To George Thornton, Board of Directors:
Nearly ten months ago, the NWTF message board disappeared abruptly, and with little notice. Coincidental with the incoming redesign and launch of the current website representing the National Wild Turkey Federation. If I recall correctly the message board was launched in 2001, and was taken down in 2015. Up until it’s removal I was one of the longest standing members of the message board, but certainly not the most prolific poster/participant. I’ll claim early adopter… My opinion here is obviously biased but not without a constructive, pragmatic and realist perspective. I did have a fondness for what the message board provided for the members and especially the grass root supporters, the feet on the ground if you will. At the time of it’s removal there were 8584 registered users of the forums. I am confident that the NWTF would not benefit should even half of those users said goodbye to more than the message board. Just shy of double of all current members in my home state of NY. A little data mining would provide an very accurate assessment. I would throw out there that many of the forum users are a most likely bunch to promote the NWTF in many other places both online and in their personal lives. Not exactly what I would call an fine example of embracing the online experience from a outdoor conservation org.
Besides nearly instantaneous relaying of information, happenings and opinions, this particular vehicle/feature provided a very positive online experience, camaraderie, and family like bonding among the users of the message board. Sure as what happens in nearly all forums that I am aware of, there is always a few that would muddy the waters just to stir things up. For the most part, the moderators were quick to remove such postings and oust repeating offenders. About all you could ask for as a forum participant. The forum also gave the regular member as well as upper levels of membership opportunity to publish questions, opinions, praises, and complaints of the NWTF on an equal footing. The NWTF even included magazine articles on the “Travel Calls” which were a big hit among the forum users, and at no expense to the org.
The taking down of the message board in many ways raises reasonable questions of the leadership views and perspectives of it’s grass roots membership. The official reported reason as to why it was removed was that it was too expensive to implement/relaunch and maintain. It is in short laughable, and rings of “We don’t answer to you” response indictative of decision making that has lost sight of who supports them. If that is not the “official response” or if it has been revised, I’ll be glad to post that every bit as much as my criticism I lay out here. Sadly that is a reflection of current sentiments branding about on facebook and other social media. In my opinion that is not helpful to the mission nor the growth of the organization. In my blog, it plays both ways, as it is my policy to be fair.
As a person who publishes websites, and has managed a few message boards either as a creator/owner or as a moderator, the given reason is lacking of the truth. As a past local and state chapter president I am fully aware where the dollars are spent and the excuse simply does not hold water. Minute fractions of a penny on the dollar per member reached, a far cry from mailing expenses for membership requests or other marketing expenses routinely utilized. Even with a new overhaul of a website, it is a few man days of coding, and maybe a few more to review polices, and or implement enhancements. There are dozens of precanned forum templates in PHP, wordpress, and many other formats that make it far less than rocket science. Sorry but that dog won’t hunt here.
To remove this, raises the question of why would one remove a great social media tool that requires very little resources yet provides great enjoyment. involvement and camaraderie among thousands of members? It is unfortunate that it is not the first time leadership has turned a deaf ear to the very grassroots members that help them build the NWTF up to where it is today. The decline of members over recent years compared to the hey days of the late 90’s and first decade of this century may be caused by more than a few factors. I am not implying that this situation has impacted overall membership numbers but I would suggest it is not in your best interest either. Ignoring low hanging fruit in terms of pleasing it’s members is foolhardy in my opinion.
My observations here does not reflect negatively on the mission as it is something I have always been a big supporter of. I am close to reaching diamond life membership level, so yes I put my money, my efforts (many years of volunteer service) where my mouth is, and yes I care deeply about the mission/objectives currently in play.
I do submit that a re-look at this is in order and that you (NWTF) can remedy this misstep with very little effort.
Your response is invited, and I’ll gladly share.
© 2016 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
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