is post up and offer to lead the charge.
I would really,REALLY like my free guns please. GUYS? HELLOOOOO?
lucky for you, the DNC is in town this week, you can go hang out with your type!Quote:
Originally Posted by reddevil1111
Work toward getting the word out.
I never heard of this place till I was introduced to ar15.com
as a group, we like to be covert and not in the eye of the public. I don't know if many people are wanting to change that, but if as a group, gun owners can be seen as a greater majority who all have a large voice to be heard, they will get more respect and could potentially frighten any idiots wanting to come up with laws and rules to restrict us and not keep them in office.
As for this website, I would try to work with RMGO a bit more. It seems a lot of the members here are RMGO members.
A re-name might be in order as well. a lot of fudds out there don't want to be part of a ar15 club, but would join if it were colorado hunters and shooters or something like that. Hunters are a big player in colorado as well. I think the name limits people a lot.
Expanding on the forums would be great as well. It seems a lot of people, myself included keep to just a few different forums and go about their merry way. we could all try to expand our horizons.
Also, just putting the word out on other sites like sniperhide and ar15.com and silencertalk and other places like that might draw in more people.
An organized shoot once a month for everyone would be nice. something centrally located would be great, or maybe 2 spots. somewhere in N. CO springs and another one north of denver.
do something once a month or every other month. try to keep it off the gun show schedule and then have flyers out. Tell them to bring their kids and make it a family day. if there is a charge, make it cheap. I am sure someone could expand more on this, but its a start.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 7idl
You know my type? Or are you so stupid that you think you know me? Or is it that you dont have a funny bone and need a wake up call?
The one thing I belive that could improve this website is for people to remember that EVERYONE is allowed to be an ass...but that you abuse your rights!
Red Devil - take it easy guy. The way I took his reply was as a joke BACK to you - not AT you. You know - the dems are always wanting something from us for nothing - you asked for free guns.... it's all humor.
Reading through many of the threads I think we're getting a bit too tightly wound around dis place - we need a major p'dog shoot so's we all can KILL sumthin!
WOOSAH! WOOSAH! (Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys II)
I tell you what, keep your forums and all the ideas you want to express...I might come in here to buy a gun someday(if I cool off enough)
But I and 2-3 others in here are done with this. Its way to much BS from a group of guys that all are supposed to be on the same side.
I am not laughing. Not just this post either...To be talked to like this is beyond acceptable. And from a MODERATOR as well?! WOW.
Have fun cutting each other up calling it humour. It's not funny. It never was, never will be.
Right. It's everybody else. Which of us prompted you to make the comment, "To bad Nancy didnt fall down and break her leg or something...." in the Nancy Pelosi thread?
waaannnnnnn
don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way outl.
[Eek1]
What? Boy, this is coming in out of the blue. And you seemed to be getting along with the other kids so well too.Quote:
Originally Posted by reddevil1111
Hmm. Is it possible that you got what you gave? No, nevermind.Quote:
Originally Posted by reddevil1111
Oh, I dunno. I laughed a few times.Quote:
Originally Posted by reddevil1111
And you, mister..... Naw, I got nothin.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7idl
Soooooooooooo how about we get this thread back on track.