Tundra Swan
Well-Known Member
798 Highway 59
Port Rowan, Ontario
N0E 1M0
October 19, 2014
Re: Long Point Waterfowlers' Association AGM 2014
Dear Fellow Waterfowlers:
Further to my letter of October 12, 2014 regarding the Association of Tundra Swan Hunters (please refer to the designated thread for more information) I have been encouraged by an individual well known within our waterfowling community to respond to the comments that were made by another individual at our Annual General Meeting last spring regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season.
I do not believe that there is any reason to identifying the individual who made these comments since most Long Point Waterfowlers' Association (LPWA) members who attended our Annual General Meeting (AGM) last spring will know the identity of the individual. Furthermore it is not my intention to draw any negative attention towards this individual personally but rather to defend my reputation from a financial perspective since his comments were misleading, inaccurate, inappropriate and quite frankly ... untrue.
The LPWA Board of Directors agreed to provide me with an opportunity to present an update at our AGM in the spring of 2014 regarding my original presentation promoting a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season at our AGM in the spring of 2011. I provided the LPWA members with a Tundra Swan Fact Sheet handout since my presentation would be limited to only ten (10) minutes and I wanted to provide the LPWA members with adequate time for any questions that they may have.
I was very disappointed when this individual attempted to monopolize the remaining time available after my brief presentation was over especially since he never asked me a question regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season but rather focused on making several comments regarding my financial affairs.
This individual commenced his diatribe (during what should have been a question and answer period regarding my presentation) by stating that I already knew where he stood regarding this issue and that he was not going to repeat it. I believe that this comment was totally inappropriate since this was a LPWA AGM and not a personal meeting between just the two of us. Furthermore I believe that the other LPWA members attending our AGM should have received the benefit of hearing his views regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season so that they would have an opportunity to question him about his views.
This individual then continued to state that I have a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of time and a lot of money but then stated that "we have not seen any of it" (referring to my money). I attempted to remind him of a previous private conversation that we had in January of 2012 as well as the contents of a letter that I had recently sent to numerous individuals of various waterfowl organizations (including himself) regarding the distribution of funds within The Dr. Jerome Katchin Waterfowl Foundation but he abruptly interrupted me by stating "we don't want your money".
I believe that I must respond to these two (2) statements before continuing with his diatribe.
His first statement "we have not seen any of it" did not identify who was included in the "we" and consequently I do not know who he was referring to ... his staff, the LPWA membership, the OFAH membership (since the LPWA is an OFAH club) or the general public (since our AGM is open to the general public).
I do not believe that I need to disclose the financial contributions that I have made to the OFAH since 1979, Ducks Unlimited Canada since 1980, Wildlife Habitat Canada since 1985, Delta Waterfowl Foundation since 2001, Long Point Waterfowlers' Association since 2005 (including a special $500.00 donation in 2006) and The Trumpeter Swan Society since 2013. However I do believe that I must disclose the financial contributions that I have made to the organization that this individual represents since I have personally contributed $100.00 annually from 2011 to 2014 (inclusive) for a total of $400.00 with a pledge to continue to contribute $100.00 annually in the future. I also have signed personal correspondence from this individual confirming these contributions along with official income tax receipts.
Furthermore this individual is well aware of the fact that I attended (paid a $250.00 registration fee) the North American Duck Symposium (NADS 5) that his organization co-sponsored in August of 2009, that I pledged a $500.00 sponsorship in 2012 for his organization to host an Ontario Waterfowl Symposium (that has not happened yet) and that I was a financial sponsor for the Fifth International Swan Symposium that was held in Maryland last winter.
His second statement "we don't want your money" also did not identify who was included in the "we" and consequently I do not know who he was referring to ... his staff, the LPWA membership, the OFAH membership (since the LPWA is an OFAH club) or the general public (since our AGM is open to the general public).
Although we had previously discussed in 2010 the potential transfer of one of my major assets (valued at over $500,000.00 at that time) to the organization that he represents I was subsequently advised by a few well known individuals within our waterfowling community not to do so. After further discussion with a RBC Dominion Securities legal representative regarding my estate plan we established The Dr. Jerome Katchin Waterfowl Foundation in December of 2010 with additional options regarding my estate plan for the sole benefit of various waterfowl organizations.
It would appear from his comments that the organization that he represents does not wish to receive any further financial support from me, my charitable foundation or my estate and consequently I am willing to comply with this wish. Furthermore I have subsequently received written notice from him and his communication manager confirming this.
However this individual did continued (in an apparent attempt to qualify his previous statement) by suggesting that if I would contribute funds towards a research project regarding the control of phragmites then "we would be behind you" on that issue.
This individual knew (from the detailed financial contents of the letter that he had previously received and had responded to) that $21,000.00 would become available for such a research project between the end of 2015 and the end of 2020 with an additional $6,000.00 per year thereafter in perpetuity.
Furthermore this amount would be adjusted for inflation periodically as provided for within my charitable foundation.
Unfortunately it would appear that this individual was not aware of the "quid pro quo" axiom often used by lawyers.
If you are interested in a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season and have any comments or questions that you were unable to make or ask at our AGM last spring you may contact me by e-mail (thebuddyboy@hotmail.com), regular mail (at the above address) or by telephone (519-586-9825) any evening (1900 to 2330 EST).
Sincerely,
J. Katchin, D.V.M.
Port Rowan, Ontario
N0E 1M0
October 19, 2014
Re: Long Point Waterfowlers' Association AGM 2014
Dear Fellow Waterfowlers:
Further to my letter of October 12, 2014 regarding the Association of Tundra Swan Hunters (please refer to the designated thread for more information) I have been encouraged by an individual well known within our waterfowling community to respond to the comments that were made by another individual at our Annual General Meeting last spring regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season.
I do not believe that there is any reason to identifying the individual who made these comments since most Long Point Waterfowlers' Association (LPWA) members who attended our Annual General Meeting (AGM) last spring will know the identity of the individual. Furthermore it is not my intention to draw any negative attention towards this individual personally but rather to defend my reputation from a financial perspective since his comments were misleading, inaccurate, inappropriate and quite frankly ... untrue.
The LPWA Board of Directors agreed to provide me with an opportunity to present an update at our AGM in the spring of 2014 regarding my original presentation promoting a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season at our AGM in the spring of 2011. I provided the LPWA members with a Tundra Swan Fact Sheet handout since my presentation would be limited to only ten (10) minutes and I wanted to provide the LPWA members with adequate time for any questions that they may have.
I was very disappointed when this individual attempted to monopolize the remaining time available after my brief presentation was over especially since he never asked me a question regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season but rather focused on making several comments regarding my financial affairs.
This individual commenced his diatribe (during what should have been a question and answer period regarding my presentation) by stating that I already knew where he stood regarding this issue and that he was not going to repeat it. I believe that this comment was totally inappropriate since this was a LPWA AGM and not a personal meeting between just the two of us. Furthermore I believe that the other LPWA members attending our AGM should have received the benefit of hearing his views regarding a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season so that they would have an opportunity to question him about his views.
This individual then continued to state that I have a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of time and a lot of money but then stated that "we have not seen any of it" (referring to my money). I attempted to remind him of a previous private conversation that we had in January of 2012 as well as the contents of a letter that I had recently sent to numerous individuals of various waterfowl organizations (including himself) regarding the distribution of funds within The Dr. Jerome Katchin Waterfowl Foundation but he abruptly interrupted me by stating "we don't want your money".
I believe that I must respond to these two (2) statements before continuing with his diatribe.
His first statement "we have not seen any of it" did not identify who was included in the "we" and consequently I do not know who he was referring to ... his staff, the LPWA membership, the OFAH membership (since the LPWA is an OFAH club) or the general public (since our AGM is open to the general public).
I do not believe that I need to disclose the financial contributions that I have made to the OFAH since 1979, Ducks Unlimited Canada since 1980, Wildlife Habitat Canada since 1985, Delta Waterfowl Foundation since 2001, Long Point Waterfowlers' Association since 2005 (including a special $500.00 donation in 2006) and The Trumpeter Swan Society since 2013. However I do believe that I must disclose the financial contributions that I have made to the organization that this individual represents since I have personally contributed $100.00 annually from 2011 to 2014 (inclusive) for a total of $400.00 with a pledge to continue to contribute $100.00 annually in the future. I also have signed personal correspondence from this individual confirming these contributions along with official income tax receipts.
Furthermore this individual is well aware of the fact that I attended (paid a $250.00 registration fee) the North American Duck Symposium (NADS 5) that his organization co-sponsored in August of 2009, that I pledged a $500.00 sponsorship in 2012 for his organization to host an Ontario Waterfowl Symposium (that has not happened yet) and that I was a financial sponsor for the Fifth International Swan Symposium that was held in Maryland last winter.
His second statement "we don't want your money" also did not identify who was included in the "we" and consequently I do not know who he was referring to ... his staff, the LPWA membership, the OFAH membership (since the LPWA is an OFAH club) or the general public (since our AGM is open to the general public).
Although we had previously discussed in 2010 the potential transfer of one of my major assets (valued at over $500,000.00 at that time) to the organization that he represents I was subsequently advised by a few well known individuals within our waterfowling community not to do so. After further discussion with a RBC Dominion Securities legal representative regarding my estate plan we established The Dr. Jerome Katchin Waterfowl Foundation in December of 2010 with additional options regarding my estate plan for the sole benefit of various waterfowl organizations.
It would appear from his comments that the organization that he represents does not wish to receive any further financial support from me, my charitable foundation or my estate and consequently I am willing to comply with this wish. Furthermore I have subsequently received written notice from him and his communication manager confirming this.
However this individual did continued (in an apparent attempt to qualify his previous statement) by suggesting that if I would contribute funds towards a research project regarding the control of phragmites then "we would be behind you" on that issue.
This individual knew (from the detailed financial contents of the letter that he had previously received and had responded to) that $21,000.00 would become available for such a research project between the end of 2015 and the end of 2020 with an additional $6,000.00 per year thereafter in perpetuity.
Furthermore this amount would be adjusted for inflation periodically as provided for within my charitable foundation.
Unfortunately it would appear that this individual was not aware of the "quid pro quo" axiom often used by lawyers.
If you are interested in a limited (tag only) Tundra Swan season and have any comments or questions that you were unable to make or ask at our AGM last spring you may contact me by e-mail (thebuddyboy@hotmail.com), regular mail (at the above address) or by telephone (519-586-9825) any evening (1900 to 2330 EST).
Sincerely,
J. Katchin, D.V.M.