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The
organization started to gain momentum through the use of the Forums on
the Florida Waterfowler.Com web site. Months of telephone and online
discussion passed, and more hunters added their support for both the
need and the creation of an entity that could act as their voice
throughout the State of Florida.
Those
discussions culminated in an
organizational meeting of interested hunters, held at Lake Jessup on
February 3, 2001.This meeting provided both the consensus and the
impetus that, yes, the organization was a GO! The mission statement
that was already in draft form was reviewed, modified, and approved.
The consensus
further agreed that the
organization would work toward establishing good working relationships
with the agencies affecting hunting. Adversarial encounters are to be
avoided.
lt was also
decided that the statewide
organization should initially consist of a Board of Directors/Officers
governing districts or regions that cover the same territories as the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Each district would have at least
one representative, a Regional Director to provide local communication
links to and from the state organization. The organizational structure
downward will consist of a representative for each county in each of
the regions.
These links,
for example, would alert
the state level of impending processes that could impact waterfowl
hunting, or of an event where volunteers might be needed. The state
level will use the links to distribute information, or ask for support,
such as a letter-writing campaign, or for a volunteer effort. The
potentials are enormous.
As the
organization grows, chapters are
envisioned; first at the regional level and then at the county level.
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