Dear Member,
To begin, can I thank for the continued support you are giving to the Carp Society during these troubled times. I hope you are all staying safe and well.
You may have already heard that we have been planning to re launch Carp Fisher Magazine later this year; however the current problems may make that a difficult target to achieve. As a result we are going to begin to send some articles, photos and features to you on- line to try and give you something additional to read and hopefully enjoy during the current “lock-down” period. I hope we can make this work, and that you find the things we send you entertaining. Please feel able to join in and contribute yourself if you wish to do so. Articles up to 2000 words and photos with captions, or just tell us how you’re coping with the current shut down and we’ll incorporate it into an ongoing piece. You can send anything you have to offer to:
sales@thecarpsociety.com
I also want to take the chance to update you about the discussions and decisions those of us involved in running the Carp Society are making in relation to the current problems and how it affects the running of the Carp Society. The safety of our fisheries and fish is of course paramount to us. Following discussion and advice from the Police we have an organised rota of bailiffs caring for our fisheries on a 24/7 basis during the “close-down” period. Additionally Karl is on site at Horseshoe Lake to support this. Miles is onsite at Horseshoe or Farriers most days and we have CCTV in operation.
Sabrina is currently working from home and should you need to contact her please e-mail
sales@thecarpsociety.co
m
manning the office.
I know many of you want to know how we are going to manage the close down financially, both for the organisation and for you as a member. The answer to that question at the moment is we honestly don’t know! And nor do we think does anyone else. As a result, asking “what are we going to do if......?” Will not get a response at the current time, and that’s just us being honest with you! Like many individuals, fisheries and businesses all over the country we are losing considerable income as a result of the current situation. It is what it is, and will be what it becomes.
What I can tell you is that we believe, as a responsible organisation we acted in the correct manner in closing our fisheries when we did. We are also genuinely committed to making sure we can do everything we can to support and stand by those members who are supporting us during this difficult time, and with that resolve we have already made the following decisions:
-We have moved this year’s Junior Carp School to next year. Giving participants the option of transferring to the new date or asking for a refund.
-We have issued Farriers members with a letter updating them on plans for renewal. We require a form and deposit by the 8
th
May to reserve their place on the syndicate.
-We are speaking individually to those who have bookings on “Little Farriers” on a week by week basis.
-We are honouring our contract on works to repair the roadways at Horseshoe.
-We will ensure that when Horseshoe Lake re-opens it will only be for permit holders, and although further financial loss will be incurred by the Society, we will not be issuing day tickets during the initial period and we will continue to do this for as long as we possibly can to thank permit holders for their support. We will also review permit duration when the current restrictions end.
-We will publish “The Redmire Log” as previously promised and honour all those orders we have already taken. We now think it unlikely the August weekend at Horseshoe will go ahead this year, but we have a plan in place just in case. We may have to ask you for P&P for the books if they can’t be collected in person.
-In all honesty we are uncertain about our new show planned for Malvern in November this year, but we await developments. Members enter free to all of our events.
What we can tell you on a very positive note is that 2021 is the 40
th
Anniversary of the Carp Society and we’ll still be here to celebrate it! We are already planning a huge “Carp Party” at Horseshoe Lake in conjunction with Anglers Charity Auctions, with a massive “Fish with the Stars” event to raise money for NHS workers and those who are putting their lives on the line for us all at the current time. Doubtless there will be another book, talks and much more, and plans are already being put in place.
While you wait for the initial articles to be sent to you, and as I'm lucky enough to have already have seen some of them I can assure you there's some really interesting stuff coming your way, can I remind you of the following:
There are over 40 of our Carp Radio Programmes are available to download online all are free to listen (link below)
Additionally I was on Talk Sport's "Fishermans Blues" on Sunday 5th April, talking about the Carp Society and the legendary Bob Buteux, who sadly recently passed away. You can listen to the programme by downloading the
"Talk Sport App" go to TS2 and list the programmes for 05/04/2020. I have an hour slot which starts about an hour into the programme.
Thanks to everyone who has sent contributions already, to Sabrina for putting this together and to Tim Paisley for editing the material.
If you want to ask unanswerable questions or be abusive you're unlikely to get a response, but we will answer if we can.
Look out for the first articles which we hope will be with you soon.
Take care everyone and I hope to see you all on the other side!
Derek
