Brock here. Someone alerted me to this thread as well. I created an account to make 1 post and do not intend on participating any further in this thread.
I stand by what I said. I don't feel it was out of line. You can think or say whatever you'd like about me or what I said. I'm speculating, but I would think most of the critics on this thread and rokslide, are probably guys who also share a distaste for Politically correct culture and pride themselves as being a "straight shooter" or "call it like I see it" kinda a guy. I find it particularly hypocritical for you not to allow me that same freedom and attitude. Of course, everyone likes honesty until you’re honest with them. Then you’re just an asshole.
I didn't put that on a public forum on accident. I didn't put it out there because I lost my cool. It may not have been palatable or easy on the ears, but if we're being honest with each other...we've all heard much worse. Honoring the "straight shooter" attitude I’m sure you guys can appreciate, sometimes you call a spade a spade.
I do represent this Chapter and for the 3 years we've been existence we've put our head down and gone to work. Thousands of volunteer hours spent on things that really aren't that glamorous. Policy issues, comments, letters, agency and governmental processes and meetings that never get talked about. Work projects on a limited budget with limited volunteers. A bunch of guys trying to figure out fundraising in a landscape that possesses no shortage of groups wanting your hard-earned money. It's the nature of the issues we work on and being in this industry. They don't come with shiny signs or awards and we don’t bitch about it. But for anyone to throw our organization in the dirt, I absolutely have a problem with that.
I will absolutely defend the organization and the volunteers on our Board of Directors that carry the load and sacrifice time in the field, time with their kids, time with their wives, summer weekends, vacation time, and money, to do the work they do on behalf of our Chapter and our organization. I will absolutely defend every single member of our Board of Directors and fight back when anyone throws them under the bus. I will absolutely defend the National Organization, that despite its flaws and mistakes, has provided us with support when needed and never told us what to do or how to think. Land Tawney answers each problem I've ever presented him with the same questions, "What can I do to help?", “What do you need from us?”, “What do you guys think?”. He continually tells us, “You know your state best”. Every single time I reach out, he’s there.
Conservation Justice Warriors like my buddy KurtR, seem to have nothing better to do than to sit on web forums tearing down other people’s work. Heaven forbid if someone snaps back to defend themselves or the organization. He can throw stones but seems to have a run and tell my friends complex when someone throws one back.
He's one of many that apparently have nothing better to do. Tearing down our work and our organization with any information they can find that would support their point of view, regardless of source, regardless of nuance, regardless of truth, regardless of the big picture. Chastising the org for every mistake they’ve ever made. Driving prospective members away like they're doing everyone a favor. Promoting all these elaborate conspiracy theories that it's all just this big scam to do.... whatever. It's a bit pathetic and I don't like it. I stated as much. I’m not apologizing for it. That was the basis and context for the comment I made on rokslide. Addressing those individuals who offer nothing but hateful and destructive, self-righteous opinions, shitting on the work others do as volunteers. It’s disgusting.
I do really wonder what good things he or others could do for hunting, fishing, public land, private land, habitat, if they spent as much time working on those things as they did sitting on their phone policing web forums to make sure everyone knows how evil we are.
If you care about hunting and fishing on public lands and keeping those places wild, making sure they are there and in good health for you, for your grandchildren. Making sure they don’t get pummeled into road dust. Then you should absolutely join our organization. We have work to do and we’re one of the organizations leading the fight in those battles in North Dakota. I will gladly work my ass off to prove to you we’re worthy of that $35 bucks a year and you can reach out any time with questions, concerns, ideas, issues, etc. I will be happy to answer or address them to the best of my ability and tirelessly go to work for you and the places we both love.
Just one example of an issue we’re fighting right now. Senator Hoeven wants to gut the Grasslands and put a road in every special place we have in the Badlands via section line rights of way.
We completely stand against the destruction of Section Lines in the Grasslands for more roads. The Grasslands is already 80% “roaded” and the 20% left that is considered Inventoried Roadless Areas, Non-Motorized Areas, areas Suitable for Wilderness, places where you can find solitude and a backcountry experience, away from traffic and modern development, they are under more pressure than ever. We absolutely stand against the development of those areas. We absolutely and unequivocally work to protect them from development to make sure we don’t lose them. We’re not shy about it.
We’re also not hypocrites. Members of our Board of Directors (myself included) and some of our members in general work in the oil industry. It would be hypocritical of us to condemn the same industry that fueled our 4x4 trucks and provided us with 10-ply tires, among all the other petroleum-based products we use while in the backcountry. But that doesn’t mean we need oil development on every ridge top or sage brush bottom. Those Roadless Areas, non-motorized areas, suitable for wilderness areas are damn special places. They’re prime examples of places to just leave alone. There’s room for oil development in the Grasslands. We support that idea. But there are some places that just need to be left alone.
Someday I’ll be fat or old or both and I won’t be able to physically hunt those areas anymore. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to support roads being built in them, taking that backcountry experience away from my son, or his son, or your son, or your son’s son. If you disagree, then yeah, you probably won’t fit or appreciate our organization. If you agree, then there’s no reason for you not to sign up. We might not agree on every issue, but if we can agree on what I just said, we’ll get along just fine.
As Always, Keep It Public
Brock
NDBHA Chairman
