Hunter/Angler Recruitment, Development & Retention planning

[OldBaldGuy]

We need your help.

Chad and I have been contacted by Rex Amack, director of Nebraska Game & Parks, to represent the NEFGA on one or more subcommittees of the Hunter/Angler Recruitment, Development and Retention planning group.

By “partnering” with NGPC on this effort, NEFGA will have a voice in decisions that will affect the agency for many years to come.

We want to do it right, and we want the opinions we express to reflect the goals and beliefs of the NEFGA membership.

To do that, we need your help. In order to effectively represent the NEFGA membership, we’re forming a panel of NEFGA members who will work with the NEFGA directors to offer suggestions and, where appropriate, take positions on issues related to the RDR plan.

As many of you know, Chad is both a hunter and angler. I’m no longer an active hunter, although I hunted for many years, but still manage to wet a line at least 100 times a year. We need both hunters and fishermen (or fisherwomen) on this new panel. Ideally, the panel will reflect state-wide interests, not just Omaha or Lincoln.

While our panel will meet “online,” there also is a strong likelihood a panel member may be called on at times to substitute for either Chad or me at NGPC meetings in Lincoln.

Please read through the 20-year plan at
http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/admin/RDRPlan.pdf

If you feel you should support this effort and would like to contribute to its success, send a PM to me expressing your interest.

(This thread is being posted in both the Fishing and Hunting forums.)

[Alex T.]

We want to do it right, and we want the opinions we express to reflect the goals and beliefs of the NEFGA membership.

But is the NGPC willing to do it right? Are they willing to change things for the better even if that means some things that they have implemented are done away with? And since it is a politcial business,are they willing to step on "donors" toes to better the future of fishing/hunting?

Alex

[Alex T.]

Way too much blah blah statistical reading there for me. How is anyone suppose to follow along with all that crap of this action plan number,that action plan number,etc. Why are they willing to spend money(about $2,000/year for 2-3 years) on NGPC employees hunting/fishing recruitment? So,those employees can better understand their job? Hello,that shoulda been done in their training when they got hired. I'll keep trying to decipher this thing and respond back.

Alex

[Alex T.]

Education and marketing
programs that portray the hunter and angler as the law
abiding citizens they are have not been effective. One
study by Responsive Management in 2003 suggested
the majority of our public still feels that most hunters
knowingly violate hunting laws and over one third of
Americans feel that “a lot” of anglers consciously violate
fishing laws. Further efforts are needed to not only
make the public understand hunting and fishing but to
represent the hunter and angler as positive influences
on the environment.

Maybe because about the only thing the public sees and/or reads is about people getting caught. How many times on this forum has an article been referenced about someone being caught and fined? How many articles have come up about anything positive? Instead of running one huge article in Sunday's paper on 1 guy pheasant hunting on opening day,why not have alot of little articles from the area on different things that involve more than 1 type of hunting/fishing. Also,why not throw in a plug for the NGPC somewhere on that page and reference either getting kids involved,women,etc. Why waste that whole potential ad space?

8 Purchasing Rate Survey $20,000

What the hell is a rate survey?

PLAN #20
Adult Beginner Fishing Seminar
Adult Beginner Fishing Seminars (ABFS) will
be held to allow adults (i.e. ages 16 and over) the
opportunity to learn the beginning basics of fishing
during an approximately 2-3 hour lecture. These would
include the distribution of entry-level fishing equipment
and instructional materials to Adult Beginning Fishing
Seminar participants. NGPC could utilize the participant
database to promote fishing, and analyze participation
with respect to permit sales and retention of anglers.
Participation Stage = Permanent Participation

Cost = >$50K - $100K FTE

Who the hell wants to be lectured,get them out fishing. OBG did a couple of these type things last year on his own and even though the turnout was low,it sure didn't cost anywhere close to $50,000-100,000 and I bet those few people did continue to fish this year.

PLAN #23
Beginner Fishing Facilities
Secure funding of $750,000 annually to develop
Beginner Fishing Facilities at 3-5 ponds, sandpits, lakes,
reservoirs, rivers and streams per year. Identify and
develop fishing access points.
Ensure that quality fishing ponds, sandpits, lakes,
reservoirs, rivers and streams are being maintained
within 50 miles of population areas (2,000 + people).
Sample water bodies on a rotational basis, evaluate
stocking regimes, densities and conduct creel surveys.
Develop and enforce regulations on Beginner
Fishing Ponds, sandpits, lakes, reservoirs, rivers and
streams by conservation officer presence.
Determine which, if any, of our efforts contribute to
an increase in fishing participation by tracking fishing

permit sales.

Market restored lakes and new opportunities to
former anglers. New lakes are being built as well –
lapsed anglers may not know about these new
opportunities.
Participation Stage = Participation with Support

Cost = >$100K FTE = 0 Staff =

Ya already got area lakes and plenty of places to fish,use them. And what really gets me on this one....

enforce regulations

HMMM,if we don't have enough COs as it is and they don't want anymore...I don't see this happening to effectively.

Alex

[Harold]

Seems to me that Alex T would be a GREAT candidate for participation in this program!

Sign him up, OBG!

Harold F.

(What good is a panel full of "yes men"?)

[holdemplyer]

Originally Posted by Harold

Seems to me that Alex T would be a GREAT candidate for participation in this program!

Sign him up, OBG!

Harold F.

(What good is a panel full of "yes men"?)

[Hooligan]

ALex, I'm sitting here reading through, and having a lot of the same questions, and not fully udnerstanding the use of what they're intending to do. From anything I've ever seen, this looks like poorly spent dollars on most accounts. There are several things that are really bugging me about it, I'll post more when I have the time.

[jarredbehrendt]

Yeah it does look like a ridiculous amount of money for the things they are proposing.

[Alex T.]

I'm guessing some of this money can only go to certain things,otherwise they don't get that particular money. However,if that's the case,I'd rather see them get no money and not waste the money rather than get it and waste it foolishly.In tough economic times,they need to think thru something rather than go off on something cause a study or statistic said. They are trying to recruit new people to hunting/fishing...great. However,ya can't think it's gonna happen the way it did 20-30 years ago. Too many things have changed....divorce rates,split families,dead beat dads,parents working two jobs to make ends meet,etc. People know that hunting/fishing is out there,that's nothing new. How to get people to put their hard earned money towards it,is the question that needs to be asked/answered.

Alex

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by Harold

Seems to me that Alex T would be a GREAT candidate for participation in this program!

Sign him up, OBG!

Harold F.

(What good is a panel full of "yes men"?)

I don't think of Alex as a negative person, Harold. I think of him as "optimistically challenged."

And I would welcome Alex's offer to serve on the panel. He knows where to find my PM inbox, if that's what he decides he'd like to do.

[Alex T.]

You can sign me up.However,you may want to warn them first. Will Daryl be involved?

Alex

[Alex T.]

11 Statewide Education Staff
(One New FTE) $55,000

Maybe I missed it,what's an FTE?

PLAN #14
Develop a Youth Outdoor Page and
Public Hunter Education Page on Our
Website, and Educational Programs,
Games, Interactive Activities Designed
To Teach Skills, Conservation, Etc.
Create a web site exclusively aimed at youth 15
and under. The site would also be a tremendous asset to
junior high and elementary educators/teachers desiring
more conservation education materials in their classrooms
and curriculums. Program will make use of
existing resource such as Project WILD and NGPC
staff. Site could offer interactive outdoor games, hunting
and fishing activities, and outdoor educational offerings
for youth and families.

Participation Stage = Awareness/

I could be wrong here but I thought the intent was to get people(especially kids) out from behind a computer,not sit on the NGPC website and play games.

Alex

[holdemplyer]

full time employee would be my guess

[Alex T.]

So,is that($55,000) the yearly salary for that individual? Damn,I thought educators were under payed. Why do all the educators complain about pay if that's a starting salary?

Staff from the district fisheries offices will install

instructional signage at all the beginner fishing lakes

So,they are gonna get the office people out and do some general labor. Hope they throw a mower in the truck too. What kind of signs are they gonna install? Maybe a "Fish Here" sign with an arrow pointing to the water would help. I hope it's not a sign that says "This is a beginner fishing lake"....."We figured spending $200+ per sign for you to read would help you learn to fish" People need a list of these lakes printed on a piece of paper(maybe 2 cents/copy),not a sign once they find the lake.The NGPC could team up with Boy Scouts,Girl Scouts,etc. to hand these out for volunteer work.....free labor and distribution.

Alex

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by Alex T.

So, is that($55,000) the yearly salary for that individual? Damn,I thought educators were under payed. Why do all the educators complain about pay if that's a starting salary?

Alex, I can't speak for NGPC, but typically the amount budgeted for a new employee would have to include salary, benefits, employer's payment to the Worker's Comp fund, employer's match of Social Security payments, etc. I'd guess that $55,000 probably translates into an annual salary of somewhere between $30-35,000. I may be mistaken, but I wouldn't be surprised if Andrea's position didn't require a Master's degree. Doesn't look to me like anyone's getting rich on that deal.

p.s. It's "paid," not "payed."

[brian40]

I'm always willing to offer input.

[Alex T.]

p.s. It's "paid," not "payed

I was flustered. I think Mako was updating spell check and it never caught it.

Alex

[Scott Eveland]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Alex, I can't speak for NGPC, but typically the amount budgeted for a new employee would have to include salary, benefits, employer's payment to the Worker's Comp fund, employer's match of Social Security payments, etc. I'd guess that $55,000 probably translates into an annual salary of somewhere between $30-35,000. I may be mistaken, but I wouldn't be surprised if Andrea's position didn't require a Master's degree. Doesn't look to me like anyone's getting rich on that deal.

Yes, that is pretty close to reality. $55,000 budgeted translates into a $30-35K salary. Those positions usually require a BS at a minimum.

And yes, for somebody else who asked: FTE=Full Time Equivalency, or one full time employee. (Could be two part-timers too)

[Alex T.]

Those positions usually require a BS at a minimum.

That doesn't surprise me one bit.

Alex

[Mark P]

Thanks Roger & Chad for acting as reps to the agencies RDR efforts. Providing ideas and opinions of NEFGA members is an important role. Many of us within the agency realize that we may be “too close” to the issue and a fresh perspective is always welcomed. And yes, that includes comments like “what are you nuts!!!” Alex’s comments are certainly important as they represent at least a portion of NEFGA member opinions.

Even more important to this effort than opinions on why things will fail, are ideas on how to make it successful. Yes, you now the old saying about opinions and “noses”, everybody has one so neither makes you special. It’s what you do with them that really makes a difference. I don’t think anybody would pay admission to see a big nose, but a big nose that plays a “clarinet”……well not you’ve got something! So keep the ideas and opinions coming, I’m sure both Roger and Chad can take it. And I know we will appreciate it.
Thanks,
Mark