In response to Old Bloke, the folowing is the preamble to the
NFAS consitution:
"The N.F.A.S. exists to foster and promote Field Archery as a sport in which archers enjoy themselves by shooting at inanimate objects of suitable sizes, placed at distances unknown to the archers, set in natural undulating terrain populated by trees and shrubbery with few or no clear-laned targets.
The N.F.A.S. believes that Field Archery being originally devised to simulate hunting and to provide as much pleasure as possible in the practise of the sport, all courses should be constructed with this in mind.
The N.F.A.S. believes that in the true spirit of field Archery, the archer is competing against himself, the field, the peculiarities of the terrain, the organisers design and layout of the round with the natural objects and obstacles that have been included.
The N.F.A.S. is not interested in International Competition."
EFAA Constitution:
"a) To foster, expand, promote, and perpetuate the practice of Field Archery and any other form of archery the Association may adopt, both amateur and professional, and to establish uniform rules, regulations, procedures, conditions and methods of practising such activities.
b) To provide a basic plan by which individual archers can organise into clubs, that can join together to form the association, in order to regulate and administer the sport in England.
c) To conduct a continuous educational programme, designed to acquaint the public and the archer, with the use of the bow as a recreation.
d) To conduct tournaments to determine, in accordance with Procedures Rule 6, National Champions in all forms of archery adopted by the Association.
e) To foster and perpetuate a spirit of good fellowship and sportsmanship amongst all archers.
f) To evolve and conduct programmes that will give recognition to archers for proficiency with the bow and arrow, in all recognised competition.
g) To inform regularly all members of the major problems and issues affecting the sport of Field Archery, and/or of the actions proposed or taken, in order that the membership may make its will known to its duly elected representatives.
h) The EFAA does not support the use of the bow and arrow in the pursuit of hunting." GNAS is a little harder to show due to the length and complexity of the costitution. Not being a member I don't want to miss anything out that may be important, but the main crux from what I have read so far is:
"To encourage, promote, develop and control Archery other than
Bowhunting in the United Kingdom amongst all sections of the
community.
To promote and organise or assist in promoting and organising
the holding of archery meetings, championships, competitions,
demonstrations and events, to select competitors to represent the
Society and Great Britain and to enter into any agreements and to
make any arrangements which may be necessary or convenient in
connection therewith or with any of the objects of the Society and
to do all or any of the above things either alone or in conjunction
with any other person or persons or any other body."
There is more, but I think a
GNAS member would be better placed to point out the other important aspects.
At the end of the day, each society is there to foster and promote archery in one form or another. And as has been said earlier in this thread, we are first and formost Archers, regardless of which society or which rules we shoot under.