Wanting to start a Herp Society.

[StudentoReptile]

Worth it?

Again, depends on exactly what you're doing?

Let's take my herp society for example: starting in Sept, we'll be meeting once a month, fellowshiping with each other and talking shop, having guest speakers. We often have group field herping outings together, etc...lots of stuff you can't do sitting on a computer chatting on a FB group or a forum. We also do educational programs free of charge to anyone who asks: churches, schools, fairs, etc...just so WE have an opportunity to reach the general public about herps, especially kids. IMHO, that should the primary reason for any herp society: outreach. True, you're not going to get every one to suddenly like snakes overnight, but its opportunities to dispel myths and misconceptions, talk about the laws, etc. bascially getting to talk one-on-one with folks. You can't do that online. And we also do a lot of conservation stuff, and are working on restoration projects for some native species.

There's another local club that started up abuot an hour away. They meet once a month to talk shop. Nothing wrong with that, but its basically an extension of a Facebook group they made; just some local folks looking to trade/sell/buy from each other. There has been no discussions of outreach, nothing regarding conservation, etc. I've even heard reports of negligent behavior such as one of the officers releasing a non-native species. Its immature and disorganized. I have offered some guidance, as have a couple others, but they seem exclusively focused on themselves and basically being a "dealer's co-op" if you will.

I don't want to toot my own horn, but personally, I think a true herp society should strive to be closer to the former, and if you look across the country, that is the norm. There's nothing wrong with getting a group of likeminded hibbyists and carpooling to the nearest show or going in together on a frozen rodent order...but what are you giving back to the community?

[woahamie]

Originally Posted by StudentoReptile

Worth it?

Again, depends on exactly what you're doing?

Let's take my herp society for example: starting in Sept, we'll be meeting once a month, fellowshiping with each other and talking shop, having guest speakers. We often have group field herping outings together, etc...lots of stuff you can't do sitting on a computer chatting on a FB group or a forum. We also do educational programs free of charge to anyone who asks: churches, schools, fairs, etc...just so WE have an opportunity to reach the general public about herps, especially kids. IMHO, that should the primary reason for any herp society: outreach. True, you're not going to get every one to suddenly like snakes overnight, but its opportunities to dispel myths and misconceptions, talk about the laws, etc. bascially getting to talk one-on-one with folks. You can't do that online. And we also do a lot of conservation stuff, and are working on restoration projects for some native species.

There's another local club that started up abuot an hour away. They meet once a month to talk shop. Nothing wrong with that, but its basically an extension of a Facebook group they made; just some local folks looking to trade/sell/buy from each other. There has been no discussions of outreach, nothing regarding conservation, etc. I've even heard reports of negligent behavior such as one of the officers releasing a non-native species. Its immature and disorganized. I have offered some guidance, as have a couple others, but they seem exclusively focused on themselves and basically being a "dealer's co-op" if you will.

I don't want to toot my own horn, but personally, I think a true herp society should strive to be closer to the former, and if you look across the country, that is the norm. There's nothing wrong with getting a group of likeminded hibbyists and carpooling to the nearest show or going in together on a frozen rodent order...but what are you giving back to the community?

Well, that's what I do plan to do. I live next door to a 1st grade teacher and she's always asking when I can come to her school and show her kids my different animals. I wanna do something like that, like what you do. Go to parties and showcase different animals. Have other reptile keepers come and talk. I'm still in the process of everything right now. Going over what I need to do. I know it's gonna take a lot of time and patience, but I'll be willing to do it.