paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 688
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 7, 2020 20:35:15 GMT -5
How many years since I issued those words to the Treasurer's Report at a Director's Meeting? What has been accomplished to recover the money stolen and this guy in jail? To all of the lame duck excuses that I have heard, my words to them are "I don't buy it !"
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Post by herm on Feb 7, 2020 20:42:55 GMT -5
If nothing else if he was any type of man he would say he was sorry. As far as getting our money back it could get to the point of costing the NYSTA more than it could get back trying to get the full amount.
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Post by joerat4 on Feb 7, 2020 20:56:51 GMT -5
Bring the piece of crap to small claims court in every county that he ripped somebody off in. That will be the cheapest and easiest way to reclaim the money. The NYSTA can have his belongings seized and auctioned off and the money will go to the NYSTA. You people that run the NYSTA owe it to your members to collect the stolen money. The piece of crap is always posting his catches on Facebook. Grow a set of nads and make this piece of garbage pay back what he owes. The lowest form of life is a thief. I would like my money back someday.
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Post by walleyed on Feb 7, 2020 21:01:03 GMT -5
Gamba probably payed-off the Cayuga County
District Attorney with NYSTA funds.
All in my opinion, of course.
w
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Post by joerat4 on Feb 7, 2020 21:09:43 GMT -5
I brought this up on a Facebook page where he was posting years ago but somebody got me kicked out. It made me wonder if others were involved?
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Post by joerat4 on Feb 7, 2020 21:22:37 GMT -5
Small claims court is cheap and you do not have to be a lawyer to file a claim. The "it would cost to much money to reclaim the funds" is a crap excuse for laziness.
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Post by Dave Morse on Feb 8, 2020 7:29:53 GMT -5
Im sure he will get his at some point. Personally I would spend a fortune to recover whatever we could even if it means we lose money. Has a fugure been disclosed? Did anyone check his background before we put him in charge of the money? Was the money gambled, drank up, snorted or spent on escorts . There were other arrests on popple rd involving his address, just Google it. He severely hurt NYSTA reputation in my opinion.
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Post by walleyed on Feb 8, 2020 7:55:29 GMT -5
Im sure he will get his at some point. Personally I would spend a fortune to recover whatever we could even if it means we lose money. Has a fugure been disclosed? Did anyone check his background before we put him in charge of the money? Was the money gambled, drank up, snorted or spent on escorts . There were other arrests on popple rd involving his address, just Google it. He severely hurt NYSTA reputation in my opinion. Agreed Dave, That sack of crap Gamba should be pursued until the ends of the earth like the Israeli's hunted the Nazis after World War II. He'd leave the NYSTA convention with sacks of money and head right for Turning Stone Casino. All in my opinion, of course. w
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Post by trappermac on Feb 8, 2020 8:56:33 GMT -5
New people joining the NYSTA today don't want their funds used to pursue revenge against something that happened how many years ago? They don't even know who he was/is. He's a POS, he will live with the guilt and coming on here and reading what everyone thinks about him. The farther we get from the crime the less chance we have of restitution. Useless energy and monies spent at this point to pursue IMO, lets move forward as an organization and concentrate on the challenges ahead with the antis, who only get stronger as we worry about inner turmoil. We can hardly get an update from NYSTA on whats going on in the organization, if anything is, why would you think that pursueing Gamba is or will be any priority.
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Post by walleyed on Feb 8, 2020 10:15:12 GMT -5
New people joining the NYSTA today don't want their funds used to pursue revenge against something that happened how many years ago? They don't even know who he was/is. He's a POS, he will live with the guilt and coming on here and reading what everyone thinks about him. The farther we get from the crime the less chance we have of restitution. Useless energy and monies spent at this point to pursue IMO, lets move forward as an organization and concentrate on the challenges ahead with the antis, who only get stronger as we worry about inner turmoil. We can hardly get an update from NYSTA on whats going on in the organization, if anything is, why would you think that pursueing Gamba is or will be any priority. The Famous Quote: "Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing" comes to mind when I think about this situation. I Didn't say that following thru with prosecution should be THE priority for NYSTA, but It needs to be pursued none-the-less. Otherwise, we're just setting the stage for it to happen again down the road. I'd compare it to NYS's new Bail Reform Law where there is no pain or inconvenience to the criminal for breaking our laws. I don't know who is running these facebook trapping sites but at the very least, the funds thief should be banned and not welcomed with open arms on those social media forums. All in my opinion, of course. w
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 688
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 8, 2020 10:35:42 GMT -5
Not only did he steal from membership money, at the Director's meetings we would all pay for the cost of our lunch. He collected that money and stole from that too. The longer this goes, the less likely we will ever recover the money or see him in jail. To this day he has hurt NYSTA's membership. Someone needs to get off their a** and grow a set!
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Post by trappermac on Feb 8, 2020 10:43:37 GMT -5
If it happens again down the road then shame on the NYSTA. Don't you think NYSTA is equally at fault for what happened?
I work in aerospace as a quality manager/process engineer, so I'll put that cap on for a minute. When somebody screws up a job/component you can't blame the somebody, it is not allowed, you look at the system and find what is broke or what failed in the system that allowed the somebody to screw up. In this case was he properly vetted, what is the selection process, was there a second person required to sign off on transactions, were reports looked at frequently enough to ensure integrity and compliance? In essence, what was in place to prevent this from occurring? The fault lies with the system, or organization. To correct, what are they doing going forward to prevent this from ever happening again? Punishing the somebody never fixes anything or prevents from happening again.
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austin
test results are back... I am joerat's daddy
Posts: 483
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Post by austin on Feb 8, 2020 19:29:09 GMT -5
to be honest I'd forgotten all about him... and never see any of his posts on FB anywhere. A quick search determined he has me blocked, we can't see anything either of us posts. At least in that page of mine I do see he's pretty active on the trapline, got a small pile of canines in his profile pic. Maybe he'll show up at the next Herkimer or Flatiron sales to market them? lol
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Post by bobsamuelson on Feb 9, 2020 21:15:13 GMT -5
Anyone who has questions about what’s going on, come to the upcoming BOD meeting on February 22.
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Post by trapperjack on Feb 12, 2020 11:46:00 GMT -5
New people joining the NYSTA today don't want their funds used to pursue revenge against something that happened how many years ago? They don't even know who he was/is. He's a POS, he will live with the guilt and coming on here and reading what everyone thinks about him. The farther we get from the crime the less chance we have of restitution. Useless energy and monies spent at this point to pursue IMO, lets move forward as an organization and concentrate on the challenges ahead with the antis, who only get stronger as we worry about inner turmoil. We can hardly get an update from NYSTA on whats going on in the organization, if anything is, why would you think that pursueing Gamba is or will be any priority. I totally agree, but if one weasel gets away with it and nothing gets done, more will see that as a invite to do the same. Go to a meeting is all we get back at us. Some of us don’ t live close enough or have the time to go. A posting of the minutes of the meeting would help. Oh, I forgot. Some of us can’t even get on the NYSTA site. I haven’t been able to access site since August 2019. Yes, I know and understand he is out of the country. Knowing he was going to be out of the country, you would think arrangements would of been made.
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Feb 12, 2020 17:24:35 GMT -5
Well, I don't know, I think Gamba was - well, a "Gamble." People like him are good at hiding who they really are, look at the extreme: The devil never shows who he really is, else no one would be deceived by him. Has anyone associated with NYSTA before or since done what Gamba's done? In my experience, people are whatever they are first, and bring that into whatever vocation they enter into. Bad OR good politicians (okay that's stretch!), lawyers (DOUBLY SO!), doctors, teachers, priests, ministers, everything - they're good or bad to begin with. "Positions," wealth, power - I don't think those things corrupt as is a commonly held belief, I DO think that they eventually expose people for who they really are, CORRUPT, it's not necessarily that those things corrupt the individual. Seems to me they get to a point where they feel they're no longer going to be held accountable, so then they think they can let their guard and inhibitions down and figure no one's going to be able to do anything about it. And while I generally agree that something should have been done along with the rest of what's been said, I also know from having experiences of my own with people of Gamba's ilk that the process is what it is and justice is not swift. Hands are tied up by red tape, life puts up other barriers, etc. I don't think it's from a lack of pursuing the thief by any and all legal means.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 688
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 12, 2020 17:30:21 GMT -5
I don't consider my complaint as "revenge", just doing what's right. Why should he be allowed to get away with the theft of a lot of money? Just forget it and move on? I don't think so. Perhaps I'm not seeing the whole picture, but from my vantage point I see the whole mess being poorly mishandled. When I talk about laid back good old boys needing to come into the 21st century this is one of the things I'm talking about. Lack of communication with the membership is another! Why can Pennsylvania have a beautiful website, compared to one I can't get onto?Ours is so pathetic, only excuses! Why do we have an officer out of the country for long periods of time, either he's an officer or he's not. What is happening with JTI? Why don't I know? Where are the officer and director reports in the trapper's post that they are supposed to submit? Where is the communication from the directors to the membership?Communication, what communication? Gossip? You'd better believe it This is not the first theft of NYSTA money. This man is lower than the whale poop on the bottom of the deep blue sea, a gambling addicted drunk!I see theft in everything from fireman's groups to churches.Revenge? I would call it far more than that!
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Post by trappermac on Feb 12, 2020 17:53:02 GMT -5
When I talk about laid back good old boys needing to come into the 21st century this is one of the things I'm talking about. Lack of communication with the membership is another! Why can Pennsylvania have a beautiful website, compared to one I can't get onto?Ours is so pathetic, only excuses! Why do we have an officer out of the country for long periods of time, either he's an officer or he's not. What is happening with JTI? Why don't I know? Where are the officer and director reports in the trapper's post that they are supposed to submit? Where is the communication from the directors to the membership?Communication, what communication? Gossip? You'd better believe it And that right there are the key issues right now with NYSTA. That is where the focus should be, righting things for the membership. Becoming a strong and viable organization again. I agree about PA, I joined based alone on what I see them doing, their communication efforts, their updating of the membership, alerting members, and every district reporting. Even on facebook they are very active not to mention their website. Just a nice looking organization that seems to take the correct approach. I don't even trap in the state.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 688
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 12, 2020 20:03:23 GMT -5
I too have joined the Pennsylvania Trappers Assn. as well as being a NYSTA member since the Piseco Lake Days. At one time or another I have held every office in NYSTA, except treasurer. I was an active Past President for years, and I think I've paid my dues. I participated in things that our younger members aren't even aware of, such as the "Padded Trap Bill", yet some choose to lecture me about things they haven't got a clue. I agree that I'm very opinionated, but have always stood for what I think is right. There are some very good men in NYSTA, men I'm proud to call friends. Make no mistake, without NYSTA we would not have trapping in New York today. For that reason alone, every trapper in New York should be a member. I do speak out when I think things are wrong,such as the money theft, the mismanagement of fisher, and the closed Mohawk?Catskill seasons. I know a lot will not agree, but I strongly object to some very valuable members that did so much for NYSTA being pushed aside, due to gossip. I don't blame them for saying, "Who needs this B.S."? Despite all of my complaints I am a very strong supporter of NYSTA. It once was one of the most powerful conservation organizations in the state and I would like to see it return to that status.
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Post by trappermac on Feb 12, 2020 20:22:53 GMT -5
Well said Al, and I've been a member for years, and am fully aware of your contributions. You've done your part, have earned my respect, part of the legacy. You are outspoken because you care. So sad to see the ball dropping now. But agree that every trapper should join as Dave L. taking over as our voice in Albany is good, hopefully maintains what Miller has done. Tough times ahead I am afraid.
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Post by milkie62 on Feb 12, 2020 23:14:07 GMT -5
New people joining the NYSTA today don't want their funds used to pursue revenge against something that happened how many years ago? They don't even know who he was/is. He's a POS, he will live with the guilt and coming on here and reading what everyone thinks about him. The farther we get from the crime the less chance we have of restitution. Useless energy and monies spent at this point to pursue IMO, lets move forward as an organization and concentrate on the challenges ahead with the antis, who only get stronger as we worry about inner turmoil. We can hardly get an update from NYSTA on whats going on in the organization, if anything is, why would you think that pursueing Gamba is or will be any priority. I totally agree, but if one weasel gets away with it and nothing gets done, more will see that as a invite to do the same. Go to a meeting is all we get back at us. Some of us don’ t live close enough or have the time to go. A posting of the minutes of the meeting would help. Oh, I forgot. Some of us can’t even get on the NYSTA site. I haven’t been able to access site since August 2019. Yes, I know and understand he is out of the country. Knowing he was going to be out of the country, you would think arrangements would of been made. If everyone seen what we go through now to verify our convention income maybe it would open their eyes. 3 people count the proceeds at the end of the day and then sign off on it. It is then put into the safe. At the end of the convention it is all counted again by 4 people and signed off before the deposit is made. Each category is listed for the VP report and that is how it is deposited so that everything is criss-crossed correct and verifiable should anyone question it. It took 3 hrs the day after the convention for everyone to agree on everything that was in the safe. The president now gets the bank statement, checks it over then hands it to the treasurer. Each check that is written is shown on the treasurers report at the meeting. No online Banking is done anymore due to possible online hacking. There are no more passwords, account balance checks or anything else done online.It is all done at one branch with the same teller also. Members at the meetings appear to be satisfied that every precaution is being taken to safeguard NYSTA funds. Any other questions just ask.
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Post by milkie62 on Feb 12, 2020 23:20:21 GMT -5
New people joining the NYSTA today don't want their funds used to pursue revenge against something that happened how many years ago? They don't even know who he was/is. He's a POS, he will live with the guilt and coming on here and reading what everyone thinks about him. The farther we get from the crime the less chance we have of restitution. Useless energy and monies spent at this point to pursue IMO, lets move forward as an organization and concentrate on the challenges ahead with the antis, who only get stronger as we worry about inner turmoil. We can hardly get an update from NYSTA on whats going on in the organization, if anything is, why would you think that pursueing Gamba is or will be any priority. I totally agree, but if one weasel gets away with it and nothing gets done, more will see that as a invite to do the same. Go to a meeting is all we get back at us. Some of us don’ t live close enough or have the time to go. A posting of the minutes of the meeting would help. Oh, I forgot. Some of us can’t even get on the NYSTA site. I haven’t been able to access site since August 2019. Yes, I know and understand he is out of the country. Knowing he was going to be out of the country, you would think arrangements would of been made. I had sent you a pm on the website situation.
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Feb 13, 2020 6:16:24 GMT -5
Comparing NY or ANY state to PA is going to be a tough comparison.....as PA is probably the very BEST example of a model organization. IN MY OPINION....it starts at the very TOP and the state's game commission/DEC or whatever. I've lived in NY and trapped here for over 30 years. If I had to summarize many trappers' outlook on the chance to enhance opportunities, be given new tools, longer/more intelligent seasons, etc. I think I'd say most are pessimistic about change BECAUSE of this state's Wildlife Agency's positions. In PA, they get ideas to have a bobcat season, or a fisher season, or cable restraints. A year two goes buy, and BOOM, they have it. They look at other states' findings (3-4 states that touch them already enacted CR laws) and data and implement a season. We have more fisher but less trappers that can get a crack at one. We have more Snow than PA but NO CR use on land during fur season. I am normally an optimistic guy.....I USED to say we would get a CR/Snare law in this state sooner than later. I honestly no longer believe that. I understand that it is FAR easier to take something away (220's on land, otter season, etc) than it is to put something new in (CR's, expanded REAL fisher season, etc) but the difference is PA relies on EXISTING data from others to help move the needle quicker or more intelligently NONE OF THIS IS DIRECTED AT THE NYSTA...... In PA, the districts are very active and robust. When PA trappers talk to each other and don't know each other, they don't ask: Where you from? They ask: What District are you in? And because they are all so involved, if the answer is "I'm in District 8" then the other trapper knows EXACTLY what part of the state the other is from. The Districts hold fur sales and mini-conventions. The districts FIGHT for the annual PTA convention, as it bounces around year to year just like the NTA and FTA shows do. I am NOT saying our annual convention should bounce around. Just pointing out differences...... Hate to use politics as a comparison, but its very similar to the optimism many outside of NYC do NOT have about change in government and impacts to the rural parts of the state. We all sit around, drink our coffee, and complain, recognizing we just can't compete with 8 million people in the Five Burroughs.....and that change simply cannot and will not occur. With a more involved caring partner, I think our NYSTA could do much bigger and better things. Does this mean things cannot get better or that people should NOT be involved? Of course not..... I've had some good discussions over the last year with guys at NYSTA. In my heart of hearts, I KNOW I could do more....MUCH more. And so can EVERYONE else save that select few at NYSTA that live and breath the organization and, in many cases, have for decades. And I intend to do just that..... I thought I had to wait for retirement due to my travel schedule, but alas, that may be too late! Do some self-assessment and be honest with yourself and ask: Am I doing enough? Am I doing ANYTHING? Not blaming the rank and file.....not blaming the NYSTA......its germane to asking: What happened to the Great American Family and the breakdown thereof? Too many factors to point to ONE thing....... I am not sure we will ever break through the ceiling we need to break through to get things done in this state. Our outlook needs to therefore NOT be: I give up they are not listening. It needs to be: Let's organize and hang on to what we've already got. That epiphany may be just the wake up call we all need. MZ
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Post by milkie62 on Feb 13, 2020 7:52:13 GMT -5
Very well put Mark.
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Post by whartonrattrapper on Feb 13, 2020 8:00:09 GMT -5
Great post Mark!
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