03-24-2007, 01:17 PM
[cool][#0000ff]IF YA CAIN'T LICK 'EM...JOIN 'EM.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After learning more (too much) about "the system", I decided to jump in and do what I could for Utah Anglers. I am semi-retired (retarded) and have both the time, experience and interest in working to make things better instead of just beefing about what I am handed. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]So...I got theangler (BFT head honcho) to put up the money to allow me to join the Utah Anglers Coalition. This is an organization of most of the different anglers groups...bassers, fly flingers, conservationists, etc.... We meet once a month but have ongoing communication on many issues related to fishing and ecology. Most of our meetings are attended by two or more members of the DWR heirarchy and we interact on a daily basis. They know me well and I regularly contribute useful information to them, to help them better underatand angler perpectives. We are also well connected with the media and contribute a lot of material that goes into outdoor newpaper columns and TV stories.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In January, I became secretary treasurer of UAC. I am the one who receives and forwards virtually everything newsworthy on the subject of fishing, ecology and conservation for Utah...and much that is national in nature. In short, a lot of folks know me...for better or worse.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Believe me, our group is VERY active in what goes on in state legislature. And, we do contribute much toward what happens with our DWR. But, in defense of DWR, they do have their limitations. First, far too much politics. Because of the controls and funding from above, nobody in DWR wants to do anything that might jeopardize their pet projects...or their positions (income). As with many governmental positions, they would rather do nothing than something that would ever reflect back upon them. The are not "proactive".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Money is what makes the world go round...and what gets things done in DWR. Unfortunately, our DWR personnel are some of the lowest paid in the nation, for the jobs they do. It is
to see the dedication and hard work put forth by many of them, simply because they love what they are doing...not because they are paid so well. The end result is that there are not enough good people in the right positions, with the time and money to do what needs to be done. Many things that are recognized as vital or necessary are simply pushed aside because of the staggering load. Sad but true.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]So, in a nutshell, while I am frustrated with what I have seen and experienced with our Utah DWR, I have a great deal of sympathy and respect for them as individuals. That's why I have jumped in and become more active in trying to become a part of the solution, rather than being a part of the problem.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]During my active years in business I held several management positions. One thing I always said, whenever someone brought a gripe to me..."DON'T COMPLAIN...COMMUNICATE". i had a policy that before I would listen so someone voicing a problem, they had to also be able to present possible solutions. That is a good policy for all of us. It forces us to think about where we fit into the overall scheme of things. It also serves up some healthy doses of reality. It is easy to point a finger of blame at someone else. But, as my ol' buddy Zig Ziglar says "Whenever you point a finger at someone else, look down and you will see three more fingers pointing right back at you."[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Hope that is enough moralizing. I'm done.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]After learning more (too much) about "the system", I decided to jump in and do what I could for Utah Anglers. I am semi-retired (retarded) and have both the time, experience and interest in working to make things better instead of just beefing about what I am handed. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]So...I got theangler (BFT head honcho) to put up the money to allow me to join the Utah Anglers Coalition. This is an organization of most of the different anglers groups...bassers, fly flingers, conservationists, etc.... We meet once a month but have ongoing communication on many issues related to fishing and ecology. Most of our meetings are attended by two or more members of the DWR heirarchy and we interact on a daily basis. They know me well and I regularly contribute useful information to them, to help them better underatand angler perpectives. We are also well connected with the media and contribute a lot of material that goes into outdoor newpaper columns and TV stories.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In January, I became secretary treasurer of UAC. I am the one who receives and forwards virtually everything newsworthy on the subject of fishing, ecology and conservation for Utah...and much that is national in nature. In short, a lot of folks know me...for better or worse.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Believe me, our group is VERY active in what goes on in state legislature. And, we do contribute much toward what happens with our DWR. But, in defense of DWR, they do have their limitations. First, far too much politics. Because of the controls and funding from above, nobody in DWR wants to do anything that might jeopardize their pet projects...or their positions (income). As with many governmental positions, they would rather do nothing than something that would ever reflect back upon them. The are not "proactive".[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Money is what makes the world go round...and what gets things done in DWR. Unfortunately, our DWR personnel are some of the lowest paid in the nation, for the jobs they do. It is
to see the dedication and hard work put forth by many of them, simply because they love what they are doing...not because they are paid so well. The end result is that there are not enough good people in the right positions, with the time and money to do what needs to be done. Many things that are recognized as vital or necessary are simply pushed aside because of the staggering load. Sad but true.[/#0000ff] [#0000ff]So, in a nutshell, while I am frustrated with what I have seen and experienced with our Utah DWR, I have a great deal of sympathy and respect for them as individuals. That's why I have jumped in and become more active in trying to become a part of the solution, rather than being a part of the problem.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]During my active years in business I held several management positions. One thing I always said, whenever someone brought a gripe to me..."DON'T COMPLAIN...COMMUNICATE". i had a policy that before I would listen so someone voicing a problem, they had to also be able to present possible solutions. That is a good policy for all of us. It forces us to think about where we fit into the overall scheme of things. It also serves up some healthy doses of reality. It is easy to point a finger of blame at someone else. But, as my ol' buddy Zig Ziglar says "Whenever you point a finger at someone else, look down and you will see three more fingers pointing right back at you."[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Hope that is enough moralizing. I'm done.[/#0000ff]
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