by Paul Davison
Back in 1970, at the first of six Outdoor Nationals held at Aurora, IL, nearby Geneva resident Dennis Cline started hosting a steak cookout for his fellow barebow friends and competitors. In the previous year, Denny finished second to David Hughes at Watkins Glen, and the steak dinner may or may not have been a bet payoff. Probably not — because Denny and Dave were much better friends than steak-betting competitors. Regardless, Denny’s picnic wasn’t a closed affair, and any barebow junkie was invited to join in for the good food, good drink and good companionship. Denny continued to host the picnic at the Aurora tournaments in 1973, 1976, 1978 and 1981, but after he moved to Virginia in the mid-1970’s, the logistics proved a little difficult. Then at the 1984 Aurora tournament, Louis Travis of Indiana, one of Denny’s original barebow buddies, suggested that we make it a group effort. Louie’s idea was that the picnic be held at every National Outdoor — not just at Aurora — and that the barebow shooters get formally organized into what he called, The Barebow Fraternity, or BBF, for short.
Denny Cline was the first BBF president, Louie Travis was vice-president (and de facto chief organizer), and Kathy Newton of the Auroraland Archers was its first secretary-treasurer. Attempts were made to mail a newsletter periodically to all BBF members, but with increased production and mailing costs, and with no formal dues structure, it became apparent that we needed more fiscal discipline if we were going to be anything more than an annual reunion. This was the end of Phase I.
At
the
1988 Darrington National Outdoor, we reorganized as an NFAA club,
complete
with constitution, NFAA membership requirement, and formal dues
structure.
The BBF became chartered as an NFAA club in the state where the
secretary-treasurer
resided. Jerry Barr, currently Kentucky NFAA Director, was
elected
president, and Paul Davison, currently Southeastern Councilman, was
elected
secretary-treasurer and editor. [Claudia St. Clair of Texas is
the
current secretary.] Members could acquire special BBF patches,
decals
and T-shirts. We held our annual picnic (and meeting) at every
National
Outdoor. The $5.00 annual dues per family paid for everything
required
at the picnic except meat to grill. As an NFAA club, we were
permitted
to publish our newsletter in every Archery magazine. With no mail
or printing costs, we were able to “spread the word” while remaining
fiscally
responsible. Our membership was well over 100 families
(internationally),
and we were becoming very well known. Then the other shoe
dropped.
We don’t know whether it was the “favoritism” status, lack of
advertising
revenue, page limitations, or whatever, but we were notified in early
1992
that the Barebow Fraternity News was no longer a freebie. This
was
the end of Phase II.
Instead of six, one-page
newsletters a year in Archery magazine, the BBF continued direct
mailing
quarterly, multi-page, newsletters to its members. This wasn’t
much
of a problem, except that we lost a convenient medium for acquiring new
members. Today, we rely entirely on flyers, posters and
word-of-mouth
at the National Outdoor. This is not all bad, since all BBF
memberships
expire at the annual picnic date. About three-quarters of the
memberships
are renewals, whereas about one-quarter are new memberships or belated
renewals.
Although the classic
purpose
of the Barebow Fraternity is, “... to foster, promote, expand and
perpetuate
the Barebow, Bowhunter and Traditional styles of shooting, ... and to
encourage
free exchange of (barebow) aiming and shooting techniques, bow
mechanics,
and related topics ...,” the real purpose is simply, to have rompin’
good
time. Although we have published a few “how to” articles and
booklets,
there’s no hidden agenda. We’re not saying that we have more fun
that other shooting styles. It’s just that we’re better organized
at doing it. We’re just the right size — not too big to be
unmanageable
and unfriendly, and not too small to be unnoticed. Well over
one-half
of our members attending the annual picnic make it to two out of three
Outdoor Nationals. The picnic is truly an annual reunion.
Moreover,
not all our members are barebow shooters. Some are former
“sightless”
shooters, while others are barebow wannabes. Still, others join
because
they like the companionship and good times. There is no question
— the Barebow Fraternity is a social fraternity, with absolutely no
prejudices.
The only requirement is that a BBF member must be an NFAA or IFAA
member.
Interested?
Contact BBF Secretary Claudia St. Clair, or President Jerry Barr.