Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am a member of the Tucson Herpetological Society, a sociey who's mission statement reads as follows: The Tucson Herpetological Society is a non-profit organization supported by tax deductible membership dues and contributions used for education, conservationand research concerning the amphibians and reptiles of Arizona and Mexico. The society's founding members were herpetoculturists such as David L. Hardy Sr. the founder, Frank Retes, Many Rubio etc. The society has been a big part and suppourter of local research and conservation efforts and maintains a healthy relationship with the AZG&F Dept.'s operation game theif to help enforce illegal reptile poaching. All members are expected to adhere to the laws regarding collecting etc. etc. Recently the board of directors has refused to place an ad in the society's newsletter for a 2nd annual herp show and expo by the events director who also happens to be a member of the society. He was told that the society had no place for herpetoculture and that he should start a community himself. I felt that this was undeserved as the year before he was allowed an ad in the newsletter. The ad we speak of had a caption that read: *DISCLAIMER: The above event is not endorsed nor affiliated with the Tuscon Herpetological Society.
The THS has been around since 1988 and I have been very pround to be a member of such a prestigious group of people however I feel that the THS needs to reconsider what it does and become more open to others. What do you think must be done? Any advice is appreciated. Thanx-Robert Villa

What sort of herper society does not allow for some herpetocultural content in itself? I know a few of those names; I can't imagine any of the ones I recognize supporting a herpetological group that refuses to recognize herpetoculture as a legitimate and viable part of herpetology. I'd make my views known and/or drop my membership if they don't change thier opinion. Of course, there might be things you don't know; personal politics might have played a role in the decision, which is scarcly a better reason for it.

Paul
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Cornsnakes and kingsnakes and gophers oh my!

Hello, I would firstly like to appologize for wrongly introducing the Tucson Herpetological Society. While the society is focused on the conservation, research and education of herps, it does not have any opinion regarding herpetoculture. As I have said, many of the members are herpetoculturists. As you will read, the THS is putting in a significant amount of effort to become more of a strictly scientific group and journal. This does not mean that the THS has anything against herpetoculture, it's interests are simply not directed in that direction. The THS will be manning a table at the 2nd annual herp show and expo. This is to better widen our diversity of members. I hope that I have clarified things. Thankyou, Robert Villa

Hi Robert,

A recent posting of yours on Kingsnake.com was brought to my attention (http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=106993,106993). As I do not participate in such forums, I do not intend to respond. However, I did want to clarify a few things for you personally. Unfortunately, your statements are rather derogatory toward the THS and do not encompass the full story. While the THS is not placing an advertisement for the reptile show in the Sonoran Herpetologist, this was not a decision directed solely at Mark Wolfson. The SH has recently undergone many changes in an effort to become a more scientific journal. You will notice that the SH also no longer runs any ads, not just Mark's. The THS board of directors appointed an editorial committee to facilitate these changes. The committee has implemented an announcement policy which basically only maintains announcements that are in keeping with the THS's mission: Education, Conservation, and Research.

The THS does not have an opinion regarding herpetoculture. Many of our members are herpetoculturalists, while others are either neutral or opposed. I personally believe that this diversity is a strength of our society. But, as the actions of the society need to be in keeping with its mission, herpetoculture is not currently in our mission statement. Regarding the upcoming reptile show, not placing an ad in the SH does not in any way reflect an opinion by the society on herpetoculture. In fact, I will be making an announcement (and handing out fliers) for Mark about at our next general meeting and the THS will be participating in the event, just as we did last year.

Now, as to the statement that "He was told that the society had no place for herpetoculture and that he should start a community himself.", you are interpreting other peoples words without representing the context in which they were given. First of all, this statement did not come from the THS or its board of directors. I believe this came from correspondence that Mark had with Roger. I am not at liberty to speak for Roger, but I can assure you that the suggestion was given not to separate herpetoculturalists from the THS, but to encourage those with interests outside of the THS mission to expand on them. I think the THS is doing an excellent job with the mission that it has set out to accomplish. Since the THS mission is limited, there is no conflict with others initiating another forum that addresses other issues in the field of herpetology.

I respect your opinions, but am sorry that in expressing them you have generated misunderstanding about the THS in a forum which the THS is not even a participant. In the future, I would encourage you to seek out all the information on a subject before posting it (just as any good scientist should do). If you feel it appropriate, it would be nice for you to clarify your statements to the readers of kingsnake.com.

Sincerely,

Taylor

Taylor Edwards
President
Tucson Herpetological Society
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Dear Taylor, I would firstly like to apologize for my actions. I feel that I have gone against my own rules as a person and scientist.

Bill Savary first E-mailed me on the issue, and while I do not want to "point fingers," I was GREATLY saddened by what he told me. However, as I write this, "It's all starting to gel" as they say.

At first I thought of how it was before, when breeders would give talks on how to breed their favorite herps at THS member meetings (i.e., Frank Retes on monitors and Bob Applegate on king/milk snakes). Sure, this was a while back before I was even a member, however the THS still kept its mission statement and continued to be an integral part of conservation, research and educational issues. Why could it not be that way today?

Now I see that the BOD/THS simply wants to be in stricter accordance with the mission statement, which is what any proper society should be doing. And that the diversity of members and directors in their interests regarding herps is what makes the society's strength. In other words, no matter what your interests are regarding herps, as a member of the THS, you should be in accordance with the mission statement.

David Hardy, Sr. once talked to me about herpetology and herpetoculture; he told me that they are simply two different fields. No one is better or worse than the other and they should both be respected as fields.

I have leaped before I have hopped and I again apologize for my actions and behavior. I will clarify things at kingsnake.com regarding my post. Might you have any suggestions?

Thankyou for your response,
Robert Villa
Tucson Herpetological Society

Please do not the alow the names mentioned lead you to believe that the people they are named after are weak in character. They are top people in their fields and I respct them for who they are! thankyou again, Robert Villa

Please do not the alow the names mentioned lead you to believe that the people they are named after are weak in character. They are top people in their fields and I respct them for who they are! thankyou again, Robert Villa

Please do not allow the names mentioned to make you belive a weakness in character to the people the names belong to. They are top people in their fields and I have the utmost respect for them. Thanks again, Robert Villa