MISSOURI TAXIDERMIST ASSOCIATION Improving the Art of Taxidermy Through Continuing Education Since 1980 AUGUST 2010 NEWSLETTER OFFICERS PRESIDENT Doug Pettig 29982 Laser St. Excello, MO 65247 (660)775-2255 VICE PRESIDENT Lee Smith 805 East 5 th Trenton, MO 64683 (660)359-3868 SEC./TREAS. Debbie Cross 1659 Little Bay Rd. Hermann, MO 65041 (573)943-6740 PAST PRESIDENT Dewayne Bauer 423 Giggins Creek Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 496-3575 BOARD MEMBERS Garland Lessley 234 Hwy JJ Huntsville, MO 65259 (660)277-4339 Don Cross 1659 Little Bay Rd. Hermann, MO 65041 (573)943-6740 Curt Shahan 1446 Jade Rd. #A Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 474-2226 Cole Cruickshank 609 W. 6 th St. Cameron, MO 64429 (816)724-0271 www.missouritaxidermist.org The 30 th Annual MTA Competition & Convention We had another outstanding show this year. Everyone who attended had a great time, and learned a lot. Our judges did a wonderful job with their judging, seminars, and critiques. Thanks again to Ken Bauman, Manny Chavez, Randy Pike, and Kent Reedy, and a personal thank you to Kent s wife, Valerie, for the great smoothie!! We had over 60 registrants (eight out of state competitors); several competitors brought their families. We re glad to see folks of all ages attending. Jefferson City has quite a few interesting places for families to explore, and several took advantage. With 106 entries in the competition, there was variety and some really good quality work on display. Our Arts Category was well represented this year and we hope it will continue to grow. We have more room in this facility than ever before, and we plan to fill it up next year; so start working on your entries now!! Our vendors and suppliers were phenomenal this year. The supply area was filled to over-flowing, and everyone was able to find things they needed and save a lot on shipping plus the show discounts. A big thank you for all of the donations made toward the Live & Silent Auctions and door prizes. Thanks to all of our vendors for making this such a great show!! We had another good year with the auctions. We had 71 items in the silent auction and 35 in the live auction. Thanks to those who donated items and to our competitors and others attending for bidding and bringing our total for this year s auctions to nearly $2,000!! Thank you to Connie Lessley & Christine Pettig for running the Silent Auction again this year, and to Annie Carletti for her help in setting it up Friday morning. Thank You, to Bill Zimmerman, our in house talent, for auctioneering during the live auction. We also thank Brian Pettig for his help with collecting banquet tickets and keeping record of the live auction items & bids. Thank you all!! Our banquet this year was our best ever, I believe. The food was delicious, and we had great attendance, selling over 100 tickets. (The total count being 120.) Thanks to all those who contributed by buying a ticket. As always, our unsung heroes are those gents who unfailingly show up early Friday morning each year to set up backboards and tables in the competition, & supply rooms. I won t name each of you for fear of leaving someone out, but I want you to know how much you re appreciated. I also want to encourage everyone who is able to join us early Fri. to help in this necessary work. Without these members we wouldn t have a show. Thanks to Bill for hauling our MTA trailer each year! THANK YOU ALL!!! (Special thanks to Pres. Doug Pettig for going above and beyond the call of duty by for picking up additional backboards at the fairgrounds by himself to ensure we had plenty the show this year. Thank you, Doug, for all you ve done and continue to do for the association.) There are several ladies who help run the registration desk from early Fri. morning until the show closes on Sun. These ladies help whenever and wherever they can. They help make our show a success, and I want to take a moment to thank you all on behalf of the association and myself. Thank you!! A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to First Lady, Christine Pettig for her heroic efforts in keeping the hospitality suite running smoothly. She makes all of the runs to refill coolers and snacks; so be sure to thank her next time you find something cold to drink or yummy to eat. MTA AUGUST 2010
Business Meeting Minutes The meeting began with a reading of the May meeting minutes. The financial report was given. Then Doug asked for input on where next year s show should be held. The vote was unanimous for the Truman Hotel & Conference Center in Jefferson City, MO. The date is to be announced later. (Either July 29-31, 2011 or Aug. 5-7, 2011.) Doug delegated Don Cross to contact judges for next year s show, and Garland Lessley will be contacting the suppliers, Cole Cruickshank will set up seminars, and Curt Shahan will take care of Sponsored Awards again. Codi Wissman agreed to take photos of the winners again next year. Thank you, Codi. The Dec/Jan. meeting was discussed. Curt is to find out when it will be convenient for the use of his shop and let the Sec/Treas. know the date. It was decided to hold a seminar on paint finishing techniques. (Blending, etc.) Suggestions for amendments to certain articles in the bylaws were mentioned such as: Nominations for elections should be made by the spring (March) meeting, the nominee must accept. Then ballots would be sent out in the newsletter, ballots to be returned by the May meeting. The winners would then be announced at the Convention meeting. A vote is to be taken on this proposal at the January 2011 meeting. Don Scott brought up the idea of possibly having new Missouri name tags made for members who have been in for 5, 10, 15, or more years with the number of years on it. Doug is going to check with Debbie Cook on cost. Bill Zimmerman pointed out that our back boards are in need of maintenance and that Doug had to borrow extras from the fairgrounds to have enough on hand this year. It was agreed that we should make 20 new ones and recover the old ones in need of it. Curt offered to check into steel tubing, etc. to build the stands, Doug s checking on plywood, and Bill is going to see about the burlap to cover the new ones as will as the old ones. The March meeting date was decided on to hold this Workshop Day. Everyone who can attend to help is encouraged to do so. We will be working to make next year s show better for all of us, and we ll get to visit and enjoy a really good meal in good company. (Doug has offered to BBQ for us; so we know it ll be tasty.) The date, time, and location will be announced in the January newsletter. 2010-2011 Election Results President- Doug Pettig Vice President-Lee Smith Sec/Treas-Stephenie Berten Board Member-Cole Cruickshank Board Member-Dewayne Bauer Doug said there are a few changes to Competition Rules to go over at the January meeting; anyone who is interested should attend. It was decided to give out (3) Sholarships again in 2011. Sholarship committee chairman, Debbie Cross mentioned that only eight applications were received this year and three were given out; so the chance of winning is very good. The question of the website forum was discussed, and it was decided to allow the rental to expire and afterwards members can contact each other on facebook by searching for Missouri Taxidermy. The Meeting was Adjourned. Thank you to our sponsors for the awards, and a special thanks for those who came to present them. THE 30 TH ANNUAL COMPETITION AWARDS WINNERS Masters Division Lance Van Dusen- Best of Show, Best of State, Breakthrough Award, Master Best of Category-Large Mammal, and Taxidermist Overall Choice Masters-Mammal with his Corsican Sheep, Taxidermist Overall Choice Masters-Whitetail/Gamehead with his Sable, Matuska Competitors Award Masters-Mammal with his Corsican for the (4) highest scoring mounts. Lance also was awarded the Muddy Outdoors State Champion Award-Mammals for his Corsican. Brian Harness-Best Out-of State and Masters Best of Category- Sm. Mammal with his silver fox, WASCO Most Artistic Entry, Masters Best of Category-Gamehead, and Muddy Outdoors State Champion Award-Gamehead with his red fox, and Masters Best of Category-Bird, Muddy Outdoors State Champion Award-Birds with his pheasant. James Graham-Masters Best of Category-Turkey, Taxidermist Overall Choice Masters-Bird, National Wild Turkey Federation- Masters, and Missouri Conservation Agents Award with his turkey. James was also awarded the Best Overall Whitetail Award (also known as the George Wallace award which goes to the highest scoring in state whitetail). Mike Goodman-Masters Best of Category-Whitetail, and Muddy Outdoors State Champion Award-Whitetail. Roger Vogel-Best All Around (H. A. Nixon Award) Masters Division with (4) highest scoring and must ribbon.
AWARDS cont. Cole Cruickshank-Taxidermist Overall Choice Masters, Starfish Award, Lifetone Hydromist Award, Polytranspar Award, and Muddy Outdoors State Champion Award-Fish with his Repro/Recreation Bluegill. Bruce Owens-Original Art Masters-1 st, 2 nd, & 3 rd places with his wildlife paintings, and the Missouri Trappers Association Award- Master with his bobcat. Dan Hudzik-Muddy Outdoors State Champion Award-Reptiles with his prairie rattlesnake. Garland Lessley-Art.Rocks Habitat Award for his habitat. Bob Schnettgoecke-Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation- Masters with his elk. Cindy Cunningham-Al Holmes Award (most creative habitat) and the United Taxidermist Association s new Artisan Award (for the piece that best represents artistically what taxidermy aspires to be) with her bears & porcupines piece. Mark Huser-Whitetails Unlimited Award-Masters with his whitetail. Mark also won the Walnut Creek Hardwood Award with his base. Professional Division Don Cross-Best Professional Mount, Prof. Best of Category-Lg. Mammal, Research Lifesize Prof. Award with his ½ lifesize whitetail. Blake Reiminger-Prof. Best of Category-Whitetail, Taxidermist Choice Prof.-Whitetail/Gamehead, and Whitetails Unlimited Award with his whitetail. Cole Cruickshank-Van Dyke s Most Original & Creative Award with his walleye. Matuska Competitors Award-Professional for the (4) highest scoring mounts in the professional division, and Taxidermist Choice Prof. Div.-Bird with his Bluebill Scaup. James Wood-Original Art Professional with his Pencil Sketch placed 1 st. Manual Saldana-Taxidermist Choice Prof.-Fish with his Black Crappie. Lee Smith-Taxidermist Choice Prof.-Mammal with his Gray Fox. Susan Rulo-Missouri Conservation Agents Award with her whitetail. Bill Zimmerman-National Wild Turkey Federation with his turkey. Larry Alley-Missouri Trappers Association-Professional with his red fox. Ron Terry-Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation-Professional with his hog. Barb Boschert-winner of the Possum Challenge was awarded the purse & picked the 2011 animal, the Ground Hog. Amateur Division Sammy Closser-Best Amateur Mount, & Research Amateur Award with his Bobcat, Missouri Trappers Association & Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with his Fox, Bobcat & Coyote combo piece. And the Missouri Conservation Agents Award with his Red Fox. Jeff Bailey-National Wild Turkey Federation-Amateur with his Pheasant. For These last two awards there is no division... Bill Zimmerman-mckenzie distinguished service award Given to a member, in good standing, who promotes professionalism, advances the art of taxidermy, depicts taxidermy and hunting in a positive image, shares knowledge of taxidermy, improves the quality of his work, and promotes the goals of the state association.
Curt shahan-the president s award This award is presented by the president to an outstanding member whose service and dedication to the association is well proven. UPCOMING EVENTS January Seminar & Business Meeting Jan. 22, 2011 March Workshop Day & Meeting To Be Announced Riverhills Shoot & Meeting To Be Announced 2011 MTA Competition & Convention July 29-31, 2011 MTA NEWS The January 22, 2011 seminar is a free, one day seminar starting at 9am Saturday, covering paint finishing techniques using airbrush, rub-on, & oil paints. It will be held at Curt Shahan s shop, Woodland Wonders, located 10 miles East of Columbia South of I-70. Take the Millersburg exit #137. Turn Right at the first road; go approx. ½ mile West to Curt s. The business meeting will follow the seminar. Things to be discussed include some proposed changes to competition rules. All members are encouraged to come. The date of July 29-31, 2011 has been chosen for the 2011 MTA Competition & Convention. Everybody needs to start planning for it now. Save so it won t be such a burden later, and begin your pieces while the things you learned this year are fresh in your mind. LOL!!! Hope to see you all there. An item of interest: Paul Cantor of Cantor s Taxidermy in Franklin Co. is using zoning laws to try to force out his competition who work from their homes in surrounding counties. He is having some success simply by bluff and intimidation. Some people have shut their doors because they couldn t or wouldn t pay a one-time $400 application fee which is non-refundable for re-zoning. This fee is Conditional Use (meaning it s only good for the applicant and only while they remain at that address). The taxidermist I spoke with who had already gone through the process, said that the county commission asked several questions about chemicals used, their disposal, and animal waste disposal, and a few other questions. She and her husband were granted their re-zoning permit along with the other taxidermist who was on the schedule that day. My best advice is check your zoning status now. Go to your county courthouse and look at the zoning map to see what your address is zoned for, if you aren t sure. Take care of it in advance, take away Cantor s satisfaction of hauling you before a zoning commission. If the commission has questions about dangerous, toxic chemicals, please direct these to Doug Pettig or Debbie Cross. The President & Vice President of the NTA have already gone to bat in St. Charles Co. by assuring the commission when called that chemicals used are neutralized before disposal or can be purchased at any local Wal-mart or LOWE S. They are willing to do so again, if necessary. The V. Pres. told Doug Missouri isn t the first state to encounter this kind of petty ; so don t feel too special!! Please put the word out to other taxidermists in your area that it s not a hopeless case, and that others want to help. Notice: Several of our members are late paying their dues this year; so rather than leave them off of our membership list we have decided to postpone sending it out until January. Yellow notices are being sent to those members who haven t paid for 2010-2011. Please take this opportunity to keep your membership current. Signing Off as Sec/Treas. Although I am officially still in office until January, this will be my last newsletter, and I want to let you all know how much your support these last three years means to me.
I couldn t have managed without a lot of help from some wonderful people. I hope everyone will be as kind and supportive to Stephenie as you ve been to me. Sincerely, Debbie Cross