Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the other people who don't have the guts to post their real name here, i.e. DesertDawn, etc.. please post their real name and stop trying to be brave behind a keyboard?

Thank you.

Randal Berry

>>the other people who don't have the guts to post their real name here, i.e. DesertDawn, etc.. please post their real name and stop trying to be brave behind a keyboard?
>>
>>Thank you.
>>
>>Randal Berry

I back Joe also. This is about the right to hunt the ROW and getting things back to normal. The only personal agenda I see here is worrying about losing the right to rape the land of animals for profit.

STEVE WIT
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Steve W.

I hear that, Joe doesn't need to have his back watched, but I got it just in case!
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Todd Hughes

the split is from the NAFHA association.

IMO the two groups (HCU and NAFHA) are not mutually exclusive and need to work together to achieve common goals.

There is no longer a need for a private forum. Let's approach Scott about forum space to discuss HCU business in a public place.

When this group is off the ground, I have no problem stepping down to either another interim or the first term serving President.

Anyone else have any more problems they'd like to address? Let's get it solved and quit the bickering.

Everybody is here... They all know each other... It is like a family reunion... complete with the arguments, rumors and a little spat or two...

But seriously, I agree... It is time to just lay the cards out, and people can either can either get behind us, oppose us, or just step to the side. But the bottom line is, we need an organized voice to be heard by the powers that be. They will not listen to any of us if we can not talk to each other and come to terms.

My take on it.. If there is a better option than the HCU then join it. If not join the HCU. If you want to fly solo in the fight, you might even get support from the HCU or otherwise as you go. But this senseless bickering has to end.

If you want to yell and scream at me, then just do it at me...

LanceBenton [@] sbcglobal [DOT] net

If you have a concern with HCU as an organization, then join up and try to make those changes or step aside and find another platform you like better.

If you are worried about who is who in the HCU then sign up and nominate another member or yourself to an office. Sitting back and complaining is going to change nothing.

I think we are past due on having a web site up for people to review our officers and their profiles. Review our constitution and our goals. We need to make that happen, at least in a quick text format until proper time can be set aside to fluff up a pretty web page.

Right now most of our energy has been directed at making allies in the legislature and finding out what happened behind the curtain to get us blindsided by HB 12. Now who here would not support that?

Lance

because things get deleted
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Snakes of Hudspeth County, Texas

Oh yeah... I forgot about that..

For the most part I can keep my threads up all night long baby..

Lance

To answer the question "Why not just use this forum?", the one very good reason for not using this or any other public forum is because of what you see here....a lot of backstabbing and name calling. It's great to be able to disagree in a professional manner and discuss differences in our opinions, but when we air our dirty laundry and resort to insults and name calling in a public forum we are doing nothing other than playing right into the hands of our true adversaries. All of the constant name calling, insulting and griping is not doing any of us or the herps any good.

Now, I haven't been invited into the "private forum" and at this point it does not bother me in the least. The HCU has to get a start somewhere and getting it organized could never take place in a public forum with this kind of hostility. While the present officers are only sereving in an temporary capacity to get things off the ground, I have full confidence in Joe, Troy, Lance, Todd, Daryl and all the others. They have asked me for my thoughts of certain issues and I have expressed what I think to some of them. I have been able to have my imput without having to be included in the inner-circle. Everyone who is doing all the complaining and moaning really needs to take a deep breath and relax for a while and give these guys an opportunity to get things rolling. If HCU fails, it is going to be a direct result of all the whining, complaining, name calling and bickering that occurs on this open forum. Perhaps that is what some of you are really trying to achieve. HCU may not be shaping up to be exactly what you want, but guys lets face it there is no organization that is going to be 100% of what everybody wants....there has to be some give and take especially amoung ourselves. Right now it is the best thing we have going for us. I have yet to see any of the whiners and moaners take the time and effort or absorb the cost of putting together anything else that would be remotely helpful. If you have a better plan then get it organized and and bring it to life. If we think your agenda is better than the HCU agenda, then maybe we will join you. But until you do that kindly cool your heels and stop trying to harm the efforts of the HCU officers and board members. If you don't like the final product that they roll out, no one is going to twist your arm and force you to join up.

Gerald Keown

Thank you Gerald, you are a gentleman and a scholar. Mike, I will publicly apologize to you on this forum for stating that you yake ALL herps, etc. But hear me, I stand behind this organization because I believe it will change the way the politicians and TP&WD looks at herpers in general,and I want to be distinguished from commercial collectors, I want to be viewed as a serious hobbyist with data to share for the benefit of the herps so they can be enjoyed by your kids and grandkids as well as mine. As Joe said we are interim officers, join and you can submit your own ideas, but let us not fight about this. Let us(you and I and everyone interested in herps) do something amazing with this vehicle.
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Todd Hughes

Let me help clarify. It's not a choice of NAFHA or HCU. At this time NAFHA is only devoted to collecting, organizing and distribution of data from field herping. Either from individuals or group events. Since it's already up and running, NAFHA should just be viewed as a "turn key" solution to support that part of HCU. HCU will be a bigger, broader based organization encompasing a lot more facets/issues of herpetology, herpetoculture, and related actions affecting all parts of the hobby. There isn't even a point to "one or the other."

Eimon

Eimon, I really hope you are a big part of HCU-Cali when its' time rolls around. You are rock solid!
Todd Hughes
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Todd Hughes

Thanks Todd. Except maybe for my post to Mike (OHI) last night...lol. It helps to have been around this stuff for awhile also.

Been away from the forum for a few days so it will take me some time to catch up. I also back Joe 100%, he and outhers put in alot of time getting 2414 stopped, and is one of the leaders in this fight against this. A lot of the fuss is over not pushing for the rights of commercial collection, the way i see it that is a fight for someone els with a different agenda not us. We are Hobbiest first, and commercial collection has no part in our hobby. That said , when are we going to start taking memberships for HCU ? Not hiding behind this keyboard. Clark Fox MO.

When can we join HCU, I'm ready with a check in hand!!
Strength in numbers "ya know"
Randall Berry , please say hello to Bonnie for me!

thanks
Barry Aaron, Tx

it's coming you guys, I promise. $$ is needed too, so we are hurting ourselves with these delays, but it is important to get the papers filed and the accounts set up, and position statements and goals in black and white on the web.

Anxiously waiting!!! Thanks for the update Joe.

I know this is not a popularity contest but I am behind you Joe. I know many that think the same way I do.
Mark Pyle