The Save-A-Warden Fund

[Don Wittenberger]

A couple of posters in the IFPAG thread brought up the topic of donations to WDFW, possibly through a check-off system similar to the presidential campaign fund boxes on your IRS form. This might work.

It's hard to get people to donate to vague and unspecific causes. Here's my brainstorm. WDFW's Deputy Director Joe Storer told last Saturday's IFPAG meeting that the state budget crisis is forcing WDFW to eliminate 156 staff positions, including 10 or 11 enforcement officers. So, why not focus a donation campaign on saving a game warden's job? These people protect the resource, and we want as many of them in the field as possible.

You need a catchy slogan to grab an audience's attention. So let's call the donation drive "The Save-A-Warden Fund." The plan is for WDFW to ask license buyers at the point-of-sale to kick in a few extra bucks TO KEEP A GAME WARDEN ON THE JOB who otherwise will be riffed. That's a simple, clear, and concrete objective that will motivate people to open their wallets who otherwise wouldn't.

Fishing clubs can get involved by printing and distributing promotional flyers and buying ads in outdoor publications. Outdoor writers can get involved by writing stories about the project for their publications. Everyone who participates will feel like they had a hand in keeping these game wardens on the job. And think of the morale boost it'll give the enforcement officers to know the public is trying to save their jobs! This is "SUPPORT THE TROOPS" in capital letters!

So, what do all of you think of this idea? Should I write a letter to the director about it? Wait, I have a better idea -- how about if a whole bunch of us write letters to the director supporting this idea? Who knows, if he gets enough letters, that might get his attention!

Special thanks to kevinb and ski for providing inspiration for this idea.

[kevinb]

It has my support =d> :thumleft:

[Big D]

Count me in.

[racfish]

Out of my entire 2008 -2009 Steelhead ,salmon and Crabbing I did not see 1 checker or get visited by 1 game warden.If there are 156 Wardens I havent seen even 1.No donations from me .JMO.The state needs to regroup a tad bit.What ever happened to the mass surplus from the lottery?

[swedefish4life1]

Racefish:cheers:

but that being said I had far too many checking me all year!:colors:

[G-Man]

Racfish

The Lotto funds schools up to a certain dollar amount, any "surplus" goes to the general fund. Once in the general fund all accountability is lost. It's really a great system, isn't it?

[Ski]

I obviously think it is great idea, but I would also like a system that ensures the donations go towards a specific need of the WDFW. They should put something in writting and have state legislature assure the funds will not be used for any use other than the one specified by WDFW. If WDFW wants this to fund extra wardens or even overtime hours that's great. But make sure that money can NEVER be taken away from them.

[G-Man]

Amen to that!