| After an exhaustive, three-month search, the 300-person Safari Club
International Board of Directors has overwhelmingly supported the hiring
of Peter J. Dart to serve as Executive Director for the advocacy organization
dedicated to protecting the rights of hunters, and to helping wildlife
flourish around the globe. Dart also will be Executive Director of
the Safari Club International Foundation, a nonprofit agency sponsoring
hundreds of wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian service
programs each year. The Boulder, Colo. resident will assume his new
responsibilities at SCI/SCIF Tucson headquarters in mid-October.
"Peter J. Dart is precisely what our rapidly growing club needs," said
George Banks, president of SCI/SCIF. "We have members in more than
100 countries, and we're making real progress in protecting both the freedom
to hunt and also conservation efforts built around sound wildlife biology
practices."
A life-long hunter and SCI Life Member, Dart currently serves on the
Board of Directors of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, which supports
the nation's largest bipartisan caucus. The Foundation educates U.S.
Congress and federal officials about hunting, angling and other outdoor
sports issues so legislation can continue to be enacted that protects hunters'
rights and enhances the management of wildlife resources.
Since 1996, Dart also has served on the Board of Archery Manufacturers
and Merchants Organization, which represents the multimillion dollar archery
manufacturing industry. Between 1998-2000, this highly motivated,
enthusiastic, and people-oriented individual served as the AMO's chair.
U.S.
Congressman Collin Peterson (D, MN), former Chairman of the Congressional
Sportsmen's Caucus said, " I'm excited about the leadership that J. Dart
brings to SCI having worked with him for several years on the Congressional
Sportsmen's Foundation Board. Jay has proven his ability to interact
with lawmakers, staff and other organizations." Dart holds several patents
for inventions, and his previous business experience includes transforming
a start-up technology company into an industry leader offering outdoor
sporting enthusiasts state-of-the-art interactive target systems for firearms
and archery. After eight years of rapid growth, he negotiated the
merger and sale of Dart International Inc. in 1998 to Firearms Training
Systems Inc., headquartered in Atlanta. Dart continued as President of
the company until Jan. 2001.
Banks added, "Dart's entrepreneurial achievements and business savvy
make him the perfect candidate to manage our operations, including the
hunting industry's largest convention where thousand of premier vendors
make sought after goods and services available. He's uniquely qualified
to transform business and political challenges into exciting opportunities
for Safari Club and the outdoor sports industry." U.S. Congressman Richard
Pombo, (R, CA) also gives Dart high marks.
"Because of J's private sector marketing skills, he will capitalize
on SCI's many accomplishments for sportsmen. In the past, I've observed
SCI's hard-won legislative wins stolen by others. This will not happen
on Dart's watch."
Keeping sportsmen abreast of SCI advances is important for the long-term
growth of Safari Club International, reports SCI lobbyist and former U.S.
Congressman Ron Marlenee.
Sportsmen are the reason white-tailed deer, elk, wild turkey and
pronghorn antelope are conservation successes in the United States,
and why wildlife in many developing countries can flourish in environments
of rapid change. "From personal working experience, I know Dart is very
adroit in working with political and legislative issues that affect sportsmen,"
said Marlenee. "He understands the art of the possible. He's the
next step in achieving the goals of sportsmen and SCI." Safari Club International
is a chapter driven, nonprofit association dedicated to protecting the
rights of 45 million hunters worldwide. It is a tireless advocate
for outdoor enthusiasts, who, through legal hunting, annually drive more
than $1 billion in funding to maintain wildlife populations, to conduct
wildlife research and to enforce wildlife laws.
For more information on SCI, visit the web site at www.safariclub.org. |
