Membership, Convention Support, TERF

Professional Accomplishments
v  51 years experience as a taxidermist

v  Recognized as a “Certified Taxidermist” nationally

v  Awarded the “Pearl Henderson Life Time Achievement Award” at the 2005, NTA convention for years of dedication to the program

v  Awarded a second place ribbon for birds from the NTA

v  Awarded the category of “Master Taxidermist of Birds” in the local CAT Chapter

v  Awarded ribbons for birds in the local CAT Chapter

Personal Accomplishments
v  1973-1987: PCTA (Pacific Coast Taxidermy Association). Originating member, board of directors.  Now known as CAT (California Association of Taxidermy)

v  1972 to present: NTA active member.  Assisted with registration and preparing packets for the national conventions.

v  Board member, local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation

v  2001 became a life member of the North American Hunting Club

v  Member of FNAWS (Foundation of North American Wild Sheep)

v  Member of Safari Club International and local chapters

v  Board member of the local little league in 1972-1973

Married to Audie Crabtree for 51 years.  We have two grown children and four grandchildren.  My favorite pastimes, besides spoiling my grandchildren are hunting, fishing, traveling, relaxing at our cabin at Wrights Lake, attending conventions and meeting new people that have the same philosophy and outlook in the preservation of wildlife as I do.

Membership, Convention Fundraising, Hunt & Seminar Donations, Outlook and Trade Publication Articles, Conservation Committee, Convention Fundraising

Serving on five committees (prize fund, hunt donations, TERF, conservation committee, and sponsorship committee) a brief synopsis of my accomplishments in the NTA over the past two years include raising over $15,000.00 in cash and hunt donations in 2005 in less than six weeks prior to show time.  That alone has earned me the prestigious NTA President's Award.

My defining moment came when I was asked to form a financial assistance fund for taxidermists and their families during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina becoming known as TERF, the one and only Red Cross of the taxidermy industry. 

As chairman of the NTA Conservation Committee, I have successfully built bridges between the NTA and the CWD Alliance by way of full sponsorship and at $2,000.00 below budget. 

Holding a seat on the sponsorship committee, I have netted over $11,000.00 of NTA revenue over a projected period of time. 

As assistant convention manager, I am actively involved in procuring vendors for our convention in addition to several new competition awards putting additional cash in the hands of competing members. 

I have represented the NTA on several national TV shows including the History Channel / Modern Marvels and Kastaway Kulis Productions.  Whenever the media needs a statement from the NTA, I am usually called upon to assist. Almost on a daily basis, I work with NTAHQ in answering the many requests for assistance from not only NTA members but from all over the world as well. 

Finally, I have passionately embraced the responsibility of writing a very special column for you in our Outlook magazine.  At the last winter board meeting I have suggested over a dozen possibilities to increase revenue and continue to represent the NTA on every issue concerning the welfare of our profession.

Affiliate Network, TERF, Membership

My first endeavor into the world of taxidermy began in 1967, as with a great many it started with a J.W. Elwood course.  This led to working for an established studio part-time for the experience.  I later started a part time studio that I maintained until 2003, when I retired from my full time job and opened the studio doors full time.

I first learned about the NTA in the early 1970s and attended my first convention in 1978, in Denver, CO.  Through the efforts of Mr. Onno Van Veen and a fellow taxidermist we persuaded the NTA to hold the 1982, convention in Wichita, KS.  Several taxidermists from Kansas sat with Mr. Archie Phillips and began making plans for forming the Kansas Association of Taxidermists, which held its first convention in 1983.  I have served on the KAT board nine years, two of those years as the president.  I achieved the NTA Award of Excellence in 1988, in Las Vegas and became a life member of the NTA in the 1990s.  Taxidermy has been far more of a passion for me than a business endeavor.  Having been a member since the early 70’s, I have noted many changes in the NTA, many of them good and some otherwise. It is an honor to have been nominated for the NTA board and would be a great privilege to serve as an NTA board member.  Thus giving me a chance to return a very small portion of what the NTA has done and meant to my family and me.

Membership, Convention Support

I have been a taxidermist since 1988 in Whitewood, South Dakota.  I have been a small business manager for over 30 years, serving ten years as a board member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, eight years as a member of Sturgis Jaycees, eight years as a BB Gun Safety class instructor, four years an instructor of Archery Safety Classes and have been an instructor for the NTA for the past 13 years.

For the past thirteen years I have been a part of the National Taxidermists Association serving as Assistant Convention Chairman by helping set up the competition and supply area.  During this time I have had the opportunity to sit in on several NTA board meetings.  I know how the organization is run and have several ideas for its future.  I feel as if I could bring some new ideas to the association and am not afraid to stand up for what I believe is best for all taxidermists.  I have a strong work ethic and am not afraid of hard work.  We can have some fun while getting the job done and make the NTA an organization that all taxidermists want to be a part of. 

Convention Fundraising, Affiliate Network, Hunt & Seminar Donations, Membership

My name is Walter Johnson but I am better known as Tinker and I operate my studio in Poolesville, Maryland.

I started learning taxidermy through correspondence courses from Northwestern in 1969 while growing up in the hills of Pennsylvania.  I continued learning taxidermy for the next few years mostly by trial and error until with a little luck I fell under the guidance of a Mr. Frank Wright in Pasadena. Maryland in 1979, where I was made aware of the National Taxidermists Association. 

After moving to Maryland in 1982, I joined the MTA later serving a number of years as a Board Member, Vice-President, and President.  I am currently serving as Sergeant of Arms.  Over the years I’ve attended NTA conventions in Crystal City, BA; Pittsburgh, PA; Richmond, VA; and most recently Louisville, KY.

I take pride in being able to help out over the years serving on various committees with our state association including our legislative action committee where we were able to have some state laws changed to benefit taxidermists; I’ve hauled backboards to help set up the NTA show in Richmond; and was able to assist with setting up displays for the first 3 Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus’ banquets; and was acting as Vice President for the MTA when we converted our state show to the Eastern Regional.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have taken numerous awards and ribbons including being certified as Master Taxidermist in our state association.  My greatest accomplishment however, is to have been married to my wife and childhood sweetheart, Debbie, for over 32 years with 3 sons that have all served in the military with my youngest still on active duty.

I honestly believe that without the NTA and MTA, I would not be in business today.

Competition Judges, Competition Awards, Major Award Criteria Review, NTA Judges Association, Membership

I own and operate Kaiser’s Taxidermy in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  My wife, Jennifer, and I have been married for 19 years, and we have a twelve-year old son, Carter.

I started doing taxidermy full time and opened my shop about fifteen years ago.  I am the sole proprietor of my shop and do all aspects of taxidermy work.  I specialize in waterfowl. I am an NTA Certified Taxidermist, NTA Award of Excellence recipient, and 2002 National Champion.

I am currently an NTA Certified Judge and have had the privilege and honor to serve as a judge for many state, regional and national conventions.

I was president of my state for 5 years.  Prior to serving as president, I was vice-president for two years, as well as serving as supply chairman.  I have served the past three years on the NTA Board and have worked in many different areas.  It has been a great pleasure to work with such a good group of people on the NTA Board and I feel we are making great progress toward moving forward in making the NTA a better organization for all of its members.  It is my hope that if elected in this Board position, that I can continue to work hard for you, the NTA members, in the upcoming years. 

Hunt & Seminar Donations, Membership

I am 49 years old, and have been married to my wife, Lana for 20 years.  We have 3 children, 2 daughters and a son. I have been involved with the taxidermy industry since the age of 13, working part-time for 5 years and full-time since graduating from Central High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana 31 years ago. 

For the past 20+ years, I have shared a professional personal friendship with Al Holmes.  I am a current member of both the National Taxidermists Association and the National Rifle Association.  Having been in the taxidermy field for so many years, I hope to infuse many new ideas and see the NTA grow. 

I truly consider it an honor to have been nominated for this position.  I spend time each year speaking a area Middle and High Schools during their career day.  By educating young people about how taxidermy supplies are produced.  I hope to instill in them an interest in the industry, as well as promoting hunting and fishing.  Our rights as gun owners are being tested daily.  We need to have a strong NTA to help us keep our rights as American Citizens to hunt and bear arms.

Archie Phillips owns and operates the largest freshwater taxidermy studio in the U.S.  Archie is recognized as an early pioneer in the Hollow-Mount method, which revolutionized fish mounting in America.  He developed the famous Jiffy Quick System, which standardized mounting procedures.  Archie gives seminars all over the U.S. on techniques, technologies, and business aspects of taxidermy as well as judging numerous state, regional and national competitions.

Archie is an NTA Life Member and served as NTA president for 2 terms, vice-president, and board member.  Archie authored a series of books, covering the entire spectrum of taxidermy specialties.  He produces a syndicated television show, "Outdoors with Archie Phillips."  He is a passionate advocate for conservation, preservation of natural resources and awarded the Governor's Conservation Award and Environmental Reclamation Service Award. 

Archie is a strong supporter of Second Amendment Rights having been involved in broadcast debates on our rights to bear arms and to hunt and fish by helping pass the Amendment to the Alabama Constitution that guarantees the public's right to fish and hunt.  Archie won a victory for hunters when he won in the Alabama Supreme Court in a unanimous 8-0 ruling stating that baiting in Alabama cannot be a strict liability case and that before charged, the hunter must have known, or should have known that the area where he hunted was illegally baited.  You can count on Archie protecting the NTA Charley Haynes Wildlife Conservation Fund.

Archie is a graduate of Auburn University with a B.A. degree in Natural Sciences.  He is married with 3 children.   Archie's studio, Production Company, and various other enterprises are all family operated businesses.   He credits much of his success to the support and help of wife, Sharon; sons Bubba and David; and his late daughter-in-law, Karen.
 

First, I would like to say it is a great honor to be considered for a Board Member position with the NTA.
I have been married to my husband Steve for almost 21 years and have two daughters, Stacie 18 who will start college in the fall and Victoria 14 who will be entering high school.  We are very active in our church and are all active in our church choir.  We own and operate a taxidermy business and have for many years and both our daughters help when the shop gets extremely busy.
Our family is lifetime members of an organization we truly believe in.  As many of you know I have volunteered at the registration booth, taught Children’s Seminars and assisted in any area I am needed for several years.  I enjoy being a part of the NTA and look forward each year to the convention because I know I will be seeing old friends and meeting new lifetime friends.  I have come to love and respect the NTA and what it stands for and will consider it an honor to have the opportunity to serve on the board and will make every effort to bring my professionalism and integrity to the NTA.

It is a great organization that my family has been members of for many years and something we believe in to help protect the rights of taxidermists.

Board Member
Lori Wolk (MO) (636) 931-2245
2245 Carlton Drive
Festus, MO 63028
Email:Lori.Wolk@aeis.com