Why Cyber Hunters

[MULESKINNER]

For reasons I won't give in public, I'm choosing to ride the fence on my cyber hunters membership. I in no way disrespect the organization I am just choosing to wait and see.

Someone talk me into it.
I've always been a "just the facts" kind of guy on decision making.

Whats the mission statement?
Where are excess funds actually going to go?
If charities please name them.
What are the affiliations?
What are the affiliations charities if any.
Where do their funds go?
Are notes from commisioner meetings being posted now?
If not now, when?
What does a cyberhunter membership get me?

Opinion...How many people joined without asking for or getting this info?
Any other info concerning a membership would be appreciated greatly.

Extreme,
I would appreciate a response from you or another exec.
Others are welcome too of course.
Please answer these categorically.
Thanks and remember...No hostilities here, just looking for the facts.
L A T E R . . .

[Multidigits]

Mule-

The mission statement has been published here a several ocasions. I'd have to look for it for the exact wording, but can tell you that it's to connect the sportsman and sportswomen of Kentucky and beyond, via the Internet, for the betterment of hunting and fishing sports in Kentucky.

What we are not, is a group out to fight Frankfort and make enemies. Our actions to date, have been anything but that. I could point out the successes we've had so far, but most of us know what they are. We have a good working relationship with the Dept.and Roy Grimes, in particular.

The need for Cyberhunter's arose by most of us wanting more information than what we were getting. When Roy and others were posting here, it wasn't a problem. When they stopped posting, communications suffered. We will make a difference on that front, and already have done so. The recent issue of the crossbow/turkey deal was a prime example. Is there anybody out there that doesn't think Cyberhunter's was the group responsible for getting this taken care of properly?

As far excess funds, our goal is to keep dues low. With low dues, we won't need to worry about excess funds. This number will never be large and will take care of it self. Nobody will ever get rich off of these funds. Members have no vested rights to any of the funds. If at any time, there was an excess declared, it would parcipatate a vote to decide how to spend the money. We don't anticipate having a great deal of money left over, after expenses. Cyberhunters have already, with the limited membership, sent lots of letters and made several phone calls on behalf of the Club and the Clubs agenda.

The dues for being a LOK affliate will take up the bulk of the funds. This insures that our voice is heard, at least through the other 35,000 members of this group.

Our affiliations are with the League of Kentucky Sportsmans, through the Paintsville Recreation Club. We recieve 2 votes, at this time on LOK matters.

Through the work of Cyberhunter's, the Commission agenda's are now being published ahead of time. This is on the Dept. web site. The web site is due a re-construction soon and will be even more user friendly.

The minutes of the meetings are a different matter. They can't be released until approved, which happen at the next scheduled meeting(3 months later). Through the efforts of some of the more dedicated members, Cyberhunter's will have the information before the ink is dry.

It's all about information and getting out to those that want it. Where we can make a difference, we will try. When we have enough strength, through a diverse group of members, we will make a difference in most matters.

At present, your $10 gets you a voice and vote on matters that concern you and those that hunt and fish in Kentucky. You, as a member, can take an active role in helping shape the future of the sport, or you can sit back and watch it happen without a voice.

The members of Cyberhunter's choose not to sit back and let it happen, but rather be a part of it.

[Xtreme]

Multi, I can't add a thing to that. Well said.

Muleskinner, I am in the process of makeing a "send all" list for members. As I get responses to letters, E-mails etc. I will forward them to members and they can see where their ten bucks is working.

I promise you we have already made a difference and we are probably the fastest growing most respected "little big" organization in this State.

As for money, we won't have a lot left over but we will vote where it goes. Most of the officers have spent money out of their pockets regardeing matters and they don't even want it back. I know I've spent 7or8 bucks on stamps alone and I'm glad to do it.

Keep watching mule, I like an observant person. Join when you see fit and please remember. We are not perfect but we darn sure try.

[Ralph]

That was good Multi!

[Highbow]

Multi, for once I'm proud of you, I knew you could do it.

[rlb165]

My biggest reason for joining- all that free porn in the "Members Only" section.[:p]

Probably every member had their own reason(s) for joining. Mine mostly had to do with-as already stated-communication.

Too many times I've seen someone posting a legitimate concern over some Dept. policy or whatever get slammed for being a whiner/pi$$er/moaner, or even one time "paranoid". Then that thread turns into some kind of "Dept. Good" vs. "Dept. Bad" crap.

With Cyberhunters, my thoughts are that if I have a concern, I can bring it up and at least get some honest feedback/discussion, even if everybody disagrees with me.

Mule, you started this thread with, "For reasons I won't give in public, I'm choosing to ride the fence on my cyber hunters membership."

I CAN'T STAND IT!! PLEEEEEEEAAAASE give your reasons!!

Don't forget...FREE PORN!!

[Strutter]

Man, that answer sounded so good it makes me want to join up all over again.

Strutter

[Xtreme]

I as well as the officers and several members have tried our best to keep all members posted on what is going on but I will condense our exploits to date.

1. We have gotten the Dept. to agree to post dates, times and the agendas of the commision meetings on the Dept. website. They are also getting ready to overhaul the site and it will be very easy to click on and stay informed. I had a few folks tell me this would never hapen but I can tell you it was so easy it's not funny. Roy and Tom B. fell over themselves to help us on this.

2.Due to the fact that we got the first ever info posted on the Dept. site we learned ahead of time about the issue of crossbows for turkeys during the fall archery season in time for concerned parties to react. We also got the info out in time to table the issue of moving the Fall shotgun Turkey season to the last week of October.

Stay tuned, this one is not over and we will addres it again in March.

3.We have voiced some very strong opinions on the paddlefish issue and thanks to Cyberhunters we have been able to up the attendence of the meetings opposing this.

4.We have been a huge force in helping our fellow hunters in the Eastern part of the state with the protesting of the development of Auxier Flats section of Paintsville WMA

5. We were unanimously voted into the LOK as a member organization due to the fact that we displayed an enormous potentiol to help the sportsmen in this state.

6. We have established excellant links and communication with the F&W DEPT. They have recognized us as professional and courteous folks who genuinely care about hunting and fishing in this state.

7. Last but not least we have already accomplished as much in just a few months than I ever imagined! If you all will just stop and think. We "formed" in July . This is thanks to the hard working officers and members. I am proud to be a part of this organization and I thank all of those that have worked so hard to make it happen.

Rick Hahn.

[GSP]

Excellent answers Multi, Xtreme and RBL.
If we never accomplish another thing, having the Commission agenda is the greastest thing ever!!!
Without that we have no clue to our future of hunting and fishing. I am proud to be a member of this organization.

[GSP]

.......oh yeah, the free porn! You gotta see, "Miss Paddlefish", August, 2002....[:o)]

[ez]

great post...........i wish i could write that well....again; well said it should make a few more join and help us all turn some heads....ez

[shogan]

Where's the free stuff. I have not found it yet!

MULE I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STRADDLED THE FENCE LONGER.

I joined because I wanted a voice and to be active in preserving hunting and ensuring it's longevity. To many I might be a wild card (who would of thought former sunday school teacher a wild car). But I presumed others in the hunting community would be conservative (gun owners and all) and we would share many of the same values and together we would be a strong force. Conservatives please stand up and be counted. I took a chance with the 10 bucks +5 thinking worst case scenario it's a scam and some guys get some cash. Now somthing more important is on the line my name. And I'm going back to a wait and see. Wait and see if I wan't my name used by this group. Do they really believe what I believe or did I join the wrong group. It's kinda like church if you want to remain a catholic don't go to a baptist church and visa versa. Both have good points just different. Now somtimes in the big fights them Catholics and Baptist and even a Rabbi will jump in and work well as a team. ((Paddlefish discussion)) But you sure don't want a catholic, johava witness, and a rabbi to work on the XMAS tree project ehhhy!

I don't know your reasons. I have not been a member long enough to give any insight beyond my reasons for joining and concerns for participating. ((Heck I don't even have the double secret password to see the pay side)).

You know every good organization has longevity and if time destroys then there was no point in rushing in, but eventually you will have to just try it and see if you like.

[chad]

Shogan .... have you tried entering the members only forums?

As long as you are logged in you should be able to just click on the members forums and get right in.

[Big58cal]

Remind me to keep my boy away from rlb and gsp! With all of the 'help' groups there are now days, I'm sure there is one for people that are addicted to internet porn! I'd be willing to bet that you guys are "card-carrying" members! I'd even be willing to bet that you've got laptops and wireless modems for them so that you don't miss a minutes worth of "action"!

On to the subject at hand (ooopps, did I say that.......now I'm starting to sound like rlb and gsp).

My reason for helping to get this organization going was that I guess that you could say that I started it all. I asked the simple question where the Dept. personnel were to answer our questions. This started snow-balling (Hey rlb/gsp, isn't that some kind of Eskimo porn? You guys would know!). The reason I asked the question is that when the KDFWR personnel used to post, we knew what was getting ready to happen in all matters that affected the sportsmen and women of the state. After they stopped, our communication stopped and we were in the dark. The spectrum of people on this web site ranges from "Hillbilly Bob" to college students, to lawyers, to bankers, to Securities and Exchange Commission members (oopps, forgot the porn addicts in there). This doesn't sound like a whole lot, until you start looking at WHO these people are. Then you'll notice that quite a few of these people are the officers/executives of other outdoor/hunting organizations. In these positions, these people aren't your "average idiot", which to me means that if there was a way that somehow, all of these people could get together into ONE organization.................. Talk about a force to be reckoned with! Then you add in the people that aren't officers in other organizations, but are very passionate about things they believe in, and are willing to do whatever it takes to help preserve the future of hunting for future generations..............LOOK OUT! The great thing about all of this is that everyone on here (with the exception of some people who give me a headache) can be very professional and civil, but are 'bull-headed' enough, that they can get results without pi****g off who they are attempting to work with.

For me personally, I wanted a voice. I wanted to know what was going to be coming up that would affect ME, and I wanted something in place so that my son would also know what would be affecting him when he got a little older and started hunting. The primary thing about this organization is that information can spread like wild-fire over the internet in just a matter of hours. Since our primary objective in getting started was to have the Commission Meeting agenda posted so that we would have advance notice as to what would be affecting us, I think that we have succeeded in this, but it is just starting. Now, we have to use this knowledge to preserve the sport that we all love.

[Wildcat]

I'm setting on the fence myself. I'm just going to wait and see because I've joined other clubs then found out later it's not what I was looking for.I think Cyberhunters are doing good so far. It might be a while before I can get around to it with hunting season here since I'll be out of town most of the time hunting.

[Flintlock54]

I guess the main reason I joined is improved communications. I belong to a few mailing list and they provide a faster route than the Post Office. There is a record of what is said; much better than trying to tape record phone conversations just to get the story.

I doubt that I would have known about the paddlefish situation had it not been for this forum and as far as the Auxier Flats are concerned I know I would not have known about that. I was speaking to a fellow genealogy researcher 2 days ago. He lives in Johnson County and knows nothing about what I was talking about. I ask him if the local paper had any coverage on this; his reply "not that I know of." I been reading the on-line addition for 3 years now and haven't seen a word. That "rag" that "covers Johnson County like the morning dew..." has a few holes in it.

Being a member of The Cyber-Hunters gives me a proactive voice on issues that I may not know about and on issues that I really have a strong opinion about.

[shogan]

CHAD THANKS YEP I JUST TRIED IM IN NO PROBLEM.

[Birdman]

Mule I thought that you were already a member. Hell here I've been looking for a dog and your not even a member.

By the way I just got off the phone, I've got you a 6mo. old gordan setter, that is pointing field birds, and has great papers, and the price is right,NOTHING. you just have to pick it up during the day time. If your interested give me a call or e-mail.
And send that $10.00 in.[;)]

[shogan]

remind me to get bird man to find me a dog.