Trouble in Missouri

[Patrick J]

  If a VERY smart man (UTA) says follow these steps, I hope and pray you do.

If you are talking about that guy from the UTA I'm thinking of then you are 1000000000000% correct. I spent some time talking with him at the Montana show and he is just about as intelligent as anyone I have ever met

[psycho]

Well you are correct... 

[George Roof]

Ross, I don't know who lit the wick on your tampon and I really don't care.  What I've said is the exact same all along.  The message, as you've obviously ignored or missed is STAY ON POINT. Everytime positive advice is given, some nitwit (you included) try to change the subject to something else.  I suspect some of the reason is exactly the same as Kantor's attitude pervailing within the industry.  STAY ON POINT for a change.

[onesportylady]

 The N.T.A. has already gone to bat over that issue in St. Charles County. We realize this still leaves the issue of Zoning, but it is however a local issue. The M.T.A. would be more than happy to give advice or help find solutions for you.  I have been in contact with both the N.T.A. and the U.T.A on the situation a couple of times. All are willing to help within the scope that is allowable by their organizations.

                     
  Sincerely MTA President

      Doug Pettig

Doug:
This WAS a LOCAL issue.  Now that he has contacted Gasconade County, and Jefferson County, which you are aware of, it is NOT LOCAL...   How many counties does this have to spread to before you consider it a STATE issue?   Not your county, your county doesn't have planning and zoning? 

I don't give a big rat's as....who is a member of what..........This is wrong.   I will probably get my permit.  I am AGRI, not Residential.  If I want to fight for what is right for my COMPETITORS why can't the MTA help?   I  didn't ask for HELP when I called Debbie and advised what was going on.  I only made an Informational call.  If you decide not to do anything, so be it.  I am a big girl, and will do as much as I can to see that we can ALL  stay in business.   

I have had help from the NTA and UTA and they have called, emailed, and they have been very helpful.  This is just over a week away, and is VERY serious.   What happens in ST Charles can be a CANCER that can spread VERY quickly.

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

All we need is a bus load of yahoo's showing up at the hearing in camo hats and raggedy blue genes, flap jacking their angry thoughts at a judge,, that will go over real well.. some of you might better just stay home if this is turning into a self righteous crusade for you. Stick to a plan, no loose cannons or venting at Kantor is needed.

[James Parrish]

I'm still confused...is the MTA going to get involved or not?  It does not matter if the folks who are affected are members or not....this is a TAXIDERMIST issue and the MTA should be on the FRONT LINES. 

Doug,

As someone with zero ties to MO my opinion on the MTA does not matter much.  However, I can tell you that if the MTA does not get heavily involved in this, then it is a worthless organization.  These folks need the MTA right now, so don't say this is a local issue or a zoning issue and keep your hands clean.  The purpose of a state association is to help taxidermists with any issues affecting their business.  Apathy by the MTA in this case is inexcuseable. 

[John C]

Lets do this for the MO problem.

in the shop we have.
one gallon or less of Chlorax bleach. (Sanitation)
50 lbs of Aluminum sulphate. (Tanning, fish slime removal, astringent solution for killing bacteria on animal hides)
5lbs of aluminum chloride  (tanning of hides)
<2 gallons of  WASCO Polytranspar WA paints.
<1 gallon lacquer paint WASCO.
<1gallonof lacquer thinner
< one gallon of hide tanning oil
< 5lbs of mild acid I use oxalic (available at Walmart, yes wood deck bleach) because it is not harsh and occurs naturally in spinach and rubarb leaves and sorrel leaves. which gets neutralized before disposal. n.A mildly poisonous, colorless crystalline organic acid, HOOCCOOH·2H2O, found in many plants, such as spinach, and used as a bleach and rust remover.
some use citric acid found in Country time lemonade and many soft drinks.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid
5 lbs Borax. available at Walmart.
50 lbs of hardwood sawdust.
50 lbs of corncob grit.
<50 lbs of baking soda (neutralize acids)
5 gallons of Water based hide paste
<40 lbs water based potters clay.
<5lbs Water based Critter clay.
< 1 gallon of lacquer thinner. available at Walmart.
< 1 gallon of Bondo available at Walmart.
Artist oil paints, tubes, sticks
Water color pencils.
Jaquard powders.
Elmers glue.
Lysol spray for cleaning counters.
Dawn Anti bacterial dish soap.
 quart of anti bacterial hand soap.
Bottle of Germ-X hand sanitizer


If you have copies of the MSDS sheets send them to Barb.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5399471_job-description-taxidermist.html

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/7943/Taxidermist.html

Ok its not easy but here is a list of many of the items in my shop, these same items are in Dick Blick catalog and other taxidermy catalogs.

You first must make the comparison to an ARTIST, even an airbrush artist.
Take MSDS sheets for the items.

If you dont them you are not presenting yourself and proving that you are an artist.

Get every taxidermist in the county of question to come to the next two meetings.

The above list is an OBJECTIVE LIST THAT WILL SHOW TAXIDERMIST ARE ARTIST, just using a different canvas.

Prepare one whole booklet for each commissioner.

You need a video of the WTC from the last show.. Even prove that you dont use embalming fluids. You have to prove this!!

Kantor made a misstatement but that has shifted the burden of proof to you. So prove him wrong,put his methods in question, even show when the last seminars you attended were!!!,, I.e. Professional training!!!!

He has none. But you cannot say that. Just prove what you know!!!! Prove the number of clients that visit. It certainly is not like a beauty shop volume.

All we need is a bus load of yahoo's showing up at the hearing in camo hats and raggedy blue genes, flap jacking their angry thoughts at a judge,, that will go over real well.. some of you might better just stay home if this is turning into a self righteous crusade for you. Stick to a plan, no loose cannons or venting at Kantor is needed.

I would remind the council members that Mr. Kantor does not vote in St. Charles County and you, your family, your friends, and your customers do.  It also would not hurt to contribute to the re-election campaigns of these folks before the meeting.  Money seems to make political wheels turn these days.

Clean dressed,shaven nice clothing, maybe even a tie for the guys.

Definitely no jeans, t-shirts, caps, etc.  A professional appearance goes a LONG way


Have any of you contacted the news or local papers to do a story about this scum bag with substandard work trying to shut down all his competition?

1. Is to prove that taxidermist are artist to the council.

2. Is to prove that your shop does not have as much traffic as a in home beauty shop.

3. Is to prove that Mr Kantor lied to the council about the "Dangerous Chemicals" used.

4. Is to get the zoning laws changed. without each person having to pay $400.00 for a hearing.

5. When all of the above has failed.all the taxidermist in the county to hire a lawyer and take the council to court.

6. File a Class action lawsuit against Kantor, getting your support from the all the taxidermist in the counties involved.

A plan of action is in all of the post here, youjust have to sort through the post and figure it out. Do contact all the other taxis, that will become involved and get together.

Strength in numbers, get the zoning law changed.

[Cole]

What is it you want the MTA to do? The president and board members have sent letters to the county council. The President has sent letters to the State Legislature. The MTA is sending our Vice President to the meeting in later this month. I would love to wave the magic MTA wand and make it go away but I can't. We're doing what we can, just make sure you are doing what you can. I don't understand where the animosity towards the
MTA is coming from, though I know where it started. Thanks George.

[psycho]

I don't understand why people can't comprehend that the MTA is involved.  If your reading comprehension is this bad we are surely doomed.

onesportslady, you better approach politicians with more sense than you are this thread.  You still don't understand from the post above that the MTA is involved and they are helping?  When you say things like, "I'm a big girl", you better be a smart girl especially if you are the one thats spear heading this thing.  Good luck, you are going to need it.

"T" I want to believe that these people are smart enough that they don't show up in blue jeans and crappy shirts, biker leathers or whatever.  Lets pray they are smart enough to deal with this because from what I'm reading, we have a reason to worry.

[James Parrish]

The comments from your president made me question the involvement.  It sounded to me as if he was saying this is a local issue, not a state issue, so you're out of luck.  If the MTA has sent letters and sends officers to the meeting to speak, I do not know what else can be done by the MTA at the present time.  IMO, the zoning laws should be of concern to the MTA because they specifically discriminate against taxidermists.

[Redwolf]

Personally I think every time someone posts on this thread they are giving the opposition too much info. JMO though.

[Redwolf]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfResyFrqlM   

[psycho]

Personally I think every time someone posts on this thread they are giving the opposition too much info. JMO though.

I agree, but you had know it alls that knew nothing and assumed nothing was being done.  Know when George said that taxidermist are dumb, well no one can dispute that.

[Cole]

Personally I think every time someone posts on this thread they are giving the opposition too much info. JMO though.

I agree too, but when the thread turns against the MTA I'm going to get defensive. It's bad enough Kantor is spreading lies about the taxidermy industry, but when George starts doing the same thing painting the MTA in a negative light I'm going to get defensive. The board members of our organization bust their ass all year doing a number of things for our members, and non members alike and I'll be damned if I'm going to sit hear and let someone in Delaware or North Carolina tell me our organization is a "worthless organization". The fact is, if residents of these counties had went to the zoning commission and paid the fee to operate a home business this battle would be a hell of a lot easier to fight. It amazes me how "dumb" taxidermists are, fighting amongst ourselves rather than focusing our attention on what's important in this case.

[Cole]

The comments from your president made me question the involvement.  It sounded to me as if he was saying this is a local issue, not a state issue, so you're out of luck. 

By the way, it is a local issue. It doesn't matter how many counties are affected, it remains a local issue. They are all local governments and must be dealt with locally. A state issue would involve state government, but there are no laws governing taxidermists on a state level beyond the $30 permit that is required to do business. I'll say this once again, the MTA is doing what it can, but beyond letters, phone calls, and a representative at the hearing there isn't much else we can do.