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Posted 12/19/2024.
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I am still waiting on my developer to finish up on the Classifieds Control Panel so I can use it to encourage members into becoming paying members. Google Adsense has become a real burden on the viewing of this site, but honestly it is the ONLY source of income now that keeps it afloat. I tried offering disabling the ads being viewed by paying members, but apparently that is not enough incentive. Quite frankly, Google Adsense has dropped down to where it barely brings in enough daily to match even a single paid member per day. But it still gets the bills paid. But at what cost?
So even without the classifieds control panel being complete, I believe I am going to have to disable those Google ads completely and likely disable some options here that have been free since going to the new platform. Like classified ad bumping, member name changes, and anything else I can use to encourage this site to be supported by the members instead of the Google Adsense ads.
But there is risk involved. I will not pay out of pocket for very long during this last ditch experimental effort. If I find that the membership does not want to support this site with memberships, then I cannot support your being able to post your classified ads here for free. No, I am not intending to start charging for your posting ads here. I will just shut the site down and that will be it. I will be done with FaunaClassifieds. I certainly don't need this, and can live the rest of my life just fine without it. If I see that no one else really wants it to survive neither, then so be it. It goes away and you all can just go elsewhere to advertise your animals and merchandise.
Not sure when this will take place, and I don't intend to give any further warning concerning the disabling of the Google Adsense. Just as there probably won't be any warning if I decide to close down this site. You will just come here and there will be some sort of message that the site is gone, and you have a nice day.
I have been trying to make a go of this site for a very long time. And quite frankly, I am just tired of trying. I had hoped that enough people would be willing to help me help you all have a free outlet to offer your stuff for sale. But every year I see less and less people coming to this site, much less supporting it financially. That is fine. I tried. I retired the SerpenCo business about 14 years ago, so retiring out of this business completely is not that big if a step for me, nor will it be especially painful to do. When I was in Thailand, I did not check in here for three weeks. I didn't miss it even a little bit. So if you all want it to remain, it will be in your hands. I really don't care either way.
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Some people have indicated that finding the method to contribute is rather difficult. And I have to admit, that it is not all that obvious. So to help, here is a thread to help as a quide. How to become a contributing member of FaunaClassifieds.
And for the record, I will be shutting down the Google Adsense ads on January 1, 2025.
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Responding to email notices you receive.
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In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.
USARK NO More
- Thread starter RichsBallPythons
- Start date
I was expecting a story but not the one we got! Thanks Ken and I hope you get revenge. I believe I'd have all kinds of illegal thoughts running through my mind if it had been me.
If people have questions about USARK, please direct them through the USARK web site (www.usark.org) or through email to USARK at [email protected] or through the USARK Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/USARK...rs/93475517723). USARK does not regularly look at this forum and so there is no representative here to answer your questions. I came across this accidentally.
On the USARK Facebook page it states that Zoo Med is matching dollar-for-dollar every dollar donated to USARK in 2012 up to $100,000. This is in general donations, not to the legal fund.
The last financial report i saw (just prior to Daytona) indicated that approximately $20K had been raised for the legal fund at that time. We are a long way from being able to pay a retainer for a federal law suit, but we are working hard on it.
Please feel free to direct your questions to the above contacts should you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Erika Walsh
Vice President
USARK
That clears that up.
Question for Dr. Booth:
Was Erika ever made Vice President by the USARK board of directors? Was that her official title?
On the USARK Facebook page it states that Zoo Med is matching dollar-for-dollar every dollar donated to USARK in 2012 up to $100,000. This is in general donations, not to the legal fund.
The last financial report i saw (just prior to Daytona) indicated that approximately $20K had been raised for the legal fund at that time. We are a long way from being able to pay a retainer for a federal law suit, but we are working hard on it.
Please feel free to direct your questions to the above contacts should you have further questions.
Sincerely,
Erika Walsh
Vice President
USARK
That clears that up.
Question for Dr. Booth:
Was Erika ever made Vice President by the USARK board of directors? Was that her official title?
These are serious charges. I absolutely feel as if both groups will probably see a vast and understandable decrease in donations as people sort out how they feel about this situation, and how they feel it should impact the reptile community.
When Andrew's departure was announced, it seemed as if no one wanted to say much.
Fauna is the home of the BOI and the first thing we ask people who bring issues here is that they show some proof.
I'm sure that of those who heard the alleged accusations against Ken, some would not really want to discuss the situation unless it was in a court setting, and perhaps it will come to that.
But so much is riding on the situation that I think corroboration of some kind would be a good idea.
If we don't shine the same flashlight on everyone, we are not the group we think we are.
Just as the readers of the BOI request information in order to make an informed decision, and don't take actions or make decisions because we like one person more than another person, we need more information here. 'No comment' is not going to get it. Those who were involved should come forward for the sake of the reptile community.
An excellent question to start off with. And it would seem, easy to answer. Yes or no?
Warren_Booth
Warren Booth
We have a blast coming out hopefully today. However, briefly, Erika was never on the board or elected by the board to be Vice President. Andrew Wyatt may have made her VP, however that title is void without the boards approval. Erika's official title would have been " volunteer".
I hope that clears things up.
Thank you,
Warren
I hope that clears things up.
Thank you,
Warren
Dr. Booth, at some point it is obvious that Board took notice that she was using the title of VP.
Can you disclose when that was and if the Board directed her to stop using it?
Thanks for the transparency Ken as we all know transparency is something this industry has always lacked.
As for your accusers, I hope you intend to assert as much legal action as you can against them.
As for Wyatt, it is a good thing he likes to run long distances barefoot. He may need that skill. It appears his personal goals are just as Cro-Magnon as his professional goals.
As for your accusers, I hope you intend to assert as much legal action as you can against them.
As for Wyatt, it is a good thing he likes to run long distances barefoot. He may need that skill. It appears his personal goals are just as Cro-Magnon as his professional goals.
This discussion is already bordering on not being appropriate in the general forums, and may REQUIRE continuation as a BOI thread so that the rules of engagement can thereby be observed and exercised in that environment. So if "proof" is a necessity of the continuation of this issue in this thread, then I suggest this branching off of the original topic into personal and professional accusations of alleged wrong doing, ethical violations, and personal legal missteps of any involved party transfer to a relevant BOI thread, please.
Can we post stuff from other reptile forums? I'm noob sorry..She is answering questions on another forum,posting pictures even,to prove she was VP.
You cannot post stuff from that forum here.
Warren_Booth
Warren Booth
I will reiterate. The board never elected Erika as VP of USARK. If Andrew Wyatt decided to tell her that she was VP, that is there problem. The board never revolved a letter of resignation from Erika. If we did, she would have been informed immediately that she was not VP.
Many people attend meetings and sit beside each other, that does not make them VP. A VP like a President or board member of an association must be elected by the board. There was no election here.
Take that as you may but as a board member since day one I have a pretty good understanding of who has and has not been elected, or who has or has not been discussed. In various forums Erika acknowledges she was never elected as VP.
Warren
Many people attend meetings and sit beside each other, that does not make them VP. A VP like a President or board member of an association must be elected by the board. There was no election here.
Take that as you may but as a board member since day one I have a pretty good understanding of who has and has not been elected, or who has or has not been discussed. In various forums Erika acknowledges she was never elected as VP.
Warren
I believe you 100%,I'm glad they are gone..I see nothing but good in the future of USARK.
After she claimed that title for, what, five months?
Dr. Booth, can you give us and idea when the 2012 USARK financial statements will be available?
More USHA lies and BS:
http://herpalliance.com/2013/01/19/nevada-the-next-ohio/
The text as follows - before they change it - they already corrected the date to July 2012 from April 2012 after being ridiculed on their Facebook page:
Nevada: The Next Ohio?
JANUARY 19, 2013 BY HERP ALLIANCE
In July 2012, Senator Michael Roberson (R-Las Vegas) announced he will introduce a bill in the 2013 state legislature prohibiting Nevadans from keeping exotic animals as pets. Nevada is one of six states without a regulation on the books regulating private ownership of wild animals. Since then, Roberson has worked closely with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on drafting the bill that he plans to introduce in February.
Herp Alliance has obtained a copy of the draft bill that HSUS has been negotiating with Roberson, which can be linked here: Nevada Dangerous Wild Animals Act draft.
Herp Alliance has heard rumors that members of the Nevada exotic animals community are working with PIJAC to introduce their own alternate bill and search for a sponsor in the legislature for same. Some features of that draft are rumored to be restrictions on the ownership of any constrictor snake that will potentially reach 100 lbs.
Although nothing has yet been introduced, Herp Alliance OPPOSES Roberson’s draft bill. It is over-reaching and onerous and includes a provision that allows the expansion of the term “Dangerous Wild Animal” by administrative rule. In addition, although the draft bill contains a grandfather clause for existing exotic animal owners, Roberson has stated that he’s, “not sure about giving current owners a pass on keeping a potentially dangerous animal.” Herp Alliance will reserve further judgment until the bill has been introduced.
Herp Alliance has not yet seen the alternate bill that is rumored to be circulating. However, in principle, the Herp Alliance would OPPOSE any proposal on the keeping of large constrictors based on arbitrary criteria, such as the animal’s potential adult size. This would potentially have a tremendously negative impact on species such as the reticulated python, where there is no species differentiation between insular island localities and the larger localities.
In a classic attempt to drive a wedge between the herp community and PIJAC and local Nevada Herp Groups, the Andrew Wyatt self-promotion machine accuses them of working on an alternative bill which will compromise giant constrictors. Then USHA goes on to take a hard line approach - making them seem like the take no prisoners group watching out for YOUR rights.
The truth is that there is NO alternative legislation being proposed by either PIJAC or the local exotic community who are standing firm with NO compromises.
Good work USHA - you got the facts wrong, you wrongly accused local herpers and PIJAC of working on an Ohio-like compromise. Did you do that on purpose or are you that stone stupid?
The questions are:
(1) Is this a deliberate attempt to cast PIJAC and the local herp community (REXANO, Foose, etc.) in a bad light by making them look like they are selling out certain species?
(2) Is this ham-fisted ploy by USHA to insert themselves in a fight where no one asked for their help?
(3) Or is this just the work of an attention starved prima donna in an effort to gain more financial support so that he can make what he truly believes he is owed?
With your donations, Herp Nation, you can raise $500K so that this guy can make as much as Wayne Pacelle on a fraction of the budget!
I think that the money should go to Zuzana of REXANO who handed Wayne Pacelle his left nut in their debate on NPR. She shut him up and gave him a verbal backhand without so much as an "um", an "er" or an "uh". This is in contrast to Andrew Wyatt who with his vast skill set and experience, was bent over, shaved, oiled, powdered and violated in front of a nationwide audience.
So while everyone is asking "Can't we all just get along?", it appears that USHA is not intent on doing that. Nope, they are intent on turning the herp community on PIJAC and the local hobbyists in Nevada.
http://herpalliance.com/2013/01/19/nevada-the-next-ohio/
The text as follows - before they change it - they already corrected the date to July 2012 from April 2012 after being ridiculed on their Facebook page:
Nevada: The Next Ohio?
JANUARY 19, 2013 BY HERP ALLIANCE
In July 2012, Senator Michael Roberson (R-Las Vegas) announced he will introduce a bill in the 2013 state legislature prohibiting Nevadans from keeping exotic animals as pets. Nevada is one of six states without a regulation on the books regulating private ownership of wild animals. Since then, Roberson has worked closely with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on drafting the bill that he plans to introduce in February.
Herp Alliance has obtained a copy of the draft bill that HSUS has been negotiating with Roberson, which can be linked here: Nevada Dangerous Wild Animals Act draft.
Herp Alliance has heard rumors that members of the Nevada exotic animals community are working with PIJAC to introduce their own alternate bill and search for a sponsor in the legislature for same. Some features of that draft are rumored to be restrictions on the ownership of any constrictor snake that will potentially reach 100 lbs.
Although nothing has yet been introduced, Herp Alliance OPPOSES Roberson’s draft bill. It is over-reaching and onerous and includes a provision that allows the expansion of the term “Dangerous Wild Animal” by administrative rule. In addition, although the draft bill contains a grandfather clause for existing exotic animal owners, Roberson has stated that he’s, “not sure about giving current owners a pass on keeping a potentially dangerous animal.” Herp Alliance will reserve further judgment until the bill has been introduced.
Herp Alliance has not yet seen the alternate bill that is rumored to be circulating. However, in principle, the Herp Alliance would OPPOSE any proposal on the keeping of large constrictors based on arbitrary criteria, such as the animal’s potential adult size. This would potentially have a tremendously negative impact on species such as the reticulated python, where there is no species differentiation between insular island localities and the larger localities.
In a classic attempt to drive a wedge between the herp community and PIJAC and local Nevada Herp Groups, the Andrew Wyatt self-promotion machine accuses them of working on an alternative bill which will compromise giant constrictors. Then USHA goes on to take a hard line approach - making them seem like the take no prisoners group watching out for YOUR rights.
The truth is that there is NO alternative legislation being proposed by either PIJAC or the local exotic community who are standing firm with NO compromises.
Good work USHA - you got the facts wrong, you wrongly accused local herpers and PIJAC of working on an Ohio-like compromise. Did you do that on purpose or are you that stone stupid?
The questions are:
(1) Is this a deliberate attempt to cast PIJAC and the local herp community (REXANO, Foose, etc.) in a bad light by making them look like they are selling out certain species?
(2) Is this ham-fisted ploy by USHA to insert themselves in a fight where no one asked for their help?
(3) Or is this just the work of an attention starved prima donna in an effort to gain more financial support so that he can make what he truly believes he is owed?
With your donations, Herp Nation, you can raise $500K so that this guy can make as much as Wayne Pacelle on a fraction of the budget!
I think that the money should go to Zuzana of REXANO who handed Wayne Pacelle his left nut in their debate on NPR. She shut him up and gave him a verbal backhand without so much as an "um", an "er" or an "uh". This is in contrast to Andrew Wyatt who with his vast skill set and experience, was bent over, shaved, oiled, powdered and violated in front of a nationwide audience.
So while everyone is asking "Can't we all just get along?", it appears that USHA is not intent on doing that. Nope, they are intent on turning the herp community on PIJAC and the local hobbyists in Nevada.
Arachno
Member
All this drama with USARK and USHA is getting on my nerves. Witch organization are we supposed to support?
Warning: Ladies and gentlemen, there is now a relevant thread in the BOI forum (http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376043) for the purpose of specific issues concerning individual persons, or companies, when their concerns need to be addressed specifically and directly at them. The BOI has specific rules associated with it that are not in force in the general forums, and all such topic matter NEEDS to remain in that forum for that reason. THIS thread needs to stay on topic about the general nature of USARK and their change of management without specific claims and accusations. I have no intention of allowing this entire site to become an extension of the BOI, and if necessary will lock this thread if attempts are made to do so. You all likely know that I really HATE to lock threads, so please don't force me to shut this discussion down here.
Best we can do is weigh the information we're given, and make the best choice for ourselves. Some will side with one or the other, some will side with both, and some will side with neither.
eryx4
Member
who are the current board members?
Warren_Booth
Warren Booth
The current board of USARK can be found on our website - www.USARK.org .
http://usark.org/officers-directors/
Warren
http://usark.org/officers-directors/
Warren