Hi everyone,

I am coming to you because I feel it is important that we all hear this even though many many of you are not involved with the situation in any way shape or form.

Almost 9 months ago now I started this site to be a place where my good friends and many of us that I classify as the "good ole boys" could kinda hang out under the radar screen of all the mass traffic on outdoor forums these days. Whether it is Iowa Outdoors, or Hawgz, or Bass Resource, or Ice Shantey or whatever, those sites all offer some of the most educated people in the outdoors and there is tons and tons to be learned from them. We all have learned from them and we were all brought together as great friends via one of those sites. I am thankful for everyone of those sites cause without them I wouldn't have you all as friends. I have said it and will say it again. This place is in no way shape or form meant to replace any of those sites. This site is meant to be a place where we can all share information and talk with each other knowing that no one else is watching or stealing our favorite fishin hole on our favorite little lake. It is also meant to be a little less restrictive on what topics are discussed as the general public is not reading some of the trashy subjects that can get discussed around here from time to time. This site is all about lite hearted fun.

Over the last several months I have had some issues come up and things are starting to get to a point where I feel I need to address them for my and every single member of this sites benefit. I myself am an extrememly simple man, I work, I fish and I sit here talking with you all about my adventures. Other than that and family I really don't need much out of life. I don't deal with conflict well and I don't start it up myself, I just don't see any reason for it. Life is too short. Even though we only have 47 members here we still have some conflicts of personality. I can't stop that, if I had 7 members I may still have some people that don't totally agree. We all have opinions and they all matter, however they are still just opinions. I take every single thing all of you say in forums or in Pm's to me very seriously. I read every single word that gets typed here. However it doesn't mean that I can act on every single one of your concerns. I could but I have a feeling that I wouldn't have much of a site for very long. Yes Branden and I would still be here and chattin it up cause in the end we are like 2 bodies with 1 brain. (Ask our wives, its almost scary) However I don't see where that would be much of a site at all.

So to get to the meat of what I am trying to say and as you all know it takes me a long time to get to the meat of what I am trying to say. Please keep in mind that all the members here are important parts of the site. You may not agree with everything they say, you may not agree with the way they live there lives or deal with others. There is nothing wrong with that. I didn't agree with everyone at hawgz either but I never tried to let it show in what I put up on the site or what decissions I made when helping Darrin out. So I am asking you all to do the same for me. I don't want this to be the place that ends up a refugee camp for all of us that need to air our complaints about a site or a member or whatever. Not fair to all the members here at this site. Now does that mean I myself am not open to listening to your concerns, that couldn't be farther from the truth. My door here is always open to every single one of you and if you wanna fill my PM box up with your concerns I will read and take every single one of them into account and I know Branden will do the same. Just don't always expect us to act swiftly and without regaurd for the other members here cause that isn't gonna happen. Problem with other sites and things of that nature will not become topics of discussion on this board or at my gatherings. It does nothing except take away from why we are all here. FOR FUN!

I don't want anyone to take this wrong, it isn't meant that way at all. I just want to kinda lay down some ground rules as new and unfamiliar faces are added to the mix and become a part of our great group here at F4F. I do sort threw members here and there are people here that sign up and don't get in. I take pride in only bringing people into the mix that I feel we would all want in the mix and can learn from. That also puts a great burden on me and Branden to make sure that once they are here they do fit the way we thought they would. I don't intend to bring people in here then turn around and knock them out or allow members to give them a hard time cause I made a bad decission. That isn't fair to them. If and when the time comes to act on an issue Branden and I will be the ones to do it and we will take the heat for doing so. Even if we don't enjoy it.


So enough of all that. Just wanted to tell you all how happy I am with the contributions we have here at the site and the continued growth of the site. We will never be big time and we will never be the most advanced outdoor forum on the www. I am not trying to be. I just wanna have fun with good friends and share secure information and great gatherings with my friends. This month we have blown right on past any of our previous best months topics and posts and have shared some awesome information and I would just like to keep that rollin.


Thank you again for becoming a part of the F4F family and I look forward to seeing and talking to every single one of you in the future. Some of you very soon. :woo_hoo: :ice:

Thanks for reading,

Thanks to you and Branden for providing me with hours of enjoyment every single day! The other sites do have some value, lots of good info no question, but after securing membership here, It's rare that I spend much time on those sites, and I hardly contribute to any forums anymore. This is the place I want to be, a bunch of good people here and I couldn't be happier. You guys are doing a great job, keep it up!

I do kinda question your thinking with letting Travis become a member here though!

things wouldn't be the same around here w/out him though that's for sure!

Jeez Randy ..... you musta got a lot better grade in typing class than I did . Hell that would take me a week to type , let alone think at the same time !!! :scratch: ........... Thanks for the site and I enjoy the smallness and friendlyness that we share here.

We all have different personalities and as Randy eluded to, even a small group can have disagreements let alone several as we have. I had no idea we had that many members already. :shock: I got to start being a little more coy.
It is really hard to communicate with just words on a computer screen. It is hard for anyone that doesn't really know you to understand exactly how the words were meant. Thus, this sometimes can create hard feelings or conflict. I hope I am not taken wrong, I know there are times I probably am and I apologize if that has happened. I want the same thing Randy and Branden want. A great little site with friends we can rely on and trust that are full of information and are willing to share some bits and pieces of it if they choose to. It helps build friendships and bonds that weren't there before. Thanks, Randy! :clap:

Rock on boys!!! I had never been on a site a year ago, then joined a few, now I spend all my time here, nuf said!! :clap:

I have thought over the time I have been a member there has never been any major conflicts well other than that one time a while back,but even that ended peacefully. But apparently there are some that most members are unaware of, as it should be. This is a great site and because it is private there is often more exchange of information and that is a good thing. As you said you could have only 7 members and somebody is going to have a disagreement. Hell just think of the conflicts one can have at home and that is usually only 2 people. If married that is.
You and Branden have done a great job with the site and I for one am glad and privileged to be a member.
Lets keep the information and good times rolling!!!

wow how did I miss this thread. keep up the good work guys

I for one really appreciate this site Randy.I do my best to check the site as often as I can,and hope you guys can deal with me here.
The world of the"net" has changed things.We can all use these sites as a communication tool.Remember the old days when it would take a month to hear about that big buck,or that huge walleye so and so caught or killed? Now it's a matter of a keyboard away.
It can also be a great learning tool.I've learned lots from these sites,and have met some of the nicest people I've ever come across.
BUT.....at the same time,the bigger sites grow and grow,which leads to more and more conflicts,etc.The bigger public sites are all about growth,and I'm happy for them(site owners)and what they want to achieve,but they have grown out of flavor for me.Sure I would like to brag more about things,big fish,family,friends,but I know there is a good chance someday on the bigger sites will have a problem with it,so therefore I myself have cut back on my post on these type sites.
Sorry to rant guys.But I understand fully what Randy is trying to say and do here.I had one of my members go off on me a month ago and called me many bad things,why I still really don't understand.He got personal so had to ban him.I just wish if someone has a problem with me or the site,they could just call instead of hiding behind a computer across the state.
Sorry to make it about me Randy,but trying to bring up a example on what/can happen with even a little growth.

One thing,even though this is a small site,the time that goes into this stuff can be crazy at times.From the PM's,to the site maintenance,Randy put lots of his time and $ into these things.

So thanks Randy. Great job here.

Ryan Hale