From the belly of the beast. Johan Calitz Safaris June 17, 2014 From: Craig Kauffman, Safari Club President and Your Executive Committee To: All Safari Club International Board Members My Fellow Hunters, Hunters around the world have experienced an unprecedented increase of anti-hunting sentiments through government policies, restrictive laws, verbal assaults, and downright ignorance of our sport. It comes as no surprise to most of you that SCI is facing increasingly well-funded and well-organized opposition. Just recently the U.S. government banned the importation of elephants from Zimbabwe and Tanzania; U.N. regulations will impact all hunters who travel on airplanes; SCI chapters are fighting HSUS in Michigan to protect their wolf hunt, and SCI is fighting CITES and the ESA to stop the African lion uplisting. Social media websites allow every anti-hunter with a computer to threaten any hunter. Quite simply, it takes revenues far beyond our current capabilities to effectively fight these increasing threats. SCIs members, chapters, and convention exhibitors have long been SCIs #1 source of revenue for our mission of being First For Hunters. And in recent months, SCI has been exploring many options to expand our revenue streams and membership to tackle the many challenges that lay ahead of us. Recently, a program branded as SCI Outdoors was initiated to achieve new revenue and new membership growth. SCI Outdoors was to officially launch in October 2014. It was designed to provide hunting, fishing, wing-shooting, and outdoor adventure booking and travel agency services, and eventually hunt tag-application services for members. SCI Outdoors was designed to open the door for new members by attending large non-endemic, non-hunting conventions within the U.S. for industries such as medical, dental, and construction professions. The attendees found there have similar professional profile, personal income, and leisure time to enjoy our sport and lifestyle. The intent was to attract to our Club new members, who in-turn would attend the annual SCI Hunters Convention to visit with all convention exhibitors. However after extensive communication from current SCI members, exhibitors, guides, and agents, we have reevaluated SCI Outdoors. SCI Outdoors is officially discontinued. We understand and recognize that SCI Outdoors could have caused unintended competition with current booking agents who attend the SCI Hunters Convention who have been loyal to the organization. We realize that SCI members and chapters have long forged relationships with agents. SCI Outdoors was intended to better foster those relationships rather than compete with those existing friendships. As a way forward, SCI must understand the needs and priorities of all SCI members. Beginning in July, Safari Club International will prepare a member-wide survey. The survey will focus on 1) How to grow membership and revenues, 2) How to prioritize SCIs mission of First for Hunters, 3) How to improve, identify, and evaluate membership benefits. We look forward to receiving your suggestions and creative thoughts for the future benefit of us all. We are all committed to the future of our great organization and to the continued freedom of worldwide hunting. We want to see the organization grow, thrive, and succeed because SCI has the responsibility to be First For All Hunters. We are the strongest, largest, and greatest organization protecting the freedom to hunt. The opposition to hunting is now as fierce as ever. Your personal commitment to Safari Club International is a demonstration of our great and collective strength. Thank you for your contributions to SCI and we look forward to your participation in the upcoming membership-wide survey. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] so they can be addressed. First For Hunters, Craig Kauffman - President Larry Higgins - President-Elect Paul Babaz - Deputy President Elect Alan Maki - Secretary John McLaurin - Treasurer Bruce Eavenson - Vice President Eddie Grasser - Vice President Veronica Kosich - Vice President Laird Hamberlin - Vice President Don Harter - Vice President Sherry Maddox - Vice President Steve Skold - Vice President Kirt Fredericks - Alternate
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 15:19:03 +0000
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