Group Seeking To RESTORE-SAM (Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine)

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine is the largest organization in that state representing sportsmen from many interests statewide. But not everyone is happy with the direction SAM is going these days. Many feel that with this year’s legislative proposals supported by SAM and in particular SAM’s executive director, George Smith, SAM is pandering to special interest and not focusing its efforts for all sportsmen.

A new movement, calling itself RESTORE-SAM, is beginning to stick its head above water and dog-paddling into the vast sea of the Internet in an effort to bring the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine back to what they think it should be.

RESTORE SAM is a grassroots organization started this winter because of what Mr. Smith and Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine has done in the Legislature. We feel that SAM’s current legislative agenda has taken a decided turn away from its Maine roots and has turned the group away from the traditional Maine outdoors person.

RESTORE SAM is dedicated to returning the focus of SAM to what the average Maine sportman desires and not as an advocate for special interest groups who pit one type of sportsman against another. We are not advocating for people to leave SAM, but instead want to restore SAM to the organization it once was: an organization Maine sportsmen could be proud of. With your help, we think SAM can be that organization again.

That information came from the home page of their newly created website.

RESTORE-SAM is taking an oddly different approach in its quest to bring SAM back to an entity they feel best represents the vast majority of sportsmen in Maine. For one thing, they are not calling for any change of personnel. They don’t want George Smith replaced nor are they asking current members to boycott SAM. As a matter of fact they are asking more people to join SAM and get involved in the effort.

Another approach RESTORE-SAM is taking is its founders and those involved are seeking to remain anonymous, at least at the onset. This has raised skepticism and wariness from some sportsmen. Over at the New England Outdoor Voice, a few members have voiced concerns about RS’s methods.

I would agree that the time for such a movement is long overdue. However, the website and it’s originator(s) remaining anonymous will hurt the movement.

I’ve been giving this quite a bit of thought. Although the concept of this website maybe honest and true, the lack of ownership ( “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”, the famous line from the Wizard of Oz), is no better than a group like DDAS where they have secret meetings, secret membership, and secret agendas.

I myself even expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the movement. I felt that the lack of transparency would hurt the cause.

But not everyone feels this way.

In one way I think it may be a smart move, by putting the information out there SAM has no choice to address the points that are brought up. In the past when criticised, SAM often would not respond to the complaint but attack and shoot the messanger, then get a few different groups fighting among themselves while they slipped out the back door.

Do I prefer having someone be up front about who they are? Of course I do, but like I said, there are times when that’s not practical. Not everyone wants to get threatening emails or have someone post slanderous accusations against them, as has happened to me. I suspect it’s the same thing in this case, as let’s face it, such a group is bound to be controversial.

In response to these concerns expressed by members of the website message board, RESTORE-SAM responded.

The question of who is involved has been raised. We think that “the who” is not as important as the material presented for consideration. At this time, no one can join www.restore-sam.com as a member and we are not looking for financial contributions from anyone. Any discussion about the personalities involved is not important, not productive and is nothing but a distraction.

Our hope is that you ask yourself this.

Is this information presented factually correct and what is in the best interests of the majority of Maine’s outdoorsmen, women and children?

All we are looking to do is to raise the level of concern about the direction of SAM. If the Sports agree and see something of concern for themselves, they can come to our site and find the necessary information on where to make their voices heard.

While I understand their argument, it just cannot apply in all cases and these are the cases in which I have mentioned that might hurt their cause. As an owner, administrator and managing editor of several hunting, fishing and outdoor website, I feel that I would have to reserve the extent to which I become involved in order to insure the reputation of my work.

This isn’t to say that I disagree with the what this group is trying to do. Their aspirations and methods of achieving such are admirable.

Perhaps they are right. I agree that the most important thing here is the truth and the issues and not who is behind it. To be real honest, I have no interest in who is behind this movement. I don’t want names, etc. I just want assurances that I am going to become involved in a legitimate cause backed by legitimate people. Maybe the overall good that can become of this will be offset by any loss that may result in the few of us who will remain skeptical and somewhat distant. I would hope so as I feel it is important that Maine sportsmen have a strong representation in all the affairs that will affect them.

With all this said, I’ll leave you with the mission statement as taken from the RESTORE-SAM website.

Mission Statement: It is the goal of RESTORE SAM to restore the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine to a group that reflects the traditions of Maine. We expect SAM to represent the average sportsmen, women, and children of this great State, not just the special interest groups as it is now. SAM has an outstanding history of representing Maine’s outdoor heritage. RESTORE SAM’s task is to return the organization to those roots.

*Other Posts on This Subject*
RESTORE-SAM Begins Its Outreach Program
RESTORE-SAM Off To A Poor Start

Tom Remington

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