2010 Group Tightner

President’s Message Summer ‘10

Half a year has passed and we’ve witnessed again another play on sportsmen with the announced closure of state parks, the people’s parks. I find these kinds of cuts akin to the school budget’s not passing and the board announces lunches and busses will be suspended. Actually any announcement of that nature I regard as out right ignorant. My response at one school board meeting was to remove the Superintendent in order to save money. 

The arrogance of the state to play games with our parks, the very land we’ve paid for many times over. The people of New York place their trust in our elected officials to operate with-in the guidelines of which we’ve allowed them to. BUT, over the years the people have become lazy and allowed the government to act at a whim outside our best interest. They decide what is best for us regardless of how it will affect our lives and livelihood. Only then do the people, well a very few stand up and rant for justice. An example of this is the crossbow argument. For 20 odd years this movement has dollied along never gaining any ground. This year a big push was announced, it’s gonna happen! A bill was introduced to make the crossbow a legal hunting implement, no restrictions and the DEC was to decide where it would be best suited.

 So what has happened as of June 11 2010? The Xbow bill is sitting in committee being changed and redesigned from the original intentions. It seems Assemblyman Sweeney’s office has a 2 to 1 opposition of the Xbow. Sweeney’s area is Long Island with a population of 7,448,618 and he has approximately 200 letters of which 150 are in opposition to the Xbow.

So as I write to you I’m thinking is it a waste of mine & Eric Bratt’s resources to keep supporting a subject that is getting less traction than an old Pontiac Ventura with bald tires on a mud road? Really people, is it a waste of our time? To attend meetings and write letters call the DEC and legislators to voice the opinion of the association when 99.9% of the time we can’t get an educated response from an affiliate or a member. Please let Eric or myself know if we should drop the cause, any cause for that matter. Just because only a handful of sportsmen took the time to respond to help fight for our way of life is no reason why Eric and I shouldn’t spend another 60 hours a week fighting for someone’s way of life some where.

The way I see it is Eric and I could be out fishing, shooting or taking a nap. Eric is the Secretary of the NYSCC and big game committee chairman. It doesn’t look to promising when you’re trying to push your ideas along and you’re the only one pushing.

Last year I asked for each member to sign up a new member. Well that didn’t happed so as I mentioned back then unless the association reached a sustainable financial level a dues increase would take place.

Memberships: Nonaffiliated increase from $10.00 to $12.00

Affiliated increase from $9.00 to $10.00

Shoot registration now $3.00 increases to $5.00 [minimum] for members only.

$10.00 for non-members

$1.00 per target in agg. This could consist of 3 or 4 targets depending on the shoot director.

$2.00 individual matches re-fire $1.00

Saturday special $2.00 and up depending on prize, award or cash

Affiliate clubs increase from $25.00 to $30.00

Moose River Vous now $25.00 increases to a min of $30.00

The suggested fees are minimums the association should be operating at. We have 47 affiliate clubs with 2 as life members listed in the GT and on the web site. Several of them need to check the status of their membership as our records show 17 of those has dues in the arrears. All affiliates need to submit your dues, a minimum of 2 contacts with a  USPS address, email and phone number if available.

We have NYSMLA elections this year at our fall shoot and meeting. Right now your top 3 officers & 1 director have been struggling along with family illness this past year besides working and taking care of the association. My Mother’s health has slipped and I’m in the process of helping her out. John Petire has had 3 surgeries since January when ice and snow slid off a roof & landed on him so hard it folded, spindled and mutilated his neck, shoulder and hip.

Actually John said if it had not been for the truck he was next to it would have killed him. The ice and snow were so heavy it rocked the truck! Tim Welch’s wife is ill so between his business and tending to family needs he’s plenty busy. Joe Heckle has been taking care of his Dad.

 At any minuet you could loose all 4 of us, so the membership really needs to take a long hard look at the direction you want the association to take.

Regards,
 BPB  

2009 archive