UKC Forums - Texas State Genral Membership

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Posted by Jerry West on 07-07-2006 09:05 PM:

Texas State Genral Membership

Hello Texas General Membership and Board of Directors,
I hope this summer has been kind to each of you. Sorry that Mary and I have not been able to be at the hunts since early May. We are hoping that our health will allows us to be out a little more by the State Hunt.
Now to the reason for this letter. Many factors have brought me to this point. It is my GOAL to see the Texas State General Membership become autonomous from the Board of Directors. Most of the Board, as it now exists, did not want a membership nor did they want anyone outside of the Board to have an influence in the decisions made by the Board. Self-propitiating, self-governing, and self-sufficiency is fine for an exclusive Board, but for an all-inclusive General membership there must be a desire for expansion and growth of members.
With these ideas in mind, I suggest, at the Texas State Hunt General Meeting, September, 9, 2006, that the general membership be allowed to vote on becoming separate from the Texas State Board of Directors. If this proposal passes, the general membership will then nominate from the floor and elect its own officers. These elected officers will then be charged with the duty of finding and executing the will of all the coonhunters in the State of Texas. Some of the first orders of business should be 1. A Charter and By Laws, 2. Membership Requirements, 3. Statewide Representation of both Show People and Hunters, 4. Statewide Representation of UKC, AKC, PKC, and any other Registries, and 5. The Coordination of Coonhound Events within the State.
With this division of powers, The State Board of Directors will continue, as before, to oversee: The State Hunt, The American Heritage Hunt, and both State Youth Hunts with their programs. The Membership will oversee: Special prizes at The State Hunt and The American Heritage, The Lone Star Program, Help in the Coordination of Coonhound Events and Clubs, and any other endeavors as desired by the vote of the membership. Jerry West

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Posted by mmarcum52 on 07-07-2006 10:10 PM:

Sounds good to me, I think that the New Board should try to have their own type of American Heritage hunt etc. and completely remove themselves from the present Board who operates under a dicatorship instead of democracy. If no one shows up to the Tx St Directors hunts then it won`t be long and they will shut down.JMO Mike Marcum

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Posted by J. Wigley on 07-08-2006 12:08 AM:

Who is on this board now??

__________________
Jim Wigley
Burr Oak Blueticks

Posted by J. Wigley on 07-08-2006 03:48 AM:

BTT

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Jim Wigley
Burr Oak Blueticks

Posted by skyblu on 07-08-2006 01:16 PM:

Sounds like

a plan that would start a NEW Texas State Cooonhunters group. How could the two proposed groups hope to coordinate projects when there was disagreement previously? I'm not discrediting Jerry's idea - just wondering HOW it would help. Just my opinion - but I believe ALL paid members should have a vote at meetings. With a competent person in charge and dealing only with SUBMITTED agenda items, there's no reason plans and projects wouldn't be accomplished. As it stands now, only a few people make the decisions.
Some (of many) things to consider:
Send out newsletters announcing meetings & requesting agenda items.
Many exhibitors and hunters drive long distances for the events.
Meeting time LATER, with ALL members able to vote.
Saturday bench show start time LATER.
Photographer available all day FRIDAY AND SATURDAY for photos.

__________________
SKY
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Posted by Jerry West on 07-08-2006 04:23 PM:

Hello Sky

Yes Sonya, We do not always agree! LOL But I do always respect your opinion and your passion. And you are right on with this. The State Hunt and The Heritage will never change as long as it is under "The BOARD", but my idea is to move forward from the "Board's" scope, and use the "Membership" to give ALL TEXAS HUNTERS AND SHOW PEOPLE an equal say and an equal vote in whatever the membership is doing. Thus, seperating "The Board" and "The Membership". Also, there is a person that has come up with some EXCELLENT IDEAS to equal representation from all areas in the state and equal representation from all registries.
I really did not want to get into all this. That is why I resigned as State President. Along with some others, I fought way too long and hard trying to get these changes. But the Lone Star Program was my "baby", and it was totally mutilated by the "Board". I want to take it back over and give the running of it, and it's benifites back to the coonhunters of Texas. The same thing goes for the membership idea. With "The Boards" latest changes, the membership has NO say in anything that goes on. The membership only has two "token meetings" after the Board has already meet and made their decisions. Then the next day the members find out what they are going to pay for with their entry fees and membership dues.
My desire is to see the HUNTERS AND SHOWPEOPLE OF TEXAS get their rightful voice. If "The Board" wants to do "their four events" their way, that's their business. BUT DON'T EXCLUDE THE MEMBERSHIP OUT OF THEIR OWN BUSINESS. THAT IS WHY I WROTE THIS ORIGINAL LETTER, and sent it to all Board members that I have their email. They are having a meeting this week end and I wanted them to know what plans are being made for the meeting at the State Hunt.

Posted by on 07-08-2006 06:22 PM:

I am new to Texas and not familiar with how this works. Could someone please explain it to me? I was president of the Arkansas State Coon Hunters Association before I had to move to Texas and give it up. So I know about how the politics of coon hunting works. One more question, why would I pay dues to anything that I do not have some kind of voice in?

Posted by J. Wigley on 07-08-2006 07:28 PM:

I hear you Joey. I have never been a member even tho I have had hounds and hunted for years. I wish someone would explain how that works now and answere the question.Who are the board members at present?? I am not trying to stir the pot. I am sinsere about it. If you don't want to post it please PM me.
Thanks

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Jim Wigley
Burr Oak Blueticks

Posted by Jerry West on 07-08-2006 11:33 PM:

Hey, Jim and Joey and all,
I will write more and try to answer your questions later tonight. Right now my wife has me doing "honey does". Jerry

Posted by Jerry West on 07-08-2006 11:51 PM:

Texas Board of Directors Website

For those who are interested, there is a Texas State Board of Directors website at http://www.tscha.org./index.shtm. This will answer a few questions.

Posted by Jerry West on 07-09-2006 12:49 AM:

The Texas State Board of Directors is over 50 years old. In it's glory years it was one of the largest and most prestegious organizations in all the coonhound world. Its crowning jewel was it's Texas State Hunt which was one of the largest coonhound events of those days. It was set up with a Board to oversee the Events and 2 members from each local club to be the auxilary and advisors. As the years pushed past 35, in the late 80's and early 90's, ideas began to changed. Hunts and hunters changed. Clubs changed. The Board became more authoritive and powerful. Very few were attending the auxilary meetings and the Board became the "tail that was wagging the dog". There was no check and balance from the hunters input. The Texas Board of Directors then became totally self-sufficent and fogot that they answered to the sportsmen. The next step was that the sportsmens voices were no longer needed nor heard with any concern. The Board felt they knew what was best for the hunters and the Texas State sponsored events. The State Hunt and Heritage Hunt fell and quickly. And, yes, there were other factors that added this decline. Some people saw the problem and wanted to do something to stop the falling numbers. Trying to move from the once two auxilary advisors from each club to an open statewide membership seemed to be the answer. But that was cut off. Membership and dues, YES. A voice and a vote, NEVER! Only in a General Membership meeting moderated by the Board of Directors First President do members get a vote. BUT THAT VOTE MEANS NOTHING. IT IS NOT BINDING TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors, in there own meetings, will decide if they want to follow the members vote or not. The next step was even more revealing. If votes taken in the Board meetings did not agree with the ideas of some of the LIFETIME MEMEBERS of the Board, well, you might guess what happens.
This is MY PERSONAL OBSERVATION after 50 years of being involved in Texas coonhunting, 10 years of being on the Board of Directors, and 3 and a half years of being President of the Board.

Posted by Gary Hazel on 07-09-2006 03:29 AM:

Texas State General Membership

Jerry West,
If the members has alot say so what goes on I'm for what your say Jerry.

Posted by Jerry West on 07-09-2006 01:36 PM:

Thanks Gary, Just be at the General Meeting on Saturday of the State Hunt. Try to get as many hunters and show people as possible. Let's go with the right attitude and see if we can't do something good for the hunters and show people of Texas.
And Joey, you sure need to be at that meeting. Your background is well needed, You could be a real help to the coonhunters of this state. Sounds like you are a candidate for an office. That is, if we are not blocked from having General Membership Officers. I would sure like to talk to you about how the Arkansas State organization was set up. Hope to see you there.
Also Jim, if you are a TEXAN or if you have been transplanted to our glorious state, we sure want you to be at this meeting also. Seems like your head might be screwed on straight. We sure need hunters that are looking forward not backward.

Posted by on 07-09-2006 07:41 PM:

It sounds to me Jerry like it would be a waste to even try but I guess it can still be tried. Why would they give up their power?If they don't It might be time to take a different route.

Posted by Jerry West on 07-09-2006 08:23 PM:

Yes, Joey I just recieved a phone call from one of my friends that is still on the Texas Board of Directors. At their 5 hour meeting yesterday, statement was made publicly, after my proposal was read to the Board, "no way will they get a vote." Some where about to blow a gasket, that I would dare to suggest such an idea as to give the members a vote. Then they even got madder when it was told that my letter is now on Coonhound Message Board. Every effort will be made by certain Board members that this will never be mentioned in the September meeting and if it is, the membership will never get to vote on it. I guess we will see what is going to happen. A completely new membership might be better than trying to patch up their mess. But I sure wanted to see all this settled in a peaceful way, by dividing the organizations that now exsit.

Posted by on 07-09-2006 08:28 PM:

I sent you a pm.

Posted by skyblu on 07-09-2006 10:25 PM:

Jerry

I sent you a PM

__________________
SKY
___________________
Author of the novel "Follow Jennifer"

Posted by Jerry West on 08-05-2006 05:30 PM:

Thanks

Thanks everyone for the PMs, Emails, and phone calls.
Right now I'm not sure how we want to approach everything. I have my own ideas, but some of our local hunters want a complete break with the Texas State Board of Directors. I think this would cause more hard feelings than we really need. I would like to see The General Membership stay in place, just be allowed to govern itself and work freely with the State Board. I do not see this action as a division (as some on the Board has stated). I see this as a growth into allowing the Membership their rightful vote in the coon hunting affairs of the State of Texas.
I think the Board of Directors should continue as they have for years. They have their State Hunt, their American Heritage Hunt, and their two State Youth Hunts. Let them do, AS ALL CLUBS DO, run their own EVENTS. (Yes, The Texas State Board of Directors is a CLUB! A self-governing, self-proitiating, self-sufficent club that votes in it's own membership.) But, For these few to try to oversee all the general membership of the coon hunters of the State of Texas without giving the general membership a vote, THAT has created a real problem with the general membership. The coon hunters have watched programs and events be established, funded with their own money, then changed, funding changed, and then changed again, without the membership having one vote or sayso. This is why the general membership should run the events they are being ask to fund with their own dues.
Yes, I think there are some fine people still on the Board of Directors. Walter S. was one of the hardest working and most honorable Presidents the Board has ever seen. And there are other people on the Board that care about the hunters and are very fine people, working very hard to have good events. But, they are allowing the wrong people to run the Board, and in turn, run the Texas State General Membership. I have no ax to grind with anyone. I just feel the General Membership needs to vote on how their own money is being spent. If you pay dues you should have a say. The whole should be bound by the vote of the majority.

Posted by J. Wigley on 08-05-2006 05:39 PM:

I will ask you one more time and then I won't bother you any more.Please post the name of the board members. That webb site
does not work for me.

__________________
Jim Wigley
Burr Oak Blueticks

Posted by Jerry West on 08-05-2006 06:47 PM:

Sorry Jim, No problem or bother at all. I'll PM you some names

Posted by DRP on 08-05-2006 11:56 PM:

Board members...from the website

Mr. Wigley..here, this is from the website

Board of Directors

Joel Black
Joe Branton
Tracy Branton
Larry Cloudy
Marsha Cloudy
Charles Copeland
Floyd Daniels
Bud Dromgoole
Steve Eubanks
James Foshee
Marty Grounds
Allen Guerry
LaDon Harrison
Jerry Hutchison
Melvin John
Claudette Keel
Jerry Keel
Betty Mathews
Charles Mathews
Curtis McDaniels
C.A. McKinley
Randy Norris
Josh Risinger
Dallas Sanders
Cathy Stephens
Walter Stephens
Richard Taylor
J.E. Wilkins
Tracy Williamson

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