Progress Report on New Outdoor Media Organization

[spectr17]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
Progress Report on New Outdoor Media Organization

5/5/05

At the 2005 Shot Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, a number of media professionals selected nine people to serve on a steering committee to form a new outdoor communications organization. This committee has been working on that project and on May 3, 4 and 5, it met at White Oak Plantation in Alabama.

The committee members are well aware that many writers, photographers, and professionals working in various media are eager to learn of their progress in getting the new organization off the ground.

The steering committee meeting in Alabama established a name, bylaws, mission statement, charter and a complete design for an organization of professionals who cover fishing, hunting, shooting, trapping, and the traditional outdoor sports. This new organization will strongly support freedom of expression and the right of the individual to own firearms.

This new group will also recognize the vital role played by manufacturers, organizations and others who support our traditional outdoor heritage.

We request your patience while we file the necessary papers to create the legal structure for this new organization. Our fellow friends in the outdoor world can rest assured that this will be a highly professional group.

Our special thanks go to Safari Club International and The Outdoor Channel who graciously donated significant funds to make this happen. We also thank White Oak Plantation for hosting our initial meeting.

Our plan is to make a formal announcement with the name and structure of the new group in a matter of weeks.

May 5, 2005

Betty Lou Fegely
J. Wayne Fears
Tom Gresham
John Phillips
Tony Mandile
Jim Zumbo
Bryce Towsley
Laurie Lee Dovey
Jim Casada[/b]

Like those on the list I resigned a few months back from OWAA (Outdoor Writers Assoc of America) over their stance on the Sierra Club issue in Spokane WA last year. http://www.owaa.org/

This looks like the group that will be the umbrell org over outdoor writers now. There are also regional writer orgs you can join too. I&#39;m also a WOW (Western Outdoor Writers) member. http://www.westernoutdoorwriters.org/

The OWAA annual get together in Madison WI this year will be a funeral. It&#39;s sad after 80 something years.

[sdbowyer]

Jesse, I&#39;m confused or not reading it correctly. The list is of writers who quit? What was the Sierra Club isue?

[Eric Mayer]

The Sierra Club itself was the issue. Basically, no one had the stones to stand up and say wait a second, the Sierra Club is basically anti-gun/hunting and is trying to prevent the people who are the core (read: founders) of the OWAA from access as it was enjoyed before. No one, until the NRA stood up and spoke thier minds. After that, a major part of the supporters of the OWAA resigned in protest.

Ironic thing is, the board of directors of the OWAA still thinks they were right in admonishing the NRA and a few others for pointing out the hypocrisy of the Sierra Club.

They obviously have picked their side and a mess of others have decided that&#39;s not where they want to be.

That&#39;s my take, in a nutshell.

Eric http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smiley-cool-shades-down.gif

[spectr17]

Eric splained it pretty good. I&#39;d say 1/2 to 2/3 of the OWAA members resigned over the NRA issue. That and many of the big sponsors like Remington, NWTF and more pulled out.

If you think about it, it doesn&#39;t make sense to break bread with the antis when their sole mission is to put us out of business.

I wasn&#39;t at that breakfast when the NRA speech took place but I heard right after the breakfast all heck was about to break loose. The board them issued a nasty gram berating the NRA for slamming the Sierra Club which set off the firestorm.

[SierraExplorer]

Hey Jesse-

If you have it typed up or get the time. Can you post up a life-bio of yourself for us uniformed souls.

Thanks ! http://www.jesseshunting.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/beer-toast.gif