[CaptTB]

Originally Posted by apmaurosr

Actually, TB, there's been a lot of posts about the rally - but only one thread about sea bass. The reason is, as I've explained in other threads, the R.O.O.R. rally is about a number of issues; from a failed bear policy to the denegration of our forests to the raiding of funds that are needed to keep DFW, F & G Council amd the Marine Fisheries Council "whole" and operating effectively. The instituitions that help to manage our access to the outdoors are being dismantled before our eyes. We need to send a message to Trenton that we will not accept this any longer.

And those things were never questioned Anthony. What I did question was the use of the Sea Bass Closure, which was the HEADLINE/SUBJECT of the e-mail that was sent out by NJOA, yet attached to that e-mail was a flyer for the rally that said NOTHING about Sea Bass, was not related to ANYTHING involving the Sea Bass closure and had NOTHING to do with the issues that created the problem with Sea Bass in the first place (see my response to that original thread if you forgot any of the details)

Why you would choose one issue to try to belittle the work of the NJOA is a mystery to me but it's your typewriter - so pound away.

I have NEVER belittled the work of NJOA, and shame on you for trying to imply such a thing. Try reading and comprehending my posts, and see where I have CONTINUALLY talked about the good NJOA has done and wished you well on the success of your rally and you will see just how ridiculous that statement is.

Back to reality now....

The NJOA has a proven track record of results and we are focused on accomplishing a long list of outdoor issues - and that's where we focus our attention - even though we are an all volunteer organization.

Again, nothing to do with this thread and something that was NEVER questioned by me or anyone else. Of course, as to the DIRECT POINT OF MY POST, NJOA has STILL never had ANY involvement with the Sea Bass issue and continues to remain SILENT on the action ALREADY TAKING PLACE to deal with it. I will ask again...WHERE IS THE SUPPORT?? Remember folks, this action was started LAST WEEK to deal with Sea Bass……still no support from the groups I mentioned, even AFTER the “NJOA Chairman” has “spoken.”

Now, for those readers who have already seen my response on the subject of sea bass I apologize for repeating myself - but it apparently needs to be restated. Tom Fote, Commissioner to ASMFC, will speak at the rally about what people can do about the closure. Since the mission of the NJOA is limited, on the most part, to New Jersey issues (not federal) we are looking at the problem from the standpoint of what our GOVERNOR can do - not what the feds can do, I believe the RFA handles those aspects.

Which again has nothing to do with the actual issue of the closure (I have answered that already and, for those who have already seen my response I apologize for repeating myself but apparently it needs to be restated,) The Governor is not involved in the issue at the federal level and has no say at the federal level. Talking about NJOA, yes your focus has been on primarily the state and has indeed been successful to date on various issues. Of course, since we all now know this is a federal issue I will ask yet again where is the support of the action AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL for this issue?

If your group works within the state, why use the sea bass closure as the HEADLINE for your rally for a group that does not work at the federal level???

I know the answer already, but apparently the question bears repeating.

So, TB, since you singled me and my threads out to the members of NJFishing.com I thought I would take the time to respond personally. Just a piece of friendly advice though, when you want to point out that "unity" is a good thing (and I'm 100% with you) then you might not want to strong-arm those you want to unify - it seems counterproductive and it usually ends in creating divisiveness.

Since I mentioned three different groups who have remained silent on this issue, I hardly singled you out, but if you feel that uncomfortable with your position that you have to be defensive then perhaps hitting that nerve served it’s purpose. Since those other groups do not post on njfishing.com and you do and sign your posts with your name, it would hardly be appropriate to question posts from anyone else and would be completely appropriate to question YOU.

Also, if you call questioning where groups who have remained silent on an issue that is destroying businesses in the very state those groups are from “strong arming””, then perhaps you need to take a step back from being in the public eye. It’s just a piece of friendly advice from someone who has been dealing with these types of things for the past two decades Anthony. Becoming defensive and lashing out at people with ridiculous terms like “belittle” which is false and “strong arming”, which is ever so slightly (yeah) an over-reaction, is a great way to divert the topic at hand, but does not do anything to answer the question.

It might also be, as with the NJOA, some organizations are taking a different apporach to the problem. But, this is only my opinion.

And therein is part of the problem. Let’s not unify on an issue, let’s all continue to ignore the first action taken by the primary groups involved and see how “we” can spin this to “our” advantage by “taking a different approach” to the problem.

More of the same old same old Anthony, and THAT is why I posted my post and said what I said.It comes from experience dealing with the various groups in recreational fisheries.

Then again, when a group’s chairman publicly states that it is focused on an arena which is NOT where the problem in question lies, but uses that problem to drum up support for a rally that is not directly related to the issue, then perhaps they need to be questioned.

Perhaps, my comments come from decades of watching groups latch on to issues to further their own agenda and never actually do anything to help the issue itself. Hence the reason I QUESTIONED where the support for ONGOING action was from the three groups I mentioned. Since when is questioning something “strong arming”??

Should we not question people’s actions and sit back quietly? Should we simply let questionable actions such as the original e-mail touting the sea bass closure as a call to arms for a rally that made no mention of anything other than what “Trenton” was doing (which has NOTHING to do with the sea bass closure) and sleep safe knowing “things are being handled”?

Sorry Anthony, but experience has shown many of us that sitting back and not questioning the actions of those who supposedly “speak for” or ”support” us is NOT the way to get things done.

I would suggest instead of being defensive and talking about things NOT related to the issue that you might want to consider actually supporting the actions of those already fighting the fight. Even if it might mean a few less people at your rally. That’s just some friendly advice from someone who’s been doing this for awhile, but that’s just my opinion.

BTW, two weeks ago we arranged to have a SSSFF booth set up at our rally. I hope this is helpful to the cause.

Thanks, and I’m sure the guys at SSFFF appreciate the offer and ANY help will help “the cause,” but as you have done already in this post, you have made reference to something that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AT HAND OR MY ORIGINAL POST.

Save the SUMMER FLOUNDER Fishery Fund has NOTHING to do with a SEA BASS closure, nor does NJOA offering a booth/table space to SSFFF have ANYTHING to do with this topic. It was an extremely nice offer to that group, I hope they have someone to man the table and take NJOA up on it's offer. It does divert attention from NJOA support (or lack thereof) of fighting a SEA BASS closure, but it does NOT have anything to do with me, my post or the topic at hand.

I see you’ve learned one thing from dealing with Trenton…….how to change the subject.

So, I've had my say and I will now steer clear of this thread since the winds are blowing out of the "Nor' East."

I stand corrected, you’ve learned TWO things from dealing with Trenton. The second is how to avoid having to answer the questions by “signing off” before anyone has a chance to respond.