Texas Outdoor Partners
September 2010 Meeting Minutes
Cabelas, September 9th, 10:00am
Call to Order
Attending in person:
Gerry Stearns, NAGA
Gene Holloway, TBBU
Richard Benson, TDHA
Joe Leveridge, TDHA
Dr. Jim Cathey, TBCF & TCTWS
Iliana Pena, Audubon
Shane Kiefer, Plateau
Joe Betar, TTHA
Matt Phillips, TNC
Robert Linder, NWTF & RMEF
Randi Wayland, TABC & METRO
John Thomas, Austin Woods & Waters
Michael Gookins, RMEF
Jason Parrish, TexasHuntFish.com
Joey Park, CCA
Lindy Ellason, TBBU
Warren Bluntzer, TDA
John Jefferson, AWWC
Chris Susilovich, HSC
Vernon Bevill, TPWD
Gene McCarty, TPWD
Matt wagner, TPWD
Ross Melinchuk, TPWD
Attending by phone:
Edward Parton, TBBU
Tim Cook, Texas BASS Federation Nation
Pam Arredondo, Saltwater‐Fisheries Enhancement Assoc.
TPWD Legislative Appropriations Request & Discussion of Legislative Activity
Gene McCarty, TPWD presented the FY 2012‐13 Legislative Appropriations
- Request Update
- Baseline request may not exceed 2010‐2011 base (less 5% reduction)
- Additionally must identify 10% reduction of General Revenue related funds
- Total General Revenue Dedicated Reduction of $48.9M
- Reviewed New Riders
- Reviewed Exceptional Items
- Joey to attach copy of the powerpoint for everyone review
Big Bend Wilderness Habitat Designation
What is the real story?
Who are the people behind it?
Links to review:
- http://www.bigbendfriends.org/news/action‐alerts
- http://www.outdoorindustry.org
- http://www.bigbendfriends.org/wp‐content/uploads/2009/08/TWS‐6‐09‐
Wilderness‐overview.pdf
- http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF‐8&oe=UTF‐8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1q=big+bend+national+park+a+haven+for+wildlife#sclient=psy&hl=enq=designating+wilderness+area+in+big+bend&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=f42cedd875d403c4
- http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/12/updated‐big‐bend‐national‐park‐draft‐wilderness‐proposal‐draws‐attention‐road‐corridors5092
- http://wilderness.org/files/Big‐Bend‐National‐Park‐Wilderness.pdf
- http://whois.domaintools.com/tws.org
- http://earthday.wilderness.org/
Right to Hunt Amendment
Darren La Sorte, Manager, NRA‐ILA Hunting Policy, reviewed NRA‐ILA Hunting Policy, specifically Arizona Proposition 109.
Kirby asked, "What is the budget for fighting HSUS in Arizona?" Darren said, "I don't have exact numbers."
Warren asked, "What is the consequence of loosing." Darren said, "We will try again."
NRA Charity Navigator Link:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=5450
HSUS Charity Navigator Link:
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3848
HSUS Financial Statement 2009:
http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/publications/2009‐annual‐
report/financial_operations_report.pdf
PETA Financial Statement 2009: http://www.peta.org/about/numbers.asp
NRA Article in Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp‐dyn/content/article/2010/06/16/AR2010061605341.html
EPA Lead Ban
- Darren La Sorte, Manager, NRA‐ILA Hunting Policy, reviewed the EPA attempt to ban lead shot and fishing weights.
- Hunting applications are excluded already.
- Fishing applications are NOT excluded and will most likely loose the fight.
TOP Communication Efforts
Introduced new email server
Created TOP Member Email Group – thank you to Joe Betar & TTHA for compiling
Created outbound email address: President@TexasOutdoorPartners.org
www.TexasOutdoorPartners.org supports RSS feed
TOP Twitter Account to follow: http://twitter.com/outdoorpartners
Next Full TOP Meeting
Scheduled for 11/11/11 at Cabela’s.
Other Business
None
Adjourn