Our Group format and greeting - comments

Walter & Group....

Let me offer heartfelt thanks to the many of you who volunteered your thoughts in response to my message on our Group.  Way too many to send.  ( 77 responses so far. )  Most favored the greeting for each message remain as we have had it.  Not one pushed for a Blog.       Here are a few :-

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Hi Gordy

         Don't change a thing. Thanks for all you do.

                                  Frank Harford

 

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Gordy:

My personal thought, with some experience, is there is generally a better way to do something in a technological sense, but getting there always seems to have an unexpected cost. Unless there is a sufficient monetary reason for the investment, I agree with the adage "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!".

 

Laurence Baggett

 

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From Randy Olsen:

I like how you filter out the nonsense, Gordy.  And you are right, there is a lot of nonsense and misinformation out there. 

Blogging doesn't always have merit.   Your method takes a lot of work on your part (I can only imagine, given that I cannot keep up, and I only have to read the messages!), but we are all better for it. 

Randy
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Hi Gordy,

 

My vote for just keep on in the same way!

 

Skype, Blogs, Boards and Internet forum is wonderful media to use, but there are several already to join in for those who like.

This study group that you run Gordy is unique in my opinion because it’s clean. About the filtering thing…. I think that’s the trick to make the different.

 

But, in the same time a lot of people missing all the good stuff………

Perhaps some of the good threads can be posted at “your” blog for public viewing….

 

However,

You are doing more than enough already.

Thanks!

 

Thomas Berggren, Certified Instructor
 FFF -  Federation Of Fly Fishers,
THCI - Two Handed Certified Instructor.
 MCI  -  Master Certified Instructor.


EFFA - European Fly Fishing Association,
CI - Certified Instructor.

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Gordie,

Unique, that is how I would describe the format of your/our study group. I'm half your age and subject to change. I need to conform to changes as they occur. I do not believe this is true for you.

I use the internet every day and visits blogs for business and entertainment, social networking and hobbies.

 

I see no reason for you to change, I like the un cluttered fashion of the Q & A and look forward to getting your emails. I have my own method of saving the emails that suit my own purposes.

Thank you for the time and effort, I appreciate you just the way you are. I don't see you enough face to face, but that is my own situation.

Be well

Michael

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Gordy,

 

Would like to start by saying thanks for all you do.  Screening the information is a must on this venue.  I am glad to be a part of a group that has someone monitoring the information to keeping the information on the correct path.  As we know the newer technology may have advantages to its circulation of information.  But as we all know the information provided can be good and it can be bad with no one monitoring the content. 

 

I think comfort zone is important to us all.  I feel comfortable with the information that is being provided and I can be secure in knowing the information is coming from the best sources in our sport with your support. 

 

I think trying new ways can be good at times, depending on what you want to accomplish.  However it has to beneficial to all parties.  Easier for you and those receiving and providing the information.  I am not sure if a blog would do that??????

 

Thanks for making me feel special with my Name & Group.  Not much of that happening these days with the new technology. 

 

All the best

 

Gary      

 

    

Gary Davison

Gulf Coast Spey

CND Custom Design:  Representative

Willis, TX.

 

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I thank you for all the time you spend making this study group of value, worth the time to read and allowing me to be a part of it. 

            GOD Bless & Tight~Lines

                      Michael Ames 

 

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From Steve Hollensed:

 

Hi Gordy,

 

You are an extraordinary person to do what you do with the study group. The group exhibits nothing but PERFECTION. I know all good things must come to an end, but you are impacting many people in a very positive way with your current methodolgy. I like it just as it is.

 

By the way, I will be in Loveland, my first national conclave, and I want to meet you and have the opportunity to say thanks in person. 

 

Steve    

 

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Gordy,

 

Nice to get a little insight to the process.

I have some additional input.

 The greeting "Gary & Group" arose a few years ago to address an archaic e-mail system I had used since the 1980's that restricted the format I received. When we moved me to a modern e-mail system, the need disappeared but the tradition held. It reflects the congeniality of the group and the generous accommodation of you, our intrepid leader. Certainly, my name can be eliminated from the greeting. It might be fun to run a quiz to see who remembers the origin of this quaint bit of trivia, though.

 

There are countless blogs on fly fishing. Sexyloops forum being a model. Though unfettered, it has become so encumbered with worthless drivel, obscenity, diatribe, and misinformational fat as rise to the level of valueless in time-to-benefit ratio. The great economy of the Master Study Group remains the immense value of Gordy Hill's expert filtering of input prior to publication.

 

Though I, and others, may disagree with our esteemed moderator on selection of topic, choice of references, duration of focus on a particular issue, or other minor details - fundamentally, the sensitive, expert, editorial function provided persists as the greatest strength of this forum. The correct spelling, proper format, punctuation, and even type style soothe the ease-of-use in this arena over all others. I urge that this NOT become a blog or forum format!

 

Likewise, perhaps the building of a topic review board could be useful. Editorial reviewers work in all technical fields as "peer" reviewers for publishing outlets. Broadly recognized experts in a given arena are sequentially allotted a topical submission to respond to. Other editors preview the response and are allowed a counterpoint. This process tends to reduce the immediacy of the project but enhances consistent quality over the decades. The LOOP  seems ripe for such a process.

 

Please do not construe my comments as expressing any desire to replace, displace nor dilute the grand contribution of Doctor Gordy Hill. If Gordy cherishes his fishing time, it might provide the outlet for him to experiment with this approach by selecting competent answerers to handle certain topics until he feels comfortable delegating more  routinely.

 

I think we see some of this already. Steve Rajeff graciously responds to Gordy's questions on topics they see deserving. Same with Lefty Kreh, Bruce Richards, or others. I have a group of experts I call upon to help me with a difficult topic. I try not to burden them, though.

 

What if Bruce Richards were to willingly accept all questions regarding fly line, leaders, casting analyzer, etc. Those questions get forwarded to Bruce and Gordy lets Bruce access the super-user, moderator, answer, magic function on the software.  Maybe Jason Borger would like to fill a similar role on casting mechanics. Steve Rajeff for competition and distance. Jeff Wagner for teaching skills and Tim Rajeff for instructing hints and analogies. Lefty on knots and connections etc. Chris King on two-handed and Guy Manning with Noel Perkins on physics. Gordy remains the saltwater guru but maybe Bruce Chard can co-edit this topic in collaboration. Dusty Sprague and Gary Borger know an awful lot about trout and travel. Barry & Kathy Beck on photography. These are just examples of people I think of. I am sure those who have more connection within the FFF can think of others. This editorial function may serve as a training ground or assessment process for future BOGs.

 

It may be time to have the FFF CICP step-up and assess their actual leadership role in these study-groups. It seems reasonable they would buy back the expensive software and assume service costs for the servers. Perhaps - Charge a one-time user fee of $5 to CCI's as part of their registration to support the MCCI development through this group.

 

Gordy, I only retain reverence for you and your work - disagreements heartily included. This thread has me wondering what would happen to this important part of my learning if you got caught in a storm or got unlucky with lightning. I fear the self-promotion and stupidity that might try to fill this void. You are doing the best job I can imagine and I want to outlive you so I can never be disappointed. Just in case my wish is not granted, I hope my ideas will fit into that space you save for people concerned about this important work and your broad knowledge.

 

I do not think this message is for publication to the entire group unless you do. You may edit ideas and test them on your choice of recipients, no problem. Likewise, feel free to further the exchange with me to flesh-out anything that seems unclear.

 

Respectfully,

 

Gary Eaton, MCCI

 

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Gordy, I am quite satisfied with the present form, I f some young upstart knows it all let them strt their own "Blog" and try to  give the stability you have given from your years, I personally thank you for your time and sharing.

 

Tom Bell

 

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Tom...   I thank you and all our members for the comments.

Frankly, I think that our member who suggested the changes in greeting and the switch to a Blog was trying to offer constructive criticism.

I understood well the combination of youthful exuberance combined with the fact that technology in teaching is his primary field of interest.

I suspect he'll turn out to be a good instructor and contributor.

Best to all, 

Gordy