ky whitetail
02-03-2006, 06:11 PM
After reading the last Pope & Young's quarterly news letter and receiving the ballot with position statements for 2nd vice president for both candidates, I was totally ashamed by the negative statements made by Brian Scarnegie in reference to the archery industry and Warren Strickland. There is no way Pope & Young can survive by alienating everyone in the industry!! The ANTI's have to love this, divided we stand, divided we fall! Brian has made accusations that they are being bought or have sold themselves out for hidden agenda's. In the beginning most of the founding fathers were involved in the archery industry such as Earl Hoyt, Fred Bear, Bud Pierson, Tom Jenings, Damon Hewitt and several others. I have personally been involved in archery for over 38 years I started hunting with recurves, switched to compounds for competitive competition, switched back to recurves for hunting and now currently hunt with compounds. I feel as bow hunters we must unite and focus on more important and serious issues facing archery and quit fighting amongst ourselves. I know many great bow hunters and companies within the archery industry that make many quality products and most of them are not related to the crossbow industry. Brian has totally chosen to alienate the individuals and companies strictly based on his hypocritical statements against the industry and ATA. Many Pope & Young members purchase products from the industry you are condeming. Using Brian's thought process what does this make us or them?? We cannot pit our fellow bow hunters against each other. I suppose everyone should make their own stick bows and wooden arrows and find flint broadheads and then we wouldn't need the companies and individuals that Brian fears so much?? These companies' owners are mostly composed of bow hunters and employ many bow hunters, which I feel Pope & Young cannot afford to alienate. I spoke with Warren Strickland personally over the phone in reference to crossbows. Warren stated unequvocally that he is opposed of their use during archery seasons and would not support them in any fashion for use in Pope & Young. He also voted against crossbows while serving on the Alabama wildlife commission. Fear is proven to be one of the strongest emotions causing human decision. I truly feel in my heart that most of the members will be able to see through Brian's smoke and mirror tactics to get elected. These tactics and untruths come with a great expense to Pope & Young. If Brian can get elected on fabricated information, I along with many others will strongly consider not belonging to Pope & Young anymore. I know Brian's platform is totally misguided, ridiculous and based on fear. Anyone with common sense has the ability to know that Warren Strickland, being a very successful heart surgeon, certainly doesn't rely on income from the archery industry. I was disheartened by Brian's accusations and judgement of a man that he doesn't even know on a personal level, or he would not have said these things. I have spoken with many individuals about Warren Strickland and each knows him to be a great, positive leader that will serve the Pope & Young's membership at the highest level with honesty and itegrity. In closing it is very evident after reading Brian's position statement that his beliefs are not based on facts. The Pope & Young organization could do so much more for archery if given the right leadership. Vote for Warren Strickland. According to Brian don't purchase anything from the industry since we would all be hypocrits for supporting the archery industry, and they are all crooked according to him!!
In archery, we have far bigger issues than fighting amongst ourselves. Go to www.pope-young.org join for $35.00 and you will be mailed a packet with a ballot and you will also receive a nice quarterly news letter. If you want to call and join the number is 507-867-4144. You must get this done by Feb. 10, 2006.
Bowhunting until I take the dirt nap, airborne Let take a stand and make something happen
In archery, we have far bigger issues than fighting amongst ourselves. Go to www.pope-young.org join for $35.00 and you will be mailed a packet with a ballot and you will also receive a nice quarterly news letter. If you want to call and join the number is 507-867-4144. You must get this done by Feb. 10, 2006.
Bowhunting until I take the dirt nap, airborne Let take a stand and make something happen