For those who want to know my schedule, see how many can keep up.
Weds. leave for Dubois, Wyoming. Stop in Lander and met with some SFW members to go over some issues. Meet to plan a $1 Million mule deer habitat donation with some key folks, expect that one in Wyoming by June. (PS some folks want to model the very sucessful, best in the western US Utah habitat restoration program of 150,000 to 200,000 acres a year, Idaho i think does about 2,000, don't know what Wyoming does, but lots more needs to be done.) Attend the Chance Phelps screening in Dubois High and present a $10,000 check to Chance Phelps foundation - check out his movie staring Kevin Bacon on HBO. this $10 Grand is part of nearly $100,000 recently donated by Karl Malone, Steve Creamer, Marc Binham and few others, and all of this money goest to provide dream hunting and fising trips to Iraq vets. NOt one dime of membership money goes to this effort - and i donate 100% of my time to put all the hunts and fishing trips together.
If someone send me their email who can post an email on this from a Marine, who got a hunts for heros hunt, and is now in Iraq for second term it would be interesting to post it here, of course some will call it SFW braggin. Not at all, SFW does hundreds of things - good things - every year most people don't have a clue that are done. By the way, Chance's parents are SFW members in Dubois. Very moving story about a Marine who gave his life so we can all sit and discuss such issues we care about.
Drove nearly all night, got home at 5 a.m. slept for two hours, talked with some legislators on several Utah issues, HB 153, a Tresspass bill that would charge you all $1,000 for crossing a fence that isn't posted, out in the middle of federal land, is probably dead on arrival. so, if you are going to hammer SFW on HB 187, then thahks SFW for a dead HB 153, some may not know it yet, but it is dead. HB 187 is still up in the air, SFW membership is split on that issue, and the SFw board hasn't made final decision.
After two hours sleep, and two hours at work, jumpled on a plane, went and meet with a gentleman who is interested in doing some major stuff to help sportsmen in Alaska. Alaska Moose and Caribou and sheep in places are in dire straights, and so are some of the salmon fisheriers.
Flew home, jumped on another plane, flew to Dallas for the weekend to see new Grandson, and spend a little time with my family. Expo was an 18-20 hour a day effort for 3 months, don't get paid over time, just a flat fee. Hardly spent any quality time with kids for three months. HOw many of you will work 18 hour days, and get paid for 8?
today, worked all day on a ton of different issues, started at 5:30 a.m. It is now 8:50 pm. 152 emails asking questions, still to try and answer.
SFW has helped put $150 Million on the ground for wildlfie. Is that worth your $20 Membership ?
The fisherman needed $10,000 for a strawberry fish planting project. SFW puts up $7,500, the rest of the fishing groups put up $2,500. SFw has played a significant role in geting tens of millions of dollars to rebuild fish hatcheries, and help with in stream flow legilation that helped keep water in rivers in August. Funny how the "fisherman" want to always hammer SFW, who has done more for fisherman than the above ? Nearly every SFW member, my wife included fish. For some, if you are fishing only - you don't qualify as a fisherman - oh you hunt and fish.
And, why is the fishing groups all need SFW on 187 - why can't someone else win just one battle on their own for once ? Some fishing groups opposed 187, it passed out of the house committee 10 in favor, 4 against. Are you all very smart to hammer SFW, then ask us to come and win your fights ? SFW will do what our membership wants us to do, and what the board directs, not what MM members ask. We look for input from all people, but our members, and our board drives our bus.
To another post, SFW never represents we represent all sportsmen, the RACS and Board know who we represent, our members, only, but thier is NOT a larger, more geographically and socio-economically diverse group in Utah, and the same for otehr SFW orgs in some other states. And because of the imense good, lots of people listen to SFW, on many issues.
the 10,000 members know where the money goes, it is good enought for them. AFter things slow down in April, i will hold a meeting with those who want, and explain how the money is spent, you can't do it on the internet.
So, i have never ducked a good fight, nor has SFW. Sometimes there is just a lot going on - like most of the year, and i don't have timet o sit and watch MM every hour.
When the 24 anti hunters went to court to undue the wolf delisting, the most important issue for the west, SFW and SCI were the ONLY sportsmen groups in teh court room. WE lost that one, but the wolf wars are going strong, and SFW is in the middle of it.
but as lumpy said, in essence, if you have been in 150 political fighst, and the organization is still alive, somebody must know when to hold them, when to fold them, and when to drive the dagger in the heart.
But more importantly, SFW members are enlightened enough to understand SFW is NOT perfect, is NOT always going to do what they want, but in the sum total, SFW gets a lot done, for the good. and that is why SFW is the largest group in Utah.
And while you might want to hammer SFW on teh permits - SCI, RMEF, NWTF and MDF and DU and UBA also auction permits. And MDF and WSF are part of the Expo, so if you are going to hammer SFW, hammer everyone. And if you take out all of these groups, in this paragraph, who is left ? Nobody.
any rate, i am sure i have left a few things out, a few un answerred questions, but we do the best we can.