Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:22 pm
As Justin alluded to in his speech at NHC, there will be considerable backlash to the homebrew club of the year award because of the unique nature of the BN. There was a similar situation that occurred about 12 years ago. A web-based homebrew club was targeted because of their unique status. I think that incident led to changes in the rules. I don't remember the name of the club, but I do remember that there was considerable opposition to their status as a club since they were only web-based.
I had a negative opinion of them at the time because I was a member of a convenient local club, the Maltose Falcons.
Now, I live in a rural area in Northern California and the nearest local club is an hour away. Now I understand the plight of those in out of the way locations that have no realistic way to be associated with a "local" club. Some homebrewers out there are much further away from a local club than I am. Now I get it. Who wants to drive for an hour or more, drink some homebrew, then drive an hour or more, after dark, to return to their rural homes??? I have been doing it recently, but it's like preparing for a marathon. I take a nap beforehand, then I chug a couple of energy drinks, then I carefully watch what I consume at the meetings, then I use a breathalyzer before getting behind the wheel, then I carefully drive home. It's not simple, or easy.
Like most homebrew clubs, the BN is filled with extremely wonderful people. Most BN'ers live in populated areas and belong to local homebrew clubs. When they enter the NHC, they do so under their local clubs. Those of us who live in the boonies enter under the BN because there is usually no realistic alternative. It would be so much simpler if we were able to easily associate with a local club, but for may of us, it's just not that easy.
Don't hate us because we are orphans, embrace us because we are fellow homebrewers.
Chris Bushman
Colfax, CA
. I see another show of the ugly that is the haters of the army being so diverse and wide spread. Well to all of those I say SUCK IT 
