I’m sure others have posted about this before (I think this was published in August) but I’m shocked that Wal-Mart would do something like this seeings how they sell fishing equipment.
While the money is being sent to salt water fishing Nazis and I don’t fish salt, Wal-Mart has seen the last of my money.
Here is the link to the story: Official Site of the Southern Kingfish Association
And REI gives money to anti-land-access groups. Pick your poison.
I’m telling you these “green” organizations are nothing but trouble. Yeah, they sound all cute and innocent. Don’t give a dime to a ‘green’ organization or you will find your access to recreation … C L O S E D!!
To tell you the truth I’m even leery of Trout Unlimited. These enviro nuts get into all typed of organizations and take the $$… to your detriment.
I’m not defending either store…but could it be those groups lobby more successfully for the money? Perhaps some PRO-FISHING groups should vigorously pursue that same money?
I think you have a very valid point.
The only organization I’ve seen that effectively fights to keep access for recreationists is The Blue Ribbon Coalition. The fight to keep land open for everyone. That is the only way it can be done. No group has rights over anyone. Look them up. Good people.
BBW,
It doesn’t make a lot of sense for Walmart to knowingly support a group that could hurt their bottom line? There are plenty of groups in this country that misrepresent what their true agenda is in order to capitalize on a grant program that most likely doesn’t have the resources to investigate unscrupulous groups hell-bent on taking advantage. I know Walmart sponsors tournament fishermen and the like. Our local wildlife habitat group as well as Pheasantforever groups have gotten grants from Walmart!
The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) is one of those groups that have conned folks out of money by posing as the Humane Society.
Walmart has gone so far as to allow some of their staff to help out with our projects and they (Walmart) pay them their normal wages. Walmart has also donated gloves/seeds/bottled water and other items to our group.
It is entirely possible for the person who is approving or submitting these grants at the different outlets to throw their anti-fishing or hunting bias into the mix - and you will never be the wiser.
My advise would be to call the store manager and find out what the deal is, or the corporate headquarters to check their (Walmart) policy.
Best regards, Dave S.
Had a chance to view the link given - Walmart has some explaining to do for the all the sportmen who got them to where they’re at today!!
Is there anything you get at China’s distribution center (I mean Walmart) that you cant get somewhere else? I havent been in a Walmart in years, and I am serious. I can get what I need from local stores or on line. Walmart is damaging to local merchants, and, I think, is a major contributer to our loss of manufactoring jobs to China. Just my $.02…
Wal-Mart is a major supporter of bass and walleye fishing sponsoring the FLW tour with tournaments from NY state to Texas. They have their own line of clothing, at one time lures. They have agreements with other manufacturers of fishing related equipment. Walmart is about making money and bass fishing is big money.
Or they hired a enviro-Nazis as their director - Scott Burns, former director of marine conservation at World Wildlife Fund and now director of Walton Family Foundation’s environmental efforts said "money will go to “protect and conserve natural resources while also recognizing the roles these waters play in the livelihoods of those who live nearby.” How often do you think this guy goes fishing?
To go along with the first post.
http://www.fishska.com/2011/reform_article/walmart_may_soon_begin_to_feel_angler_backlash/
A company as big as Wal-Mart, and with such a diverse customer base is guaranteed to **** someone off no matter where their money goes, so I imagine they try to spread it out to as many special interest groups (we must remember that we are one of those) as they can. Probably the only way you could find out what the company’s true leanings are would be to compile a list of every penny they donate and see if one cause might have gotten significantly more than another. I would bet for instance that far more than 36 million has gone to supporting their bass tournaments and various hunting and fishing related causes. I could be wrong, too. I also suspect you’ll find that different and often opposing causes are supported regionally depending on whose voice is loudest amongst their customers in that region. As Bill Morrissey once wrote “Strangers don’t do favors and nothing comes for free/you have to pay for everything, just with different currency”