Unlike more traditional hunting clubs which are run by volunteers (an incorporated association), the Australian Hunters Club is set up as a privately owned company. This structure allows the club to do things that other volunteer clubs simply can’t or won’t do for their members.

No infighting over positions.

For instance, a lot of traditional hunting clubs that operate under a volunteer model suffer from infighting and ladder climbing as members fight over senior positions of influence within the club, always looking to get deeper and deeper into the hierarchy (being the president, becoming the treasure, sitting on the board, part on a specific committee). This not only causes division within clubs and turns members again members but also makes them inward focused as members scrambling over power in an effort to push their agenda and get the best benefits, like private land hunting access.

When a club is a privately owned company there is no ladder, there is no inner click, there is no power to grasp. Everyone is on the same level, everyone is equal. Members gain value from the club not from some appointment, but because they pay for it. It’s part of their membership fee.

No fighting over resources.

Another pitfall a privately owned club avoids is the issue of a shared purse. Money often turns clubs sour as people fight over what it should be spent on. With a private club additional activities or benefits that site outside the scope of the standard member offering are resourced as required so that everyone benefits.

Benefits you are entitled to, not that you have to earn.

Often in large clubs run by volunteers to get the most out of their membership members are pressured to attend working bees, chair meetings, run BBQ’s or any other number of things. Often a member will do these things not because they want to, not from a spirit of generosity, but rather because they want the benefits appointed to those who carry out these jobs. There is always value in contributing, it’s something we should all aspire to do, But this shouldn’t be the only way that members gain value or benefits. A member within a private company gives their time, effort and energy not because they want to get anything out of it, but because they want to contribute, that’s the true benefit and gift of being a member of a community.

Structured to get stuff done.

Charles Kettering once said “If you want to kill any idea in the world, get a committee working on it.” While this is an extreme statement there is a measure of truth here. How many times will a volunteer group get together to plan something. Yet after multiple meetings and hours of time wasted in disagreements over execution or decisions pertaining to who will take responsibility for what, nothing happens. Yet put a group of people together who are motivated and  financially incentivised to make something happen and it comes out great. This is another area where privately owned clubs have an advantage over the incorporated association.

Motivated and incentivised strong and healthy leadership.

Finally, a club is only every as good as it’s leadership. When leadership is strong positive culture thrives, members feel valued and things get done. When leadership is poor the club suffers, infighting erupts and members start becoming jaded. Why leave this to chance, as club presidents, board members and treasures are rotated every couple years as is the case with volunteer led clubs? Wouldn’t it make more sense for a single or group of people who are directly finically benefits from the success of the club to be leading the group? If the club is doing well and members are happy it will naturally grow. Growth means and increase in revenue which in turn incentivises the leaders to work harder. Money should never be the major motivator in growing a club, but it’s foolish to ignore that it plays a important role Furthermore, why shouldn’t we compensate our clubs leaders for the hard work they do in creating positive culture within in community?

All of this is said not to communicate that privately manged clubs are better then incorporated association clubs, they are not. Both structures have their pros and cons. At the end of the day it comes down to what you want in a club, what structure you think benefits you the most, and what structure be believe you can benefit.