quote:

Originally posted by Bryan Chick:
Alan..: it seems all the comments about your posting this, reminds me of an old saying we had in the green machine; "no good deed goes unpunished". Keep informing us!

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:

quote:

Originally posted by Bryan Chick:
Alan..: it seems all the comments about your posting this, reminds me of an old saying we had in the green machine; "no good deed goes unpunished". Keep informing us!

Thanks Bryan, but I am the only one who seems to be getting punished for doing any good deeds!

For my efforts in blowing the whistle on OoA, at the last SCI convention I attended, security personnel came up to me and confiscated my media pass. They said I was soliciting for advertising, despite the fact I was not handing out any magazines or ad rate cards. Like most folks there, I was walking around chatting with the exhibitors, picking up their business cards, and giving them mine.

They produced no evidence and there was no hearing. I was not allowed to speak to anyone in charge and they escorted me out of the building. I had a choice of leaving peacefully or getting in a fight which would have gotten me arrested. Since then, I no longer receive emails from their Communication Manager, and I suppose I am off the list of outdoor media.

Up until then, I assumed that it was just a few bad apples in positions of power responsible for all the dirty dealings, and that the organization was basically good, and that SCI really was all about being "First for Hunters". Just shows how naive I was about the reality of the situation.

Cheers,

~ Alan

quote:

Originally posted by Alan Bunn:
Larry Sellers,

As usual you are wrong on all counts. Do you post while you are drinking, or is your lack of comprehension your normal mode?

First of all, I do not 'hate' SCI as an organization. I am a member, and I do not advocate anyone boycotting or leaving the organization. In fact, I think the idea of a ground swell take over of the chapter presidencies and effecting meaningful change from within is a good idea.

Second, I was working with African Hunter and Hatari Times, both of whom are long time exhibitors. The policy against soliciting for advertising was well known to me, and I was not handing out rate cards or magazines. I was just walking around handing out and getting business cards and collecting brochures. These PHs are in a 'selling mode' at these shows, not a buying mode, and are too busy with clients to think about anything else. It is just common sense to know that it is not a good time to try to talk to them about advertising. However, several asked me about it, so I told them I would email them once they got home and everything settled down.

Filing trumped up complaints was a common strategy used by Out of Africa against many of the Zimbabwe PHs, not just me. There was a big hassle between John Sharp and Out of Africa one year. They apparently over heard, and didn't like, some of the things being said about them. No one from SCI said a word to me until after I was seen across the aisle from Out of Africa talking to Kevin 'Doctari' Robinson. When Teressa Hagerman Groenewald saw me, she flipped out and went running around to all the people at their booth, saying "There he is, there he is". This was the year they were forced to refund the money for a safari gone bad that I posted about here on AR. A refund to the tune of over $20K if I recall.

There is a whole bunch of people who are responsible for getting the word out on Out of Africa. I am just one of the group, and I don't even do the most work on it. However, at the end of the day, it was Out of Africa who did themselves in by their criminal behavior. After all, they had gotten away with it here in the States for years, why couldn't they continue their organized crime spree and branch out into rhino poaching? They got the idea from somewhere that the whole hunting industry was corrupt.

However, I notice that you, Larry Sellers, have never said or done anything to warn people about Out of Africa.

You, Larry Sellers, have never said one word denouncing Out of Africa conducting illegal hunts in Zimbabwe.

You, Larry Sellers, have never said one word about the plight of the farmers of Zimbabwe whose properties were pillaged.

You, Larry Sellers, have never said one word about fellow SCI members being extorted and ripped off by Out of Africa, and this is despite being a chapter president!

What kind of chapter president were you, the kind who looks after the best interest of his fellow members, or the kind who trots off to Tucson and Reno to kiss ass and pretend to be a big shot?

It is not a good thing that you are the chief spokesman for SCI here. They should divert a $100K of their slush fund money to pay you NOT to post. If anyone can take credit for disparaging the reputation of SCI on this forum, it is you and not me. They must cringe when they see your idiotic rantings on their behalf.

Until Dawie got busted for leopard smuggling, you were the biggest proponent for Out of Africa on here. Every time that Out of Africa was mentioned, you launched into action demanding proof and the names of anyone who dared make these accusations. Talk about over inflated egos! Any evidence that came into our hands went straight to the USFWS, not some blathering keyboard bwana.

Now, you pontificate about the rhino poaching tragedy and how you oppose Out of Africa. It is hard to believe your sincerity since it only comes after your former friends are splashed on the front pages of every media organization in the world. Sorry Larry, I think you are only distressed that you have been caught on the wrong side of the issue.

But hey, don't stop your obsessive and compulsive behavior. When personal attacks are the only thing the opposition has left to say, then I know I am doing my job as a journalist.

Thank you for making a sometimes thankless job so worthwhile.