TEXAS OUTDOORS PARTNERS CHARTER - Proposed Amendments

TEXAS OUTDOORS PARTNERS CHARTER

Proposed Amendments

Approved 8-6-09

NEED

Texans who are stewards of our natural resources and who enjoy our hunting and fishing traditions are finding this heritage is being pulled in multiple directions by diverse factors, including demographic change, urbanization, broad concepts like ecosystem management and biological diversity, mass turnover in professional staffs of state and federal wildlife agencies, the decreasing proportion of our population that hunts or fishes, anti-management philosophies and values, and the crowded, fast-paced lives of everyday Americans.  In spite of great successes in restoration of wildlife over the past 100 years, the changing structure of our society makes it necessary for wildlife managers and hunter/angler/conservationists to work together more effectively to build on the successes achieved in the past in fish and wildlife management.  Further, this decade and the next is recognized as critical for wildlife as the die is being cast for its future.  Against this challenging backdrop, hunter/conservationists are arrayed in literally hundreds of organizations, diluting their effectiveness.

The early successes of Boone and Crockett Club members and the citizen-sportsmen in the early 20th century offer insight into the value of unity.  Back then, wildlife was visibly depleted with their habitats.  There was a common need to protect and manage wildlife and restore lost habitat.  In the 1930s, drought and low waterfowl numbers presented a rallying point for hunters and other conservationists to take action.  In each case, people interested in wildlife could see some uncomplicated, visible threats they could combat directly.  Formation of the Forest Reserves and their evolution into the National Forests, development of treaties to conserve migratory birds, passage of the Pittman/Robertson Act, Dingell-Johnson Act and other movements came to fruition because people of like-minds, with specific objectives, worked together.  This history shows that unified efforts do produce gains for conservation and management of fish and wildlife and their habitats.

With all this in mind, there is a need for today’s fish and wildlife leaders to unify their collective strength and apply it to common challenges and opportunities to manage, conserve and protect wildlife, habitat, fishing, hunting, and trapping in Texas, and the way of life they represent.

PURPOSE

Diverse fish and wildlife organizations with a common interest in conserving and enhancing fish, wildlife and wildlife habitat, and in preserving angling, hunting and trapping, are committed to identifying specific needs and working together toward fulfilling those needs.  The unifying element is a shared commitment to:

• Build unity among partner organizations and increase collective effectiveness;
• Develop a vision for fish and wildlife and their management;
• Collectively address key issues; and,
• Develop and pursue implementation of a set of recommendations for state and federal Administrations and the Legislatures.

SUMMARY OF PRINCIPLES

1. Develop, in a loose federation, process/structure with objectives and agenda.
2. Build trust and respect among partner organizations.
3. Be a potent force advocating conservation, management, fishing, hunting, trapping, and stewardship.
4. Positions are taken by partner organizations and not in the name of TOP.
5. Focus on commonalities and principles, including:
• Habitat,
• Fish and wildlife management of populations,
• Fishing, hunting and trapping,
• Scientific management of wildlife and habitat,
• North American wildlife model,
• Enhanced outdoor opportunities,
• Safeguarding the freedoms that enable these pursuits.
6. Share information in an effective and immediate way (e.g. list serve, web site):
• Develop an education and outreach strategy,
• Develop unified message and stay focused,

- internal (hunter/angling/conservation groups)

- external (general public)

7. Work together where we agree:
• Agree to disagree and respect differences,
• Extol and recognize accomplishments of sister organizations,
• Coordinate efforts on specific issues – some groups develop the issues, some groups implement the strategy,
8. Issue leaders emerge and coordinate communication between partner organizations.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

1. Each partner organization retains its organizational autonomy.
2. A common objective (or more than one) is identified.
3. Rules are agreed upon to channel activities and stick to the main objective(s).
4. Differences are respected, and no pressure is asserted to conform.
5. Someone leads the effort, and holds people to the rules of engagement.

STEERING COMMITTEE

Role:                                      Work with a Chair and Vice-Chair to plan, organize, direct, and
                                              coordinate the activities of TOP.
Membership:                           Comprised of 18 partner organizations, with 6 elected annually by
                                              the partner organizations (will include the last 2 serving chairs).  If an
                                              officer or steering committee member resigns or leaves, a new individual
                                              will be elected at the next called meeting to serve out the remainder of                                                   the term.
Chair:                                     Ascends automatically to two-year term after serving two-year
                                              term as Vice-Chair.
Vice-Chair/President Elect:     Elected biennially by the partner organizations at the summer meeting
                                              in odd years following the legislative session.
Secretary:                               Elected biennially by the partner organizations at the summer meeting
                                              in even years following the legislative session.
Treasurer:                               Elected biennially by the partner organizations at the summer meeting
                                               in even years following the legislative session.
Terms:                                    All steering committee terms are based on the calendar year.
Committee Meetings:              As needed.
TOP Meetings:                         Minimum of two/year, one winter and the second at an annual “summer                                 summit.”
Budget:                                  Developed by the Committee.
Funding:                                 Funds donated by partner organizations as needed to support
                                              operating expenses or specific efforts.
Web Site:                                Maintained through TexasHuntFish.com.
Resource Sub/Committees:     Established as needed by the Committee; membership is voluntary.
Replacements                         The Chairman with the approval of the Steering Committee may
                                              replace inactive members (defined as more than 50% unexcused
                                              absences over 6 months).

ADMISSION OF NEW PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

Criteria:

• Eligible organizations are those that support fishing, hunting and trapping and whose mission is wildlife conservation.
• Issues of concern to organizations should be regional, state or national in scope and the group’s policy efforts should be targeted toward the agencies, Legislature, Governor, Congress, the Executive branch agencies and the President.
• Organizations should have staff and/or members dedicated to working on issues involving state or Federal wildlife conservation policies and programs.
• Groups which serve as local, state or regional units of a national organization would be expected to participate in TOP through their organization’s state unit or office.
• Organizations should support professional fish and wildlife management in their programs, statements and practices.
• Organizations should have been in existence long enough (at least several years) to have established a track record consistent with the common interest of partner organizations.
• Organizations must agree to abide by the principles and the rules of engagement of TOP.

 

Procedure:

• Organizations that wish to join TOP must provide sufficient information about their organizations to allow partner organizations to determine the organization’s suitability as noted by, but not limited to the Criteria.
• Information must be provided to the Chair.
• The Chair will forward information provided by the organization to all partner organizations.
• Partner organizations will vote on admitting new organizations at any regularly called meeting.
• Organizations shall be admitted to TOP if 75% of voting partner organizations vote in favor of admission.
• Organizations shall accept the invitation to join TOP by notifying the Chair within 90 days after notification or the invitation shall be withdrawn.

Download TOP Charter-approved changes 8-2009