archerycrazy

I am hopeing that Amanda may be able to contact her fellow board members and provide some reasurance that this meeting will not be a waste of our time. I for one do not want this to turn into a crucify Kolezar event. Everyone must be prepared to listen and perhaps provide short meaningful items of concern. If we only have one hour, our comments must be clear and concise. A shouting match won't get us anywhere. George

AzLance, I do not agree with you. I am not a member of ADA, but I have seen the great work that they have done over the years. It appears to me that the current attacks on ADA are the result of the support of HB 2072 by one individual. There has been no conrete indication that the entire organization was informed or involved in the crafting of 2072. There may be a need for a change in leadership and affiliation but ADA must survive. There are few Arizona organizations that really have the ear of the Governor, Legislature, Cmmission and Department. ADA is part of that group and must remain effective in order to bring forward our interests. I feel that it is unfair for us to go after an organization because of the comments of one individual, There has been no indication of support by other members of ADA. Like the rest of us, the membership of ADA didn't know what the heck was going on. George

OMG. Is this guy stupid or what. Now I've heard that he's going to run for Mayor in Glendale. We had heard that he was going to run for the Senate seat that will include northern Yuma County. I guess he figured that he'd screwed his chance here. He better hope there are no real sportsmen in Glendale. If this bill reappears in any form he and the organization involved are dead meat.

Although it will be a long drive and time off work, I will do everything in my power to be at the meeting. Hopefully we will learn where ADA will go in the future. They are a valued organization within this state. George

Chef, Thank you for your response. I hope that you did not think that I was attacking You. I was simply pointing out that most on this forum are not in the Phoenox area and are required to travel many miles in order to attend any meeting in the metro area. Traveling from the Yuma area is expensive and I must see a real justification for the time and expense. The questions asked on this forum could have been answered on this forum. I took exception to your request that we travel to Phoenix to get those questions answered. I'm not going to spend four hours on the road, driving 200 plus miles and spending hundreds of dollars to get an answer that could have been provided in seconds on this forum. BPJ knows the answer to the question. What is he hiding or who is he protecting? and

George, No, I am not kidding when I ask people to attend the meetings. To answer your first question, I don't expect anyone to do anything. I do understand the price of fuel and the sacrifices that people make for volunteer work. I have been away (out of the country) and am too very curious as to what the ADA's stance is on this very issue. I will try and make it and am simply urging others to do the same. As of right now, I can feel comfortable saying that a VERY LOW percentage of members (other than board members) attend these meetings. I have been invited and was curious to what everything was about so I went to a few. It was a very eye opening experience for me actually and was surprised at how a current financial P&L statement was handed out. They were also very interested in what I had to say and thanked me for attending. I can tell you this, the board is tired and it is a very thankless job. I know several members of the board have to travel into Phoenix to attend. They had talks about having the meetings at different locations since board members live on opposite sides of the valley too. That's about as far as I can answer that question because I don't know exact distances. I have made several phone calls this afternoon to get up to date on all the goings on. From this bill to how the orgs feel about it and everything in between. I prefer to talk face to face and things always seem to stay more civilized when doing so. That's why I feel I should attend. I haven't seen any "real" damage control attempts from anyone yet and am also curious at to what the direction is that many will take. To answer your question as to how the majority of members feel in regards to the efforts of their leadership, I would be guessing if I answered that. I can, however, tell you how I feel. I feel that trust has been lost somewhat. Communication has suffered and because this bill came out of no where, I feel that someone, somewhere, may have been trying to pull something off. I don't know the facts, so I leave it at that, but I will find out. The transparency you so want to see here will not happen now. Even I can tell you that. It isn't anyone's obligation to come here and try to answer questions when they are being bombarded with insults and threats. I'm sure this will all be discussed at the meeting next week though. Thank You for replying and giving me the opportunity to explain my initial post.

Chef, You've got to be kidding us. Do you actually expect those of us on this forum to drive to Phoenix at $3.45 a gallon in order to get an answer to a simple question. RunningBird asked "Who provided the preliminary briefing". A pretty simple question, unless there is something to hide. If I got 200 mpg, I might consider it, but for the hours on the road. What precentage of your membership actually shows up for your meetings? How far do they travel? All I can say now is, answer the question. It now appears that ADA is in trouble due to the support of it's leadership for HB 2072 the Weiers memo and a misguided attempt at damage control. If a mistake was made it's best to admit it and work from there. Does the majority of the ADA membership support the efforts of the leadership? The transparency that you claim is obvious at ADA meetings sure hasn't appeared on this forum. George

Audsley’s comments were right on target and served as a good wake up call for me. The bottom line is money. We can’t form a totally new organization without lots of funding. Actually, I don’t think we really need a new organization. We really don’t need a lobbyist. For me direct communication with the leadership of all other organizations is important. Direct communication with the Game and Fish Commission and Department is paramount. Knowing how to communicate with our legislators is another key. The Arizona Legislative Information System (ALIS) is the primary tool that I use in order to stay on top of important legislation. That system is how we caught HB 2072 before this session even began. The leadership of every organization must be familiar with the use of the ALIS. Teach yourself how to use the ALIS in order to effectively report to your membership and get guidance on how to proceed. You can sit at home and study proposed bills of concern. You will then have information that you can bring to your members. To be most effective, you will need to go to the capitol and get logged in there. Once you do that, you can do everything at home. It’s impossible to fully describe how to use the system on this forum. I hope that within the next week or two, there will be tutorial available on the internet. When it is up and running I will post the necessary information on this site. I will be prepared to answer questions regarding ALIS as well. We can accomplish a lot if we are informed and organized. All of this doesn’t cost money, just time. George

I had hopes that this discussion would provide meaningful suggestions. Anyone that thinks that HB 2072 is dead and gone doesn't know how AZSFW works. Even if a "Strike Everything" does not appear during this session, wait until next year. If AZSFW has set any semblance of 2072 as a primary goal, it will return next session in a different form. Just take a look at HB 2235 from 2009. We jilled it. It came back the following year and SB 1200 Commission Recommendation Board. Passage of that bill required two votes. During the first voted, it was soundly defeated. Most legislators who opposed it left the chamber and a second voted was called for. Since many legislators who opposed it were already headed to other appointment the bill was passed. Just take a look at the legislatures video archives to see what occurred. Be vigilant, very vigilant.

At our November Board meeting the directors of YVRGC voted to eliminate funding to AZSFW/C. At our December club meeting the membership supported the Board. Earlier this month the President of YVRGC sent a letter ending our affiliation. I have heard that organizations besides YVRGC and AES have withheld funding. I will let those organizations speak for themselves.

Representative Daniel Patterson has proposed HB 2538 that would repeal the Commission Recommendation Board. The bill will not be heard. Representative JP Weiers is Chairman of the Rules Committee. He will not hear it.

Gilstrap is AZSFW, Chilton is a rancher, Townsend is YVRGC, Stinson is AZSFWC, I believe Johnson is a firsherman.

To my knowledge Hays Gilstrap is AZSFW and Gary Stinson is AZSFWC. Phil Townswnd and Sue Chilton are not affiliated with either organization. I don't know if Don Johnson has any affiliation.

I do not support a boycott of the WCC license plate due to this fiasco. The plate was first designed and offered by WCC long before they affiliated with AZSFWC. I have one of the earliest plates issued, #6 and proudly display it on my truck. The design has changed since the new affiliation. Of course when the plate was first offered there was different leadership in WCC. As with any organization there were changes over the years. Sometimes changes improve an organiztation, other times the changes can lead to failure. A change of leadership whithin WCC could result in a change of course and possibly a termination of it's affiliation with AZSFWC. The change can only come from within.

I suspect that AZSFW was successful in their campaign to coninue as a SuperPac. With a Weatherby rifle as the hook, it should have been easy to sell 500 tickets. A few years ago I raised nearly that much in 2 months with a Browning O/U shotgon. AZSFW will be able to contribute money to campaigns with few restriction. The problem they now will have, is who's money are they going to spend. $5000.00 doesn't go very far in today's political world. Independent donations may begin to dry up. If the WCC and other organizations continue to step away AZSFC will be in deep trouble.

Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club has learned the Rep. Weiers will reach his term limit at the end of this seesion. We have heard rumors (strictly rumors) that he may run for the State Senate in the new District 13 or for Mayor of Glendale. The validity of these rumors are unclear. If he chooses to run for the Senate, he will repectfully be asked to speak with YVRGC. If hw opts for Glendale we are confident that there are more than a few sportmens in that area who will ask the tough questions. YVRGC will not attempt to destroy Jerry. Over the years, he has done great things to sportsmen and wildlife. We believe that he was misled or posibly lied to, regarding HB 2072. As honorable as Jerry is. I doubt that Jerry would throw those who misled or lied to him under the bus. I for one will ask YVRGC to give him a fair shake. Allow Jerry the opportunity to explain his side of the story and what he hoped to accomplish. Let's give Jerry a chance, his history of support is much longer than that of AZSFW. As far as I'm concerned AZSFW is under the back wheels of the bus.

The letter that follows was sent by Governor Napolitano to all prospective Commissioners. Please note that YVRGC led the list. Former Commissioon Chair, Robert Woodhouse received a similar letter. Note that hook and bullet guys as well as the anti crowd were included. After SB 1200 passed the need for potential Commissioners to speak with multiple organizations ended. Prior to SB 1200 it was not uncommon for the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club Board of Directors to interview numerous applicants seeking our endorsement. This is how it should be. Now, only AZSFW through the 5 members (recommended to serve on the Recommendation Board by AZSFW) interview applicants. With AZSFW being successful in eliminating the Seirra Club and others from the conversation, they also elimited the voices of most sportsmen. Dear Game and Fish Commission Applicant, Thank you for submitting your application in consideration of appointment to the Commission. There are a number of organizations that are very interested in this appointment and we suggest you contact them to discuss your interest in the Commission. A partial list of these organizations includes The Yuma Rod and Gun Club, Arizona League of Conservation Voters, Southern Arizona Sportsman Alliance, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, Wildlife Conservation Council, Trout Unlimited and the Arizona Wildlife Federation. [Please note that this list is representative of groups that are interested in this appointment and is not by any means intended to reflect all of the groups. You may wish to contact others as well).

Swivelhead, I know that supporting Patterson on anything he proposes, is a tough pill for us to swallow. HB 2538 will repeal the Commission Selection Review and Recommendation Board. Prospective Commissioners would then need to speak with large numbers of sportsmen/women and all of the influencial organizations in order to garner support. In the past the Governor has always considered to opinion of many organizations before making a selection. Under the current system prospective Commissioners only need to submit strong resumes and meet with 5 individuals on just two occassions. After the Board interviews the applicants they select at least two and not more than 5 to forward to the Governor. The Governor is now required by law, to select one of those forwarded. This year one of the two applicants forwarded is a member of the AZSFW Board of Directors. He lost. Even though I supported Kurt Davis, I still have concerns because he has never communicated with Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and I am not aware of any organization that truely knows him.

To some extent we must support the efforts od Rep. Daniel Patterson with HB 2538. I have opposed most legislation proposed by Patterson but this is an extreme case and requires our support. I for one, may support HB 2538. It's time to reestablish the voice of the common sportsman. We don't need an organization that solely represents their own interests while getting funding from sportsmen. We all need to do our own research. Learn the history behind all wildlife related legislation, It will take a lot of our time. The AZSFW lobbyist is paid well to focus on our issues. Take a look at last years Rotenone Bill. Most of us opposed the bill brought by Senator Griffen. The ASSF lobbyist could not support us due to a conflict of interst. Aclose releationship wit Senator and other legislation that Sen. Griffen supported.

In late 2005, governor Napolitano nominated Jennifer Martin to serve on the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. Martin was highly qualified but heavily opposed. At her Senate confirmation hearing a member of the AZSFW raised concerns regarding Ms Martin's status as a single mother and her ability to focus on the job at hand. After the Senate failed to confirm Martin, the door was left open for the Governor to seat her. Ms. Martin served well that first year and there was little opposition when she was confirmed by the Senate. AZSFW went to work crafting HB 2235 which was filed by Rep. Weiers in 2009. I call the bill "The Jennifer Martin Bill". HB 2235 would have made individuals such as Jennifer ineligible and would have made people like Robbie Woodhouse ineligle as well. About 5 days before the bill was scheduled to be heard, the lobbyist for AZSFW came to a Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club Board meeting and requested our endorsemant. The YVRGC Board of Disrectors voted unanimously to oppose the bill. Representative Weiers pulled the bill the night before the scheduled hearing. Representaive Weiers and AZSFW went back to the drawing board. SB 1200 appeared on our door step days before the first hearing. Unfortunately we supported the revised edition. A bit of a amistake on our part. Prior to SB 1200 and the Commission Appointment Recommendating Board, prospective Commisioner were encouraged to contact most organitation and present their resumes and seek endorsement. Woodhouse and Freeman and all who preceeded them went through this process. In my opinion AZSFW has effectively silenced the voice of the average sportsman.

YVRGC is aware of the magazine capacity bill HB 2457 and the Night Hunting bill HB 2539. I will personally oppose both. I still need to meet with our club before cmmenting. It's kind of funny that I may choose to support at least one bill proposed by Rep. Patterson. For instance HB 2538 and HB 2539. I will do everything I can to kill HB 2540. I encourage all who post here to learn how to use the legislature ALIS (Arizona Legislative Information System. A "power point" presentation is under developement. Watch here to learn about the gensis of SB 1200. You may find it intersting and rather long. Lots of info to get out. George