runningbird

From what I have heard, almost everyone including BPJ thought this was a dead deal. Weiers withdrew his support so who was going to sponsor the bill? When I listened to the ADA board, most everyone there said they were not in favor of this bill. My understanding is that Suzanne Gilstrap is trying to drum up support. What a better way than to convince the Governor. I think the focus right now needs to be on AZSFW and in my opinion stopping them AND getting rid of them. Mark

ttt

Here is a contact who you may wish to Email Scott.Smith@AZdoa.gov you may consider letting this person know that you are a sportsman and that AZSFW does not represent you. Also you may want to let the Governors office know that some organizations have in fact pulled their support from AZSFW. I have heard from a friend who works at the capitol that Suzanne Gillstrap will be giving a presentation in a staff meeting with the Governor today!

no surprises here. We need to get on this.

Lance, are you a member of the ABA? It would be interesting to hear there take on this whole thing.

I went to the banquet last night, had a real nice time. This is the first time I had gone to a banquet and the amount of work that was put into it was obvious. I got a chance to talk to most of the board members and they were all running on no more that four hours of sleep. I would say that all of them are exhausted. So with that I think they should be given a bit of time to figure out what to do at this point. There are a lot of unanswered questions about this whole deal. And I still think we should be asking all the organizations what's going on. Have any of you asked the other organization boards what they think?

This is the most important thing for AZ residents to be acting on right now. You must realize that you don't need to wait for a new bill to be introduced before you contact your representatives. You should all be contacting them early and often, and make it clear that it is the idea that you disagree with, not the particular bill. Contacting a representative one time is not good enough. They need to be reminded over and over where sportsmen stand on the issue. Remember that those who will try to push something like this through will claim a large membership is backing them. Therefore, you need to be larger!! Pay attention to this post if you truley want to make a difference.

They will try again, it's up to us to pay attention and stop it if we don't like it.

FYI there is a free ticket in the classifieds if anyone wants to go.

I guess I get confused becasue there are statements from AZSFW and AZSFWC and they aren't always the same. I understand they are different organizations with different goals, but aren't many of the players the same? Not only do they have many of the same players but start checking to see who is on the board of the different organizations that are listed as members of AZSFW.

I'm joining the AES as well.

A few thoughts from the meeting Tuesday night. At least the ADA gave us the chance to speak up. Where are the other organizations at? A lot of us, myself included have stated with the ADA’s silence they are therefore supporting AZSFW. Should we make the same assumptions about the other organizations? Where are they all at? If any of you are members of these other groups have you been contacted, have you contacted them? Have these other organizations even made a statement at all. Make no doubt about it, I was frustrated Tuesday night. I hate to talk to groups of people and it was hard for me to stand up and speak, but it was important to be heard and I am thankful that I was given the chance to do so. It has become obvious that a lot of these groups share board members. A few people are on multiple boards, I heard talk from people Tuesday night that they feel the AZSFW is infiltrating different organizations. Well guess what,,,,we are allowing it. Why are we not part of these other organizations just so we can have a heads up on what is happening???? The ADA board stated many times that hunter apathy is there number one problem. I agree with them, I am strictly a Bow hunter, why did I not join the ABA; I should have especially now knowing that they are a member of the AZSFW. If we want to make changes and know what is going on we need to be involved even if it means being part of a group that we may not see eye to eye with. I was part of the Mule Deer Association a long time ago, I quit when I was not being heard or given a chance on many items. It’s a lot easier to join a group of people that you see eye to eye with; it sure would be a lot more fun! But I’m not sure that’s the best way to make a difference, so I am challenging all of us to try and make a difference. Even if it is just go to some of these board meetings and hear what is going on. Now about HB2072, it was stated quite a few times that there were more than enough votes to get that thing thru. Given that does anyone really think that we have heard the last of it? Right now there are rumors that Suzanne is working on it behind the scenes. If we don’t stay on top of this, it will get thru and it will get thru soon. I’m sure the backers of this bill do not want to have to start from scratch and drum up votes again. Mark

17 guest looking right now. you all really should join up and let us all know your thoughts. Mark

Stanley, and Kent I agree with everything you both said. I think the ADA does realize that they may be at a turning point. I'm not sure if they care or not. When I say ADA I am referring to the board as a whole, not individual board members. One of the reasons I am going to the banquet is to listen and see what happens. I have never been to any sportsman's banquet before and want to see what goes on. I am also going to try and get together with people I met last night. Honestly this could be my 1st and last ADA banquet. I think it would be great if everyone that came to the meeting last night could continue to get together and talk about what to do at this point. We all talked before the meeting but we were so spread out that it made it hard to get anywhere. We had some great ideas last night and I think we ought to move on some of them. I'm like the rest of you, I was hopping for and official statement and there comments that they really haven't discussed what happened just don't add up to me.

Christine and I will be buying tickets for the banquet today. It would be great if any of you that we met last night could make it as well. It would be nice to sit at a table with friends. Our reason for attending is to show some support. At this time I think it is important to do so. I'm not sure what their board officially decided after the meeting last night, but I do think most of the individuals on the board would favor pulling there support of the AZSFW. But has a group I would be surprised if they did so. So at this point I am still going to try and show some support of the ADA. Mark

Kent is was nice to meet you. I think everyone that spoke had something good to say. I know we were heard, now lets see if they care about what we said.

Is Suzanne Gilstrap a board member?????

I'll be there, may not be there till 5:30 though. Mark

Allen, You hit the nail on the head! Hope we have a great turnout.

My thoughts exactly

Kent, I'm in for $10 Mark

Kent the only thing I will say is that if you dont show up the the Special ADA meeting than u need to sit back and keep your mouth shut. Its people like u who make me mad as heck. You think you know it all but when u have the opportunity to get some education at a meeting (you have no time for) or its not worth your time. I am the longest standing board member of the ADA ,past president and all. I have put my time going to meeting and driving all over the arizona in search of better opportunities for OUR deer population and to hear you sit on your computer and tell everyone the ADA blew us off is a bunch of BS. Get of your butt and move away from the keyboard and do something productive for deer in arizona. This is in no way any personal attack on you or anyone else but if you bitch that you dont like something you have to stand up and work toward a solution not sit on your computer and bitch. So Warbird Can you tell us all, does the ADA still support the AZSFW and their lobbyist? I think it would be helpful to know this before the meeting. Thanks, Mark

Kent, I really do understand your frustration. I for one hope you do show up to the meeting and don't give up. It sure seems like you have a handle on what goes on at the legislature. I think you could be a huge asset to any group that is willing to listen to your advice. My thought is that if you did show up and speak or ask informed questions it would at least get everyone thinking. Mark

We've already been blown off... Kent Unfortunatly it seem like you may be correct.

Also notice that only four or five of us have responded to Amanda saying we will be there on the 21st. Won't be hard for them to blow us off and continue on there way. If we want to make a difference people need to show up.