Post by Woody Williams on Mar 7, 2010 8:44:39 GMT -5
News of Quail Unlimited's demise appears overstated
by Phil Potter
In the March issue of Petersen's Hunting Magazine, an article states that Quail Unlimited is officially defunct and its South Carolina headquarters, warehouse and adjoining 75 acres of land are for sale for $650,000.
This news rang true to some Tri-State members because two southern Illinois Area chapters had heard last November that the national organization had folded — though no one knew why.
Petersen's article blamed declining membership, saying a national roster of 50,000 had dropped to around 30,000. This seemed believable, because several Tri-State chapters, such as the initial Evansville Chapter, shut down within three years. From the outset there were issues as to where the membership money was being spent and whose properties got primary benefit. Petersen's article also alleges money squabbles and board member dissention over similar issues at the national level.
The article says QU blames its collapse of on a sour economy and declining quail numbers throughout the States.
Petersen's didn't mention that quail have been in decline since 1978 as the 2009 Audubon bird census indicates Bobwhite quail are y down 82 to 90 percent over their former range.
The magazine article says that national QU inaction fueled dissent among board members when grass roots ideas were essentially ignored, and that caused state and local chapters to begin questioning where their dues and banquet funds were going nationally.
Still, a call to national headquarters on March 4 was answered by a receptionist who assured me QU had not and was not folding and that a return call would be coming. While Petersen's said QU had furloughed 24 employees in October,an Indiana QU employee said they're now all back at work.
Indiana QU representative Dave Howell has been with the organization for 23 years and was shocked to hear about the story in Petersen's. Howell said there had been some rough moments since the former director and QU creator Rocky Evans had stepped down, but added that new director Bill Boles is effectively restructuring the organization. In fact, Howell went so far to say, the alleged infighting isn't happening.
Howell also stated that contrary to the poor image portrayed in the Petersen article, great strides for quail recovery courtesy of QU have been made on southern Indiana farms in Dubois, Perry and Knox Counties. He also cited several counties in southern Illinois where QU is making a definite gain in quail populations. In addition. he said the Peabody Tract that the state of Kentucky leases is undergoing major quail restorations.
Howell noted that more than quail benefit from restoring habitat. He said rabbits, ducks, grouse and songbirds will also become more plentiful in coming years.
Howell was an excellent small game biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources before joining QU so his observations are valid. Hopefully his expertise will strengthen QU's management goals throughout the Tri-State.
by Phil Potter
In the March issue of Petersen's Hunting Magazine, an article states that Quail Unlimited is officially defunct and its South Carolina headquarters, warehouse and adjoining 75 acres of land are for sale for $650,000.
This news rang true to some Tri-State members because two southern Illinois Area chapters had heard last November that the national organization had folded — though no one knew why.
Petersen's article blamed declining membership, saying a national roster of 50,000 had dropped to around 30,000. This seemed believable, because several Tri-State chapters, such as the initial Evansville Chapter, shut down within three years. From the outset there were issues as to where the membership money was being spent and whose properties got primary benefit. Petersen's article also alleges money squabbles and board member dissention over similar issues at the national level.
The article says QU blames its collapse of on a sour economy and declining quail numbers throughout the States.
Petersen's didn't mention that quail have been in decline since 1978 as the 2009 Audubon bird census indicates Bobwhite quail are y down 82 to 90 percent over their former range.
The magazine article says that national QU inaction fueled dissent among board members when grass roots ideas were essentially ignored, and that caused state and local chapters to begin questioning where their dues and banquet funds were going nationally.
Still, a call to national headquarters on March 4 was answered by a receptionist who assured me QU had not and was not folding and that a return call would be coming. While Petersen's said QU had furloughed 24 employees in October,an Indiana QU employee said they're now all back at work.
Indiana QU representative Dave Howell has been with the organization for 23 years and was shocked to hear about the story in Petersen's. Howell said there had been some rough moments since the former director and QU creator Rocky Evans had stepped down, but added that new director Bill Boles is effectively restructuring the organization. In fact, Howell went so far to say, the alleged infighting isn't happening.
Howell also stated that contrary to the poor image portrayed in the Petersen article, great strides for quail recovery courtesy of QU have been made on southern Indiana farms in Dubois, Perry and Knox Counties. He also cited several counties in southern Illinois where QU is making a definite gain in quail populations. In addition. he said the Peabody Tract that the state of Kentucky leases is undergoing major quail restorations.
Howell noted that more than quail benefit from restoring habitat. He said rabbits, ducks, grouse and songbirds will also become more plentiful in coming years.
Howell was an excellent small game biologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources before joining QU so his observations are valid. Hopefully his expertise will strengthen QU's management goals throughout the Tri-State.
