Dallas Safari Club Convention Summary

[Philip Glass]

Africa Hunting dot com forums have 104,809 registered members of which 1,175 are presently online. I don’t know how many are DSC members or how many would join DSC if it were heading on a path forward. Chances are it is many.

Granted, that some of our registered members may have passed onto their happy hunting grounds and others are no longer active. Let’s say that there are over 50,000 members who from time to time read these posts.

Of those members the majority if not most are accomplished in their field of endeavors, i.e. their professions. More than a few have in fact managed large organizations, many have or had half a billion dollars of revenue with profit and loss responsibility. I also know of a very active member who coaches CEO of Fortune 500 companies, at least one General Officer, yours truly a management and technology consultant, and the list goes on.

Does everyone see where I am going with the above? As our @Green Chile, @mdwest, @Red Leg and others stated, DSC made their decision in a vacuum. It reminds me of the Lieutenants who will not take advice from their NCOs. Those Lt’s will have a very short military career! Hopefully the present DSC managers will soon be seeking other employment. Leaders inspire others to following willingly. Managers manager their resources. DCS has neither leaders or effective managers.

Who remembers Deming’s Total Quality Management (TQM)? It focused on engaging with staff to gain their “buy in” toward the organization moving forward. Focus groups were the order to the day. Gosh, I didn’t need Deming and his TQM to tell me “gather your intelligence locally”. My Drill Instructor Sgt. Mills preached that to me at Parris Island during July of 1977! A couple years later I well knew that if a leader wants to know what is going on they need to ask a Corporal! Of course I was a Corporal then. The senior officers and NCOs might tailor their answer to not piss of the commander, but the Corporal will give him the skinny with both barrels! Nothing is different in a company or organization such as DSC.

If DSC isn’t wise enough to initiate focus groups or whatever they are called today, I know a very old and respected consultancy that for a fee would happily engage with them and provide a sound path forward. That would however be a foolish waste of money considering the level of experience and expertise of their membership and those who might happily join help DSC finding its way. But to do that, DSC management MUST admit that it has failed.

At least a survey monkey for vendors and life members would have been warranted! You are correct they made their decision in a vacuum. I overheard a vendor this weekend state that he had been exhibiting for 38 years and yet no one called him to ask his opinion of the move.

 

[Philip Glass]

Thanks for the tactics lesson. That may all be true if DSC is SCI's enemy .... but I was under the impression that the mission of both organizations is to promote ethical, sustainable hunting and wildlife conservation. Perhaps there is still some animosity dating back to the split, but that was long before I had any interest in either organization so will leave that discussion to others who are more knowledgeable. But if indeed SCI viewed this as an opportunity to "defeat" DSC, it speaks volumes to me about their own trustworthiness.

My DSC membership is due for renewal soon, and I would be very interested in seeing whether the leadership admits mistakes and addresses this head-on or whether we are told that the show was a huge success and it all gets swept under the rug. I am tempted to just make a restricted donation to the DSC Foundation in lieu of membership renewal, and send the Membership Director a note explaining why.

Look guys, TTHA is in a growth phase. The dates were open, many like myself said they weren't going to Atlanta, so they held a convention. I assure you there is no SCI strategy to "defeat" DSC. I am a life member of both and I believe they serve different roles and deserve to be supported. This doesn't mean I won't criticize a boneheaded mistake.

 

[mdwest]

Look guys, TTHA is in a growth phase. The dates were open, many like myself said they weren't going to Atlanta, so they held a convention. I assure you there is no SCI strategy to "defeat" DSC. I am a life member of both and I believe they serve different roles and deserve to be supported. This doesn't mean I won't criticize a boneheaded mistake.

This is exactly my position as well.

They may be “competing” entities.. but the focus of each organization is different, and we (hunters) need both to be successful..

I’ve had a lot of discussions with a lot of leaders in both organizations over the years…. Never once have I heard any of them say it is their desire to harm or take out the other organization… I think they both realize there is plenty of room in the market for both organizations to prosper.. so doing intentional harm to the other isn’t really necessary…

All of that said… I think members as well as potential members (we need new hunters to continue to join and become active) SHOULD voice concerns when they have them, and SCI and DSC should listen…

If they aren’t serving the memberships needs, what’s the point?

 

[crackerman]

Last years DSC was my first show and I had a great time. I really liked the vibe and as a guy new to Safari shows (but not trade shows) I felt very welcomed by 90% of the vendors and I was not going to book a hunt.

Booked my hunt a few months later and I was really looking forward to talk to some vendors and look at fishing trips for my son and I but sounds like I got lucky that Delta cancelled my flight with 12 hours notice.

I am going to SCI instead if the weather holds out and from there will decide what I go see in 2026

 

[wesheltonj]

Look guys, TTHA is in a growth phase. The dates were open, many like myself said they weren't going to Atlanta, so they held a convention. I assure you there is no SCI strategy to "defeat" DSC. I am a life member of both and I believe they serve different roles and deserve to be supported. This doesn't mean I won't criticize a boneheaded mistake.

This is exactly my position as well.

They may be “competing” entities.. but the focus of each organization is different, and we (hunters) need both to be successful..

I’ve had a lot of discussions with a lot of leaders in both organizations over the years…. Never once have I heard any of them say it is their desire to harm or take out the other organization… I think they both realize there is plenty of room in the market for both organizations to prosper.. so doing intentional harm to the other isn’t really necessary…

All of that said… I think members as well as potential members (we need new hunters to continue to join and become active) SHOULD voice concerns when they have them, and SCI and DSC should listen…

If they aren’t serving the memberships needs, what’s the point?

Well lets see:
(1) SCI moves to Texas, DSC home turf
(2) DSC and Safari Classics part ways
(3) SCI now sponsors Safari Classics shows
(4) DSC leaves for Atlanta on the BS that KBH is being "torn down."
(5) TTHA starts a new show aimed at the DSC audience and not the typical TTHA audience.
(6) TTHA books KBH for 5 years, with the last year as the same year DSC is supposed to move back.

 

[Red Leg]

Well lets see:
(1) SCI moves to Texas, DSC home turf
(2) DSC and Safari Classics part ways
(3) SCI now sponsors Safari Classics shows
(4) DSC leaves for Atlanta on the BS that KBH is being "torn down."
(5) TTHA starts a new show aimed at the DSC audience and not the typical TTHA audience.
(6) TTHA books KBH for 5 years, with the last year as the same year DSC is supposed to move back.

Look guys, TTHA is in a growth phase. The dates were open, many like myself said they weren't going to Atlanta, so they held a convention. I assure you there is no SCI strategy to "defeat" DSC. I am a life member of both and I believe they serve different roles and deserve to be supported. This doesn't mean I won't criticize a boneheaded mistake.

This is exactly my position as well.

They may be “competing” entities.. but the focus of each organization is different, and we (hunters) need both to be successful..

I’ve had a lot of discussions with a lot of leaders in both organizations over the years…. Never once have I heard any of them say it is their desire to harm or take out the other organization… I think they both realize there is plenty of room in the market for both organizations to prosper.. so doing intentional harm to the other isn’t really necessary…

All of that said… I think members as well as potential members (we need new hunters to continue to join and become active) SHOULD voice concerns when they have them, and SCI and DSC should listen…

If they aren’t serving the memberships needs, what’s the point?

If that doesn't look like "strategy," then it is a really good example of tactical exploitation. I am a life member of both as well, but I am also old enough to remember that the original divorce in 1982 was pretty bitter. Scars have a way of lingering.

 

[Dhutson]

The convention center is under construction now. They broke ground on the project last summer. I don’t know when they will get to the phase of construction that will impact events like DSC. My guess is by leaving DSC has lost its place in line to groups that are still doing events there (like TTHA) whenever the full project is done.

It is supposedly going to be a greatly improved venue once the renovation is done. It’s something close to $4 billion for the whole project.

Certain see the point. However, that still doesn't address the issue of just moving it to another facility in the area. This is the Dallas area and you would think that there are several other places where the extravaganza can occur.

 

[Dhutson]

From another perspective, it isn't clear to me exactly what problem that DSC is really trying to solve. Maybe it is time for the powers that be to get in a room and go back to the basics. What is our mission? Is what we are doing now achieving that goal and if not what do we need to do different? If a'int working might want to stop doing it.

I to have heard from outfitters, vendors, and attendees who will not go to Atlanta for many reasons and the weather is not the reason.

The hunting world is changing and not so much for the better and those that come after us are seeing it. And unfortunately those that are seeing it didn't grow up like most of us. Most of us on here are at the middle or at the end of our runway. But most of us on here understand hunting for what is was originally. Not a shinny penny, the biggest trophy, but the traditions of an experience that requires conservation, And then it becomes our responsibility to transfer to not sell to the next generation. Anyone remember "The Old Man and the Boy?"

Once that becomes the mission (transferring the experience to the future hunters) the "how to do it" is guided by that mission. It really isn't brain surgery. It isn't about a thing or a convention or a competition. From the problem comes the solution. DSC, might want to think about going back and do some thinking. Why are we here again?

Just a thought.

 

[Altitude sickness]

If the DSC truly held wildlife conservation as the top priority. Not just a platform for events, awards and showing off. Then they, currently being in the weaker position. Should reach out to SCI and for conservation sake get this resolved. Coordinate events.

Or even better. The SCI currently being on stronger footing. Should, if they believe conservation is the top priority. Not dinner parties, handing out trophies to “celebrity hunters”

Maybe the SCI could throw an olive branch out and suggest they combine energy.

DCS could join with Dallas SCI chapter and become the largest SCI chapter.

But we all know that will never happen.

 

[Dhutson]

If the DSC truly held wildlife conservation as the top priority. Not just a platform for events, awards and showing off. Then they, currently being in the weaker position. Should reach out to SCI and for conservation sake get this resolved. Coordinate events.

Or even better. The SCI currently being on stronger footing. Should, if they believe conservation is the top priority. Not dinner parties, handing out trophies to “celebrity hunters”

Maybe the SCI could throw an olive branch out and suggest they combine energy.

DCS could join with Dallas SCI chapter and become the largest SCI chapter.

But we all know that will never happen.

Correct. I didn't know that conservation was a competition. Perhaps each has another agenda. Competitions are designed for someone to win and another to loose. And, the looser in a conservative competition is that which we are trying to conserve the tradition of hunting and that which we hunt.

 

[mdwest]

Well lets see:

(2) DSC and Safari Classics part ways
(3) SCI now sponsors Safari Classics shows

When did that happen? (I obviously don't watch a lot of SC productions anymore... I had no idea this occurred)...

Thats very interesting to me in that at a time that I was much more heavily involved in DSC, local chapter meetings, additional DSC functions in/around Dallas, Dave Fulson was SUPER INVOLVED with DSC locally and nationally.. IMO he pulled WAY MORE than his weight supporting the organization and earning DSC's "support" for Safari Classics... and contributed more to DSC than most other business owners that have a business affiliated with the international hunting industry..

He hosted DSC events in his home ranging from just tours of his "trophy room" (his entire house is a huge trophy room), to educational events where DSC members were exposed to "how" to write articles and submissions for hunting publications, etc.. He was always present and very involved in local meetings and activities, etc..etc.. I would have thought there would never be a separation between DSC and SC..

Im guessing there was some sort of "business decision" that caused the break up (maybe DSC was spending more than it could calculate it was getting a return on? or some other genuine cause for severing the business relationship?).. but that is truly surprising to me.. I didn't think a break up would ever happen..