"Here's How I see it"

From Sam the Webdude

"Gatherings - What Are They?  When do we have them?  Why do we have them?"

In order to understand the proliferation of our "gatherings", you have to go back to our humble beginnings.   The CCCF was founded at a "gathering" by 12 fishermen who met over the internet.

The word "gathering" is self-explanatory.  Whereever or whenever there are a couple (or more) of our members at one place...that is, technically, a "gathering".  Because we run into each other so often, we have restricted the term to our more formal, announced parties.

Our gatherings are, in a word, fun.  Sometimes they consist of just announcing a date when we will all meet to fish together, and sometimes (probably more often), someone organizes a pot luck dinner on the beach, some games, and so on.  Our last gathering was very well organized by some of our members and included games and a chili cookoff.  During the day, around 80 or 90 CCCF'rs showed up.

A gathering can be anytime.   While we traditionally have one the first couple of weeks of December to celebrate our club's anniversary, we have had them as often as every other month.  All it really takes is someone to say,"Let's have a gathering!"  One word of caution, though.  The person that first suggests a gathering is usually the person that is called on to help organize that gathering!

These gatherings are family affairs.  While alcohol is present, excessive drinking and/or bad behavior is frowned on.  After all, our club is respected as a family oriented group that is free of the problems that more wide open groups have.

Why, you ask, do we have them?

Well, the main answer is to get to know each other better, and to put faces with the names and "handles".   The second answer is to have fun.  The third answer is to share knowledge.   And there are a host of other answers, depending on who you are!

One of our members recently sent me an email about the chili cookoff gathering, and this is a quote from his last paragraph. 

"I usually do not like to go to events where I do not know people. It is amazing how ya'll make newcomers feel at home as opposed to the new kid on the block."

It is my firm belief that nobody should ever feel like a stranger at a CCCF event!