It’s time for my weekly blog. I have been thinking about a good subject to write about this week and I remembered an old saying Bill Wulff used to joke with me about.
“No one should be allowed to complain about this hobby unless they have been a show secretary, breed club secretary or a judge!”.
I told him once I had been all three, I am a whole lot quieter! Some may debate that! All three are thankless jobs and subject one to constant ridicule. I was always amazed at those who never did the roles, but they always knew how to do it the right way.
All three roles are needed to make this hobby work and none of them are easy or well compensated. Those that do them, do these roles out of the desire to keep the hobby moving forward.
One of the first questions I ask when I hear some constructive feedback (nice words for complaints) about our hobby, is ask that person what their solution is to the problem and what have they done to help.
We tend to have extreme tunnel vision when it comes to our part in the hobby. We concern ourselves with just our birds, our breeds, and the clubs we belong to without analyzing the hobby as a whole.
My advice this week is to always look at the big picture and not so much just on your part of it. Don’t like how a show is run, try to run one! Don’t like what your breed club does, run for office and change it. Don’t like how your birds are judged, study and become one!
I had a boss many years ago that would not hear a complaint unless you offered 3 valid solutions to rectify what you were complaining about. Sounds simple but it’s a lot harder than you think.
The hobby is not perfect and constant change and improvements are needed. You can help change it or complain about it. The absolute worst thing you can do is be complacent and not care.
That’s it till next week, keep hatching those chicks and I am looking forward to getting out to a few spring shows!
Matt Lhamon