HB 2072 Sale of big game tags

[stanley]

Are the administrators and/or board members for AZSFW paid or volunteers? If so, would the salaries be paid out of the funds generated by these tag sales? Is that part of the 'administrative' costs?

 

Seems like some of the riff in Utah is partly because of the whole 'auction tag' thing, but also due to the fact that some of the admins/board members were making large salaries. I know that the ADA board is not paid, and is volunteer only. How about AZSFW?

 

Just curious.....

 

S.

 

 

 

+1

 

We are not too far removed to remember the Fiesta Bowl and their "administrative" costs. Different arena same corruption

The AZSFW board is strictly volunteers initially, each of the beginning few who started the organization back several years ago were required to pony up some significant cash to be a board member. The only person who does get paid is Capitol Consulting, who acts as our lobbyist at the state legislature. I know of absolutely no lobbyist who would ever do the political infighting that has been necessary to carry the water for us who would do it as low as Suzanne and company have done.

 

Thanks for the reply, John.

 

I have a question regarding the wording in your statement though. You mention; "..... strickly volunteers initially". Is that referring to the fact that 'initially' the beginning few ponied-up money? Or is it indicating that it is 'initially' volunteers, but there could or might be paid positions in the future? Or will it always remain strickly volunteer? Again, I only ask because this seems to be a big bone of contention with SFW in other states, at least in Utah.

 

Lark, your point regarding no outfitter response is very insighful. No doubt that local outfitters would LOVE to have more big money tag holders to guide....

 

S.

 

 

Stanly and Lark, i am an outfitter and guide and i want nothing to do with this. Besides guys we get hunters every year no matter what so to say we have a lot to do with it is probably wrong--or at least with me and my crew it is. We literally turn people away each year.

 

 

Just saw this reply.....

 

Point taken, Terry! I guess that I just figured that if there are more 'big spenders' that get tags, that it would be good in general for the outfitting business. You know; supply/demand. Might mean more guys getting into the outfitting business, and the 'top notch' outfitters raising their prices. Just a thought.

 

S.

 

 

PS: I'm a complete Capitalist, and have NO problem with supply vs. demand! Just making a point.....

[willhunt4coues]

Here is what AZGFD has to say about this issue:

 

Arizona Game and Fish Commission votes to oppose HB 2072 (sale of big game tags)

 

Jan. 10, 2012

 

 

 

PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted unanimously today (Jan. 10) to oppose proposed Arizona House Bill 2072, a bill that would have reserved a large number of big game tags for a “qualified organization” to resell at auction or raffle.

 

As part of its 5-0 vote to oppose the bill, the commission also directed its representatives to “clearly inform the sponsor and supporters of this bill that our opposition is not just to the bill as written, but to the entire concept of removing or adding any big game tags from the pool of big game tags available for the general public and transferring them to any private organization.”

 

In discussion leading up to the vote, several commissioners expressed strong concerns over the bill.

 

“We have a trust responsibility to manage wildlife for all the citizens of this state, and I see some real issues in this legislation that takes part of that away from us,” said Commission Chair Robert Woodhouse. “I think we need to speak on behalf of all citizens of this state.”

 

Among the concerns commissioners expressed over this particular legislation are which organizations would qualify, how money would be spent, who would benefit, and what accountability there would be over expenditures.

 

Commissioners pointed out that the proposed legislation differs from current law that authorizes the commission to issue a small number of big game tags to nonprofit organizations dedicated to wildlife conservation. Awarding these tags is through an open and competitive process that allows the organizations to auction or raffle those tags. All the proceeds come back to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for projects that support wildlife management.

 

“Public trust assets must never be diverted to benefit special interests,” said Commissioner Norm Freeman. “The language of the bill itself is fraught with problems, and the very premise should be discarded in its entirety.”

 

Chairman Woodhouse also made it clear during the meeting that neither the Arizona Game and Fish Commission nor the department were involved in the crafting of the bill, and this item has never been on a commission agenda.

 

Nine constituents representing organizations or themselves spoke in opposition to the bill. No constituents addressed the commission in the bill’s favor. Prior to today’s meeting, each commissioner had received many personal expressions of strong opposition from various members of the public.

 

HB 2072 was originally slated for a hearing in the House Commerce Committee on Jan. 11, but that meeting has since been delayed indefinitely.

[AZLance]

We have never had millions of dollars and if you doubt that, check with Amanda, she is on our board and gives a lot of her time and energies towards that. The big money guys are not typically at a banquet. Sometimes they donate money to the banquet to help cover the costs. All the money from the tags goes back to the department... every penny. Does this help at all?

 

 

This is Classic! This also explains why Amanda is pushing the AZSFW propaganda in this topic. She never discloses in this topic that she is a Board Member, but instead Amanda says, "I haven't made up my mind either as I haven't read through the bill in detail." How can you be a board member, and havent read the bill, or have a opinion on the matter?

 

the plot thickens....

Amanda and I are board members of the ADA... NOT the AZSFW... I am also a board member of the AZSFWC...Going back through the chain you will see where I listed the ADA as the group that I represent...

 

Ok, I see that now. That makes more sense, because usually Amanda is upfront about things like this. Good to see I was wrong.

[stanley]

Are the administrators and/or board members for AZSFW paid or volunteers? If so, would the salaries be paid out of the funds generated by these tag sales? Is that part of the 'administrative' costs?

 

Seems like some of the riff in Utah is partly because of the whole 'auction tag' thing, but also due to the fact that some of the admins/board members were making large salaries. I know that the ADA board is not paid, and is volunteer only. How about AZSFW?

 

Just curious.....

 

S.

 

+1

 

We are not too far removed to remember the Fiesta Bowl and their "administrative" costs. Different arena same corruption

The AZSFW board is strictly volunteers initially, each of the beginning few who started the organization back several years ago were required to pony up some significant cash to be a board member. The only person who does get paid is Capitol Consulting, who acts as our lobbyist at the state legislature. I know of absolutely no lobbyist who would ever do the political infighting that has been necessary to carry the water for us who would do it as low as Suzanne and company have done.

 

Thanks for the reply, John.

 

I have a question regarding the wording in your statement though. You mention; "..... strickly volunteers initially". Is that referring to the fact that 'initially' the beginning few ponied-up money? Or is it indicating that it is 'initially' volunteers, but there could or might be paid positions in the future? Or will it always remain strickly volunteer? Again, I only ask because this seems to be a big bone of contention with SFW in other states, at least in Utah.

 

Lark, your point regarding no outfitter response is very insighful. No doubt that local outfitters would LOVE to have more big money tag holders to guide....

 

S.

 

 

Wow! So much traffic on this topic!!!!

 

John; I might have missed it, but I don't think I saw a response to my question above. Will all SFW members/associates (Board members, or otherwise....) remain volunteers in the future? Or will there be administrative or executive positions created that are paid/salaried? Again, I only ask this because it seems that the Utah guys have a big problem with this in their state.

 

Also, you mention a meeting being scheduled next week. Will that meeting be open to the public? Or members of ALL organizations that are apparently behind SFW? Or just board members of those organizations or SFW board members only?

 

Thanks for your continued replies to this VERY hot topic!

 

S.

[Ringer]

Wasn't Pete Cemirillo the original director here? I seem to remember that he was getting paid a good salary to start the group. I may be wrong and am losing memory by the day but that is stuck in my mind. Anyway this may be the best thing to happen for family hunters here in Arizona. It has alerted all of us as well as dozens of politicians and we will keep working to stop future moves by SFW. I will be shocked if they have many regular hunters as members and hope they lose what they have.

[CouesWhitetail]

Are the administrators and/or board members for AZSFW paid or volunteers? If so, would the salaries be paid out of the funds generated by these tag sales? Is that part of the 'administrative' costs?

 

Seems like some of the riff in Utah is partly because of the whole 'auction tag' thing, but also due to the fact that some of the admins/board members were making large salaries. I know that the ADA board is not paid, and is volunteer only. How about AZSFW?

 

Just curious.....

 

S.

 

 

 

+1

 

We are not too far removed to remember the Fiesta Bowl and their "administrative" costs. Different arena same corruption

The AZSFW board is strictly volunteers initially, each of the beginning few who started the organization back several years ago were required to pony up some significant cash to be a board member. The only person who does get paid is Capitol Consulting, who acts as our lobbyist at the state legislature. I know of absolutely no lobbyist who would ever do the political infighting that has been necessary to carry the water for us who would do it as low as Suzanne and company have done.

 

Thanks for the reply, John.

 

I have a question regarding the wording in your statement though. You mention; "..... strickly volunteers initially". Is that referring to the fact that 'initially' the beginning few ponied-up money? Or is it indicating that it is 'initially' volunteers, but there could or might be paid positions in the future? Or will it always remain strickly volunteer? Again, I only ask because this seems to be a big bone of contention with SFW in other states, at least in Utah.

 

Lark, your point regarding no outfitter response is very insighful. No doubt that local outfitters would LOVE to have more big money tag holders to guide....

 

S.

 

 

Wow! So much traffic on this topic!!!!

 

John; I might have missed it, but I don't think I saw a response to my question above. Will all SFW members/associates (Board members, or otherwise....) remain volunteers in the future? Or will there be administrative or executive positions created that are paid/salaried? Again, I only ask this because it seems that the Utah guys have a big problem with this in their state.

 

Also, you mention a meeting being scheduled next week. Will that meeting be open to the public? Or members of ALL organizations that are apparently behind SFW? Or just board members of those organizations or SFW board members only?

 

Thanks for your continued replies to this VERY hot topic!

 

S.

 

 

Hey Stan,

 

I have spoken with John about your questions.....none of the board members are paid and there are no plans to create paid admin or exec positions or to pay board members on the AZSFW. The fundraising side group of AZSFW is the AZSFWC...they are the ones that hold the banquets. I think the lobbyist is partially paid through funds raised there and also private money.

 

And the meeting you are talking about is open to board members of the sportsmens groups. If you want your voice to be heard, I suggest you contact whatever sporstmen's group you belong to and give them your opinion. And as I emailed around to everyone in the forum, I will be attending and will be sharing the views you guys are expressing in this thread.

[elkaholic]

hey BPJ - when you are speaking in support of ADA and the good things say so - it is kinda confusing on some of your answers !

 

Since you are the only member of azswf speaking - wonder why - you have been avoiding the real questions that most of the sportsmen want answered - so take a break and get one of the big boys to clue us in - why they tried to backdoor /railroad this bill 2072 past the legislators without anyone knowing about it or imput from all the other wildlife support groups including g&F or do you need to wait till you all can get together and try to weasel out of what most of us see as B>S>

[Non-Typical Solutions]

Not backdoored huh??? Wasn't even on the AZGF agenda prior too said vote yesterday??

 

"Chairman Woodhouse also made it clear during the meeting that neither the Arizona Game and Fish Commission nor the department were involved in the crafting of the bill, and this item has never been on a commission agenda."

[AZLance]

I think we need to suggest to the sportsman groups that are members of azsfw, that they withdraw from azsfw. Obviously the azsfw is not looking out for the other member groups.

[.270]

they're lookin' out for some of em. the ones who's names start with $. Lark.

[longtime]

Each and every one of us needs to band together and make SURE this bill does not get passed,added in its present form or any amended form.

 

They are considering removing what has to amount to hundreds of tags from the draw system and then sell them to the highest bidder, or do something underhanded and give one of their buddies a tag.

 

The bill is so stupid that I can't even think of what the hidden ajenda may be. Start issuing land owners tags that they can sell??

 

Anyway, WE need to stop this. It is already hard enough to get the tag you would like to have. But if WE just sit bye and let this happen THE GUYS WITH THE BIG BUCK CAN GET THE TAG THEY LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

That all for now, longtime

[Ringer]

Find out when Weiers is up for re-election and we will make sure there is a great voter turnout from sportsmen. He may have done some good but we need to send a message to the politicians. You sleep with dogs you get fleas.

[AZLance]

Find out when Weiers is up for re-election and we will make sure there is a great voter turnout from sportsmen. He may have done some good but we need to send a message to the politicians. You sleep with dogs you get fleas.

 

I'll donate to get Weirs voted out!

[billrquimby]

Whoa, there! Let's save our energy to vote out our real enemies. I don't know anything about this legislator, but I would suspect he submitted the bill because it was presented to him by sportsmen.

 

Bill Quimby

[elkaholic]

but Bill - Shouldn't have Weiers actually have read it ! before he sponsored it and sent it to a meeting where is brother was the chairman ?

 

As an educated legislataor - and sportsman - if he could not see this bill was B.S. -- he needs a wake up call and start paying attention

 

or do they just say ok sounds like good idea - i'll sponor it.