Caught with our pants down!

[Xtreme]

Ladies and gentlemen. As strongly as we may feel about the crossbow issue one way or the other we need not lose sight of the fact that we were basically caught with our pants down.

We have no one to blame on this but ourselves because the info was out there just no one asked. I'm glad it was the Cyberhunters that opened the lid on this subject and I know for a fact how it all occured.

That just re-iterates the fact that we need more and timely info.I have been assured by the Dept. that they don't want us surprised as well. It causes mis-trust and hard feelings not to mention a last second all out fire fight such as what has happened.

As we speak I am in correspondence with the dept. on how to get the info out in a much more efficient manner. With their cooperation I feel that things will get much better and we here at Cyberhunters will be recognized as the standard by which the common sportsmen and ladies in this state are informed.

There are no rocks to be thrown here. The info was out there we just did not ask. That will change. As president my new middle name will be "ask".

Last but not least the crossbow issue has caused a few "sparks" to fly. Thats OK, I have not had to trash a post yet due to unsportsmens like conduct although a few comments have been a bit "hairy". Everyone is entitled to their opinion. All paid members are entitled to their vote if presented properly.

I am waiting for the results of todays committee meeting and at that time I will be calling for some votes on issues regarding how we stand on them and what we need to do.

Once again I'm very proud of everyone in this organization and what it has accomplished so far. Keep it CIVIL and lets keep our eyes and ears open.......Thanks......Rick.

[Multidigits]

I agree. This will probably be passed today. But, as happened with the regulations they passed concerning the Pineer Weapons Area, that we might be able to get it reversed. I can't imagine many in the Dept. as in favor of this. Can you picture the enforcement people trying to decide if a guys hunting turkey or trying to poach a deer. Besides that, this will have to effect the fall turkey kill. George Wright (ret.) has been quoted as saying we are about at the limit for numbers killed each year, based on present hunter numbers. You that know Roy Grimes, has to know he is against this move.

In the future, we need representation at ever meeting held concerning changes of the present game and fish laws. We need time to decide our position and for a strategy to promote that stance.

My suggestion is lets build this Club up to a higher level, in terms of membership and our relation with the Dept. When we have reached a higher number of members and repersent a cross section of Kentucky, then we will be a force to rckon with. Recruit members into the club!!!

[Highbow]

Xtreme, I agree and would like to go ahead and volunteer to be at the March Commission meeting. Both Jon Gassett and Johnathan Day have replied to my e-mails very quickly. I think that we can have the meeting moved to a Saturday date without much trouble so that more can attend. I think that UBK and Cyberhunters both have the attention of the Dept. and the Commission now we must conduct ourselves as a group of sportsmen who want only the best for our state. Let us attempt to work together for the better of our resources.

[Valley Station]

Son, youv,e got me "bumfuzzled". We got caught with our pants down, info was out there? Which rock was it under??
Communication has been "poor", at best.
No one from Frankfort has responded to this forums "F&W Questions" since March, this past spring.
People like president of UBK have been requesting copy of commissioner meeting agendas. Frankfort has always just "blowed them off" ..."Oh yeh, we meant to send...will be sure to "next time"..."next time"... And never getting copied.
I notice on Bowsite, that Frankfort says we can't get a copy of meeting minutes till 90 days after the meeting.
Multi's listing of the Aug 23 meeting agenda, 3-days prior to meeting on Bowsite , is "fresh sign" of progress.
Hopefully in the future, communications between the sportsman and Frankfort, will not be "like pulling teeth" , as it has been in the past!

[Multidigits]

OK, guys....here's what we know at this point. The crossbow thing was talked about in the past, and nothing was hidden by the Dept. They have a policy in place on the minutes. It won't allow the minutes of the meetings to be released UNTIL they are approved by the Commissionors at the next regular meeting(90 days apart). After they are approved, they will be summerized and communicated through the press releases on the web site, or you can be on the mailing list to recieve those. Had anyone contacted their Commissionor, you would have probably heard about it, although there does seem to be some confusion on what they are actually voting on today.

We expect communications to improve from what we had last week drasticly. The posting of the agenda is just the first step. I wouldn't expect any rep. from the Dept. to post here as an official with the dept. Those that do post, are doing so on their own time. They are intitled to their opinion as we are.

AS a Club, your President is working on establishing a working relationship with the Dept. and Commission. I believe he will be successful and in the future, we will be better informed.

[Ky Headhunter]

What bothers me, besides getting wind of the issue too late (again), is that even after we knew about it, we got conflicting information. My commissioner tells the president of KBA that it only includes the fall firearms season. Several other folks here, including some UBK fellows, were told by their commissioners that it included ALL fall turkey seasons. Somebody's commissioner has to be wrong.

I'm hoping this is one of the last remnants of a bad communication system.

No reason why the meetings can't be held on a Sat. If for some reason this doesn't happen, I sometimes have days off during the week, and would be willing to attend if possible.

[Multidigits]

That's exactly what we need, until we can change the way business is done on the minutes of the meetings. We'll need to be sure we have someone at any and all meetings, including the Fish and Wildlife committee meetings.

[Xtreme]

To basically respond to Valley and Headhunter all I can tell you is that I called the 4th dist. commisioner and he co-operated fully and even went beyond some of my questions in explaining. To be honest I have yet to hit a serious road block in my inquiries.

As for conflicting opinions on how the commisioners read it I can just guess that they need to hook up with Cyberhunters and join the 21st century with info online<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I think as a future requirement all commisioners should have access to a computer and at least E-mail info out to the major organizations. If a PC challenged clown like me can do it.....you get the picture.

Folks, it's time to let the carrier pidgeon go free and throw away the two tin cans and a wire and get info out that is ACCURATE and in REAL TIME

We are working dilligently on this.

[Valley Station]

Gentlemen.
Since F&W policy is not to expose minutes of meetings until 90 days after meeting, Is someone from CyberHunters at the meeting today, taking the minutes?
Will CyberHunter's minutes be released on this public forum?

[Xtreme]

I've got two folks up there with their ear to the ground and one of them is our own world famous birdman. Yes it will be on the public forum. That's what we are about. Join us and help swell our numbers and give us more clout!

[Valley Station]

Xtreme,
Will "minutes of Aug 23 meeting" be submitted to the public forum?
What was posted by Ceohunter seems to be based on "KDFWR official web site news release" on what was approved only, not what was discussed.
There were other issues that were posted as Aug 23 Agenda items.

[Multidigits]

It's my understanding that the minutes won't or can't be released until they are approved--90 dyas later at the next Commission meeting. The news release you saw posted was a summery of what was passed.

The minutes of the Commission meeting 3 months ago should be available now if requested. I don't know if we have an agreement yet for them to post them in their entirety. But I doubt that we will get that, because they would be quiet lenghtly, as you can imagine.

[Valley Station]

Multi ,
I thought there were going to be Cyberhunter people at the meeting taking minutes, posting "Cyberhunter meeting minutes" on this forum. This would inform the hunting/fishing public and eliminate the "90 day secrecy policy" period.

[Xtreme]

That's correct Multi. There won't be any way that I know of to post them unless someone reports from there. As confuseing as this stuff is at times we as an organization need to do our part to stay on top of the issues. We cannot expect anyone to "hand feed" us.

The agenda is the big thing in my eyes and the dept. is willing to work with us on posting that. If we know what is coming we are able to be pro -active instead of reactive.

The officers as well as members need to stay in contact with the commisioners. Like I said before a lot of this stuff is out there we just need to ask.

With the Depts. and commisioners cooperation and the diligence of the officers and members we will be the source to go to for info.

I have already been gathering opinions from hundreds of folks regarding moving the Fall Turkey season which is on the agenda to come up again in March.

I'm working on the paddlefish issue as well.

Have info will travel<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

[Xtreme]

Valley:

Birdman was there and he is supposed to brief us asap. He has been ill. The minutes are not "secret" they are not official until voted on at the next meeting. It's the same with most organizations. This stuff gets a little confuseing but fear not all concerned want no surprises.

If the commission votes on something and the public are unawares and create such a stink as has happened a few times in the past they have to do a "reversal". As I understand this is not fun for them and they want to avoid it.

[Multidigits]

I'd like to see the Club buy a small, but good tape recorder to use at future meetings. None of us know shorthand, but we could figure a way to tape and replay later for an acurate accounting of what happen, who did it and so on. The problem would be that we would need to pass this arround to who ever was going that day. Any other ideas????

Valley--We need you as a member. Please consider coming inside.

[Valley Station]

Tape player is great idea, really tough to take notes and catch everything that is said and who said what.
Undecided if I should join Cyberhunters. Really hate not casting a vote on issues.
However, it may be more advantageous to have a "team player" outside the group, who can be outspoken on "politically incorrect or controversial issues" when needed.

[Xtreme]

Valley:

It's hard to be more controversial than what we have now. My God look at us. It's the who's who of hellraisers here. We have however commited ourselves to addressing the issues in a positive and CIVIL manner. So far we have been met with polite and positive co-operation. I see no reason for this not to continue after all the dept. wants happy campers as well. They may not always go our way or say what we want to hear but they do not want the masses pissed.

A lot of the problem is lack of effective communication. We endeavor to resolve that. Come on, it's just ten bucks. I've spent that much in one nite on a juke box to dance with a bunch of loose women<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.

From one huge fan of Tony Brown to another I personally invite you to join our rag tag band of misfits<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>........Rick.

[MrBowhunter]

Who in the heck is Tony Brown?



Edited by - MrBowhunter on 08/28/2002 5:22:33 PM

[Xtreme]

Kenny, he is a former 3rd district commisioner who was a hunter and fisherman first and politician second. He is very much respected in both the 3rd and fourth districts.

[MrBowhunter]

Thank you for the lesson Rick.