I don't know why they kept the lifetime membership, they should have just said no more new lifetime members. It is a dreg on the association and costs in the end. In a world where politics and money management is king, trappers sure know how to lose.

Sit on a board of trappers for a few years then you'll understand.

Dave I know knew that you were aware how the money can be spent. Making sure others are aware, it was a good question.

Bernie, by a "fraction of the cost", how much do you think that fraction is? 50 percent? 75? I guarantee you it's closer to 75 percent of the general price, I don't know a hard # for sure but I do know it's north of $14, figure in MN sends out a pretty fancy news letter 4 times a year also which isn't cheap to produce and print, 30 bucks isn't a stretch at all.

I was on the board of the Iowa Trapper's assn for 8 years I believe we were paying less than half the cover price per member for The Trapper magazine back then. Of course there were WAY MORE members than there are now. If the MTA is actually paying more than $14 per member I think it's time to explore other options.

Do you know how many members then, Bernie? Just curious.

I really don't know. It was a strong and thriving organization compared to today. I hosted the ITA convention in Forest City in 1987 and I believe over 6,000 people attended. It looked a lot different than it does today.

Thanks. We all know what the fur market was like then and it sure helped! But the ITA is still a strong and thriving organization. Membership has actually been increasing over the last year or so. And although maybe not as big as then, we still put on a dang good convention.

Our conventions that I have been to have been really good. Of course the attendance changes throughout the state but it is still good. We get a quarterly newsletter that is pretty nice plus get the Trappers Post magazine. Where do people think the money is coming from to pay for this. I think the membership should at least cover this if not more. Yes I think a younger person cannot afford the life time membership what it is now. I wish I would have got it years ago when it was to cheap, but my mistake. If every member had a lifetime membership at the old price the MTA would have to make up that money somewhere else. I don't think there is any association that is in place to loose money. What else do you think you should get for your membership. Just curious??

Thanks. We all know what the fur market was like then and it sure helped! But the ITA is still a strong and thriving organization. Membership has actually been increasing over the last year or so. And although maybe not as big as then, we still put on a dang good convention. [/quote]

I am not familiar with what it's like today, I have not been to an ITA convention in a decade. I know there are always a lot of good people involved in that state and the ITA is one of the healthiest state organizations and has been for half a century.

It would be interesting to see number of trapper's licenses sold today compared to the 1980's. That would be a shocker to most people.

On the Iowa DNR site they have a breakdown of all the licenses they sold in 2023, everything res. and nonres listed.take a look, more states should post this info.

How long ago was that?

Things change and subscriptions have dropped since the boom days.

I made some calls, the cost to the MTS is $14 for a member to receive a year of Trappers Post. We send out a glossy newsletter every quarter at a minimum cost of 3 dollars a copy. That's a minimum of $12 a year. I guarantee it's more. Last time I took elementary math, if a member receives both publications it's a cost of $26 minimum. Just for the publications, that doesn't include other incidental expenses that add up. At 30 to 35 dollars a year it's a bargain and doesn't leave much meat on the bone for things like fighting anti's and lawsuits.



It's not 1988 anymore.

Your printing costs per member goes up as circulation(membership) drops. One of the reasons why you cant go to digital option for magazines. If all members wanted a digital magazine like what FTA is or was doing. then it would be something to consider but you would get killed in printing costs if you had to print just a couple hundred magazines.

No advertiser's for the newsletter to help offset the cost?

They probably could, but if they don't already do ads it would take a lot of work to set it up and get it running, I think.

Since there are so many association knowledgeable people on this thread, I was curious are conventions costs, revenue makers, or revenue neutral?

They make money but ground rental keeps going up unless you want to go completely primitive.

This whole thread shows why trappers organizations are struggling. Trappers (not every single one) as a whole are the cheapest, least supportive of their own activities of any consumptive group on the planet. Pay up or shut up! I'm over my rant.

Not a life member of ATA and never will be. They need my money every three years. Plus all that money I have donated out of fur checks over the years. They have earned it.

Betcha Dean Wilson would argue that point if he could. All the same keep up the good work with all your donations.

ince there are so many association knowledgeable people on this thread, I was curious are conventions costs, revenue makers, or revenue neutral?

As was stated, fair grounds, etc. cost have gone through the roof in the last 20 years. The big national convention was usually a really good money maker while the regional's were hit and miss, usually losing money. But your getting your name out into different region's, signing up member's who probably wouldn't have other wise, etc. so it's a trade off.

Far as state's, some have them at a state park, low attendance so you don't need a huge facility to host them at so not alot of over head.