Hey there... Check this out. I made it into the Roanoke Times.

http://www.roanoke.com/outdoors/billcochran/wb/74517

For those who don't know.... I wrote a letter to the VDGIF a while back and ended up getting invited to the main VDGIF building on Broad Street, for a one-on-one meeting with Col. Massengill himself! You know me... I was thinking, "Oh $&*@#, I'm in trouble now!!!" [&:][][/align]
But it didn't turn out that way at all. See, I was concerned over the $5 increase in fees, lack of opportunities, no Sunday hunting, and, so.... I very succinctly and very professionally, submitted a letter to the VDGIF inquiring why. Therefore I was the one invited by Col. Massengill to meet with him personally.

Man, I did not know how bad things were for the VDGIF and how badly they got tarnished by the scandals and wasting of money. Col. Massengill is really a great guy who commands respect and when he took over VDGIF, he basically "cleaned house" big time!

I always read Bill Cochran's column in the Roanoke Times on the internet and read Lee Graves' column in the Times Dispatch. I sent both of them a summary document that I drafted up, regarding the meeting with Col. Massengill.

So I guess it is safe to admit, I had it all wrong for quite some time. Whining, b*tching, and complaining on an internet forum isn't going to solve anything, but make you look like a fool. I mean I have said and done the most stupidest things before and have badmouthed Virginia as well. I mean, I was ready to pack up my hunting gearand move it up to my sister and brother-in-law's place up in upstate NY and not bother with hunting in Virginia. But after meeting with Col. Massengill and seeing the whole "big picture" of everything, I had a change of heart. Now that I understand the VDGIF and "where they are coming from", I feel I have to lend a hand and keep hunting and fishing in Virginia. We all have to keep the tradition and sport of hunting and fishingalive for the generations to come![/align][/align]Butch A.[/align][/align][/align]