NWTF membership

[Farmboy27]

I am a member of my local sportsmans clubs. But I will never be a member of any of the big time, famous, national groups. They have all put profit ahead of purpose. In my area turkey numbers have been on the decline for several years. When I ask a nwtf member what the local chapter was doing to help, he replied "I don't know. As long as most guys are killing a gobbler no one really cares."  I think I'll just give my hard earned money to the local clubs so I can actually see where the money goes! 

[M Sharpe]

My point exactly!! I asked a guy today who said they do so much for the jakes, what were they doing that they themselves could not do. He said "nothing".

[GobbleNut]

Gobblenut expressed my sentiments in a much nicer way than I could have so I will just leave it at that.
If I had the funds, I would likely still be supportive, but as it is, any money I used to spend on NWTF, I spend it on actual hunting trips---most of which I am taking youth and other folks.
They do still have some good programs, and I still get involved from time to time with the JAKES program. The grassroots folks at the chapter levels are solid gold. I am just not into volunteering my time to make someone else rich any more. The former CEO was a crook, IMO. Hopefully new leadership is making a difference, but I am not around to know.

.  Which CEO was the Crook?

I believe the reference is directed at Rob Keck.  Personally, I don't feel Rob was a "crook", I just think he lost sight of the true "spirit" of the organization over time, and the reasons many of us volunteers got involved in its early years.  Like so many other successful organizations, as the NWTF grew, the ideals of what could be accomplished grew, as well.  With that growth came a need to create an infrastructure to accomplish those ever-increasing ideals and goals.

That cycle of growth becomes a "catch 22" situation.  As the NWTF expanded, so did the need for more money to accomplish those expanding goals,...which, in turn, creates a need for more employees and infrastructure,...which then creates the need to raise more money.  Over time, the volunteers,...who joined mainly because of wanting to be a part of the "fraternity and camaraderie" of the organization, rather than being fund-raisers, naturally begin to question the motives of the leadership. 

All the while, as the organization grows, the leadership,...many of whom started the NWTF because of the "ideals" of helping wild turkeys,...begin to see the financial success of what they have created and things suddenly change so that the focus for them includes personal monetary gain, rather than just the success of the NWTF and its goals.

Eventually we end up where NWTF (and most other successful non-profits) end up being.  That is, a whole lot of volunteers contributing their time and hard-earned dollars to an organization that ends up paying its leadership exorbitantly.  When Keck and Co. left the NWTF, he and the others were making several hundred thousand dollars each in salaries and perks,....Keck's salary was well over $400,000 a year, as I understand it,...and that did not include all the perks,...which probably added considerably more to that. 

It is just human nature for those of us,...even the most ardent NWTF supporters,...to take a look at that situation and say,..."What the heck is going on,...and why am I, a guy that makes 1/10 of what these guys are making,...giving my money and lots of my time to support their elaborate life styles?  What happened to the ideals of working for the betterment of wild turkeys while sacrificing the need for lavish personal gain?"

I believe that progression of growth for successful non-profits, and the corresponding greed of the leadership that almost invariably accompanies it, is the reason that many of us end up with the sour taste in our mouths that we have. 

Having said all of that, the fact is that the NWTF still does much good for turkeys and turkey hunters.  While it is very true they could do more,...without NWTF, much less would be getting done.  If you can live with the reality of all of the above then, by all means, join up!     

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

Keck was also running the NWTF  show on a 1 million dollar budget when it should've been 60-70% less than that.
Everything was lavish.  Everything was excessive.

The NWTF needs to focus on purchasing land for hunters, improving that land for hunters, and lobbying more aggressively for policy changes at the state level for the wild turkey.

The magazine looks like something Martha Stewart put together and if I read one more bullsheit article from a woman who has killed fewer than a dozen turkeys in their life all of which have died in premier property with luxurious amenities and is more worried about a freaking selfie, I might lose my mind.  I might have a heart attack if I actually met a woman who has extensive, unguided hunting experience.... Yet they sure fill the pages with these huntresses' simple musings.

[mspaci]

no

[GSLAM95]

NWTF points of interest - I could write many pages but instead ask yourself a few questions.

With the population of turkeys we have now in the US how much trap & transplant is still done?

Where can the save the habitat funds be seen?  Is there land acquisitions that can be listed?

What is the gross revenue of the NWTF each year and then look at the break down of spending.  This may pick a scab with some but if your ignoring the facts then you probably voted for Obama as well.

The NWTF is a 501-C3 non-profit organization, they must file a tax return annually.   It is mandatory for all 501-C3 to list all employees names and salaries on the return with an income GREATER THAN $100,000!

If you want to send a shockwave to your heart do a search and look at how many of their employees make over 100K!

I'll stop here for now and grab 


 

[SKFOOTER]

Keck was also running the NWTF  show on a 1 million dollar budget when it should've been 60-70% less than that.
Everything was lavish.  Everything was excessive.

The NWTF needs to focus on purchasing land for hunters, improving that land for hunters, and lobbying more aggressively for policy changes at the state level for the wild turkey.

The magazine looks like something Martha Stewart put together and if I read one more bullsheit article from a woman who has killed fewer than a dozen turkeys in their life all of which have died in premier property with luxurious amenities and is more worried about a freaking selfie, I might lose my mind.  I might have a heart attack if I actually met a woman who has extensive, unguided hunting experience.... Yet they sure fill the pages with these huntresses' simple musings.

[oltom]

I've been a member for a very long time, almost since it began. I have volunteered many hundreds hours over those years and helped to start several new chapters. I've watched it grow from just a few members really into something over 250,000 paid adult members currently. The JAKES program, Wheelin' Sportsmen and WITO (Women in the outdoors) have brought many folks into the hunting and shooting fold.

I'm hunter who grew up without wild turkeys and one who witnessed the dramatic rescue and reintroduction of them to provide huntable populations. The NWTF played a large part in that reintroduction. Without the work and money of thousands of volunteers it would not have happened. Many state agencies were also supported by NWTF members and legislators were encouraged to support those efforts. State wildlife professionals are to be complimented for all that they did in this effort as well. It was a cooperative effort by many.

We are now witnessing a decline in the wild turkey population in many, maybe most parts of the U.S. The "Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt" initiative by the NWTF is a good one. Any of us who hunt, have children or grandchildren and want to preserve our hunting heritage should give serious thought to supporting that program. What past generations did for us, we need to do for the future generations.

Currently, an NWTF membership is $35.00 and they'll send you a $25.00 Bass Pro "Promo Card". You get the magazine for a year as well.

Lastly, like any other organization, you largely get out of it what you put into it.

Thanks,
Clark

Well said Clark!!  You the man!!



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[singlestrand]

       Its kinda like this for me.  Are you proud to be an American because of the way things are in America right now?  Are you proud of our leaders?  Our government? The decisions of our supreme court?  What about the overall morals and work ethic of the citizens of our country? What about our presidential candidates (the finest among us risen to the top with the chance to lead)?  When you turn on the tv and the news of the day, does that make you proud?  Are those the things that you see when the flag waves and the banner is played?  Or.... do you think about the freedom? The founding fathers and the ideas that they held?  All the men that have fought, and bled, and died, so we can have those rights, and freedoms, and ideas, that are perishing today?  One nation under God?  That's why Im proud.
        As for the NWTF I know this...they were instrumental in restoring wild turkey populations.  If it wasn't for watching NWTF's Turkey Call tv show, and the work the NWTF has done, then I might not have become a turkey hunter.  I pay my dues, read the magazine, spend the Bass Pro gift card, put a sticker on my toolbox, and if they do anything at all with my money to improve habitat, or the population of the wild turkey, or to help the chance for me to retain the right to legally be a turkey hunter, then Im proud to be an NWTF member for the things they are doing and the work they have done.