NTWF controversies?

[nyturkeyduster]

I see a lot of bad reports here. I wonder if things really turned south after Rob Keck "left".

[GobbleNut]

I see a lot of bad reports here. I wonder if things really turned south after Rob Keck "left".

To preface: I have nothing against Rob Keck in that he was the most articulate spokesman for a non-profit organization as has ever been.

Having said that, as one who was quite deeply involved in the NWTF from 1980 until 2008, I can state without hesitation that, even though he was a key element in the early success of the organization, he was also a key element in the changes that made many of us original supporters sour on it.

Simply put, his eyes got too big about how big a slice of the pie he wanted...along with several other of the "head honchos". Succinctly, they built a organizational infrastructure and salary structure that was not sustainable. Because of that, the focus of the organization went from focusing on wild turkeys to focusing on money and fundraising.

I'm not sure how much that has changed since Keck, Brown, et. al. left, but I would hope that the new leadership is trying to return focus to the original mission of helping wild turkeys. There is no doubt that the NWTF is capable of doing much good for turkeys and turkey hunters. I'm just not sure the way they are currently going about it is good for either. 

[bbcoach]

I see a lot of bad reports here. I wonder if things really turned south after Rob Keck "left".

To preface: I have nothing against Rob Keck in that he was the most articulate spokesman for a non-profit organization as has ever been.

Having said that, as one who was quite deeply involved in the NWTF from 1980 until 2008, I can state without hesitation that, even though he was a key element in the early success of the organization, he was also a key element in the changes that made many of us original supporters sour on it.

Simply put, his eyes got too big about how big a slice of the pie he wanted...along with several other of the "head honchos". Succinctly, they built a organizational infrastructure and salary structure that was not sustainable. Because of that, the focus of the organization went from focusing on wild turkeys to focusing on money and fundraising.

I'm not sure how much that has changed since Keck, Brown, et. al. left, but I would hope that the new leadership is trying to return focus to the original mission of helping wild turkeys. There is no doubt that the NWTF is capable of doing much good for turkeys and turkey hunters. I'm just not sure the way they are currently going about it is good for either.

WOW!!!  I didn't know this!  When I said what I said about the Admin Salaries, I was just stating FACTS from their Yearly Audits and Financial Statements.  It has been brought to my attention, in the past, that when you are making donations to Charitable Organizations, always question organizations that have Salaries over 10 to 15% percent of their operating budgets.  Anything over 15% normally is a RED FLAG that they are TOP heavy and are providing HIGH salaries for the Staff and not utilizing the funding properly for the purpose they are promoting.

[eggshell]

Well said Gobblenut, I actually started a post that was very much just like yours and deleted it, just because I thought I would refrain from making anymore negative comments. I put a lot of the current ill feelings squarely on Rob Keck. He wanted flash and show and glitter bombs. I am not a Rob Keck fan, I had a poor experience with him very early in his tenure and saw enough to make me concerned.bbcoach you are right, administrative cost should be under 20% total for a charity and if salaries alone are already there, that's a problem. I'm not talking operational cost that go towards the mission. I chair a nonprofit and our administrative cost are 5 %. Of course we don't have any paid staff, all volunteers. Take samaritans purse as an example, their administrative cost were 6.8% in 2023 and they are a huge organization and the gold standard in accountability. Yup, the NWTF has some housekeeping to do.

[sixbird]

I've seen this same disparagement play out before. I think it's a similar accusation to any organization that's successful.
The NWTF is almost solely responsible for bringing the wild turkey back from an almost endangered species in some areas and the reintroduction into former ranges such as in N.J. where I live.
The cost of these programs is eye popping and the logistics with wildlife agencies in the states is like pushing boulders.
Studies are ongoing to find the causes of turkey population declines and NWTF is pretty much the driver of all of it.
I know people are envious of success and critical of any effort in any arena but the goal is helping the wild turkey. I'm on board with that...


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I have to disagree with this to a large degree. Having worked for a state agency I saw first hand who was doing the work. In my home state turkey re-introductions started in the late 1950s and the 1960s. By 1968 we had a season and the NWTF never even existed until 1973 and by the time they were significant we had a substantial population. I worked with some of the crews trapping and transplanting birds and what I saw mostly was NWTF furnishing boxes and people to take PR photos at releases. I will concede they helped buy a good bit of land in their early days.

Don't disparage the State Agencies, I think a lot of them were well into the game before the NWTF was ever on the floor. I seen some good they done and some bad, in more recent years I believe the NWTF has sailed the ship off to a private Island to bury their booty.

Well, are you aware of the professorships that NWTF is funding? That costs a ton and will be REALLY helpful.
How about Women in the Outdoors? Youth programs?
How about the seed programs?
The studies? The cooperation with Fish and Wildlife agencies?
I know guys like to complain. I do too...BUT, who else has an interest in helping the resource? I know the individual members of Fish and Wildlife are dedicated (I know a number of them) but if not for NWTF, I don't see much of this being done by the agency.
I know here in N.J., the emphasis by the agency focuses more on revenue (which it has to) than the resource.
My two cents...I'm not going to disparage NWTF. Not after what they did and are doing here in N.J.


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