ORIGINAL: M.Magis
That's the sort of attitude I was talking about, the "What can you do for me" attitude. Let me ask you this, what can they do for you if your NOT a member? How can they have any voice if the taxidermists don't back them up as members? To me, it's just having pride in your work and your profession. In my opinion, the shows themselves are all that should be needed. As withmost professions, taxidermy requires continual training. How can a taxidermist expect to keep up with modern techniques if they're still doing the exact same things they learned 5, 10, or 30 years ago? I've seen work from a lot of taxidermists that never attend any type of show, and quite frankly, their work shows it. I surely wouldn't expect every single taxidermist to join their state association and attend the shows, but I would think that anyone who's proud of their profession and their work, would.
I was a member for 20 years and did more about changing laws and help taxidermists than any association.
Which included changing the Fish and Game Commission to a part of the DNR instead of an autonomous police body which dictated crazy laws as they felt like it.
They now respond to an elected body.