SABAA membership

[Riprap]

Evening guys.

I don't mean to rock any boats and I want to state that four (4) members of my family are SABAA members, one competitive, one not and two as family. That aside, SABAA has decided (because it's their prerogative and we mandate them to do so) to increase fess for 2013/14 across the spectrum of categories by an equal amount and not percentage based albeit that fees have remained the same for a while now.

Silver card (non competitive members) always ask what it is that they stand to benefit from such an organisation if they don't fish the competitive circuit and thus never draw on the members contributions for various comps, qualifiers, etc? Bear in mind too that Clubs have an obligation same as mother bodies to assist those who excel and here I refer to anglers with day jobs, not those who have worked hard to obtain sponsorship or others who have have acquired "pro" type status which helps to offset costs.

I also belong to other fishing fraternities for which I also have to pay an annual fee, so I have a simple poll to determine participation as above. It would be nice of guys (& gals) to participate and hopefully SABAA (who are members of this site) will have a look. :blue-smile:

[Brenden]

Hi rip rap, if I may make a recomendation take this to your club and get attention from your divisional head. Here in wc our member both competitive and non competitive (silver) can enjoy benefits arranged byy wcbaa like free launching at clan for 6 months, 10% discount at certain tackle stores as well as discounted rates at most of our launches and venues. We are currently trying to negotiate membetships at twk for the anglers. These discounts make the membership fees very affordable through savings on these discounts if you just have 10 outings per season. We sponsor our anglers from our elite series for provincials, nationals and internationals. We pay upfront for our anglrs to launch for free for 6 months as I said. It actually pays off to be a member here in the cape.

[Riprap]

Brenden, I agree but with 54 views and only 7 votes - do you see the point I'm trying to make? As united as we think we are, we are actually divided. :blue-rolleyes:

[Brenden]

I hear you

[breedesmallie]

I deleted my post because I think I post it to fast without thinking. Appologies Brenden.

[Floatie]

Brenden, I agree but with 54 views and only 7 votes - do you see the point I'm trying to make? As united as we think we are, we are actually divided. :blue-rolleyes:

Rip, I think half the guys that read your post are social bass fisherman
And don't know what SABAA is all about.
I sure didn't, thanks for clearing it up Brendon...

[Brenden]

jeeeesh guys please don't go there. I don't think anyone experienced that type of hospitality at the interclub or at any other tournament and I don't think an isolated incident like this is reason to start bad mouthing SABAA members Breedesmallie. yes you have an opinion and I respect that, but please play with caution is all I ask for the sake of the sport. To be quite frank breedesmallie, I have never had the privilege of meeting you and really don't remember you been a member of WCBAA and if you did fish the regionals it wasn't for very long and I am sure you would have seen a better side of the sabaa members if you gave it a chance. if you were treated like that then it is a very sad thing, however you should have reported this incident to your club and it could have been dealt with. Now you have a gripe and will carry that forever unfortunately. hopefully we wont go down the road of building a divide as in the past between bfsa and sabaa anglers. It isn't good for our character and definitely not in the interest of the sport. So I urge you to rather think hard before slating a body of anglers that you choose not to belong too. keep the peace is all I ask.

[breedesmallie]

Sorry Brenden that was not my intension, nope I was not a member for very long but as I said three guys more than half my age swearing at me in those fassion, no thank you. Maybe I was to fast tiping this but everytime I think back to that day I am getting red under the collor.
But let me correct my self, I was talking about them. Most other people I know who is SABAA members are great guys and I must make it very clear, I've got absolutely nothing against any SABAA member or SABAA as organisation. The club I fished for was a great club with great members.
I appologise for being to fast with this one.

[Navrik]

Brenden what are the current rate and options here in the WC and from when to when does the season stretch?

@Rip I don't really have enough info or experience with SABAA or WCBAA related stuff to really have an opinion to vote on the poll.

[August]

I will never not be a member of SABAA. For obvious reasons ive had the benefit of being a member. I do however feel, that up here we could maybe see a bit more of what Brenden is talking about. I am now for the first time going bast divisional level so will be interesting to see. SABAA could help themselfs by doing a breakdown of where the money goes. In the end I feel they are our governjng body, something that every sport needs, but maybe we dont see enough of them. Like I said, i maybe dont know what they do, but nobody has ever put something out there for me to read. If more people see the good they do. More will join.

As for politics. When i started to fish the southern division i just heard stories about politics and kak. Must be honest, in two seasons Ive only met moerse friendly guys. They are super competitive, which is what i want. But never have I had any issues with anyone. Ive also in the last two seasons not heard about any strooi between other anglers. I think what helps is that everyone accepts and respects the rules, and respects our weighmasters.

Apart from divs which not everyone wants to compete in. Being part of sabaa allows you to be part of a club. Westvaal is a great club. With great members and great outings. Something i would pay to be part of anytime.

[breedesmallie]

All I can say is, for the short time ( 2 years ) I fished under SABAA 96% of it was + points, the other 4 % well, no organisation what so ever is perfect.
I say again, it was uncalled for to bring up a single insident that could have being solved on a easy manner. That was not my intend to do that and that't why I deleted my post. Once again my appologies Brenden. I hate myself for posting it cause it's not in my nature to bring up the past. :blue-redface: :blue-redface:

[Ernst]

Personally down here is no affiliated club and in durban i fish a social club i don't see why i must pay lot of money just to belong to SABAA i rather spend that money on tackle.If someone could tell me what i could get from being a member and a social angler i would reconsider i just feel SABAA sit on a pedestal and it is only for a select few anglers that fish divisionals and nationals and are funded by social bassers that does not gain anything from it.

Could someone please clear that up for me/us

[Kassie]

Hi rip rap, if I may make a recomendation take this to your club and get attention from your divisional head. Here in wc our member both competitive and non competitive (silver) can enjoy benefits arranged byy wcbaa like free launching at clan for 6 months, 10% discount at certain tackle stores as well as discounted rates at most of our launches and venues. We are currently trying to negotiate membetships at twk for the anglers. These discounts make the membership fees very affordable through savings on these discounts if you just have 10 outings per season. We sponsor our anglers from our elite series for provincials, nationals and internationals. We pay upfront for our anglrs to launch for free for 6 months as I said. It actually pays off to be a member here in the cape.

I have spoken to Wendy Watson several times on this matter...specifically relating to the Silver Card holders...
What does a silver card holder get for his R300 SABAA membership.
The answer is - nothing really.
Maybe, if you spend MORE money to subscribe to BassAngler and SABass magazines, you'd get a discount and the Albert Falls classic price is reduced for SABAA members...
Wendy said she would take the matter to the SABAA AGM and raise the point there.
I also offered some suggestions in terms of discount agreements with certain stores, up-to date newsletters etc.
The SABAA website is so far behind when it comes to updated news. Rather read it here first on BFSA!
At the end of the day, I like fishing in my club, and for me to continue doing so, requires that I be a club member and for that, I am also required to be a SABAA member.
As a public sector auditor, I constantly have to look out for Value-for-Money..
Unfortunately, as a SABAA silver card holder in the Border area, I cannot say that I am receiving any value for money...Which sucks :blue-neutral:

[Peter]

I must agree with Brenden and August. I have only been a SABAA Member for the past year and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The competitive side of things is magic, it is a serious business once you are on the water. Off the water,I have managed to learn so much more from the other Anglers, the more technical stuff that you just dont get on the forums. it is in any event very lekker to have a face to face conversation with guys who know what they are talking about, without having to type your fingers to the bone.

The other thing is that all the participants are serious anglers, not that there are not serious anglers on the site, but guys that are fishing to get to the top in competitive angling. A lot of the guys part with information easily and are keen to help when you are going through a rough patch and not sure of what you doing wrong.

I definately do not regret joining SABAA and fishing the Divisionals. It is expensive, but well worth the while. My Club and I'm sure the others too, assists there members to an extent, which really helps.

I would recommend that if you can and are a bit undecided, give it a bash, the experience is awesome.

[Riprap]

Guys, all the poll is asking is your class of SABAA membership and if you are not a member, just click the non member option. :blue-smile:

Fees for 2013/14 are as follows:

Silver - R300
Red - R350
Gold - R700

This is over and above your club fees and only constitutes the affiliation to SABAA. There is no social membership option which is why the Silver card holders are not taking too kindly to a R100 increase for the new season especially as Kassie quite rightly said, they get no bang for their buck.
It's great if WC offer all those perks in exchange for membership.