NWTF cont.

[canemaker]

Out of 103 people that has read this thread, not one person from Green or Taylor county has responded...

I am just trying to help the NWTF get a chapter up and running. Not run it. Help is needed.

If you have questions or comments, lets post them here on the open forum. I would like to know if there is a problem with NWTF, or if am I missing something, I need to know...

Thank you,
canemaker

[RLWEBB]

I'm a past president and banquet chairman for a NWTF Chapter that's no longer in existence. People simply got fed up making money for the NWTF and the fact that NWTF put up two more chapters within 40 miles of us didn't help either. Are they STILL pushing for more chapters? I'm not trying to offend you or discourage you in any way, I'm just saying that Edgefield is about making money and they think the more chapters the better. Well after a while, and in a bad economy, there's only so much money to be had for underwrites and donations, but more chapters competing for it. Please don't take any personal offense to my post, I just think this could be a reason why you've had no response.

[hunter1hall]

Same here. NWTF is a money dog. What have they done for you, the county, the state? The money doesnt seem to stay here. They left a bad taste in the mouth of a lot of locals in my area. I would suggest finding another outdoor organization that will put money back into your area and try recruiting members then.

[ril7572]

I'm a past president and banquet chairman for a NWTF Chapter that's no longer in existence. People simply got fed up making money for the NWTF and the fact that NWTF put up two more chapters within 40 miles of us didn't help either. Are they STILL pushing for more chapters? I'm not trying to offend you or discourage you in any way, I'm just saying that Edgefield is about making money and they think the more chapters the better. Well after a while, and in a bad economy, there's only so much money to be had for underwrites and donations, but more chapters competing for it. Please don't take any personal offense to my post, I just think this could be a reason why you've had no response.


As a past banquet chairman, I agree 100%.

I helped start one of the first chapters in southcentral Kentucky 20 years ago. At that time an older gentleman who taught me to turkey hunt told me that the NWTF was out to exploit the wild turkey. I was offended at the time, he looks like a wise man in hindsight.

[canemaker]

Hey,

I understand 100% about it being a bottomless pit in someways...

However, this time I feel that it will be different. This chapter that I am trying to help start, or restart as in this case, is home to "Kids Outdoor Day", the largest single day children's outdoor event in the state. (In the top 5 in the nation) My wife and I are among the founding board members.

If for no other reason than that, the restart of the chapter should be done. I hope NWTF will stand up to their offers of more help in KOD. I think with the new leadership in place their offer will be upheld.

So with that being said, I have an agenda to accomplish.

[RLWEBB]

The "Kids outdoor Day", did you all use that as your JAKES day in the past? Did your previous chapter partner with them or did you have a separate JAKES day? I'm just curious.

The NWTF has done some GREAT things in the past. I remember a snowy January day in 1995 when our chapter released 13 birds into the wild. I got to hold and open one of the boxes and let a hen out. I watched her fly up a holler and land in a white oak. Made me feel great. I just think they've lost touch with their roots and are pushing to hard for the local communities dollar nowadays.

[canemaker]

The "Kids outdoor Day", did you all use that as your JAKES day in the past? Did your previous chapter partner with them or did you have a separate JAKES day? I'm just curious.

The NWTF has done some GREAT things in the past. I remember a snowy January day in 1995 when our chapter released 13 birds into the wild. I got to hold and open one of the boxes and let a hen out. I watched her fly up a holler and land in a white oak. Made me feel great. I just think they've lost touch with their roots and are pushing to hard for the local communities dollar nowadays.


Sent you a PM RLWEBB

[biggun]

NWTF does more than most organizations locally. We have Jakes Day and a Wheelin Sportsmen deer hunt. Of course its the committee that does things not the NWTF.

[canemaker]

NWTF does more than most organizations locally. We have Jakes Day and a Wheelin Sportsmen deer hunt. Of course its the committee that does things not the NWTF.

So, true biggun...it's all about the committee....

[thunderstorm]

If the local committee is willing to work for the community, the NWTF chapters are great. No offence, but the Paintsville chapter always had a reputation of just wanting $$$$, not doing too much locally. I'm not too close, so really don't know, just what I've heard.

Once the local committee gets burnt out (or no new blood) then it's pretty much down hill from there.

BTW, the KOD down at Green River Lake is one of the most amazing things I have seen.
Thanks and keep up the great work, no matter what happens.

[RLWEBB]

If the local committee is willing to work for the community, the NWTF chapters are great. No offence, but the Paintsville chapter always had a reputation of just wanting $$$$, not doing too much locally. I'm not too close, so really don't know, just what I've heard.

Once the local committee gets burnt out (or no new blood) then it's pretty much down hill from there.

BTW, the KOD down at Green River Lake is one of the most amazing things I have seen.
Thanks and keep up the great work, no matter what happens.

We'll I don't know where you got your information but we always had a Jakes day every year, had the obligatory banquet where we made golden gobbler five or six years in a row, provided a schloarship yearly with nwtf funds and matching chapter funds, paid out rewards to those who turned in poachers (We actually paid this out 4 times. We added $250 to the amount the nwtf offered for a total of $750.00 as I recall), provided free seed to anyone who would come and get it (winter wheat and corn), cleared ground and planted food plots at Paintsville Lake WMA as well as Dewey Lake WMA, did psa's for local radio stations talking about wild turkey reintroduction and hunting, held hunter education courses prior to spring turkey seasons and fall deer seasons, gave wild turkey info boxes to local schools in Floyd, Johnson, and Magoffin County, donated a total of $1,000.00 to local archery in the schools programs (In addition to helping purchase the equipment), donated to purchase frozen turkeys for the needy at Thanksgiving. I don't mean to ramble on but please don't say we were just about the money. Nationals might be that way, but I assure you our local members were not, we'll maybe one was:rolleyes: We were the Sandy Valley Chapter and I'm proud of what we did.

[RLWEBB]

PM answered canemaker.

[thunderstorm]

We'll I don't know where you got your information but we always had a Jakes day every year, had the obligatory banquet where we made golden gobbler five or six years in a row, provided a schloarship yearly with nwtf funds and matching chapter funds, paid out rewards to those who turned in poachers (We actually paid this out 4 times. We added $250 to the amount the nwtf offered for a total of $750.00 as I recall), provided free seed to anyone who would come and get it (winter wheat and corn), cleared ground and planted food plots at Paintsville Lake WMA as well as Dewey Lake WMA, did psa's for local radio stations talking about wild turkey reintroduction and hunting, held hunter education courses prior to spring turkey seasons and fall deer seasons, gave wild turkey info boxes to local schools in Floyd, Johnson, and Magoffin County, donated a total of $1,000.00 to local archery in the schools programs (In addition to helping purchase the equipment), donated to purchase frozen turkeys for the needy at Thanksgiving. I don't mean to ramble on but please don't say we were just about the money. Nationals might be that way, but I assure you our local members were not, we'll maybe one was:rolleyes: We were the Sandy Valley Chapter and I'm proud of what we did.

That's great to hear. Like I meant to imply "rumors and hear say" aren't very reliable.

Now a question for you. If your chapter has done so much why are they still not active? You mentioned in an earlier post the Nationals are just after the $$$. Most of the accomplishments you mentioned were, at least in part, funded by the banquets. Now how much of that is still being accomplished after your chapter disbanded? When other chapters are added, more % of money from the banquets get to come back to the different communities and less % goes to the Nationals...a winning combination if you ask me.

I still believe the fall of most chapters are the dependency on the work of just a few. When the committee and officeres are new they are go getters. Then when they can not get any "new" help they get frustrated and eventually give up. As a past pres. and still very active, I'm getting very close to this point myself.

Enough rambling...thanks for all your work in the past and hopefully the future. :)

Oh, maybe I met the one guy and got the wrong impression about your group.

[littleindian]

First off the Kids days began with the Green River Chapter. Both chapters had basically the same committee and after awhile "mule" get tired of pulling the load. I attended the first 2 or 3 banquets of the Taylor Co. chapter. To me it seemed to struggle from the start. The NWTF does have some problems but without them KY would not have a turkey population to hunt. I know more about the NWTF than I care to. I have seen the "good, the bad & the ugly".
I wish you success on getting it re-started, but you are fighting an uphill battle.

[RLWEBB]

First off, I want to agree with littleindian. If not for the nwtf, we would not have the birds that we do. KDFWR also deserves as much, if not more, of the credit for our turkey population. One can not fail to mention Mr. George Wright's contribution as well. He really knew what he was doing.

Our chapter started out strong and had excellent members, for the most part. We had one member who was rather over bearing. He cared more about personal accolades and drawing attention to himself than anything else. After a while, many members became fed up with him and many new, potential members would not come back after one meeting because of him. Interset began to drop, however we still had several founding members who were always willing to work and do whatever it took. As time went on, more and more chapters were added around us such as Lawrence County, Floyd County, Pike County, West Liberty. Our members went to other chapters and the business from which we received underwrites and donations began to ally with other chapters, which is understandable. Couple this with a downturn in the economy and it's not good from a financial standpoint. There were also issues with RD's from nationals pushing certain additional packages and other integirty/personal issues.

Overall, when you combine all of these issues, members began to become disgrunteled with nationals, especially with the added chapters. I am still proud of what the NWTF did, and what the Sandy Valley Chapter did. I just think that the attitude of nationals changed and a greater focus went to making money for individuals rather than restoration efforts, which possibly have/had ran their course.

[thunderstorm]

A question for everyone...

As still an active committee member I would like to know what everyone thinks the direction the NWTF should take? What would the majority like to see the NWTF do to stay productive, both nationally and locally.