Just got this. Seems things did not go well, but cannot really tell...

To Our Valued Partners,

As some of you may know, the Dallas Safari Club Convention week in Atlanta was my first official full week on the job as the new CEO for DSC. Convention was a steep learning curve for me, meeting people, learning about the mechanics of the event, and taking in as much information as possible. This past week has allowed me, our DSC staff, and our volunteer leadership to have a short time to debrief, while also continuing to take in and process data and valuable feedback, so that DSC can collectively understand how to best move forward.

As we ended our first convention in Atlanta 9 days ago, we had a “CEO roundtable” with a representative group of about 50 exhibitor partners to receive real-time feedback on everything that could be improved for future shows regarding thoughts and concerns about everything Atlanta. Between the information that was openly shared during the roundtable, combined with the continuous flow of information over the past week via event surveys, formal letters, social media posts, and direct conversations with our valued exhibitor partners, sponsors, and members, our DSC team has quickly gained important context on the broad sentiments regarding the outcome of the convention, as well as expressed concerns regarding possible future plans.

Though the feedback we have received spans the spectrum from negative to positive, the two most common themes that are reflective of the feedback include this: there is a broad concern from our convention stakeholders regarding our ability to enjoy the degree of success for all stakeholders that we have become accustomed to over the years should our convention remain in Atlanta; and two, there is an expressed strong commitment from our convention partners to continue to support DSC but with a request for improved communication.

This update letter today is to start that process for better communication and let you all know that DSC is hearing your concerns. We understand that without the support from our exhibitor partners, sponsors, donors, members, and others, DSC will not be able to continue to deploy our mission as successfully as in the past and to continue to be looked at as a world leader in supporting conservation and being a strong voice for our important hunting heritage.

Listening and communication are a good start but putting an actionable plan together that addresses the concerns is what matters the most. The DSC team is currently working around the clock to put that plan in place as quickly as possible so you can see how serious we are taking the current situation.

I ask for your continued patience and support as we work through this important process. My goal and commitment to all of you is to have more details by the end of January or early February that will allow you to better plan for upcoming events based on our path forward that we are charting now.

Thank you all, again, for your candor and continued support of DSC.


Rob McCanna
CEO DSC and DSC Foundation

Facebook
Instagram
Website

That is a well written letter.

I’ll bet he was thinking WTF have I gotten into? I wish him and the club the best, but they have a really deep hole to dig themselves out of. Need some change at board level, should be some accountably, be interesting to see who the chosen one’s are for next board election.

I just received it as well. Yes, it is well written letter attempting to put out the dumpster fire they created. This would not have been circulated if the show was a success.

Notice how communication was mentioned a couple of times. That’s a definite must.

I don’t know the new CEO, other than I believe he was a Walther executive. I believe he was hired by those who created this mess, as the membership, life or regular, did not have any say. I do wish him the best in turning things around.

I spoke to a number of outfitters at HSC and by all accounts DSC in Atlanta was a complete bust. I thought that was a bad idea, turns out it was.

I decided not to go to DSC this year because if I had to fly, I figured I'd just go to Nashville.
I think a lot of folks must have thought that based on what I heard from the outfitters. Also, it doesn't sound like there was a lot of advertising outside of DSC, so no one who is not a member would know there was a huge show in their backyard that they might want to attend.
And, Atlanta is the worst airport in the country. And, a snowstorm.

Maybe, if there is not an appropriate venue in Dallas, DSC should consider either a temporary or permanent merger with HSC. We've got a great venue in Houston -- The George R. Brown Convention Center -- that can easily accommodate the DSC Convention. If Dallas ever gets an appropriate venue, they could alternate years between Houston and Dallas if they did a permanent merger, or they could just do it temporarily until Dallas gets their act together.

First order of business is realizing that something is wrong.

Second is correcting it.

Third is WHY did it happen?

If the same individuals who are so impressed with rewarding themselves with sashes are still in charge, it is anyone's guess what might be the end result!

I wrote the new guy. I asked who lied about the Dallas venue. I also asked why the mass resignations.

quote:

I wrote the new guy. I asked who lied about the Dallas venue. I also asked why the mass resignations.

I’ll bet you dinner that you don’t get an honest, believable reply. I doubt if he knows the real reason for the resignations and he’ll likely say that no one lied, but that the City lied to them or “circumstances” delayed the convention center renovation. I don’t see much change coming as long as the same bunch is running things.

DSC is now DALLAS SHASE CLUB!

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I don’t see much change coming as long as the same bunch is running things.

. . . unless you like awards, sashes, cords, etc. Maybe they need some crowns. Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu. The board was actually starting to look more like a professional board before the coup. Now it looks a lot more like an old NRA good old boy board.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I don’t see much change coming as long as the same bunch is running things.

. . . unless you like awards, sashes, cords, etc. Maybe they need some crowns. Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu. The board was actually starting to look more like a professional board before the coup. Now it looks a lot more like an old NRA good old boy board.

By the way, he denies it was him that shot the elephant.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I don’t see much change coming as long as the same bunch is running things.

. . . unless you like awards, sashes, cords, etc. Maybe they need some crowns. Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu. The board was actually starting to look more like a professional board before the coup. Now it looks a lot more like an old NRA good old boy board.

By the way, he denies it was him that shot the elephant.

but a dozen kudu??

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I don’t see much change coming as long as the same bunch is running things.

. . . unless you like awards, sashes, cords, etc. Maybe they need some crowns. Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu. The board was actually starting to look more like a professional board before the coup. Now it looks a lot more like an old NRA good old boy board.

By the way, he denies it was him that shot the elephant.

. . . well we know that one of the Amboseli super tuskers was shot around the first of March last year. And we understand that the elephant was shot in the Enduimet area. And we know that Kilombero North holds the concession for Enduimet. And we know that the individual was hunting in that area with Kilombero North based on his own Instagram posts. Admittedly there were others in the hunting party as his guests and traveling companions, so it is at least possible that one of them shot the elephant. A member on AR was there, maybe he will share with us who shot the elephant. So maybe for the avoidance of doubt, I should say that one of the Amboseli super tuskers shot last year appears to have been shot on his safari, although not necessarily by him.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I don’t see much change coming as long as the same bunch is running things.

. . . unless you like awards, sashes, cords, etc. Maybe they need some crowns. Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu. The board was actually starting to look more like a professional board before the coup. Now it looks a lot more like an old NRA good old boy board.

By the way, he denies it was him that shot the elephant.

. . . well we know that one of the Amboseli super tuskers was shot around the first of March last year. And we understand that the elephant was shot in the Enduimet area. And we know that Kilombero North holds the concession for Enduimet. And we know that the individual was hunting in that area with Kilombero North based on his own Instagram posts. Admittedly there were others in the hunting party as his guests and traveling companions, so it is at least possible that one of them shot the elephant. A member on AR was there, maybe he will share with us who shot the elephant. So maybe for the avoidance of doubt, I should say that one of the Amboseli super tuskers shot last year appears to have been shot on his safari, although not necessarily by him.

Shit stirring as usual and why would we want to name one of us? The international community noted that your photo of a folded young elephant did not do us any favors.

Speaking of shit stirring . . . perhaps you should read the whole thread. The discussion is about the current DSC leadership. This individual is one of those people.

Baldry has a history of selective reading…

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Baldry has a history of selective reading…

He pales in comparison to you and Jines!

You two have taken that quality to new highlights!

Saeed,
There you go again....

Unanimous feedback here in Nashville - a disaster

No one wanted to go to Atlanta. Folks prefer Dallas and Nashville. Why not Dallas SCI in another Dallas location? Gaylord? or San Antonio?

One fact I heard was 2K exhibitors in Atlanta and 800 attendees in whole on Friday. Might be bad data, but first day at Nashville was PACKED.

+1 for San Antonio.
As a "lurker" I will add that I stopped going to DSC every year a few years ago when I and another individual who has been an exhibitor himself at both DSC and SCI for more than 30 years got royally screwed on a hunt booked with an exhibitor at DSC. I filed a formal complaint with DSC. When I was finally contacted and asked the person that contacted me "after all the information I have provided, which the exhibitor in question has not denied, would YOU book a hunt with this person?". All I got was "crickets". FWIW, I was involved in booking the TVMA (now Southwest Veterinary Symposium) for many years before I retired. This is the third largest Veterinary Convention in the U.S. every year. I learned very early on who REALLY pays for the cost to put on a convention (the exhibitors). We had a policy that if an attendee had an issue with any purchase made at our convention, the exhibitor had a reasonable amount of time to correct the problem. If they did not, they were barred from exhibiting in the future. I guess I assumed that an organization with the size and reputation of DSC would have a similar policy. NOT!!!

As one of the few people who actually went to the DSC Convention in Atlanta, here are my two cents.

I am not going to sugarcoat it. Attendance sucked. Part of it was due to the snow storm on Friday which shut down Atlanta. The state of Georgia declared an emergency over 3" of snow.

That said, some outfitters and vendors did well and a number did not. It was a different crowd of attendees than you would find in Dallas. I heard that some wild turkey outfitters and call makers were doing great business.

As to Rob McCanna, he walked the floor all four days talking to members, volunteers, and vendors. Unless you knew who he was from a prior meeting, you would not have known he was the CEO of DSC. He looked like an average guy in jeans and sweater vest checking out the convention. I think he gleaned a lot of info that way.

Talking with fellow volunteers who were Texans, I get the impression the HSC is in bad shape and I would not be surprised to find out merger talks are in the works.

quote:

Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu.

It was a lot more than a couple dozen, he put photos on FB, well over 100 skulls lined up on display. At least 40 Buffalo, too.

. . . sickening.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:

quote:

Look at the hunting backgrounds of some of the current board members. Kathi just posted a link to a new video talking about the dangers trophy hunting poses to the Amboseli super tuskers . . . guess who shot one of the five mentioned? If I recall correctly the same person shot something like a couple dozen kudu . . . on one hunt . . . trying to get a 60" kudu.

It was a lot more than a couple dozen, he put photos on FB, well over 100 skulls lined up on display. At least 40 Buffalo, too.

Yes, I believe he was able to shoot extra buffalo quota as it was a Covid affected year for bookings.

Wonder what the new CEO thinks of his new job now?

Some people shoot hundreds of birds and nobody seems to move an eyebrow
If it was legal quota, no problem here
I don’t see it as a big deal but putting in out there in public while being well know is probably not a very good idea

quote:

If it was legal quota, no problem here
I don’t see it as a big deal but putting in out there in public while being well know is probably not a very good idea

I agree 100%, I’ve shot lots and lots of birds, quite a few cull impala and springbok, too, but sure as hell didn’t post pictures on FB or any other public place, like was done in this instance. Photos weren’t up very long but I’ll bet they were sent to me by at least 15 different people (I don’t do FB).

Well…January has passed, as has the first part of February. So much for the “plan and commitment” going forward. I personally know of two requests sent to the CEO for information on this and other matters of importance to members, neither has received a response, really didn’t think either would receive a response. Really sad to me…

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:

quote:

If it was legal quota, no problem here
I don’t see it as a big deal but putting in out there in public while being well know is probably not a very good idea

I agree 100%, I’ve shot lots and lots of birds, quite a few cull impala and springbok, too, but sure as hell didn’t post pictures on FB or any other public place, like was done in this instance. Photos weren’t up very long but I’ll bet they were sent to me by at least 15 different people (I don’t do FB).

I do not know, how many of 1 thing is enough in one trip? Especially, since I read Kudu numbers, “trophy quality” are down across its range. If he bought the entire quota, so be it.

Not how I would do it. A cull has a management imperative/mandate. Simply shooting the outs trying to hit a type measurement is unseemly to me. I do not care if that upsets folks here. So, no I do not agree 100 percent.

Not sure why the elephant hunt is being questioned.

It was shot in a hunting area, was it not??

And what is wrong with shooting several animals, if they are on quota??

Let us not get into silly ethics where non should be brought up!

A long time ago Jack O’Connor said he would never shoot another elephant.

That is his choice, although I have also heard he wanted one for free, so he can write about it.

No one knows truth.

Many of us like hunting buffalo.

Offers are found here for several on each hunt.

What is wrong with that?

We are doing the antis work by ourselves...
If it was quota available so it is a legal hunt and he had the time and the money to do so, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE PROBLEM?
He is helping for conservation throug legal hunting and giving $$$ to country there.
Whole different thing if it is ilegal or non ethical hunting, but we are not talking about that here right?
SO what is the problem?

It is always scary to me that you most hide what you hunt. Dont post pictures here or there it looks bad. It looks bad to who the people who dont like hunting.

Hiding stuff just makes you look like you dont believe it what so many from dcs and sci like to preach.Like it or not killing is part of hunting and if we believe in hunting like most of us do that mean animals get killed. Trying to hid helps no one who believes in hunting. Dont need to rub it in there face but if your scared to post pictures you really dont believe we are doing the right thing by hunting.

I have been a life member for a long time . Today, I would not join.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Not sure why the elephant hunt is being questioned.

It was shot in a hunting area, was it not??

And what is wrong with shooting several animals, if they are on quota??

Let us not get into silly ethics where non should be brought up!

A long time ago Jack O’Connor said he would never shoot another elephant.

That is his choice, although I have also heard he wanted one for free, so he can write about it.

No one knows truth.

Many of us like hunting buffalo.

Offers are found here for several on each hunt.

What is wrong with that?

Excellent Saeed

quote:

Originally posted by bcap:
It is always scary to me that you most hide what you hunt. Dont post pictures here or there it looks bad. It looks bad to who the people who dont like hunting.

Hiding stuff just makes you look like you dont believe it what so many from dcs and sci like to preach.Like it or not killing is part of hunting and if we believe in hunting like most of us do that mean animals get killed. Trying to hid helps no one who believes in hunting. Dont need to rub it in there face but if your scared to post pictures you really dont believe we are doing the right thing by hunting.

I don’t think it’s hiding per say, in my case I show pics to friends but putting it on FB is not my forte so the golden medium applies for certain things
And again it’s in the eye of the beholder

It’s just like the old pics with deer, elk across front hood, fender or piled up in the back etc. nobody is doing it nowadays or it’s at least very rare

quote:

Originally posted by M.Shy:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Not sure why the elephant hunt is being questioned.

It was shot in a hunting area, was it not??

And what is wrong with shooting several animals, if they are on quota??

Let us not get into silly ethics where non should be brought up!

A long time ago Jack O’Connor said he would never shoot another elephant.

That is his choice, although I have also heard he wanted one for free, so he can write about it.

No one knows truth.

Many of us like hunting buffalo.

Offers are found here for several on each hunt.

What is wrong with that?

Excellent Saeed

What is wrong is he kept shooting for a score. What is wrong with come back next year. Be grateful for the one you hunted well or hard.

All he did was buy an entire quota and keep killing to make a score. It reduced everything to a number.

No, I do not agree.

It reduced everything to a number.

That is what SCI has championed from day one!

Reduced hunting to an utterly stupid, uneven, sometimes illegal, competition!

So shameful, nom matter how you look at it!

And you will find that these sort of individuals have no character.

They live in some funny reality world in their own heads.

We had a one in our camp hunting in South Africa.

He never liked anyone shooting a bigger trophy.

He went out the next day to shoot one bigger, despite the fact he had already shot one the day before.

At the dinner table he was telling us what a fantastic hunter he was that day.

After he finished, his professional hunter was looking so astounded.

After he asked "was Mike talking about our hunt?"

"He was"

"Oh my God! non of that was true! He couldn't walk! I had to go after his wounded animals and finish them off!"

This is a typical SCI Award Winner!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
It reduced everything to a number.

That is what SCI has championed from day one!

Reduced hunting to an utterly stupid, uneven, sometimes illegal, competition!

So shameful, nom matter how you look at it!

And you will find that these sort of individuals have no character.

They live in some funny reality world in their own heads.

We had a one in our camp hunting in South Africa.

He never liked anyone shooting a bigger trophy.

He went out the next day to shoot one bigger, despite the fact he had already shot one the day before.

At the dinner table he was telling us what a fantastic hunter he was that day.

After he finished, his professional hunter was looking so astounded.

After he asked "was Mike talking about our hunt?"

"He was"

"Oh my God! non of that was true! He couldn't walk! I had to go after his wounded animals and finish them off!"

This is a typical SCI Award Winner!

Hah! Had the very same experience several years ago, the “other” Hunter was a successful professional bass fisherman from Georgia, US. It got so bad that at dinner my PH and I would talk about what a big Impala, bushbuck, whatever…and the next day the guy would go out and shoot that animal. Very competitive guy and a total asshole to his family and all camp staff, glad I haven’t run into him again.

quote:

Originally posted by spanishhunter:
We are doing the antis work by ourselves...
If it was quota available so it is a legal hunt and he had the time and the money to do so, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE PROBLEM?
He is helping for conservation throug legal hunting and giving $$$ to country there.
Whole different thing if it is ilegal or non ethical hunting, but we are not talking about that here right?
SO what is the problem?

I 100% agree with you that we are doing the anti’s work for them…sometimes. In this instance the hunter apparently bought unused quota (a windfall for the outfitter, I’m sure) and shot the quota. No problem in my view, the problem resulted from posting on FB a couple hundred skulls behind a smug looking guy in a camp chair. I don’t mind posting trophy photos, but that didn’t put hunting in a good light.
I’ve told outfitters we’ve hunted with that there is no need to blur our faces in photos as I’m not ashamed of what I do. I feel certain the hunter was proud of his accomplishment but probably used bad judgement in posting (for a very short time) on FB. As for the big elephant the same Hunter is rumored to have killed, good for him if it was in a hunting concession (though he has denied he shot it). Time will surely tell who the Hunter was if he tries to import the ivory, such import applications are discoverable and there are groups looking at this sort of thing.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:

quote:

Originally posted by spanishhunter:
We are doing the antis work by ourselves...
If it was quota available so it is a legal hunt and he had the time and the money to do so, WHAT THE FUCK IS THE PROBLEM?
He is helping for conservation throug legal hunting and giving $$$ to country there.
Whole different thing if it is ilegal or non ethical hunting, but we are not talking about that here right?
SO what is the problem?

I 100% agree with you that we are doing the anti’s work for them…sometimes. In this instance the hunter apparently bought unused quota (a windfall for the outfitter, I’m sure) and shot the quota. No problem in my view, the problem resulted from posting on FB a couple hundred skulls behind a smug looking guy in a camp chair. I don’t mind posting trophy photos, but that didn’t put hunting in a good light.
I’ve told outfitters we’ve hunted with that there is no need to blur our faces in photos as I’m not ashamed of what I do. I feel certain the hunter was proud of his accomplishment but probably used bad judgement in posting (for a very short time) on FB. As for the big elephant the same Hunter is rumored to have killed, good for him if it was in a hunting concession (though he has denied he shot it). Time will surely tell who the Hunter was if he tries to import the ivory, such import applications are discoverable and there are groups looking at this sort of thing.

Good points but the problem is not pictures it is the message with the pictures as in no message just the hero shot pic. Maybe talk about why that many animals were taken how that feed who knows how many people. How taking those animal help pay for the schools and water projects in the local area. All the hunting groups like to talk to hunters about how good we do helping wildlife but never talk to the people who need to hear it. We would rather make reason why this picture is wrong or taking that animal makes people mad and look are way. It is a shame so many smart people also people with money and we still fight and look stupid to so many because of lack of effort towards proving hunters help in the end.


Always here how bad facebook is and posting pictures there is so bad. I post ever hunt my son and I do. Yes people who you can never change there mind may comment. I can also tell you more then a few time people ask question and when you tell them why and what good came from hunting that zebra or giraffe did. They start looking at hunting different. When people only hear one side of the story what do you think will happen with what they think of hunting. So many times i get the well I heard or I seen this animal or that one is almost wiped out from hunting. Never that there is more of any of them in hunting controlled areas. Not that some animals have come back in numbers based on hunting them and hunting dollars.