Reptile & Amphibian Forums

www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/outdoors/06/28/0628legcol.html

"Late last week, the Austin political newsletter Texas Weekly noted that Fitzsimons and Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, were interested in the job."

>>"Late last week, the Austin political newsletter Texas Weekly noted that Fitzsimons and Rep. Harvey Hilderbran, R-Kerrville, were interested in the job."

I saw it alright.

deal with HH?

Brad Chambers

I for one do not see him as the likely person for the seat, but his name is on the list... And that at least counts for something with TP&W.

What we are in the process of doing is putting to rest some misconceptions about the goals and needs of herpers in Texas.

So, Who wants to join Herp Conservation Unlimited?

Lance

>>deal with HH?
>>
>>Brad Chambers

I don't know that he wants to deal with us as he didn't show up at the meeting.

That certainly answered a few of the remaining questions I had though.

It's quite possible our meeting was a stall tactic to buy time before this occurred though (sorry Todd K., I'm just calling it like I see it).

IMO Representative Hilderbran is not qualified for the job, and the Governor will hear from me regarding the issue. I suggest we all contact Governor Rick Perry and the TPWD commissioners and let them know how we feel about it.

Todd K before you go flying off the handle on me, this new development warrants attention. Once again it is apparent that everyone but us knew what was going on and we intentionally left in the dark. I can not accept that in good faith.

will be getting about 4000 faxes and letters over the next few days from us then?

How about the Wildlife Commission? Should they be involved in our new campaign?

Lance

>>will be getting about 4000 faxes and letters over the next few days from us then?
>>
>>How about the Wildlife Commission? Should they be involved in our new campaign?
>>
>>Lance

Absolutely. Correspondence must be PROFESSIONAL AND NON-CONFRONTATIONAL. DO NOT FLY OFF THE HANDLE. If you do not know how to draft a professional and factual letter or what to say please ask for assistance. There are several folks available for assistance.

what we also need to do is find out who to support.. not just who to oppose...

Anybody know the principals of the other candidates?

Lance

Get Our correspondences? I received a letter from his office regarding the letter I faxed about my request for a veto on HB12. It said:

Thank you for taking the time to contact the office of the Governor regarding HB12. I have shared your correspondence with our legislative and budget, planning and policy division staff. Governor Perry is closely reviewing all bills that are sent to his desk by the legislature.
Please let us know whenever we may be of service in the future.

Sincerely,
Dede Keith
Administration and constituent services
Office of the Governor

Seem like there are so many people screening, that he will never get the calls or letters.

VK

That is why it is needed in the thousands... You can write more than one letter, and everybody you know can send in a letter..

Everything you come up with I would try to Fax, Email, and Snail Mail... And I would say a letter a day from everybody would help.

We also need to research some of the other names, maybe even contact them to get an idea of where the will stand with herpers. With any luck we will find one that is supportive and be able to back them.

We need a pros and cons thread on them as soon as we can find anything.

Follow the link for more details:

The Honorable Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons
Chairman
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Uhl, Fitzsimons & Jewett, P.C.
4040 Broadway, Suite 430
San Antonio, TX 78209
FAX - (210) 829-1641

The Honorable Donato D. Ramos
Vice-Chairman
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
P.O. Box 451111
Laredo, TX 78045-1111
FAX - (956) 727-5884

The Honorable Mark E. Bivins
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
414 S. Polk Street
Amarillo, TX 79101
FAX - (806) 373-3557

The Honorable J. Robert Brown
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
6949 Market Street
El Paso, TX 79915
FAX - (915) 775-0985

The Honorable T. Dan Friedkin
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
109 N. Post Oak Lane, Suite 600
Houston, TX 77024
FAX - (713) 580-5220

The Honorable Peter M. Holt
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
3302 South WW White Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78222
FAX - (210) 648-0078

The Honorable Philip Montgomery
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
P.O'B. Montgomery & Company
5550 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 380
Dallas, TX 75240
FAX - (972) 490-4905

The Honorable John D. Parker
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
1407 Woodland Drive
Lufkin, TX 75904
FAX - (936) 632-4503

The Honorable Lee Marshall Bass
Chairman-Emeritus
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
201 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
FAX - (817) 390-8408
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners

With so many bad things either happening or at least possible in the regs and the agency at TP&W we need to more than ever get organized and be listened to.

We have been kicked around for a long time because we have been very closed off from TP&W and others. We have enjoyed a long run somewhat under the radar with our herping hobby.

Now that is at a crossroad, we need to become more public and open with our hobby. We need to be able to talk and be listened to by TP&W and the legislative body.

We need to fast track the HCU Herp Conservation Unlimited... I own the domain names .org and .com... How hard will it be to have something, even temporary up by the 4th? Once we have a place to host it and the name registered to where it is hosted we can at least get a simple starter page up. What I wonder about is the taking of money for membership before our non-profit status is set up? Should we instead take membership as a voucher and then let people pay the promised dues when everything is registered? We need to be fast, but do not want to tangle things up getting there...

Lance

BTW, if we get the web space it could also host sanctuary photos..