|
AN
OPEN LETTER TO NORTH CAROLINA'S COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN, DEALERS AND
PROCESSORS
By Billy Carl Tillett, Chairman NCFA Board of Directors
Have
we ever seen a time such as this? Regulation after regulation, meetings,
meetings, and more meetings, rumors of trawl bans, net bans, gamefish
status……….well, the list goes on and on.
Serving
as Chairman of NCFA has been an honor and a privilege. It's been an
eye-opening experience too! After running a trawl boat for 20 years, and
managing Moon Tillett Fish Company for 12 years, I know that it's hard to
get 2 fishermen or 2 dealers to agree on anything. I also know that hard
times tend to bring folks together. Or at least they SHOULD!
Do
you know that this year's annual meeting will be our 50th? NCFA won't be
50 years old until next year, but the 2001 annual meeting scheduled for
April 16th in New Bern, will be the 50th annual meeting, starting with the
very first organizational meeting in 1952. Hard to believe, isn't it? In
all those years, the history of NCFA has been like the industry itself……..just
like a roller coaster.
There
have been times when there wasn't enough money to pay the phone bill.
Presently we have an organization we can be proud of. We have a hard
working staff that puts out a monthly newspaper; weekly updates by fax,
e-mail, and even recorded on voice mail; legislative updates as needed;
lobbies the General Assembly and Congress, and attends countless meetings.
We have 2 auxiliaries and 3 affiliates that help with local issues and
with the finances of our office in New Bern.
We
just finished the 21st Annual Commercial Fishing Show that was the best
show in many years, and it was a real treat to see NCFA members chipping
in to volunteer.
With
all the positives, it's real easy to forget where we once were. When NCFA
was supported by only a few dealers and processors, there's no way we
would have been ready to face the battles we have today. Our growth has
primarily been through fishermen participating in the half percent
program. Originally an idea of the late William Ellis Smith of Luther
Smith & Son, the half percent program has enabled us to do things now
that would have been impossible just a few short years ago.
For
example, many members, myself included, believe that a net ban would be in
place today if it weren't for NCFA. Have we already forgotten that a total
net ban was introduced in our General Assembly a few years ago? To fight
battles like that, we cannot wait until the crisis is on us, but that
seems to be human nature. That attitude can cost us all our livelihoods!
Every
once in awhile, we'll lose a member or two because they're upset with
something that NCFA did or did not do. Again, that's normal because there
have been times that I couldn't figure out where the Board's head was or
why Jerry did something or other. But I can tell you that in any
organization, EVERY single member can figure out a reason why they should
no longer support it, and I'm not just talking about fishing groups.
For
those who feel they cannot support the only group in the state looking out
for your interests, I give you a challenge. It's gonna get worse! That's
right. You know it and I know it. The amount of proposed regulations is
not going to diminish. The task is NOT going to get easier. The number of
issues on NCFA's plate is unreal. The ball has been dropped before, and it
will get dropped again, if everyone doesn't belly up.
We
need more resources at NCFA. There's no way for an office of 4 people to
continue doing what they're doing with the ever increasing work load. The
only way for that to happen is for everyone to pull their weight. If
you're not a member of NCFA, shame on you! If you're not participating in
the half percent program, you should be.
Call
the office and ask how to become a member or do the half percent program.
I'd be glad to talk to any of you about your comments or suggestions. Call
me at (252) 473-2323, ext 25.
Best regards,
Billy Carl Tillett
|
