Hi all,
After reading about guys who have been near to unsubscribe, I'd like to vent a little about what this list has meant to ME.
A little over two years ago I found the VFB site when I was looking for fly patterns. I joined this list thinking it was a forum and seriously widened the range of skill levels on the list. But the people here took me under their wings and gave me great help. Aside of the tying help, they also gave me a real kick-off in the material department.
I can list a high number of things that wouldn't have happened to me if I hadn't joined this list... though I won't. But I can also list things that VFB (indirectly) have made and will continue to make for other people than myself:
1: Today I'm having two tying classes each year, which btw is a thing I can do only thanks to the support you have given me and what you have done for my self-confidence. Together with the basic tying I'm mixing in modern tying... the kind of tying I've learned from my mentors on the list. I also teach them about and give them a chance to try the modern materials that isn't commonly used here... the kind of materials I was taught about myself during the "care package wave", which made me able to try a lot of stuff that was new to me. Their response to this: The same way I responded... fascination and gratefulness for learning that fly-tying can be more than just making fly-fishing a little cheaper.
2: Thanks to Tony I was introduced to Gudebrod thread, which shortly thereafter became more or less the only thread I use. Not too long ago I was also introduced to Gudebrod themselves and invited to become one of their pro reps. Today this has meant that two out of the two retailers in Sweden I have approached so far, have become very interested... and Gudebrod tying thread is on it's way to enter the Swedish market. One of these retailers, 'LB Flugfiske' (who I talked to last night) is probably ranked as THE fly tying retailer here. And since he is actually a retailer/distributor, him picking up on it can also mean that it will spread to shops I can't reach out to myself.
All in all, this list has not only made a positive difference to me, but has also affected other people I know here in Sweden... and if all go as hoped, it will soon also include Swedish people I don't even know myself.
/Nick
