U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance is a non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio, United States that was formed in 1977. The Alliance defends the rights of hunters, anglers, trappers, and sport shooters. [1]

History

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance was originally known as the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America and Wildlife Conservation Fund of America and was formed in 1977 after an Ohio Ballot threatened Ohio's trapping community. The organization was officially incorporated in 1978 as The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. Throughout the years the Alliance has worked on numerous bills and ballot issues that deal with hunters' rights.

Advocacy

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance mostly speaks out against animal rights groups in favor of the rights of hunters, trappers, and other sports shooters.

Maine's chapter of The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance spoke out against a proposed state park in Maine that would take away access to a large amount of public land that was used largely for recreational activities like hunting and snowmobiling. [2]

In 2004, there was a disagreement on whether or not to hold a black bear hunting season in New Jersey. The DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell wrote a letter to Council Chair W. Scott Ellis requesting to not hold a black bear hunting season, but the season was scheduled for December 6-11, 2004. Campbell then used his authority to refuse to issue hunting licenses to hunters for black bears. The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance filed a lawsuit against the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which challenged Campbell's authority to refuse hunting licenses.[3]

The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance spoke out in favor of the Sportsmen’s Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act of 2013 (H.R. 3590; 113th Congress). It urged members to call their representatives in Congress and ask them to vote in favor of the bill.[4] The bill is an omnibus bill that covers several firearms, fishing, hunting, and federal land laws.[5] It passed the United States House of Representatives on February 5, 2014.[6]

Programs

Families Afield was created in collaboration with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Wild Turkey Federation and works to get more involvement of women and families in hunting. The program created the "apprentice" hunting license that allows someone who has not completed hunter's safety to accompany an experienced hunter on a hunt. [7]

Outdoor Business Council is a program that was created to unite all of the outdoors businesses under one organization to help protect the rights of outdoorsmen all over the United States. [7]

Board of Directors

Mason Lampton Upatoi, GA – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Vice Chair of the Board. Owner and president of Standard Concrete Products. Board member of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America. Avid fox hunter and wing shooter.[8]

Barbara L. Sackman Sands Point, NY – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Secretary/Treasurer of the Board. Vice President Sackman Enterprises. Recipient of the Safari Club International’s Diana Award and the first woman to receive the World Hunting Award.[8]

Orrin H. Ingram Nashville, TN – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Member of the Executive Committee. President and CEO of Ingram Industries and Chairman of Ingram Barge Company. Dedicated waterfowler, turkey and big game hunter.[8]

Thomas L. “Tommy” Millner Sidney, NE – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Member of the Executive Committee. President and CEO of Cabela’s Inc. Past President/CEO of Freedom Group/Remington Arms Company. Veteran international hunter and supporter of several major conservation initiatives.[8]

Nicholas J. Pinizzotto Columbus, OH – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Member of the Executive Committee. President and CEO of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation. Former CEO of Delta Waterfowl Foundation and past Associate Vice President of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Passionate hunter and conservationist.[8]

Charles Baldwin Sidney, NE – Member of USSA Board. Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Cabela’s Inc. Avid hunter and fisherman with a passion for protecting America’s outdoor heritage.[8]

Jimmy Dan Conner Louisville, KY – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Vice President of BB&T Insurance Services. Member of the Board of Directors of OFS Brands/Styline Industries and the Lincoln Heritage Boy Scouts. Passionate hunter engaged in numerous civic and conservation causes.[8]

Paul T. Delany Flagstaff, AZ – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Member of the Executive Committee. Retired geologist/geophysicist. Lifelong outdoorsman and member of the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, devoted to mounted fox hunting and other field sports.[8]

Dr. Foster Northrop Crestwood, KY –Member of USSA Board. Equine veterinarian with a focus on thoroughbred racehorses. Dedicated hunter who actively supports the Masters of Foxhounds Association, SCI and Long Run Hounds. Lifetime member of Ducks Unlimited, RMEF, The North American Hunting Club and the NRA.[8]

Gary L. Oates Kenton, OH – Member of USSA Board. Lifelong hunter, trapper, crop and cattle farmer and environmental advocate. Recognized by Outdoor Life in 2006 as one of “Five People Who Are Making a Difference.”[8]

T. Garrick Steele Middleburg, VA – Member of USSA and USSAF Boards. Former president of Catawba Corporation. Member of the Gulf Stream Polo Club and Virginia Hunting Preserve Association. Avid hunter and conservationist.[8]

Michael W. Branham Denver, CO – Member of USSAF Board. President, Tusker Adventures. African professional hunter, world-wide sportsman. Member Shikar-Safari Club International. Served as personal guide for successful ESPN television show titled “Under Wild Skies.” Supporter of numerous conservation causes.[8]

Deb Cunningham Houston, TX – Member of USSAF Board. Life member and Past President of Houston Safari Club. Member Shikar Safari Club, Life Member of Safari Club International and NRA. Winner of the 1999 Houston Safari Club Outstanding Woman Hunter award, SCI Diana Recipient 2002, and 2011 SCI World Hunting Award Ring.[8]

Albert L. Menefee III Brentwood, TN – Member of USSAF Board. Owner, Cedar Knob Kennels and President, Iroqouis Steeplechase Race Committee. Passionate hunter who supports several local volunteer organizations and philanthropies.[8]

W. Austin Musselman, Jr. Louisville, KY – Member of USSAF Board. Fifth generation of Brown-Forman Company. Owner of Evolution Land Management and serves on Family Committee. Dedicated hunter with a passion for wildlife habitat restoration and worked closely with the KY Fish & Wildlife on quail restorations.[8]

Chris Dolnack Newtown, CT – Member of USSA Board. Chris Dolnack has held a variety of sales and marketing positions over a 30-year career in the outdoor recreation industry including iconic brands such as Colt, Smith & Wesson, Fenwick, Woodstream and Berkley. As Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation Chris leads marketing and sales operations, branding, marketing communications, social media, member services and the industry’s largest trade show, the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Fighting the `antis' keeps watchdog group quite busy.". Chicago Tribune. 2007-03-20. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
  2. ↑ "In Maine, a Public Park in Search of Public Support". The New York Times. 7 November 2006. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bear Hunt Controversy Shines the Spotlight on New Jersey's Wildlife Law" (PDF). August 2005. Retrieved 19 November 2014. line feed character in |title= at position 43 (help)
  4. ↑ "Critical Federal Hunting and Fishing Bill Passes U.S. House of Representatives". U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Kasperowicz, Pete (4 February 2014). "Tuesday: Firearms in the House, farm bill in the Senate". The Hill. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "H.R. 3590 - All Actions". United States Congress. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  7. 1 2 "ussaprograms". The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "ussaaboutus". The U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. Retrieved 19 November 2014.

External links

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