NTA Director's Report - Wayne Thom
NTA Director of Minnesota Trappers Association
It is with a sad heart that I tell you that long time MN Trappers Association Secretary-Treasurer Richard Raeker passed away on April 17, 2010. Richard was the voice of the MN Trappers Association for 21 years. He will be missed by all of us. To his family, our hearts go out to them in their loss.
On March 13, 2010, I went to Normal, IL to the NTA Regional Leadership Conference. This was attended by most of the Midwest NTA Directors. President Kaatz asked all Directors to keep the NTA informed and involved in any State legislative agendas that may be detrimental to trapping. New NTA legislative DNIA, Dave Linkhard, is available to any State that needs help.
President Kaatz asked the NTA Directors to share information from the NTA in our Board mailings to each State’s members. President Kaatz gave recognition and thanks to me for sharing the NTA Board information with our MTA members. He commented about our MTA newsletter and how outstanding it was. I had brought 75 copies of our MTA Newsletter with me to hand out to all attendees. The NTA Director from Missouri took the remaining ones to share among his State’s members.
President Kaatz asked each of the Directors to “remind our officers, directors and members to be very careful as to how they use the different forums and YouTube. Trappers have been taking photos and or videos of various occurrences on the trap line and then posting them. Once these items are posted they become a public commodity. Although these items are of great interest to trappers they can or may offend members of the general public. It has been brought to our attention that these items are now showing up on the antis’ websites or being viewed with terribly negative comments being posted. Some of the stuff being posted has other sportsmen disgusted and we need to be more thoughtful before we put things out there that could give trapping a black eye.”
John Daniels, NTA General Organizer, has asked each Director to report their State’s activities to the NTA office at the end of each month. This would include any legislative action, County Fair booths worked, Boy Scout activities or anything that our members do to promote trapping in Minnesota. I would like any of our members who teach a class or do any of the above to email this information to me at wlthom@frontiernet.net. I will pass this on to the NTA office. John will be meeting with the NTA Directors just before the National Convention which starts Aug 4 – 8, 2010 at Marshfield, WI. As the National Convention is in our neighboring State, I hope all of you can attend.
Dave Roberts, NTA Office Manager, reported on several fundraisers. We had profits from our 2009 Holiday Fund Raiser. The 2009 sweepstakes cleared $25,291. In Sept, NTA mailed 6,500 membership flyers advertising discounted 50th anniversary items and old demo DVD’s. The result was $6,638 net profit. The 2010 Cash Calendar to date has cleared $21,675.00. This is $6300 lower than last year - this shows people have less disposable income. Our latest NTA fundraiser “Born to Trap” was mailed in February to 7100 addresses. For $50.00 donation you receive a cap embroidered “Born to Trap”. For a $20.00 donation you will receive 2 can-huggies. An incentive for new members is getting 1 can-huggie.
Last year we received $35,000 in a special funding grant from the IFTF. This money was used to help pay attorney expenses in the Maine lawsuit. Dave and President Kaatz have applied for a $46,000 grant. Through Dave’s 2009 work soliciting bids for our professional and general liability and Worker’s Comp insurance, we saved around $4000. We were also briefed on all other financial reports. It was a very full Regional meeting.
Jenny Hollars, who manages the NTA website, will be adding weekly updates. The NTA office under Dave’s guidance is in very good hands.
In the spring American Trapper magazine, President Kaatz asks all NTA members to keep your NTA Director informed and make certain he/she gets information back to you. If you would like more information from me, let me know or call me any night after 9:30 pm.
This spring trapping season was very slow - the beaver just didn’t move much mainly because we had very little rain. The good news was every beaver I caught was worth $2.50 more than the ones I sold in March 2010. It looks like fur prices may be up as not too many spring beaver were caught. I received a call from Mike, a friend of mine, who with his family caught 349 beavers this spring. Either he worked hard from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. or the beaver in his area really moved. Good going Mike!
I will see all of you in Barnum for the MTA convention on July 29-August 1, 2010. Check the June MTA newsletter for a schedule of when each District works the gate and MTA Booth. Even though I’m Co-director of District 4, I will spend most of my time at the NTA booth. If any members can spare some time at the convention and work my NTA booth, I can work the main gate or the MTA booth.
I hope to see all of you in Barnum.
Wayne