NTA "So what's in it for me?"

[dablaw]

So as I sit here for a few moments and reflect on things that have been going on lately in my life, on here, and with the NTA, I have heard subliminally over and over from the dead wood of the organization "What the NTA gonna do for me?", or that they "Owe me"...Not in spoken words but in felt feelings...
 As I have watched many of you spearhead to revamping and reorganizing of the NTA, I started to see the old guard get desperate, the new one get hungry, and the NTA start to have meaning and life breathed back into it...
 I want to say that I'm am very proud of all of you that have stood shoulder to shoulder against to wrong doings of late, held your ground in what you believe will be a great organization to benefit all taxidermists...
 The only way things like this can happen is if the people wanting the change have no hidden agenda and are at a point in their life(Like I am) where it feels better to give to something than take away from it...For too many years it seems as though the NTA was led by greed and self promotion...Now, I pray that our new NTA will be led by honesty,integrity, and people that want the NTA to succeed for what they do for it, not that they will succeed by what the NTA did for them..
 An NTA that is more involved on every level...State, and even maybe break the U.S. into regions where a president from one of the states in the region would represent everyones voice in that region, and have a monthly or quarterly report to the President of the NTA..That way the Pres. would know not only what goes on in a state but a regional demographic as well and maybe changes could constantly be made to benefit the people of a region...Have state shows with winners to go to regionals, the those regional winners go to the WTC ...Things like that would be unique and attractive to membership old and new alike...
 I would really love to see, and I truly believe that the logical next step is to merge the NTA/UTA and have one mother organization...The ole phrase"United We Stand" has new meaning here...
 And Taxidermy.net should be THE internet presence for the NTA and everything taxi related..I know this would take a little giving on everyones part, but isn't this the best way to represent the NTA, to meld it with THE taxidermy presence on the net??? It should really be put on the table for discussion at the very least...
 I'm not going to sit here and outline every idea that has crossed my mind like the before mentioned but there alot of ways to improve and excite...As you have seen membership is going to explode and it's members will want to volunteer and help where ever and when ever possible when there is something to believe in...
 I know in my heart of hearts now, that this new NTA so to speak, is one of caring people, and good people...I will not tell here how I know this because that is between me and some great people that have been there for me the last few days, when they didn't have to be...
 I have a whole new outlook and respect for the NTA as a whole now, and I know without a shadow of a doubt, that it will be the NTA many have always wanted...
 I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view, and that's ok as well...But we ALL need to show a new found respect for each other as fellow taxinetters, taxidermist, artists, and educators...and most importantly human beings...So if someone asks you "Whats in it for me" maybe you should reply with "What are you going to be for it?"

David Burris
684 Crossland Rd.
Murray,Ky.42071
Ph: 270-227-0460

[John C]

David, Please send your ideas to me in either an email or pm.  We on the board see and know things must be different, so anything that is a new idea, we certainly want to hear and consider!!!!

Over the years I have made hundreds of new friends through the taxidermy world,State, regional , National and World levels. Its great to have and know people all over our planet. I have learned a lot of new techniques by going to seminars (Charlie and Lola Haynes got these started!!)  I look at it like this, since starting taxidermy in 1977, I have opened new doors everywhere, all of us have learned something new in taxidermy through the way the NTA started.

I was ask today this question "What is your reason for being on the board of the NTA?"  I replied it is simple almost everything I know in taxidermy can be contributed to the NTA's origin!

I look at the last few years and I see Animal rights people (Who dont have any idea about managing animal populations) attacking hunting and fishing.
 I see anti gunners in Washington attacking our gun rights.   That is all about our way of life, we need a strong association more now, than ever!!

We should be 10,000 strong! and now I fully believe we have this chance!!!

I am on the BOD for the members!! If there is something you would like to see done, let me know and I will take it forward!

[George Roof]

David, that's beautiful.  Years ago when I was on the board, I went to state association meeting and conventions. I was usually asked to give a short spiel and almost every one ended up with that "what's in it for me" question.  Just like your last line, my first answer was always, "Nothing" and I finished just as you did.

The "new" NTA hopefully will resemble the "old NTA" in the many ways when it flourished and membership was over 2000. Conventions were always filled with people laughing and talking, corridors were full of people moving between seminars, supply areas and competition rooms. The hotel bar and restaurant were filled with laughter and good times. There were no wall flowers allowed and if you were alone, someone dragged you into their fold and introduced you.  Actually, that happened to me at the Richmond, Virginia NTA Convention.  Connie and I knew no one and bought a banquet ticket on a lark. Rod Connelly pulled us over to his table and proceeded to introduce me to dozens of people I'd only read about in Breakthrough magazine. That night, I swore that when I became involved, I'd do what Rod had done and make sure no one felt "left out".

As the NTA got older, apathy showed up and began to spread. Competitors formed coffee klatches and directors tended to avoid members. In fact, directors became totally useless in the end as the good ones who worked to make the member's stays happy ended up leaving because all the responsibilities were being dumped on them.  I'm not trying to brag, but in the time I was around the conventions, Tony Finazzo, Brenda Duvall, and Manny Chavez probably matched me with the hours spent on that convention floor. Some of the others were "grip and grin" people who made the rounds, but they never had to wash their hands from actual hard labor.

So that's what I long to see once more.  I want the halls to be filled with happy voices and no one standing against the wall being excluded. I don't want that as a bucketlist item, either.  I want it now.

[Maltlicky]

 I don't expect everyone to agree with my point of view, and that's ok as well...

David I'll be the first to disagree with you. 

I don't think taxinet should be the sounding board for the NTA.  There are way to many self promoters here, and besides all taxidermist don't visit here.

I would really love to see, and I truly believe that the logical next step is to merge the NTA/UTA and have one mother organization...The ole phrase"United We Stand" has new meaning here...

I think the UTA and NTA should not join forces.

The ole phrase "Once Bitten Twice Shy" still has the same meaning here.

The NTA has a lot of issues to still work out, why drag down the good things the UTA has going?

[Donnie C. (DeeCee)]

I don't think Taxinet should be "the presence" of the NTA, but rather "A tool" used to promote, inform, recruit, and otherwise boost the overall rate of success.

[michael p.]

David Burris, AKA dablaw, your post was POWERFUL!  Thank you!

Maltslicky, I never trusted anybody's advice who were too scared to give it themselves and had had to use a pseudonym.  No disrespect, JMO.  If you are going to give advice to an industry, give it as yourself, not your other persona.

[antlerman]

D. Price, I would recognize your loathing attitude anywhere. Don't you have your own little forum to spread your negativity and self righteousness on?  Perhaps you should go "moderate" it and beat your chest over there about your opinions.