Shangobango
Well-known member
Devil is in the details, I agree I would like to see more info.
When I read this statement my take away is the SC is acknowledging they are a mostly white org, and this is due largely to the fact that over the decades their leaders have strived to keep minorities out of their group. I think the intent is to bring in new perspectives that will help the org evolve and bring in new members.
Related, have you listened to the most recent Meateater episode with Rue Mapp? Definitely a good listen. Mapp's comments highlighted for me some of my blind spots about conservation/hunter recruitment/etc. She discussed a couple barriers for entry that I wouldn't have even considered.
I've made a couple of comments on hear about how annoyed I get with CPW commissioner Adams and some of the other specific "outdoor leadership" commissioners. Adam's et al. have never hunted and have no idea how our system works, commissioners will be discussing a highly nuanced issue eg limited/OTC archery tags in SW CO and some of the commissioners are like "Wait you have to have a tag to hunt, you can't just run into the woods and murder animals...
What, until recently, I haven't considered is how these individuals bring to the commission the views of other groups that went previously present, and how that perspective might help us widen the base and acceptance of hunting in our community. Adam's may not get a bunch of black hunters on the mountain, but she may get a lot of people outside... and those voters may look at a wildlife ballot issue differently knowing that someone that they trust is on the CPW board.
I think that SC wanting new perspectives in leadership roles is admirable. My point is they should consider making it happen in a way that does not cheapen it. To me that part of the statement did just that.
I did listen to the episode but I did so while at work and busy with other tasks so I need to give it another listen. I agree that it opened my eyes to some blind spots. She brought up several ideas that I haven't considered.
To your last point, I think that we should surely be looking for ways to widen the base of the conservation minded hunting and fishing community. I completely agree with that.