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Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Looks like a high school graduation picture. Dang, chords, tassles and all!

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Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
What do the letters OHAA stand for on the vestments?

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What do the letters OHAA stand for on the vestments?

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Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Pray tell: What did each of those distinguished individuals have to do to earn the vestments and to be designated OHAA?

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Pray tell: What did each of those distinguished individuals have to do to earn the vestments and to be designated OHAA?

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Originally posted by K Evans:

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Pray tell: What did each of those distinguished individuals have to do to earn the vestments and to be designated OHAA?

The requirements and application are on the DSC website, mostly, one has to shoot (or claim to have shot) a large number of game, difficulty of the hunts plays a role, also. Or…if one has applied unsuccessfully for several years, get sideways with the club and threaten to sue, you might get chosen .
The winner of the award is not a board decision (or wasn’t). The award was the idea of a deceased member, named after him, who was a hard hunting SOB. At age 69 he decided to take all of the North American big game animals again, this time with a bow, and didn’t. He was a very humble man and I’ll bet the sash crap made him spin in his grave. Lots of deserving have received this award, I haven’t noticed many of them sporting a sash.

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Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Remember: Common sense is not so common.

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Originally posted by Saeed:

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Originally posted by K Evans:

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Pray tell: What did each of those distinguished individuals have to do to earn the vestments and to be designated OHAA?

The requirements and application are on the DSC website, mostly, one has to shoot (or claim to have shot) a large number of game, difficulty of the hunts plays a role, also. Or…if one has applied unsuccessfully for several years, get sideways with the club and threaten to sue, you might get chosen .
The winner of the award is not a board decision (or wasn’t). The award was the idea of a deceased member, named after him, who was a hard hunting SOB. At age 69 he decided to take all of the North American big game animals again, this time with a bow, and didn’t. He was a very humble man and I’ll bet the sash crap made him spin in his grave. Lots of deserving have received this award, I haven’t noticed many of them sporting a sash.

Basically, if you wear a sash, you really do NOT deserve it!

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
This was sent to an outfitter/friend. Looks like at least some of them realize how bad they f’ed up. And already trying to place the blame elsewhere (mentioned in an earlier post).

“Some of you may or may not be aware, but I am also a Director of DSC. I just wanted you to know that your voice has been heard loud and clear, all of DSC is working overtime as I write this. All I ask of you is to please be kind to the DSC leadership and employees. Remember the twenty-four members of the Board are volunteers donating their time and resources to the benefit of sustainable use wildlife conservation, none of these individuals are being paid by DSC. There are approximately fifteen full-time staff members whom are so dedicated to the cause they would do the job for free, if they could in a perfect world. Many on the current Board of Directors inherited issues discussed and had nothing to do with the decision making process, of that time. I am one of those who inherited. Trust in me when I say that DSC is burning the midnight fuel to build a prosperous plan for the future for all whom exhibit and attend the convention. Our mission, through our membership and exhibitors is to ensure our way of life has an existence in perpetuity for our children and grandchildren and our familial generations beyond. The fact is we cannot do it without you and your steadfast loyalty to DSC. DSC’s commitment to do our best to protect hunting, importation, and provide strong representation in Washington is only possible through YOU (membership/exhibitors). That is a fact. If you (members/exhibitors) do well, DSC does well. It’s as simple as that. The better we all do, more funds can be allocated to hunting/conservation efforts. DSC wants nothing more than for each of you to be wildly successful. Your success trickles over to DSC’s success, thus building a stronger future for all.

That said, I do believe that your association should write a letter to DSC voicing your concerns.

In closing, I am writing this on my own accord. This is in no matter a memorandum produced by DSC, and shouldn’t be considered as such. These are my personal thoughts as a member and outfitter/guide who happens to participate on the Board of Director’s for DSC.

Many of you know me as either a friend or on a professional level or both, I appreciate everything each one of you has done for wildlife and hunting.“

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Originally posted by dogcat:

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Originally posted by K Evans:
This was sent to an outfitter/friend. Looks like at least some of them realize how bad they f’ed up. And already trying to place the blame elsewhere (mentioned in an earlier post).

“Some of you may or may not be aware, but I am also a Director of DSC. I just wanted you to know that your voice has been heard loud and clear, all of DSC is working overtime as I write this. All I ask of you is to please be kind to the DSC leadership and employees. Remember the twenty-four members of the Board are volunteers donating their time and resources to the benefit of sustainable use wildlife conservation, none of these individuals are being paid by DSC. There are approximately fifteen full-time staff members whom are so dedicated to the cause they would do the job for free, if they could in a perfect world. Many on the current Board of Directors inherited issues discussed and had nothing to do with the decision making process, of that time. I am one of those who inherited. Trust in me when I say that DSC is burning the midnight fuel to build a prosperous plan for the future for all whom exhibit and attend the convention. Our mission, through our membership and exhibitors is to ensure our way of life has an existence in perpetuity for our children and grandchildren and our familial generations beyond. The fact is we cannot do it without you and your steadfast loyalty to DSC. DSC’s commitment to do our best to protect hunting, importation, and provide strong representation in Washington is only possible through YOU (membership/exhibitors). That is a fact. If you (members/exhibitors) do well, DSC does well. It’s as simple as that. The better we all do, more funds can be allocated to hunting/conservation efforts. DSC wants nothing more than for each of you to be wildly successful. Your success trickles over to DSC’s success, thus building a stronger future for all.

That said, I do believe that your association should write a letter to DSC voicing your concerns.

In closing, I am writing this on my own accord. This is in no matter a memorandum produced by DSC, and shouldn’t be considered as such. These are my personal thoughts as a member and outfitter/guide who happens to participate on the Board of Director’s for DSC.

Many of you know me as either a friend or on a professional level or both, I appreciate everything each one of you has done for wildlife and hunting.“

Karl,
Whoever wrote this is spot on. I have been on several boards for profits and non-profits. What we are seeing is/was/will be for a bit - a crisis in leadership and vision. DSC has been very successful. DSC has enthusiastic volunteers and many board members who are committed to their vision. Leadership has been less than stellar over the past few years and this may very well have led to the mess they/we are in right now.

There are always options in how to sort this -
1. Leave, vote with your wallet and go to SCI or Houston or others.
2. Continue to support the current mess and offer no help other than bitching.
3. Get involved, let your voice be heard, attend meetings and push things. That is basically how Trump got re-elected. People got fed up with Brandon and pushed this change. It can happen on a smaller scale at DSC.

I suggest leaning in and helping "right the ship". Like many here, I do not like the sashes and awards. It is a distraction. SCI is far worse at this as is Wild Sheep, Grand Slam Ovis and many others. The awards are a bit like the entertainment industry in the USA - Grammy, Oscar, whatever. It is a group giving themselves prizes and is a bit revolting and self serving.

If you don't like it, quit bitching and get involved to change it. It won't be an easy change but it can be done.

As to "critter clubs" in general, I checked out 100 of the biggest in the USA a few years ago - I gathering financial statements (no easy task), vision statements, lists of paid leaders and non-paid Presidents, then did a deep dive into what they are doing with the money. I learned the following -

1. Most start out well intentioned - protect and conserve wildlife with money or political action.

2. Most devolve into a fund raising apparatus and they spend 50% or more of the funds generated to raise money the next years. The worst was Fund for Wildlife and Sierra Club - they spent 90% of cash on fund raising. The best - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited - 50-70% spent on the mission.

3. Critter Clubs hire biologists or retired/fired USFWS or state game workers to help with the vision of the group, but those folks usually are not managers or fund raisers. Recent DSC executive director that left for Wild Sheep is a prime example. Most have no business experience.

4. Critter Clubs then hire "professionals" , usually fund raisers or marketing folks that present plans well and have a great gift for creating a vision for donors - Gray Thornton is a great example - he was at DSC, is now at Wild Sheep and does a super job of raising a ton of money for a niche organization. I think he would rebuild the bird watching world if he went to Audubon Society!

5. The problem is when the mission gets confused with fund raising and then further expansion into add on boards or foundations. DSC has one, SCI has one, Boone & Crockett has one. These separate but same groups suck money out of the donor pool that does not always go to the mission. So, these groups have to retool and raise money another way - create special "circles of leadership giving" or "awards" that are competitive in nature but raise money. The Weatherby Award comes to mind here. It started as a marketing ploy by Roy Weatherby. I read his bio and methods. He was a master at creating a vision (my calibers shoot harder, farther and you will kill more stuff, then I will give you an award). He bluffed his way into high society and made money doing it by selling a vision. So, nowadays to win the award, you have to campaign for it. When it started, Weatherby gave it to the person who could get him the most visibility for selling his rifles. Jack O'Connor turned it down early on due to this, but later accepted the award. Nowadays it will cost a hunter $1 to $2 million to hunt the 300 or so species, document and lobby to win the award. it, to me, is pitiful. So, why do they do it? For recognition and pride. Look at the list of winners over the past 25 years and it is "rare air" due to the cost.

6. No one wins when Critter Clubs fight. See the mess when Grand Slam Ovis and Wild Sheep decided to fight. Both lost badly and took a long time to rebuild. Wild Sheep took one path with Gray Thornton and Ovis went a different way. There is absolutely no need for two of these groups, yet here we are with two.

All of this to say, DSC is in crisis due to decisions and weather at the ATL show. What to do? Let it fail? Not a good plan as the organization has a good visions. Merge with SCI? Not happeneing due to the history. Muddle along and dig out slowly - not a good plan due to the amount of time it will take. Or, key folks get in there and change the direction. That would be my choice.

Anyway, you can sit on the porch like a monkey and throw stones or be part of the solution. Pick one.

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Originally posted by larryshores:
Personally, I’d like to know why all those people left suddenly.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by K Evans:



Whoever wrote this is spot on. I have been on several boards for profits and non-profits. What we are seeing is/was/will be for a bit - a crisis in leadership and vision. DSC has been very successful. DSC has enthusiastic volunteers and many board members who are committed to their vision. Leadership has been less than stellar over the past few years and this may very well have led to the mess they/we are in right now.

There are always options in how to sort this
3. Get involved, let your voice be heard, attend meetings and push things. That is basically how Trump got re-elected. People got fed up with Brandon and pushed this change. It can happen on a smaller scale at DSC.