Dallas Safari Club Convention Summary

[mdwest]

The problem with your request @Russ16 is that the overwhelming majority of funds that DSC raises for conservation comes from the show. Without the show, DSC as we know it, and many (if not most or all) of the programs that we all love and want to support, cease to exist. "Skip" the show, and DSC suffers a HUGE wound (potentially a fatal one)..

Their business model is built firmly on the foundation that the show generates incredibly large sums of money for the organization through attendance, booth purchases, auctions that happen at the show, etc..

annual membership and individual donations to DSC and the DSC foundation are a very small fraction of the money needed to run/operate DSC..

 

[lhook7]

The situation with the show is tough.

But let’s remember the purpose of DSC is to support conservation the show is something they do to generate funds for that. Those of us that are members are members because we support conservation not because they out on a show.

I say that in hopes that whenever they figure out the path forward with the show people will support them because the mission is worth supporting.

Express your frustration with the show for sure. If you hate Atlanta skip it. But don’t quit the organization, maybe find another way to support them. When the show finds a better home I hope you’ll attend.

DSC has done some great work for conservation and we need them to exist.

I know it’s kind of fun to speculate about the competition between DSC and SCI. But the fact is they both do good work and do slightly different work. There is a place and a need for both of them and they will both continue to get my support.

Sorry for the long post it was partially to Tim d myself of this fact.

If they were as concerned with conservation as much as they are ego, they wouldn’t be in this mess. I’ll give my conservation dollars elsewhere.

 

[Russ16]

The problem with your request @Russ16 is that the overwhelming majority of funds that DSC raises for conservation comes from the show. Without the show, DSC as we know it, and many (if not most or all) of the programs that we all love and want to support, cease to exist. "Skip" the show, and DSC suffers a HUGE wound (potentially a fatal one)..

Their business model is built firmly on the foundation that the show generates incredibly large sums of money for the organization through attendance, booth purchases, auctions that happen at the show, etc..

annual membership and individual donations to DSC and the DSC foundation are a very small fraction of the money needed to run/operate DSC..

I agree which is why I’ll continue to support the show. I’m only asking that others continue to support the organization in whatever way they choose and keep an open mind about the show going forward. If you don’t like Atlanta fine but if they find a new location then consider attending.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I agree.

But I’m still going to give KMG a hard time about dissing me and my homies.

My reference was aimed at the specific area and demographics where the show was held. We had to leave three places while trying to find something to eat because we were the only minority inside that place and I could feel that we were not welcome. Couple of comments thrown our way as well.
I was certainly not referring to all residents of Atlanta and you should know that and should have taken the comment for what it was, but if misunderstanding the comment offended you, then there is really nothing I can do.

 

[Philip Glass]

Was Atlanta so bad because it was Atlanta? Or was it the weather?

I'm sure both contributed but had the weather been good, would it at least have been an ok show?

Bob they have no way to know. DSC does not require preregistration or membership to attend and $35 gets you in the door. This system makes this disaster even worse because no one can definitively answer this question.

 

[Philip Glass]

My reference was aimed at the specific area and demographics where the show was held. We had to leave three places while trying to find something to eat because we were the only minority inside that place and I could feel that we were not welcome. Couple of comments thrown our way as well.
I was certainly not referring to all residents of Atlanta and you should know that and should have taken the comment for what it was, but if misunderstanding the comment offended you, then there is really nothing I can do.

I had three different people share with me that their Atlanta Uber drivers told them "it is not safe for white people here". Wow!

 

[mdwest]

They can’t get a quantitative answer… but if they cared, they could get a qualitative answer..

Poll, survey, and interview the membership..

It’s not too hard to get an understanding of where the show was heading before the snow impacted things… between this web forum and the only other I am aware of with and international hunting theme, there are numerous threads posted for a years time telling DSC just what membership thinks..

At another place, a past president and former board member of DSC has been very vocal about what he believes is at the core of the problem…

FWIW, he didn’t go to ATL, and is pretty much no longer involved in the organization. I get the impression it’s due to the current leadership group and its ongoing behavior…

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I had three different people share with me that their Atlanta Uber drivers told them "it is not safe for white people here". Wow!

Yes Philip, had exactly the same feedback from people I spoke to.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

They can’t get a quantitative answer… but if they cared, they could get a qualitative answer..

Poll the membership..

It’s not too hard to get an understanding of where the show was heading before the snow impacted things… between this web forum and the only other I am aware of with and international hunting theme, there are numerous threads posted for a years time telling DSC just what membership thinks..

At another place, a past president and former board member of DSC has been very vocal about what he believes is at the core of the problem…

FWIW, he didn’t go to ATL, and is pretty much no longer involved in the organization. I get the impression it’s due to the current leadership group and its ongoing behavior…

Not sure if this is what you are referring to, but for what its worth.
On the closing day while booths were being taken down, exhibitors were handed a form to fill in with a space for comments. I saw two booths that commented to move the show out of Atlanta. The forms didn't have any space to write down your name or booth number, so comments could be made annonomously.
Exhibitors were sent a survey by email to complete, asking how improvements could be made by the show.

I am familiar with the comments made by the ex board member and following that thread closely.

 

[Philip Glass]

Yes Philip, had exactly the same feedback from people I spoke to.

I am not easily worried by travel but this story makes me want to never go there!

 

[mdwest]

I think that poll would give them an idea about where the exhibitors stand… but what they really need to do (my opinion) is poll the life members and/or past show attendees (if they’ve maintained any sort of contact list)…

Ask very specific questions..

Did you attend this year?

If you didn’t attend this year, why not?

What could we have done to make attendance more attractive to you?

What can we do to attract you to DSC 2026?

Etc etc..

If you want to know what % of regular attendees didn’t show up and why, just ask them…

It won’t be hard to figure out themes…

 

[Shaw]

I had three different people share with me that their Atlanta Uber drivers told them "it is not safe for white people here". Wow!

I was told the very same thing on my first trip to Africa we overnighted in Atlanta when shuttle driver from the hotel said he would stop at a store and go in and get us some things as we didn't need to leave our room until shuttle left in the am.

 

[Red Leg]

Back in the seventies and early eighties downtown Atlanta was a fun place. Atlanta Underground was "cool" with great little bars and Lester Maddox signing miniature ax handles.

For the last twenty years you could not get me to stay in Atlanta inside the perimeter (ITP) if you paid for the room.

 

[Russ16]

They can’t get a quantitative answer… but if they cared, they could get a qualitative answer..

Poll, survey, and interview the membership..

It’s not too hard to get an understanding of where the show was heading before the snow impacted things… between this web forum and the only other I am aware of with and international hunting theme, there are numerous threads posted for a years time telling DSC just what membership thinks..

At another place, a past president and former board member of DSC has been very vocal about what he believes is at the core of the problem…

FWIW, he didn’t go to ATL, and is pretty much no longer involved in the organization. I get the impression it’s due to the current leadership group and its ongoing behavior…

It would be helpful to know where these comments are so that we can read them for ourselves. DM if you don’t want to post it here. But hard for us to form an opinion if we can’t read them.

 

[mdwest]

The point is there are no comments.. DSC hasn't conducted any polls of the life members to my knowledge.. until the show happened, they didn't show any interest in anyone opinion or care to address concerns with anyone that I am aware of..

If you're talking about the "other" place online where discussions are taking place.. its against AH rules to post links or directly reference that place (indirect reference appears to be ok).

 

[Russ16]

The point is there are no comments.. DSC hasn't conducted any polls of the life members to my knowledge.. until the show happened, they didn't show any interest in anyone opinion or care to address concerns with anyone that I am aware of..

If you're talking about the "other" place online where discussions are taking place.. its against AH rules to post links or directly reference that place (indirect reference appears to be ok).

Yes I meant the other place would love to know where that is but understand it is against the rules to post it here.

I totally agree DSC had handled it poorly. My only point is I still believe in their mission and to my knowledge their execution of the mission has been strong and I see no reason it won’t continue to be. Therefore I will continue to support them despite my dissatisfaction with Atlanta. That’s what I was trying to convey.

 

[Yukontom]

I am not easily worried by travel but this story makes me want to never go there

I had three different people share with me that their Atlanta Uber drivers told them "it is not safe for white people here". Wow!

This is why from the beginning I knew I was not going to downtown Atlanta. I know a couple PH's who attended and were afraid. They swore they heard gunfire on two nights while walking back to their hotel. These are folks who often stare down elephants at 25 yards LOL.

 

[Finprof]

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Back in the seventies and early eighties downtown Atlanta was a fun place. Atlanta Underground was "cool" with great little bars and Lester Maddox signing miniature ax handles.

For the last twenty years you could not get me to stay in Atlanta inside the perimeter (ITP) if you paid for the room.

I am really sorry to hear this. At Clemson, if anyone asked what to do on weekends the answer was “Go to Atlanta”.

 

[sureshot375]

I am not easily worried by travel but this story makes me want to never go there!

It’s really bizarre that people would say that. There are a certain element of people who feel uncomfortable anytime there are black people around.

I lived in Atlanta much of my adult life. I was downtown daily for many years. Atlanta has bad parts like any other major city, but honestly many of those neighborhoods have been gentrified. Places you would not dare set foot 20 years ago are now filled with yuppies and upper middle class families.

Approximately 3 million people a year visit the Aquarium which is basically across the street from the convention center. When you add in Mercedes Benz Stadium, Phillips arena, the World of a coke, the Capital, Georgia State University and centennial park, you are talking about many millions of people visiting downtown Atlanta every year. This would not happen if it were unsafe for visitors and families to be in that area.

 

[Russ16]

I walked about a mile from my hotel to the convention center for three days and went to dinner each night. Never saw a problem. I don’t think it’s any worse than downtown in a lot of major cities. Not that I want to spend time in any of them.