Awesome Hospitality!
I just returned from NYSFA's Meet in Cobleskill, NY. What a great time with a fine bunch of falconers!
Their courtesy, warmth and friendliness was outstanding, especially my hosts, Hank and Laura Minor, who provided transportation to and from Albany Airport and made sure I was introduced to any people I didn't already know, that I had good hawking opportunities, and that all was ready for my after Banquet talk.
I enjoyed my time in the field hawking squirrels and rabbits with well trained and gung ho Red-Tails and Harris Hawks, the interesting and informative chats in the weathering yard, the great food, the attentive staff of the Cobleskill Best Western Hotel who made made sure I had the equipment and set-up I needed for my talk at the Banquet, the many workshops and talks, and their fine raffle (what enthusiastic support from the members! - LOTS and LOTS of tickets sold). My only regret was missing Heinz Meng when he stopped by for a brief visit Saturday afternoon. I was in my room polishing my Power Point presentation for that evening.
Laura Minor and Patti Deckert provided diligent, faithful service at the Registration Table every day of the Meet. NYSFA President, Bill Deckert, and I had a good in depth talk about all things falconry into the wee hours my final night. Awakening Sunday morning, I was chagrined to learn after I dressed and came down for breakfast that I hadn't set my clock back with the cessation of daylight savings time! Oh, how I could have used that extra hour of sleep - LOL!
While I appreciated the many kind words I received, the real kudos should go to the leadership and enthusiastic membership of this well run, well organized state falconry club. They know not only know how to do their job well, but how have a really good time when they get together.
Hank Minor does an exemplary job editing and publishing their superb newsletter, their regional directors take seriously their jobs of tying their widely dispersed membership together, and their officers demonstrated true leadership ability and attention to the details that ensure success of a falconry club. The discussion of the new falconry regulations with their fish and wildlife representative demonstrated that NYSFA has worked long and hard to cultivate a good relationship with their regulators. And even as they work hard to nail down all this "boilerplate" needed to run a falconry club, they haven't forgotten why they first came together - to fly their hawks and falcons at wild game!
I hope I get the chance to visit with NYSFA again. Thanks for the great time!
Greg Thomas - Indiana
NAFA DAL 2010-19