So...it appears the no one was denied the opportunity to run for office.

I do not have a problem with requireing that one be a member to run. Has anyone been denied membership?

I have been watching this thread unfold and can say I am glad to see some of the nice things being said. I think a lot of people bring up some good points, and Like Robb said, its tough to call this an "Election" when we are running unnopposed however we still need to follow procedure. I plan on introducing a change to allow for skipping the expense if all positions are uncontested as it just makes fiscal sense.

In regards to Paul calling me a follower and not much of a leader - he's right about following. I will always follow what I know is right, and of sound judgement. I think I have fulfilled the duties of a leader whether he would consider me one or not. I stepped up and served at my expense, and continue to. Volunteering to go to Pest World in Pheonix last week to man the NWCOA booth and attempt to sign up new members, and new vendors for the EXPO cost me a weeks pay in my personal business - I had to shut down all of my jobs and schedule all new work for at least a day after my return. Yeah that costs me $$$.
So yeah, I'm stupid too...???

In regards to NWCOA Officers posting on here, the board has forever discussed what an officer can or cannot post in regards to NWCOA and its positions, and or actions mostly because of the contentions that come out of it. Everybody makes mistakes, mis-quotes policy or doesn't remember who said what or when - its just human nature and can affect future membership opportunities. Some people think contention is good for business as it gets people talking - but I think it can only do harm. I can't speak for everyone on the board but me personally, frankly I just haven't had the time to hang out here. In fact the only reason I am here right now is someone told me Paul was on here bashing me.

So I read it, and at first I was like screw him and pounded out some words - then I deleted them and remembered how much time I used to waste on my own forums and NWCOA's arguing with people over one thing or another - or moderating fights which was a real treat, lol.

Anyways, I thought about it and realized life's too short and I got work to do. Jobs to quote and animals to go get. I also know that Paul has never met me and can only go off of what he's being told or sees - so whatever, good for him and his opinion. I kind of liked the old Paul who wrote me kind words on my Wildlife Operators Forum which btw I still own and operate - a forum that was once the critical place to check and be DAILY. (It's a ghost town now, but that's OK I made some great friends there) My forum still offers free advertising for all NWCO's and I plan on reinventing it over the next year in a big way.

If anyone on here has any questions about NWCOA give our management company a call or call me. I am sure I can answer your questions very quickly. There is a lot of good information right there on NWCOA.com (that I built from scratch for free to NWCOA during my term)

Anyways, enough with me tooting my own horn. If you have some suggestions for the direction of NWCOA there are 3 new people coming on board so yeah there's some new blood too!

OK, off to work...

Mr. Parker; a couple of things: first of all I guess my assessment of you may have been slightly off since you're the only one that had the leadership to reply! ( This wasn't bashing, by the way. If we were all leaders, we wouldn't have any employees )

Secondly, we have met but apparently I didn't make enough of an impression for you to remember. Touché!

I guess in retrospect I've gotten over the terrible way that some things have been handled in the past and I would like to see some or all of the newly elected NWCOA board members start posting on T-Man. If you want to gain membership, there is no cheaper way than to post on here.

P.S. If I get out of hand again, there is always Dave K. to reel me back in.

Paul:

I would love to see you sign up for NWCOA as a gesture of confidence in the new board. Then, you will have the ability to influence how the organization is run.

Dave

I have only one regret, that I deleted my original post. Chuck good to see your post, maybe things will improve, I refrain from using the word change because I hate change. I remember when the glaciers went through and changed everything, that sucked.
PS
for the too serious ones the smiley face means humor.

Talk about dealing with change! Walkin' upright and wearing clothes in public was a serious adjustment for me...oh, yeah, and being told "You can't take your horse in here!" Civilization! Bah!
Parker, I'll toot your horn for you. Mr. Charles Parker is one of the most valuable, helpful, unassuming guys I've met in any industry. I've never heard anybody with an unkind word for Charles (well, there was UK, but that was years ago, and Chuck was his usual disarming self against Kirk's unfortunate rant)...cuz he's never deserved it.
A credit to humanity and our industry, Charles Parker is.

Dave are you vying for a cabinet post with the new regime with that big wet dupa kiss? I sure wish there was an icon for that.

No, don't even know what a dupa is, but I bet it involves a brown nose. Just giving the man his due.

It's tough getting people to run becuse it is a lot of work and more headachs than perks. Its tough to be on the board because Charles is right it does cost you money and not only time spent with your family but quality time. My wife used to ask me how much was I getting paid to be attacked by a vocal minority because the silent majority only give you support when you see them. Other board members worked and thought about NWCOA twice as much as me and all they got was twice as much critisism.
I still believe in the NWCOA concept and hope the new board gets a lawyer that can tell them how they can do the right thing and return the monies to state associations that I promised to safeguard their money. I don't think any present board members have benefitted personally I think the mistake they made was spending to much time looking back at the old board missing what was in front of them.
I think their is very much strength in numbers and I think NWCOA's numbers are down. I plan on joining again next year.
I think instead of a 250 professional membership and a 125 150 whateever it is associate member it should be a 125 professional member and a 250 or higher sustaining professional noone wants to be anything but a professional member. All professional members should be allowed to vote or run for election.
Return state associations money.
It's ok to disagree as long as we are swimming in the same direction.

Three cheers for Mr. Brooker! Get the money back to the states and I'll guarantee at least two memberships. ( And my state is not involved )

Three more cheers and another membership if the money is returned.

There is a process...go get it...or move on...

DaveK, I have got to think that at some point this becomes a real win for NWCOA. Patching fences and insuring membership at the same time. As a matter of fact, if this thing would work, I would send in two grand for my son and I to cover the next four years. Everyone knows my feelings about NWCOA; wouldn't this be a great time to call my bluff? ( In front of everyone )

I hope it is that easy. But, I think you are asking NWCOA to return fees to a currently non-existant NWCOA state chapter. How about they donate all their funds to make a wish....and start from zero? Seriously, we all need to forget about it and move on....

Dave, the chapters are only defunct because NWCOA closed them down without a word of warning. The state organizations are still there and they're still tax exempt. You can't tell me that one tax exempt group can't help out another, They do it all the time. What I'm trying to do is to make this as financially painless as possible. I, as much as anyone, am trying to make everyone "forget about it" and Brooker's idea seems to be the best way to make that happen.

It would create another wrong. The funding would help other state funds consisting of different people then what made up the former chapters. I just paid my dues...why would I want my contribution to go toward a non nwcoa organization in WI? There is no fixing it...that would keep everyone happy. Think of a new folks that joined...or the old member that retired or quit membership.

You would be better off disolving the organization and donating the funds to the humane society. Since, that is not likely to happen, you need to just be the bigger person and forget about it. Just pray about it on Sunday.

Dave, what are you talking about? We are not talking about individuals here; we are talking about organizations. If I pay my dues to NWCOA and then suddenly die, are my dues going to be refunded because they might benefit someone that I don't even know? Of course not. We are not talking about dues in the first place. We are talking about money made for state treasuries through donations, auctions, maybe even bake sales. If this had anything to do with NWCOA dues, the subject never would have been brought up. ( A good example of that is Wisconsin. All we had coming was a percentage of dues that we paid to be NWCOA members. It's their money and we never mentioned it again )

P.S. The only reason I bring this whole mess up again is because I think that there might even be members of the NWCOA board that don't understand what the problem is. Nobody wants their dues refunded; they just want the money that belongs in their state treasury back in their state treasury. And I for one, am willing to go the extra mile to see that this happens.

Except your state nwcoa chapter does not exist. I thought that there was a way to get the money returned. It required that you start a state nwcoa chapter in your state. The process did not allow it to be returned to a completely different organization in the same state. It is not money for the state.....it is money for a specific organization within a state.