Post by apmaurosr on May 1, 2005 19:04:17 GMT -5
Like most people I don’t enjoy being controversial, but when something unpopular is said controversy naturally seems to follow. I think that the truth must be spoken in order to affect change in the status quo – regardless of what is thought of the person for doing so. So to that end I’d like to offer up to the hunting community the following food for thought from my book “The New Age Hunter.” It has to do with how we hunters can advance the cause of hunting by ensuring that we spend our hard-earned dollars wisely.
“…We should be members in hunting clubs, wildlife associations, and other national/local organizations that support wildlife management and conservation concepts. These organizations are spokespersons for the like minded and can wield considerable pressure on particular agendas from the quantitative (e.g., influencing legislation and government funding) to the qualitative (having a high profile and clout in the minds of Americans).
It is also a good idea for each of us to examine the organizations we currently belong to make sure that they truly represent our positions. For example, if we are passionate about conservation and hunting and we decide to budget $100 per year in memberships to various likeminded organizations, it is best use of our money to subscribe to organizations that support and promote both conservation and hunting agendas.
I used to be a member in a well-known wildlife conservation organization but learned that THEY DID NOT TAKE A STAND ON THE ISSUE OF HUNTING OR EVEN FIREARM OWNERSHIP, EVEN THOUGH THEY CATERED TO GUN OWNERS AND HUNTSMEN FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Although this organization does noteworthy habitat conservation work, I decided to discontinue my membership and commit funds from my limited budget to two organizations that do exemplary habitat conservation work and aggressively lobby the preservation and enhancement of hunting and second amendment rights at the political level.
AS A CONSERVATIONIST, THE NEW AGE HUNTER WANTS HABITAT ENRICHMENT, BUT IF WE DON’T ALLOW OUR VOICES TO BE REPRESENTED REGARDING HUNTING AND GUN OWNERSHIP THEN WE ARE NOT SPENDING OUR DOLLARS WISELY. Needless to say, if we don’t spend prudently then we had better be prepared to appreciate wildlife as “watchers,” because the forces working against hunting and the second amendment are escalating and without likeminded organizations being vocal on our behalf we will ultimately be silenced.
Getting back to the wildlife organization I left, think about this for a moment. It is my understanding that approximately 70% of the members of this organization are hunters. Just think of the leverage that hunters could exert if they declared that they might spend their membership dollars in an organization that paid greater heed to their agendas. Either the organization would change to include hunting and gun ownership interests, which would be a win for hunters without any change to important conservation efforts by the organization, or all the monies now committed simply to conservation could be spent promoting both hunting and conservation, which would still be a win for hunters.
Simply put, wildlife causes would continue to be supported, but there would also be a tremendous amount of dollars instantly available for use in representing hunters. Make sure the organizations you belong to represent all your issues, or at a minimum, the ones most important to you. If they do not, ask them to amend their bylaws or let them know that you will only support organizations that do.”
“…We should be members in hunting clubs, wildlife associations, and other national/local organizations that support wildlife management and conservation concepts. These organizations are spokespersons for the like minded and can wield considerable pressure on particular agendas from the quantitative (e.g., influencing legislation and government funding) to the qualitative (having a high profile and clout in the minds of Americans).
It is also a good idea for each of us to examine the organizations we currently belong to make sure that they truly represent our positions. For example, if we are passionate about conservation and hunting and we decide to budget $100 per year in memberships to various likeminded organizations, it is best use of our money to subscribe to organizations that support and promote both conservation and hunting agendas.
I used to be a member in a well-known wildlife conservation organization but learned that THEY DID NOT TAKE A STAND ON THE ISSUE OF HUNTING OR EVEN FIREARM OWNERSHIP, EVEN THOUGH THEY CATERED TO GUN OWNERS AND HUNTSMEN FOR THE MAJORITY OF THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Although this organization does noteworthy habitat conservation work, I decided to discontinue my membership and commit funds from my limited budget to two organizations that do exemplary habitat conservation work and aggressively lobby the preservation and enhancement of hunting and second amendment rights at the political level.
AS A CONSERVATIONIST, THE NEW AGE HUNTER WANTS HABITAT ENRICHMENT, BUT IF WE DON’T ALLOW OUR VOICES TO BE REPRESENTED REGARDING HUNTING AND GUN OWNERSHIP THEN WE ARE NOT SPENDING OUR DOLLARS WISELY. Needless to say, if we don’t spend prudently then we had better be prepared to appreciate wildlife as “watchers,” because the forces working against hunting and the second amendment are escalating and without likeminded organizations being vocal on our behalf we will ultimately be silenced.
Getting back to the wildlife organization I left, think about this for a moment. It is my understanding that approximately 70% of the members of this organization are hunters. Just think of the leverage that hunters could exert if they declared that they might spend their membership dollars in an organization that paid greater heed to their agendas. Either the organization would change to include hunting and gun ownership interests, which would be a win for hunters without any change to important conservation efforts by the organization, or all the monies now committed simply to conservation could be spent promoting both hunting and conservation, which would still be a win for hunters.
Simply put, wildlife causes would continue to be supported, but there would also be a tremendous amount of dollars instantly available for use in representing hunters. Make sure the organizations you belong to represent all your issues, or at a minimum, the ones most important to you. If they do not, ask them to amend their bylaws or let them know that you will only support organizations that do.”
