North Florida Chapter Safari Club International
April & May 2014
Membership Meeting - June 17 - Wild Creek Plantation
Election of Officers
Membership Meeting - July 15 - Queens Harbour Yacht & Country Club
Installation of Officers
Elementary students loved touching the little animals; Dr. Jeanne Prickett, the 17th and 1st
female president of the FSDB in the 129 year history of the FSDB describing our warthog; High
school students explore our wolverine; Derrell Griner described the Lion’s habitats to high
school science students (lower right).
PAGE 3
Officers & Directors
2013-2014
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT-ELECT
VICE PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
Shawn Pringle
Ron Stafford
Robert Bracewell
Tom Powell
Janet Pringle
Derrell Griner
Humanitarian, Conservation Fundraiser, Sensory Safari
Fundraiser Chair, Sportsmen Against Hunger, Sensory Safari
Meeting Planner, Fundraiser, Sensory Safari
Meetings,Sportsmen Against Hunger, Fundraiser Hunt, Sensory Safari
Education Sables, Fundraiser Docs, Sensory Safari
Budget, Shooting Sports Fundraiser, Sensory Safari
626-8960
662-5769
629-2779
353-3181
766-1347
764-2324
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
DIRECTORS
Carol Blodgett
Jeff Boyd
Jim Davis
James Frudaker
Stan Goeckel
Dorothy Gillette
Betty Griner
James Higman
Dale Loosier
David Mann
Clara McGehee
A. J. Pionessa
Georgianne Pionessa
Shuri Speed
Doug Speed
Gary Thigpen
Patricia Vane
Terry Vane
Paul Workman
Wayne Weber
Education Sables Co-President, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
886-9595
Fundraiser, Education Sables, Shooting Sports, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
743-3033
Sportsmen Against Hunger, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
273-4814
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser Fundraiser
502-9080
Grants, Fundraiser, Shooting Sports, Humanitarian, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
268-7695
Fundraiser, Sensory Safari, Family Fun Shoot, Sables Tea Chair
751-4942
Treasurer Assistant, Education Sables Rep, Budget, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
764-2324
Government Action, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
352-373-1178
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
612-4138
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
410-3109
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser, Education Sables
619-0018
Shooting Sports, Sportsmen Against Hunger, Famliy Fun Shoot, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser 727-7112
Photographer, Newsletter, Sportsmen Against Hunger, Family Fun Shoot,
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser Education Sables
727-7112
Education Sables, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser, Family Fun Shoot
280-5265
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
280-5265
Webpage, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
703-2289
Newsletter Editor, Education Sables Co-President, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
220-4009
Government Action, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
220-4009
Sensory Safari, Fundraiser
268-9673
Education Sables, Sensory Safari, Fundraiser, Family Fun Shoot
874-8444
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
PAST PRESIDENTS
Tom Powell
Ray Pringle (2)
Cliff McGehee (3)
George Bowser
David Alan DeBerry
Terry Vane
Bill Pullen
Bob Olson
353-3181
766-1347
998-9339
645-9050
757-8424
353-8285
281-252-8083
630-7389
Sharon Temple
Steve O’Hara
Doug Speed
Craig M. Larimer
D. L. Seals
Warren A. Tyre (3)
Rene Dostie
Charles R. Bassett
260-3303
346-3166
280-5265
1953-2009
285-8602
398-5100
880-6441
1932-2005
Scott Miller
396-9371
Mitch Montgomery
821-7171
Fred Kitchens
Tyrie W. Boyer (2)
398-1194
Mag Black
310-550-1980
M. Gordon Vines, Jr.
389-6687
Murray Black
1930-2004
Tillman Cavert, Jr./Founder 1916-2013
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Ernest F. Dorsey
Willie B. Dyal
Tyrie A. Boyer
Joe Colvin
706-945-4066
1921-2009
1924-2013
-2000
Cover Photos: top left & clockwise: Betty Griner describes a fallow deer to elementary age students; Doug Speed with high school student; Dr. Kathy
Foley, Science teacher of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) with middle school students; Students assisted in experiencing bear teeth
and claws under the watchful eye of Terry Vane.
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 4
President’s Report ~ April - May 2014
Hello friends,
I hope this finds you in good health and happy that spring has
arrived. Hopefully everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day while
remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,
the same freedoms that every day are in jeopardy of being taken
away.
This past month president-elect Ron Stafford went to DC as my
proxy to the national board meeting. He met with our senators and
congressman to get their backing on important issues with our
hunting rights, of course all of those he met with were already on our
side. We are very blessed here to have so many representatives that
are on our side, it’s not that way in many other states.
It’s almost hunting season again and I can hardly wait, I built my
daughter a 6.8 AR “with the help of my dad” for her to hunt with and
it’s about to drive me nut’s looking forward to seeing her harvest
her first deer. I think I’ll be happier than she will be. We all need to be
involved in getting our young ones involved in shooting and hunting.
This year I will be the skeet team coach at my daughters school. Helping youngsters with shooting sports and hunting
gives them valuable life lessons in safety, self control and discipline of which will help them in all aspects of their life in
every thing they do.
We just had a sensory safari at the Florida School for the Deaf and
Blind in St. Augustine and thanks to our 15 members including
two youths who helped, it was a great success.
Well I’m coming down to my last couple months as president and
I have to say, I have learned alot, met some great new friends,
been to some interesting places and I couldn’t have done any of it
without all of you.
You all are the backbone of this club and without your help
nothing happens and I thank each and every one of you for it from
the bottom of my heart.
God bless.
Shawn T. Pringle
President
Safari Club International
North Florida Chapter
Thank you letter written in Braille
by fourth grader at FSDB
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2013 - 2014
December 6
December 8
January 6
January 7
January 20
January 25
February 3
February 4
February 18
February 28
March 1
March 2
April 1
April 5
April 11
April 22
April 16
May 6
May 20
May 21
June 3
June 10
June 17
July 1
July 15
May 2, 2015
Christmas Party, Sleiman Home
Delivery of toys to USO
Fund Raiser Meeting - Powell Office
Board meeting - Athens Cafe
Fundraiser Meeting - Powell Office
Family Fun Shoot - Jacksonville Gun Club
Fundraiser Meeting - Powell Office
Board of Directors Meeting
Membership Meeting, TBA
Fundraiser Set up - Morocco Shrine
Fundraiser - Morocco Shrine
Take Down - Morocco Shrine
Board of Directors Meeting
Sables Tea With a Twist - Queen’s Harbour Sports Complex
Mini Sensory Safari at FSDB
Membership Meeting - Thigpen’s Farm
Brooks Adaptive Shooting Jacksonville Skeet & Trap Club
Board of Directors Meeting - Athens Cafe
Membership Meeting - Jacksonville Gun Club
Duval County School Science Fair
Board of Directors Meeting - Athens Cafe
Elections for the Sables Board
Membership Meeting - Wild Creek Plantation
Board of Directors Meeting - Athens Cafe
Installation of New Board Members - Queens Harbour Clubhouse
Annual Fundraiser & Banquet at the Morocco Shrine
INSIDE THIS EDITION
President’s Message
4
Florida School for the Deaf & Blind
6
AWLS - 23 years ago
7
Sensory Safari at FSDB
8-10
GAC Notes
11
Member Meeting
Thigpen’s Residence
12-14
Able Sables
15
Member Meeting - Jacksonville
Gun Club
16-18
Stafford Goes to Washington
Tea With A Twist
20
Back Cover
Brooks Adaptive Sports Trap Shoot
meets at the
Jacksonville Skeet and Trap Club
at 4:00 PM
the 3rd Wednesday of each month
Volunteers are welcome
and needed to help the shooters.
Dinner is available for $15.00.
Reservations required to reserve a meal.
Call (904)757-4584
and request steak or salmon.
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 6
Sensory Safari - Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind - April 11
leadership school, an accredited program. Chapter members can also
take advantage of the Blue Bag program that provides medical and
hygiene supplies those who visit Africa or South America.
Students See Wildlife Through Sensory Safari
An extraordinary event took place on April 11, 2014 on the FSDB
campus. Representatives of the North Florida Chapter of Safari
Club International presented a “touchable” Sensory Safari
experience for blind and visually impaired students in the Wilson
Music Building. More than 20 mounted animal displays were on
hand, with volunteer docents at each station who gave facts about
each animal’s size, sounds, habitats and behaviors.
Postscript: We have since learned from the Safari Club International
Foundation that about 75,000 students have benefited from the
mobile Sensory Safari program since July 2013.
Contributed by Kathleen Foley, Science Teacher, Blind Middle School
Students from the Early Learning Center and the Blind Elementary,
Middle and High Schools had the rare opportunity to “see” wildlife
through the sense of touch – from horns to hooves, beaks to
feathers, and snouts to tails. While everyone touched the honey
badger, wart hog, gray squirrel, armadillo and numerous horned
and feathered creatures, it took a brave soul to place his hand into
the enormous, toothy mouth of the massive upright Alaskan Brown
Bear. The lion and bears were favorites among the students, who
peppered docents with questions that they graciously answered.
Blind Middle School Teacher Kathleen Foley, who made the event
possible, said, “The Sensory Safari was powerful for students,
whose understanding of the world expanded as they found their
way through the various animal displays. The expressions on the
students’ faces when they were challenged to stretch their arms
between the tail and head of the Eurasia Bear nailed it for me. The
whole experience for students was an immersion in learning.”
Students attending the event learned not only about wildlife facts;
they also learned about taxidermy as a career and Safari Club
International animal conservation efforts. Docents also explained
hunting methods and protocols as well as wildlife protection efforts.
SCI North Florida Chapter programs, apart from the Sensory Safari,
include the Sportsmen Against Hunger event where members
prepare and serve meals at the Salvation Army in Jacksonville.
The chapter supports the USO (United Service Organizations) by
providing toys and funds. They have an Adaptive Shooting workshop
event to teach skeet shooting to individuals with disabilities. An
Annual Family Fun Shoot event is facilitated to teach children the
importance of gun safety and wildlife conservation. The chapter also
sponsors three to six teachers each year at the American Wilderness
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 7
Looking Back:
An AWLS Experience 23 years ago
by Carol Cowan, Teacher
Florida School for the Deaf & Blind
In 1991, I was selected to go to the American
Wilderness Leadership School (AWLS) through the
Jacksonville chapter of the Safari Club. At the time, the
program was about ten days in length. While based
at Granite Ranch, we visited a trout hatchery, made
flies and tried them out in the creek (mine were not
tempting to the fish in the least), hiked in the back
country of Yellowstone and camped out there, got
chased by a mama moose, visited the Wind River high
desert area, toured the Tetons, swam in a hot spring,
spent an evening being tourists in Jackson Hole, shot
black powder guns, rifles and shotguns at targets,
completed curriculum training activities for Project
Wild/Advanced Wild, attended classes and lectures,
and became a cohesive group made up of individuals
from many different professions, states/countries, and
backgrounds.
The memories of this experience are still very clear.
Almost everything presented during the session was
new information, new activities, and new locations
to me. On my return to Florida and my classroom, I
showed photos of my adventures to anyone I could
convince to look at them. I used several of the Project Wild activities with my students along with activities
from an AWLS curriculum guide. There were plans made to bring a Sensory Safari to my school, but this
was put on hold at the time. We did bring students to a Sensory Safari held in a Jacksonville public school a
few different times in following years. I was very happy to see that another teacher did succeed in bringing
the Sensory Safari to our school this year, and was also eager to meet chapter members in attendance. This
brought lots of good memories back to mind.
Attending AWLS was an honor and an experience that is honestly one of those “once in a lifetime” events.
I am still very appreciative of being selected to represent your club, and have had my AWLS certificate
hanging on my classroom wall for the last 23 years.
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 8
Sensory Safari - Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind - April 11
Pictured right:
Wesley Wallace,
whose father,
John M. Wallace
was president
of the Florida
School
for the Deaf &
the Blind from
1952 - 1966
Jeff Boyd
Principal of the blind elementary, middle
& high schools, Mary Lou Hoffman with
Patricia Vane
Beth Boyd
Dale Loosier
entertains during
our lunch break
Richard Benoit
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 9
Sensory Safari - Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind - April 11
Suzanne Berglind
Debbie Benoit
Logan Lingerfelt
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 10
Sensory Safari - Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind - April 11
Richard Benoit
holding up child
The Florida School for the Deaf &
the Blind library. The classics in
Braille. Rick Coleman
Standing L-R: Doug Speed, Derrell Griner, Dale Loosier, Betty
Griner, Logan Lingerfelt, Richard Benoit, Suzanne Berglind, Jeff
Boyd, Beth Boyd, Richard Benoit, Debbie Benoit, Terry Vane
Sitting L-R: Georgianne Pionessa, Patricia Vane, Dr. Jeanne
Prickett, President, Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind, Dr.
Thomas Zalveson, Trustee, Dr. Kathlee Foley
Volunteer group during tour of the Florida
School for the Deaf & the Blind prior to
Sensory Safari. L-R: Rick Coleman,
Doug Speed, Patricia Vane ,
Wesley Wallace & Terry Vane
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 11
GAC NOTES - APRIL - MAY, 2014
by Terry Vane
Blue Bag Emergency Request from Past President
Tom Powell: The children of the small rural and
impoverished village of Las Lajitas in Argentina are
in need of a Blue Bag from our chapter. Tom will
be returning to Argentina in August and intends
to purchase at his own expense a Blue Bag for the
undernourished and underfed children of Las Lajitas.
He has requested that we supplement the contents
with our own contributions of small toys, un-inflated
soccer balls, non-perishable food items, educational
and school supplies, personal hygiene items and nonprescription medications and first aid supplies. Cash
donations to set up a pre-paid account at the local
pharmacy for medical needs at cost are also welcome.
Please contact
Ron Stafford
or Terry Vane
if you have
any questions
or need to
have any items picked up for inclusion in the Blue Bag.
Items can also be brought to the June 17 member
meeting for collection. Tom will be delivering the Blue
Bag personally in Las Lajitas.
Elephant Imports From Zimbabwe and Tanzania
Banned by USFWS: The Big Zero administration continues
to hammer its political enemies whenever possible even
if there are innocents negatively affected. In this case the
innocents are the villagers in the two countries who are
dependant on the revenue produced by licensed hunting
and the elephants themselves now left to the poachers.
Any elephants taken after April 4, 2014, will not be
permitted importation into the U.S. Conservation efforts in
the affected countries will also be severely impaired, since
they also depend on revenue from hunting.
Georgia Expands Concealed Carry: Governor Nathan
Deal (R) signed into law an act effective July 1, 2014,
that will expand the places listed where concealed carry
permit holders may take their weapons, to include areas
in airports that are outside the screening checkpoints.
School districts will also be able to allow employees to be
armed.
Bear Attacks
Increase in
Florida Due
to Hunting
Prohibition:
A Seminole
County woman
was attacked
by a bear in her
garage on April
12, 2014, the
second attack
in six months,
which resulted in
the FWS trapping
and killing
seven bears
that appeared
aggressive and
unafraid of
humans. Instead
of regulated
hunting, the FWS
kills an increasing number of bears each year. In 2013 the
FWS killed 25 nuisance black bears. In 2012 the FWS killed
22 black bears. Since the bears are trapped and then killed
by lethal injection, the meat goes to waste as well. The
increase in dangerous encounters is due to population
growth uncontrolled by hunting and the consequent lack
of fear of humans by Florida black bears. It will probably
take a few fatal such encounters before the legislature
recognizes the problem.
HSUS Loses a Big One: The Humane Society of the United
States has been harassing Ringling Brothers Circus for 14
years with frivolous complaints, publicity and litigation
accusing the circus of mistreating elephants. The circus
owner fought back and the parties have finally settled the
litigation by HSUS agreeing to pay the circus owner $15.75
million. You can be sure there will be a flurry of fundraising
activity by HSUS as they try to keep their $20 million plus
war chest from being depleted. HSUS is by no means on
the ropes, however. It continues to infiltrate state wildlife
agencies and load attendance at stakeholder meetings
in its campaign to end all use of lead ammunition and
eventually all hunting.
GAC Update continued on page 18
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 12
Membership Meeting & Dinner
G & G Farms - Glenn & Gary Thigpen’s - April 22, 2014
L-R: Richard & Debbie Benoit, Susan & John Wilson
Feeding the cat is A.J. Poinessa. Sitting next to A.J. is
Jeff Boyd. Standing is Stan Goeckel & Clara McGehee
Glo Smith (Running for Congress)
with Terry Vane
L-R: Mark & Anne Seiden, Dorothy & John Gillette
Always a favorite;
firing up the grill for
roasted oysters
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 13
Membership Meeting & Dinner
G & G Farms - Glenn & Gary Thigpen’s - April 22, 2014
L-R: Charlie Goldenberg, Ron Stafford,
James Frudaker, Joe & Eileen Brown
50-50 Winner Donnie Boree.
Presented by Betty Griner
L-R Front row: Stan Goeckel, Patricia Vane,
Clara McGehee. Back: Betty & Derrell Griner
Mini Sensory Safari Committee. To be held at the
Morocco Temple on May 21
Marc Thigpen with hosts Glenn & Gary Thigpen
Pictured Left:
Amy Goodbread
& Tommy Lee
Picture right:
T.L. & Bud
Larsen
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 14
Membership Meeting & Dinner
G & G Farms - Glenn & Gary Thigpen’s - April 22, 2014
Three Candidates: Thuy Lowe & Glo Smith are
both running for US Representative and Jimmy
Holderfield is running for Duval County Sheriff
Some of the volunteer docents at the Florida School
for the Deaf & Blind Sensory Safari held on April 11.
Back row: Jeff & Beth Boyd, Betty Griner, Rich Benoit,
Derrell Griner, Terry Vane
Front row: Patricia Vane & Debbie Benoit
Our speaker, Jim Bury, director of the Airport USO
spoke about the many ways the USO serves all over the
world & also the services that our Airport USO provides.
Shawn Pringle & Robert Bracewell listen attentively
L-R: Paul Workman, Mark Seiden, Anne Seiden,
Dorothy Gillette, Lisa & Wayne Weber
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 15
Greetings Everyone:
Our Sables 6th Annual
Tea With A Twist “Prom
Queen” theme was a
delight! Replete with tasty
canapés, desserts and
champagne served by our
Safari Servers: Thom, Rob
and Tim. All “tips” collected
by the Safari Servers are
returned to our Sables chapter.
Duval County Annual Science Fair
Able
Sables
Our location at Queens Harbour was just the right size
for all of those who attended. An enormous thank you
to Dorothy Gillette who saw to each and every detail.
A lucky “Prom Queen” at each table got to take home
a decorative teapot centerpiece filled with spring
flowers, artistically arranged by Dorothy.
NFCSCI volunteers participated in the Duval County Annual Science Fair at the
Morocco Shrine on May 21. The mini Sensory Safari consisted of Florida animals
that are commonly seen in the back yards of our city as well as country homes.
Clara McGehee arranged a small boutique table filled
with small African treasures for sale.
We have already chosen a theme for next year: Vintage
Hollywood: The Great Gatsby. Our hostess will be
Martha Moore Saylor. Come as your favorite movie star!
On May 21st we did a small Sensory Safari for the Duval
County Science Department. Betty and Derrell Griner,
Clara McGehee and I talked with all the boys and girls
who enjoyed touching the animals they see in their
yards but are never able to see up close.
Sables are looking for members who would like to
serve on the 2014-15 board. Nominate self or another
by calling or emailing Patricia Vane or myself before
June 10th. Our numbers appear in the front of this
issue on the Board of Directors page.
A warm welcome to new Sables member Ron Stafford.
Happy Summer!
Carol Blodgett
The students all enjoyed touching the animals and learning some of the facts
about each animal. It also gave us an opportunity to talk to several teachers
about Sensory Safari and what we offer to elementary schools for a 2 day
Sensory Safari.
SABLES BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2013-2014
Co-President
Co-President/Event Planner
Vice President/Tea Chairman
Treasurer
Recording Secretary
Membership Chairman
Co-Event Planner
Photographer
Historian
Sables Reps to National
Carol Blodgett
Patricia Vane
Dorothy Gillette
Betty Griner
Glenn Thigpen
Beth Boyd
Shuri Speed
Georgianne Pionessa
Carol Higman
Betty Griner & Beth Boyd
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 16
Membership Meeting - Jacksonville Gun Club - May 20, 2014
Our first speaker, Fred Stokes, owner of
Feather Touch Turkey Calls gave a presentation
about turkey calling. Here pictured chatting with
Paul Workman & Mrs. Stokes
Our second speaker was Amy Moring,
Director of Development, Advancement
Office of the Florida School
for the Deaf & the Blind.
Amy presented a brief slide show and
expressed appreciation to our chapter for the
mini one day Sensory Safari held on April 11
Pictured above:
Anne & Mark Seiden with Tom Sanders & Bandit
Janet Pringle & Shuri Speed
check in for dinner, raffle & turkey shoot
tickets & sign up
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 17
Membership Meeting - Jacksonville Gun Club - May 20, 2014
Mike Mooney
Mike Mooney, Jody Brandenburg, Gary McKendree,
Charles Denny & Keith Stinnett enjoy a breezy evening
at the gun range
Pictured
right:
Bob Olson &
D Seals
Jody Brandenburg
Peggy Powell, Stan Longenecker & Rosana Stafford
enjoy a perfect May evening
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 18
Membership Meeting - Jacksonville Gun Club - May 20, 2014
Terry Vane, acting range master, awards Betty Griner
certificate for winning shot
Betty Griner
Derrell Griner
President-elect, Ron Stafford’s son, Bryan
with Chelsea Dierickx
Gary McKendree, Charles Denny, Keith Stinnett
Gary Thigpen
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 19
GAC Update continued from page 10
Operation Chokepoint the Latest Big Zero Regulatory
Scandal: The latest federal agency to be engulfed in the long
arm of corruption of the current administration is the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation. The FDIC has placed gun
sellers in the high risk category for bank lending. As a result,
many gun dealers are losing their bank financing by a stroke
of The Cipher’s pen. If credit to gun sellers and manufacturers
is curtailed, it will put some of them out of business or
substantially increase their cost of credit. The Empty Suit is
still picking the winners and losers in his war on our recessionwounded economy.
Gun-Grabbers Lose No Time in Politicizing the Latest Gun
Tragedy: A bill called the “Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer
Communities Act of 2014” has been introduced by Rep. Mike
Thompson (D-CA). Persons prohibited from possession of
firearms would be greatly expanded. States not capitulating
would have federal grants held up. The definition of mental
illness would be expanded to individuals deemed by police
to pose an “elevated risk of harm”. The affect would be to
discourage anyone from seeking any form of psychotherapy
or mental health assistance for fear of being labeled unstable.
Any vet seeking help with PTSD would be branded. Recall that
the feds in the land of Chicken Little once categorized veterans
and conservatives as potential homeland security threats.
The progressives would like nothing more than to have the
freedom to adopt regulations identifying specific classes of the
citizenry as potentially dangerous. Anyone disagreeing with
their Marxist agenda is obviously unstable, in their view.
Bloomberg Scores a Win in the U.S. House: A Bloomberg
supported amendment to H.R. 4660, the Commerce, Justice,
Science funding bill was added by Mike Thompson (D-CA)
– there he is again - and Peter King (R-NY) – both F rated on
gun issues – which would add $19.5 million to induce states
to increase the number of the names of citizens reported to
NICS. Look out veterans. The bill still has to go through the
senate where the amendment may be jettisoned (we hope).
There were 76 House Republicans who voted “Yes” on the
amendment. A majority of House Republicans voted “No”
on the amendment, including Kingston (GA-1) from Georgia
and DeSantis (FL-6), Mica (FL-7), Miller (FL-1), Southerland
(FL-2) and Yoho (FL-3) from Florida. Ander Crenshaw voted in
favor, along with Corinne Brown. In fairness, this was a late
night stealth amendment but any time one votes the same
as Corinne Brown, on an amendment crafted by two F rated
anti-gun zealots, one should give it some thought. We must
be very careful in giving the feds any further power to define
who among us may be stripped of our Second Amendment
protected rights.
Curry Thomas Hardware owner, Steve Thomas, has generously offered North
Florida Chapter Members a 5% discount on all ammunition and a 10% discount
on most firearms and related accessories, and a broad variety of outdoor items.
Curry Thomas carries a surprising variety of hard-to-find ammunition including 6.5
Swedish, 7.5JAP, 8mm Mauser, .257 Roberts and .35 Whelen, along with the more
popular calibers.
With the extensive variety of trophy game mounts from around the World, simply
shopping there is a “hunting” experience! Thank you Steve, for all the ways you
support NFCSCI!
Welcome
New Members:
Tommy Lee
Anthony Bozzella
Thomas G Wright
Safari Club International
_________________________
New Member
North Florida Chapter
Donnie Boree
John Wilson
John Pope
James Pickard
(SCI Life Member)
Dean Black
R. G. (Jerry) Fisher
SCI Members, look
for the paw print
on SCI badges
and introduce
yourself and
welcome new
members!
Mark Seiden
Robert Ausherman
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 20
Mr. Stafford Goes to Washington
Being a member of SCI
on and off for close to 30
years, one of the questions
I have always had was how
exactly does SCI really work
and how do they really
support hunters rights.
This past Month I had the
opportunity to attend
the annual SCI May board
meeting and lobby day in
Washington DC, and what a
learning experience it was.
I can now honestly say that I have better knowledge
of many different divisions, committees and lobbying
groups that we support, so to say it was extremely
educational is an understatement.
The “May Meetings” last for three days with various
meetings from Wednesday to Saturday. Thursday is the
“Lobby Day” where we all go out in force to visit our
respective congressmen and senators, stressing the
need to fight the anti-hunting left-wingers and even
sometimes the US Fish and Wildlife Service on their
idiotic policies. Friday is full of different committee
meetings, all of which give a better understanding of
what SCI does behind the scenes. Saturday morning is
the national board meeting where for the second half
you have to be a voting member to sit in and attend the
meeting.
The most important day for me was the lobby day. The
day started with the usual early breakfast where we had
a short prep course on the main 5 talking points and the
bills that are on the floor that we needed to cover. These
are the “Sportsman’s Act of 2014” to protect hunting,
fishing and target shooting on Forest Service land,
modernizing the Endangered Species Act, elephant
import bans, the possible confiscation of Ivory less than
100 years old (really), and the proposed change of lions
to the endangered species list. SCI’s Washington office
staff set up meeting schedules for each of us attending.
I personally was scheduled to meet with only three
congressmen but did a few drop-in’s and ended up
visiting Congressmen Steve Southerland, Ted Yoho, Tom
Rooney, Ron DeSantis and Dennis Ross’s offices. We also
tried to visit a few others but as congress is in session, it
did not work out. Being my first time there, I went pretty
much with my schedule but next year I think I will be
more aggressive trying to do more drop-in’s and meet
with more politicians on the other side of things.
During the many SCI meetings, one of our SCI lobby
groups did a quick presentation on “Green Decoys”,
showing how these anti-hunting agencies are being
funded by different corporations. I suggest looking at
www.greendecoys.com to see how big corporations and
foundations are tricking people into donating.
As well, look at www.humanewatch.com and see the
clever advertisements against the corrupt deception
policies of the Humane Society of the United States
and their attempt to stop hunting and hiding millions
in overseas accounts. Did you realize that the HSUS is
only giving 1% of their proceeds to the local shelters?
The scariest of all is what is happening with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. We had the Deputy Director of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service address our meeting and
he actually admitted without realizing it, that they have
no science to back up anything they are proposing in
regards to elephants and lions! He said the information
we gave him, all of it easily proven and readily
obtainable was all new to him! In addition SCI had
representatives from Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South
Africa hunting organizations there to give him more
firsthand facts and information. Honestly I felt sorry for
the guy as once questions from the floor started, and
may I add they were all polite and extremely well stated,
you could see him wilting behind the podium due to
his lack of knowledge on the issues. Make no mistake
everyone, we are being attacked by the anti-hunting,
anti- gun left-wingers and they have taken over the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service as well as other pro sportsmen
organizations.
I urge everyone to attend one of the annual May SCI
- Washington board meetings and Lobby Day as you
do not need to be a chapter president, proxy voter
or national board member to sit in and participate.
Actually we had two guys from Orlando that flew up
just for the lobby day to help out with the efforts which
I thought was great and enjoyed their enthusiasm in our
Mr. Stafford Goes to Washington continued on next page
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 21
Mr. Stafford Goes to Washington continued from previous page
meetings. Again, you do not need to be a SCI National
board member to attend, just register and attend! If
anyone is interested in going next year, please let me
know as I will be glad to help in getting you set up.
Sincerely,
Ron Stafford, President-Elect
New Website Address!
Visit North Florida Chapter’s Website
at:
northfloridasafariclub.com
Membership Application available on line.
Click on “Become a Member” then click on
“Download Membership form”
Not on our Email List?
Derrell Griner with Abie Farhat of
Green Acres Sporting Goods on April 24, 2014.
Derrell and Ron Stafford purchased
two (2) Smith & Wesson Bushmasters
(and got a good deal) for the
2015 May 2nd, 2015 Fundraiser.
Hunt Stories Needed!
Send your stories & pictures to
Patricia Vane
220-4009
[email protected]
Please limit articles to 1,000 words or 2 pages. The NFC
reserves the right to edit submitted articles.
Send your email
address to Janet at
[email protected]
North Florida Chapter Safari Club International
11225 Old Kings Road
Jacksonville, FL 32219
Phone: (904) 813-2298
Janet Pringle, Secretary
Email: [email protected]
Meeting Information
Drink Charges at Meetings are as follows:
Chapter Catered Events:
$6 charge for call brand
$3 for beer / $4 for wine.
No charge for soda and water.
Events at Facilities with Cash Bar:
Cost is Set by the Venue.
We can no longer charge dinners at monthly member
meetings. Cash or check only. Thank you.
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
PAGE 22
Taxidermy Studio
Tony and Leslie Breedlove
3188 Southeast County Road 21-B • Melrose, Florida 32666
352-475-3159
We are a full service
taxidermy studio offering
custom quality work on all
trophies from all over the
world USDA approved for
receiving your shipment.
NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO
SMALL -- your trophy is
our top priority
Trophy room design
and natural dioramas to
complement your treasured
trophies.
Servicing the North Florida Safari Club over 20 years. We now
offer Cleaning and Maintenance Services for your trophy room.
Taxidermy is a fine art. Keeping your mounts and habitats clean
can be difficult. Whether it is daily occurrences such as household
dust or serious pest infestations, your investment can begin to
depreciate as soon as it comes into your home. Most household
cleaning services are not familiar with mount cleaning technique
may not be familiar with the signs of a developing problem.
Tony is available for consultation regarding full scale cleaning,
restoration, and pest control of your trophy room.
TERENCE G. VANE, JR.
ATTORNEY AT LAW
TERENCE G. VANE, JR., P.A.
(904) 353-8285
BLACKSTONE BUILDING, SUITE 620
FAX (904) 354-2739
233 EAST BAY STREET
[email protected]
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202
Photography for all Occasions
by Georgianne Pionessa
Phone: 727-7112
Cell: 655-7471
Fax: 805-0870
Tony has taken over maintenance of the Sensory Safari
trophies to keep them in top condition for everyone to enjoy.
Prior to departing for that “hunt of a lifetime” contact us to obtain
your custom tag and reference package filled with important
information on skinning and trophy preparation. Advance
planning is the key to your trophy being the best it can be.
Call for references • Check out our website at
www.wildlifeartcreatons.net and find us on Facebook
NFC/SCI Newsletter Advertising Rates
Three Typed Lines: $10.00 • Business Card: $35.00
¼ Page: $50.00 • ½ Page: $75.00 • Full Page: $125.00
Contact Patricia Vane at 220-4009 or
[email protected]
for more information or to place an ad.
N O R T H F LO R I DA C H A P T E R S A FA R I C LU B I N T E R N AT I O N A L A P R I L - M AY 2014
Shuri Speed, Debbie Benoit, Carol Blodgett
Above: Lourdene & Patricia Vane with
Safari servers, Rob Miller,
Tim Obi, & Thom Wright.
Above: Glenn Thigpen with Safari servers, Tim Obi,
Rob Miller & Thom Wright. Thom is a member of our SCI Chapter
Brenda Onur and Elena Kennedy in Goth get up
Tea Chairwoman &
the #1 Prom Queen
Dorothy Gillette
Sables 6th Annual Tea With A Twist
April 5th
Clara McGehee with Safari servers, Rob Miller,
Tim Obi & Thom Wright
Suzanne Berglind with Safari servers
Above:
Lindsey Stinnett
Right:
Georgianne Pionessa
Sisters Laura McElhanay & Martha Saylor
with Safari servers