Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok......it's my understanding that Nikki is the new president of the TSHS......CONGRATULATIONS NIKKI......

As fa as members.....who knows. It looks like the TSHS is starting from scratch.

As George and Nikki had mentioned before, I guess it will be their #1 priority to make sure that the group is registered as a not-for-profit organization. This seems like a good start since it was never done in the past and thee wee a lot of opportunities missed because of it, as far as freebies and the like.

The major issue going on right now are the newly discovered laws in Ohio and the raid at the Columbus All Ohio Reptile Show. It seems that the federal government has been planning a sting operation with undercover agents and decided to strike a couple weeks ago. Some animals were confiscated, and vendors were fined, in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. This is a serious matter and knowledge of the PA state regulations on reptiles need to be addressed and documented. The TSHS should be a source of information for all reptile owners in the state.

As an open poll, what do you (the general public of Pennsylvania) think is the highest priority for an organization made up of reptile keepers. Our previous mission statements were:
1.Educating the public with programs and expos to ensure that they understand these animals and the importance they have on our lives.

2.Fully endorsing the practice of captive breeding as to provide for the survival of the species in nature.

3.Providing our members with information and knowledge, to enable them to be responsible keepers in our society.

4.Assisting as much as we can, the scientific studies of herpefauna throughout the world so that we too can understand these creatures to their fullest.

5.Providing an outlet for keepers in the area with a group that they can feel comfortable with

While all of these are valid points, it is my belief that more and more people are looking for an organization that will stand up for them (provided what they are doing is legally, and ethically correct)

Ideas for fund raisers were also a really big problem within the group. Small Groups can never have power to lobby government agencies unless well funded, and some of the ideas for fund raisers require capital to start. Yearly dues is hardly a source of substantial income, and I'm not sure there was ever a set fee for an educational program.

Other issues that would need to be address are, where to meet? When to meet? How often to meet?

Nikki's Job is not going to be an easy one, and I'm sure she's aware of that. With some input from potential members, former members, members of other groups (hopefully successful ones) etc., we can maybe give her some things to think about, and ideas that we can all build on. Please feel free to post whatever it is you want, suggestions, complaints about how things were. Compliants and comments on the state of the herp world as it is right now. Issues you think that a club like this should address, etc. It's an open discussion, let it all fly.

Thanks
Todd Evans

Hey Todd
Here is were the tri state stands. I just got a treasurer, so the money will be in the bank. Then I will apply for the non-profit status as soon as I can. Beyond Utopia is giving a meeting place every other month at the Beaver Valley Reptile Show. However I do not have one real "member" yet,due to the fact that no one has paid for membership yet. I send out some emails and one person wrote a good response and one wrote a bad one. Other then that nothing. And Todd, you are write I do have a lot of work ahead of me. But I will do what I can . But I will need help, so any one that wants to help with this let me know. Also Todd I need to know if you have the codes to the web site, I have some one to work it of us.

Nikki

For the passwords, go here http://www.pethobbyist.com/contact/index.php

and e-mail the organizations editor. They should be able to get you the information you need.

Thanks
Todd
kingsnake.com contacts list

Please tell me about this Organization
do you have a website, or a mission statement
I M in Pa, and I M a herp owner (as is my eldest daughter)
TIA

P>S> What happened in Ohio?
-----
Elizabeth (ecb)

'Goodness gracious'
my grandma used to say
'the worlds a scarey place now
things were different in my day'
what horrors will be commonplace,
when my hair starts to grey?
-Kevin Gilbert-

Before I joined, the TSHS was already the oldest reptile society in the Greater Pittsburgh area. I had joined about 2 years ago (I think). The society has been though some financial troubles and member issues in those 2 years, and has quietly fizzled in to nothing. We used to organize the Western PA Reptile Show and Sale in Trios in Moon Township (to solve the financial troubles), but could not keep it going. The society pretty much disappeared when we stopped having the shows.

Since then, the society has just been a bank account waiting to be started back up as a physical entity again.

The website is under organizations on Kingsnake......it's severely outdated though.

This brings me to my questions that were asked. What exactly would you want to see in a reptile club? What are your interests.

What do you think that a societies main priority should be?

1. Conservation?
2. Owners Rights?
3. Educating the Public?
4. Sponsoring a Reptile show?
5. Field Collecting?
6. Adoption of unwanted animals?
7. Self Policing owners in the area?

Here are my arguments for all of these. Not saying that all of them are not important and should be implemented in some way.
1. F&G already does this don't they?
2. VERY expansive, VERY political, VERY succeptible to arguments
3. Who will do it? How much to charge? How much do we pay the person that does it. and once again.....VERY succeptible to arguments.
4. VERY unstable, we've proven this, VERY hard work.
5. Why? This was (to my knowledge what the original TSHS was formed for. Things have changed. There is no need to go on collecting trips anymore.
6. Who keeps them? How much do they get paid? How do we get rid of them? Who collects them?
7. Who does it? How difficult would this be? Who organizes it? Will we be looked down upon for doing it?

This is what I believe should be done before the club ever takes on one member. First off, is getting the not-for-profit status, followed by some sort of mission statement and specific goals.

Thanks
Todd

P.S. The ohio incident was teh Columbus Show of June. Several vendors, some local to Pittsburgh, were busted for violating Ohio DNR regulations as well as the Lacey act (in some cases) It was the result of a "2 year sting operation," involving some undercover federal agents. The laws were not made public prior to the bust, and citations were handed out, animals seized, etc. It was a sad day, mainly because we here in Pittsburgh are not far away, and some of our own were affected. It lead to speculation as to the nature of reptile shows here in PA, and more detailed observance of our own local laws. There might still be a threat in the future of similar laws being enacted here as well. There's nothing to say that it won't happen, but also no evidence that it will.