THOUGHTS

[Black Gold]

Over the last few years I was blessed with the opportunity to meet and work with many people in the world of hog hunting.  From the hunting/shooting industry to the hog-dog world, I was able to hunt and spend time with hundreds of people, all along the way sharing notes, learning, discussing, and so on.  Got really into the message board world as well and due to this website and a few others was again able to add many "acquaintances" and a handful of "friends" to my list of hunting associates.

A lot has changed over the last few years, but I've learned one constant truth and it is this:

Everyone wants to be heard.  Everyone wants to be someone who is understood and respected.  Everyone wants their ideas to be known and they want people to feel the same passion they do about them.  Everyone's past, experience, and lives effect the way they percieve EVERYTHING.

We all love this sport and love our dogs.  We all have different ideas of how things should work and operate.  We all have our own opinions on EVERYTING and most of us hold strong to our beliefs.

Here is the challenge:

Trying to get everyone to come together for the common goal of protectig our rights.  Together we stand and divided we fall rings true. 

Is TDHA the best for this.....maybe so....maybe not......time will tell all as true colors will bleed thru very soon.

Whatever the case may be we have to quit cutting away at ourselves where anti's can see/read.  MANY of us will be at EXPO this weekend......let's sit around and talk.....let's figure things out......let's work together to insure our grandchildren will be able to enjoy hogdoggin' like we have been able to.

Not as ETHD, not as TDHA, not as anything that draws lines in the sand....but as hog hunters, and hog-doggers..........as friends with a common goal......

CODY

 

[uglydog]

Cody, wise words.

I am wanting to put you and HogBoy in USA Goverment leadership roles! Naw, I might not like either of you then

[Circle C]

MANY of us will be at EXPO this weekend......let's sit around and talk.....let's figure things out......let's work together to insure our grandchildren will be able to enjoy hogdoggin' like we have been able to.

Great idea!

I say that during the EXPO the TDHA should have a time set aside for the membership and potential future membership to ask questions of their BOD and Officers, and have a dialogue. Find out what the goals are for 2011 and see if some of the EXPO attendees are interested in helping out.

There will be more members and potential members there at this one event than there has been at the last several TDHA meetings combined. Seems like the ideal place to make people aware of what's been happening, what the goals are, and how best to achieve said goals.

[dabutcher]

I'd show up for that.....

[Dexter]

Not as ETHD, not as TDHA, not as anything that draws lines in the sand....but as hog hunters, and hog-doggers..........as friends with a common goal......

CODY

 

 Cody
 thats the best ideal i have heard , great words
      Dexter
       

[aladatrot]

I would be game for this as seperate from tdha (and ethd) like cody proposed. Tdha can have their meeting in a different time slot. I think that in this time of rethinking and regrouping we need to come together as hog hunters- not members, non members, and BOD.

Cheers
M

[Hogboy]

Once the awards ceremony is over, all of the BODs and officers will be in one place and this will be a good time for anyone who has questions to get them answered in person.  We dont have to make it a TDHA meeting or discussion group unless the membership wants one, but we can be available for questions.  And again we need to make sure that we use this time to unify and try and fix any issues that are out there and come up with soluitons....not come to into this trying to divide and cause additional problems.  We dont have to sit in a circle and sing cum-by-ya but lets all be prepared to open our minds to and not just speak, but be prepared to listed.  I agree with Cody 100%, lets use this weekend to figure out how this can be about the goal of a group (protect and promote) not bad mouth and talk about any individual.

Thanks!

Ron J Branyon 

[Circle C]

I for one look forward to listening to an exchange of ideas on how to achieve the common goal, protect and promote. I just hope that if some good ideas come of this "meeting", that the populous will embrace them and put some individual effort to make said goal/idea happen.

[lonewolf]

I hope yall will keep the ones that can't make this meeting informed. I would think that we as dog hunters can find some neutral ground and work together. I for one want to see our grandchildren have the right to be dog hunters. Most of yall don't know me, But I'm willing to help all I  can to keep our rights! I hope and pray that this will be a very productive meeting.

[jls41]

I would be game for this as seperate from tdha (and ethd) like cody proposed. Tdha can have their meeting in a different time slot. I think that in this time of rethinking and regrouping we need to come together as hog hunters- not members, non members, and BOD.

Cheers
M

I agree with this as well - Seperate from TDHA on neutral ground where there are no BOD, Advisors, or Officers.

[Eric]

If its not done as a group then it is pointless because there will be nothing but smoke blowing going on. There is no accountablility like that. Let the BOD answer to a whole group where they can't censor or ignore the questions like on the Tdha board. Some what of a town hall type meeting.

I will be there and will be happy to report the questions and answers to be publicly posted for any one who could not attend.

[Black Gold]

As I said before.....no use to draw party lines.....let me paint a picture here....maybe a little excessive, but  I want everyone to think.....let's think of this in terms of USA politics:

We began all together much like our fore-fathers after the American Revolution....all together for the greater good and the CAUSE.  

Once we began to grow we began to split off into sub-groups.....think of them as political parties...(Republicans, Democratics, Independents, Green, ect...)

No reason to try and figure out why the splits happened....it is just human nature....has happened in EVERY aspect of humanity from the beginning of time....

The one common ground (or should be) in every group is still their efforts to promote the CAUSE.  

Now here is the secret:  True sucess is accomplished when all groups involved still work to promote the same CAUSE.  They may not work together, but in the end they are still working to protect the same rights and promote the same CAUSE.  

The only times these groups ever truly come together is for a brief moment after a tragedy.  (right before they start pointing fingers)....REMEMBER 911 !

Let's not have a hog-doggers 911 before we join together for the CAUSE of the sport.

Some of us will work under an organization to to accomplish the goals of the CAUSE.  Some will do it as small private groups while others will do it within their family or as an individual.  Everyone's choice as to how they promote the CAUSE.

What we need to do is collectively bring forth a few ideas on the best ways to promote the CAUSE so each person can decide how they can best accomplish those goals.

This is what I hope to come from this meeting of the minds......

[Black Gold]

My phone has been burning up with calls about this.

Had a few of the "I'm gonna tell So-n-So what I think..." comments.

People,

If you have a personal issue then man-up and pull that person off to the side and deal with your issue or just agree to disagree and move on.

The worst thing for our sport is for this to turn into a finger-pointing, name-calling, pissin'-match.

What the hell is that gonna do to protect our rights to hunt with dogs?

Let's keep on track and figure out ways to protect our sport, whether it be from an organizational, group, or individual level.

I for one don't want to tell my grandkids of how it used to be.....I wanna show them how it's done!

[Sean]

like what you said in your opening post cody. wise words indeed. and i think the expo would in a way be the perfect place to do that. and we as hunters should try to come together and avoid mud slinging whenever possible. however, a few fanatics aside, we must remember that people's frustrations exist for a reason. they didn't just "form up in the ether". and everyone should go into things with this in mind. putting  a wall up and being defensive from the get go from either side will only get things further nowhere. i wish i was able to make it out this weekend, i would be curious to see what, if anything develops from this. work just won't permit right now though. i don't know what results this will achieve cody, but i like your thoughts on it.

[Black Gold]

Sean,

I do believe there may be some "heated" discussion.....that is healthy and sometimes necessary.  If it remains going in the right direction and doesn't become personal in nature then it should spur ideas and get people thinking.  Im aware there are issues that will be addressed.  I hope they are addressed in a professional manner and figured out.....sometimes people have to agree to disagree.....as long as DOG HUNTER'S RIGHTS remain the focus then the get-together should be a success.....to what degree is yet to be determined.

Gonna miss you there Sean...hopefully see you in the woods soon!

[Caughtandhobbled]

Cody,

I for one truly look forward to meeting you, you are a wise man. I have friends that I may have hurt their feeling trying to say the same thing. We have to unite, period.

One cause, one goal will end with good results. I have no hidden agendas, other than I love my dogs and the time that I spend in the woods with family and friends. There are plenty of people that do not understand what we do and why we do it. I truly wish that I had more time to help our cause, when I retire I promise that I will do my part. WE HAVE TO UNITE AS ONE GROUP.... Please set aside any personal differences and recognize the common goal.

I am not trying to start a battle, what I have said is truly heart felt. Please think about what Cody has said and make an honest effort to come together as a group. Thank you Cody for having the for-site to bring this up. Good luck to all this weekend that are able to participate. Be safe, and be a group of guys and gals with one common goal in the end. Thank you all....

[TrueBlueLacys]

Has anyone thought about a time or place yet? I'm not expecting anything formal, but it's gonna be hard to have an inclusive dialogue if everyone is having one-on-one conversations. Though those little chats can be helpful, I think they've done plenty to hurt the situation as well.

I don't think I'll have much to contribute, but I would like to hear what people have to say, no matter what their position.

[Black Gold]

It was suggested that we get together right after the awards ceremony on Sunday......works for me....would be the most logical time to reach the most dog hunters.....