Lorna Smith - Western Wildlife Outreach Trailer - Conflict of Interest???

[Bushcraft]

Why is Lorna Smith's husband (Darrell Smith...who is just a super polite gem of a human being  ) driving around with Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife stickers plastered on the sides of their Western Wildlife Outreach trailer?

https://westernwildlife.org/

In my opinion, this private organization is clearly a pro-predator organization that spreads its message (read: propaganda) under the auspices of educational outreach, and uses this trailer for marketing purposes as well as hauling printed materials, signage, mounts, handouts, etc.  Darrell claimed that the Department helped purchase the trailer, presumably through a grant???  It's my understanding that the Dept. paid WWO ~$30,000 to produce some material on mitigating wolf-livestock conflicts. The material was so sketchy that the Dept. couldn't use it.  It was pure Wielgus nonsense/non-science.   That's your money put to work against you folks!

Lorna was the Executive Director of Western Wildlife per the 990's they filed with the IRS.  WDFW's website indicates that she's retired from the .org. It's unclear what her current relationship is with the organization since their website does not list the names of any of its current directors, employees or volunteers. And their 990's aren't up to date. (This is usually a giant red flag!)

https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=454591214&name=Western%20Wildlife%20Outreach&city=Olympia&state=WA&countryAbbr=US&type=returnsSearch

At a minimum, it seems like a massive conflict of interest. Lorna was clearly affiliated with WWO and now her husband Darrell is the current Executive Director.  How long have the WDFW stickers been plastered on the trailer? WDFW is mentioned on their website as a community partner.  Is the Dept. mentioned in their handouts?

Yet another reason she's unfit to serve on the Commission.

[Bushcraft]

Here are some pictures of the WDFW stickers.

[Bushcraft]

Here are some pictures of the WDFW stickers.

[Bushcraft]

Here's a picture of the back of the trailer. Note the Defenders of Wildlife sticker.

And yes, I'll be having a very frank conversation with the Cabela's Outdoor Fund.

[Limhangerslayer]

Looks like total bs to me Allen!  Always going to be an uphill battle in this state!

[Special T]

 

[dwtraut7]

Does anybody have any experience writing a public records request? It would be something to have the full story behind this

[Special T]

Does anybody have any experience writing a public records request? It would be something to have the full story behind this

Bushcraft does, and from his post it looks like they are flying the WDFW logo because they got a grant. I highly doubt this will be the last post on the issue from him!

[saylean]

Wdfw Legal dept listens in on the public comment periods during commission meetings. It would be easy for anyone to bring up this possible conflict of interest and maybe peak the interest of the legal dept, although I’d bet they know about it already.

[ASHQUACK]

Well, well, well looks like I may have to attend a free event and see 1st hand where that 30k is being spent.

[Wphunt]

Yes it would, report back if you find out. I checked out their website but would definitely like to know what they actually say at meetings and presentations. I think recordings or direct quotes from them would be helpful in showing conflicts of interest. Educating people on bear proof trash cans and how to not get eaten by a cougar while trail running is all good and fine. If they have any anti predator management messages I think that could be of use.

[Jake Dogfish]

What is wrong with a WDFW sticker? 

[Bushcraft]

What is wrong with a WDFW sticker? 

The question is the extent to which the Dept. is associated with this organization.  As it stands, the presence of the stickers creates the impression that they are a sponsor of the organization, which may not at all be true.  There's also the conflict of interest aspect that relates to a sitting, but unratified, Commissioner having said logo on her/their organization's trailer expressly for marketing purposes. (think: third party validation)

Also, I sincerely doubt that core priority stakeholders in the hunting and fishing communities would appreciate any amount of their hard-earned funds being used to support an anti-predator hunting organization.

[GASoline71]

I'm hoping that Cabela's/Bass Pro has been duped by them somehow to have their sticker on that rig as well.  I'm sure they sold them the "we're all about wildlife education" BS to gain their dollars and support.  So it can also appear to the non-hunter and non-sportsman that they are a pro-hunting entity by having stickers like "Cabela's" and the "WDFW" on that trailer.  Completely misleading the general public like their entire agenda. 

I'm currently drafting a letter to Cabela's/Bass Pro and to the Governors Office.

Gary

[Bushcraft]

I'm hoping that Cabela's/Bass Pro has been duped by them somehow to have their sticker on that rig as well.  I'm sure they sold them the "we're all about wildlife education" BS to gain their dollars and support.  So it can also appear to the non-hunter and non-sportsman that they are a pro-hunting entity by having stickers like "Cabela's" and the "WDFW" on that trailer.  Completely misleading the general public like their entire agenda. 

I'm currently drafting a letter to Cabela's/Bass Pro and to the Governors Office.

Gary

Nailed it!  Thank you.

I've already started conversations with Cabela's, but the more the merrier.

[Skyvalhunter]

Does anybody have any experience writing a public records request? It would be something to have the full story behind this

Written many to WDFW TO request Helecopter survey results. There's a form on WDFW website you print out and mail in

[ganghis]

I'm no fan of Lorna Smith, but I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong with a carnivore outreach group receiving funding from multiple organizations that are typically opposed to each other.  Unless someone can demonstrate how this group is explicitly anti-hunting, this all seems like much ado about nothing.

[JimmyHoffa]

I'm no fan of Lorna Smith, but I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong with a carnivore outreach group receiving funding from multiple organizations that are typically opposed to each other.  Unless someone can demonstrate how this group is explicitly anti-hunting, this all seems like much ado about nothing.

I'd guess her votes/statements as WDFW commissioner in regards to bear hunting can be viewed as explicitly anti-hunting.

[Special T]

I'm no fan of Lorna Smith, but I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong with a carnivore outreach group receiving funding from multiple organizations that are typically opposed to each other.  Unless someone can demonstrate how this group is explicitly anti-hunting, this all seems like much ado about nothing.

I'm no fan of Lorna Smith, but I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong with a carnivore outreach group receiving funding from multiple organizations that are typically opposed to each other.  Unless someone can demonstrate how this group is explicitly anti-hunting, this all seems like much ado about nothing.

Well according to the OP the WDFW paid 30K for a conflict manual that was such a POS they couldnt use it.... so not only did they get the cash, but they are using thier shoddy product to imply credibility  in the organization. IF they had produced a "quality" product that was used then i think this would be a different story. Given the history of stuff the wdfw has paid for, the inability to reach a rather low bar of sucess is quite damning.

As a business owner if i had a bad experience with another business and they dry shaved me i would be upset. I would be furious if they had MY logo on thier work rig implying they work with me so you should trust them too.

[Bushcraft]

I'm no fan of Lorna Smith, but I'm having a hard time seeing what's wrong with a carnivore outreach group receiving funding from multiple organizations that are typically opposed to each other.  Unless someone can demonstrate how this group is explicitly anti-hunting, this all seems like much ado about nothing.

Attend some meetings. Connect the dots.

Both she and her husband are steadfastly against the hunting of large carnivores, especially wolves, cougars and grizzlies.  They may not be publicly "explicit" about their anti-hunting stance (unless you'd like to have Darrell swear at you profusely in a parking lot and get up in your face when asked some inconvenient questions, and then the truth will definitely come out...haha!), but I'd urge you to reflect on their relationships with some of the organizations that adorn their trailer (for example, Defenders of Wildlife).

From my perspective, anyone that is against citizens using hounds for the pursuit, capture, collaring and/or killing of cougars and bears...is anti-hunting.  Anyone that is against having a spring black bear season when fact-based science explicitly recommends and encourages the use of hunters to reduce/manage black bear populations...is anti-hunting.  Encouraging an unbalanced populations of predators directly and explicitly harms the populations of ungulates and other animals... that's not only unsustainable and unscientific...but it's also anti-hunting since tags and quotas for those prey species will be reduced.

Still don't get it? Take a look at Jane Hutchison's Facebook page. The WWO website indicates that she is their Secretary.  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006964273720 

I can't make it any more clear if you're not willing to see what's plain as day to most people.

[Jake Dogfish]

Seems like you have a axe to grind. 

[Skyvalhunter]

Problem is that we wouldn't be in this predicament with her if Inslee had followed the WAC. But when he circumvents it and plays favorites we as hunters take it in the shorts.

[Bushcraft]

Problem is that we wouldn't be in this predicament with her if Inslee had followed the WAC. But when he circumvents it and plays favorites we as hunters take it in the shorts.

100%

[saylean]

Anti or pro hunting shouldn’t matter.

The fact is her husband is executive officer and she is on the commission. The org takes money (or has) from wdfw. WWO has said that it, “…studying them (carnivores)… in the wild to help wildlife managers (that would be Lorna) make sound management decisions.”
This is absolutely a conflict of interest involving funds from the dept and personal influence….in my opinion.

[Tbar]

Confirmation hearing coming on Thursday.  Another chance to testify.