Parrot Club????????????

Has anybody here ever belonged to a Parrot Club? In New Mexico, I belonged to two local clubs. One in Las Cruces, NM and one in nearby El Paso, TX.
They are common in the Southwest. Parrots are much more frequently kept there. Monthly meetings are typical, with birds attending (hopefully these days, they're more infection-conscious, but I don't know). A lot of people AND parrots would cringe when the Rb and I showed up, but they tolerated us. We have a club in Cleveland, but they deal with canaries and other finches.

When we moved up North, I really missed the clubs. For a long time, I felt as if I were on my own. I have only met two people who had/have parrots.

I was thinking about the old days and feeling sorry for myself, when it hit me.

THIS place is my club!!!!

And there's always a meeting going on...
And nobody has to cover their ears when the Rb stops by.

This place also is my parrot club, as parrot clubs are harder to come by in the Midwest. None in Iowa, sadly, I have seen a couple places that mention the Midwest Parrot Club but it is in Omaha, NE (4 hours away) and I don't even know if it is still a club or not...

oh well! I'm okay with my happy parrot place (here!).

No surprise that I have been an active member of the Board of our local 'Bird Club.' December 2016 was my last meeting as a Board Member and with no surprise to me, my email is just as busy as it was a couple of months ago. Well 10 years on the Board will set somethings into place that only time will settle back out.

I find Bird (Parrot) Organizations are very important to be part of for Parrot owners. They provide a place for like minded individuals to gather and befriend other Parrot Lovers.

There are several different type of organizations and each target different activities and areas of the Avian World that they support.

Breeder Based Organizations
Companion Based Organizations
Breeder and Companion Based Organizations
Specific Species Based Organizations

Exotic Bird Shows and/or Fairs require that a 'Not-for-Profit' and/or State Corporation status organization provide the 'Shield' and 'Insurance Rider' for the event(s). With out an organization, they cannot exist.

Exotic Bird Shows are commonly provided by organizations that have an active Breeder base and will bring their Birds for Showing and Judging. Over the years there has been a major reduction in the number of such shows, especially the shows that present a wide cross section of Species. At present, most shows present a few Species and those are commonly the smaller Birds.

Exotic Bird Fairs are commonly provided by a cross section of different organizations, but mainly those groups representing Companion Parrots. The number of Fairs have been falling every year with the few remaining either being a regional event or an organization located in a larger city. The fall-off can be connected to ever few Vendors and the steady increase in Internet Sales.

My local group did not have a 2016 Fair because of the last minute closure of the Show Place it was to be held at. A 2017 Fair is in the works but as of this Post, a location has yet to be found.

Membership for all of the groups have been dropping as the compression of time steals from an individual's interest in taking the time to gather.

If you have a group in your general area, be a member, attend when you can and be part of a community of fellow Parrot Lovers!

I am a past member of North County Aviculturists, a club celebrating companion birds for several decades. They are the primary bird club in north San Diego County and have monthly meetings and special functions for holidays.

Haven't joined in many years, primarily due to my inability to reliably schedule work schedule around meetings. Infection control is definitely a factor, not sure I would ever bring a bird for a visit. Frankly, ParrotForums is a great cyber substitution for me!!