Bird Clubs...

[joseNme]

I noticed that there is a bird club in Wilmington, where I picked up Delgado from. I've seen these advertised in other cities as well, but nothing here where I live.

Are any of you affiliated with bird clubs? If so, what would it take to start one? I really like how they are educational, and help with rescue and such.

I would love to see one started in my area, and would be willing to help if there were other people here interested in starting one. I think it would a great opportunity to meet other bird lovers!

[angelsara007]

Our isn't so much a club. But it is great!

http://www.parrotsociety.org/index.html

It is a parrot rescue that focuses a lot on education. There are 3 classes, repeated throughout the year. To adopt, you must be a member in good standing, and have attended the 3 classes.

Our next meeting is this Saturday, and we are totally looking forward to it. Lots of birds, which gives lots of opportunity to learn about other species. We are always talking to people about our 2 eclectus.

I don't know what it would take to start one.

[kab6193]

Where are you at in NC? I would totally get involved with a Bird Club. I didn't know Wilmington had one. I am going to have to look into it.

[joseNme]

Where are you at in NC? I would totally get involved with a Bird Club. I didn't know Wilmington had one. I am going to have to look into it.

I'm in Fayetteville...so I think a couple of hours from you!

Here is the link to the Wilmington Bird Club....
http://www.wilmingtonncbirdclub.com/

I was so excited when I saw that, and just wish there was one closer! There is a bird show/expo coming to NC soon as well. I believe it is in May?

[Kerry C]

I'm a member of the Fort Worth Bird Club http://www.fwbc.org
I'm also a member of the D/FW Exhibition Budgie Club
I use to belong to the Dallas Cage Bird Society - they went in a direction I didn't agree with
I use to belong to the Plano Bird Club - after 40 years it went under
I use to belong to Bird Owners of Texas - after 8 years it went under

As for National Clubs:

I belong to the North American Parrot Society http://www.northamericanparrotsociety.com
I belong to Society of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors http://www.spbe.org
I belong to the Budgerigar Association of America http://www.budgerigarassociation.com
I belong to the National Finch and Softbill Society http://www.nfss.org

Setting up a bird club is not easy, it takes a group of dedicated officers working hard to pull in new members, to motivate the club with activities that will feed the bank account. Speakers are not always free, meeting space is not always free, insurance is not free. BOOT was lucky, a local mall was floundering and we were able to meet once a month for free in an empty store front. Our little club grew and flourished for a time. We put on DNA sexing/grooming clinics - this was back in the day when you had to have a minimum of 20 birds to get a break in cost.

Many of us were members in good standing at the Fort Worth Bird Club, they allowed us to barrow some of their show equipment and we put on English budgie shows. The D/FW EBC was kind enough to support us whole heartedly at every show we put on. To get to a level to be able to put on a bird show you must have money to affiliated with each bird organization you want to have at your show. This is where a club gets it's liability insurance. We live in a sue happy world. Now days you can not rent any facility without it.

A club only stays alive with the number of active members as well as new members coming into the fold. The Plano Bird Club started as a card playing night for bird owners and grew from there.

My suggestions would be:

1) Buy a copy of Roberts Rules of Order and follow that.
2) Make sure you have a separate back account for the club. Commingling money into a one's personal account at the start might sound like a good idea, but it's a recipe for disaster in the long run.

Good luck! If you have people in your area that love birds you should be able to pull it off.

[kab6193]

Monique,
Let me know if you find out anything about a bird show coming to NC. I would so love to go.
I go through Fayetteville all the time when we are going home (Lumberton)!