I would like to thank you for this great site!
I have lived with a disability all my life and many call me different and well many negative things.
I have 2 college dragees and I help severely disabled folks for a living and as part of my semi retirement I help "normal" folks.
We all feel better when we help someone else!
I have been helping people for over 30 years with old wooden decoys.
As I learned I shared my new found knowledge with others. I attended and was later invited as a guest speaker and presenter at hundred of outdoor related shows and events in Canada and the USA.
I started collecting old decoys over 30 years ago when my Dad would know longer lend me his. Just after I came beck from college the first time. I answer a number of adds in local papers from old gents selling off their decoys.
Most at that time were wooden, all were different and each intrigued me.
As my collection grew and after the hunting season I started to study my old wooden birds and talked with old timers about the art of decoy making.
I was excited! this was an art form like know other. It is an art form that came about by accident. Hand made tools used for hunting now are folk art and valuable. If some of the old times could see the value of their old blocks they would turn over in their graves.
I help people on the internet more often then going to events these days. I have attended about 15 events this year but the net connects me with thousands more people from all over the world.
People just send me a picture of their old decoys usually by e-mail but many still get to me by post, and I evaluate, identify and appraise the birds for no cost.
My know ledge was gained and offered to me at know cost from thousands of folks so it is hard for me to charge for massing on this knowledge.
You see at every event there are dozens sometimes hundreds of folks that come up to with decoys and with out and share valuable information with me. That is how I came about being one of the "foremost Authorities of historical decoys" as I have been called by the largest newspapers and out door magazines in Canada and the US.
I live in a small farm house in rural Ontario Canada and enjoy four wheeling after my "real job" working as a residential counsellor in home for people that are severely disabled ... these people inspire me in my life. They tolerate and enjoy life and to others looking in, it appears like they have know thing to live for.
If they can find a smile for me in their condition that I sure can find a smile for others in this world and I sure don't mind helping total strangers each day on my computer. because all people in out world have some kind of disability. you may be short, tall , in a wheelchair, flying a plane or just trying to live one more day. But all of us can offer a smile to others and this can help them get through one more day feel a little better.
Have great day folks and KEEP SMILING AND HELPING OTHERS, BECAUSE WE ALL CAN!
Steven
decoyinfo
lqqklake@aol.com
Disabled Sportsmen Support group
