Addressing the Specifics
Decide where, when, and how often the club will meet. As the founder of the club, it might be a good idea to provide the primary meeting place at least for the first little while. If the club takes off, you may want to implement a rotation, meaning that a different member of the club takes over the hosting duties each time. A weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly schedule will likely make it easier for members to commit than trying to meet twice or three times per week.
Research other clubs on the Internet. Starting a club from scratch can be a bit daunting, so seeing how others are run can go a long way in easing any reservations you may have. They don’t even have to be fishing clubs - you can research similar groups to gain tips on structure, events and protocol that can be transferred to your club.
Choose a cool name. Every club needs a cool name.
Choose a fish species, location, or cause as your theme. Most fishing clubs employ a theme that centers around whatever is nearest to the members’ hearts. Some choose to highlight a particular type of fish indigenous to the area. Others devote their focus to a nearby lake, or to attracting young people or women to the sport. The theme can always change, but having one pre-chosen can help generate interest in the club.
Finding Members
Create and distribute a flyer promoting the club. Use your creativity here, but make sure you have all the necessary information: What is the club? This is where you detail the purpose and theme of the club, along with some of the activities you have in mind (sharing stories, debating topics, going on trips and others). Where and when will the club meet? Make sure you choose a time that is as user-friendly as possible, and work under the assumption that most of your prospective club members are only available at certain times during the week. How much does it cost? Unless you plan on creating a fund or collection for future excursions, it doesn't make much sense to charge for entry. Simply invite others to bring snacks or drinks, and everything you need should be covered. What is the club founder’s contact information? Be sure to include an email address and telephone number, since some people prefer one mode of communication over the other.
Create awareness of the club via social media. Tell your friends. Tell your family. Tell everyone else you keep in touch with on a regular basis. Even if they aren't interested, they may know others who will be. Word-of-mouth notice has never been easier to achieve, thanks in large part to the growing presence of social media.
Promote your club on fishing-themed message boards. For many hobbies, message boards help to bring together those with similar interests for discussions and story-sharing. In essence, being an active member of a fishing-themed message board is almost like being in a club. Making the transition to an actual club simple and smooth.
Introducing Yourself
Be enthusiastic when talking to prospective members. If you seem put out, disinterested, or dull when discussing the club, it will be difficult to elicit a positive response from those who wish to join. Be sure to express your excitement at the prospect of sharing fish tales with a group of peers, and be open to suggestions on how to make the club better.
Invite interested members to an inaugural meeting. Be firm with the date unless there is overwhelming interest in changing it to something everyone else can agree upon. If one or two people cannot make the meeting, tell them you’ll fill them in on the specifics and invite them to attend the next one. Make sure you give each interested party enough advance notice that keeping his or her schedule clear will be as easy as possible.
Hold the first meeting. Between an opening speech, “mission statement” (if you opt to create and share it), introductions, and a few ice breaking fish tales, you'll have no shortage of things to do on the first night. Make sure everyone takes the opportunity to share a bit about himself or herself, and encourage the attendees to talk about something fishing-related to help create familiarity.
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