The NTA is pleased to announce that a new TERF committee has been selected and approved. Originally, the appointments were scheduled for October 1st, 2008; however, due to the impact of 2 hurricanes back to back this necessitated an earlier time frame. By making these appointments ahead of schedule this will allow the committee to begin working right away to assist taxidermists which have been affected by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. TERF guidelines will continue to be the guidelines posted on the NTA website. These guidelines are currently the only approved guidelines and will be used to make decisions on all requests. 

TERF committee members are Mary Lou Crabtree of California, Eddie Johnson of North Carolina and Mel Kincheloe from Kansas. 

In order to help the taxidermy victims of this disaster, an emergency fund (TERF) was established by Terri Wilson, wife of past NTA president Mark Wilson and also a member of the NTA, and John Janelli, NTA member from New Jersey. John Janelli also took on the responsibility for making the phone calls to potential donors, requesting help for those taxidermists who had lost so much. Quickly the TERF fund grew and the response was outstanding. Within a couple of weeks the first relief checks were cut to provide immediate help to taxidermists who qualified for TERF.

In the meantime, Evelyn Mills, a Texas taxidermist, came up with the idea to create a new avenue to generate revenues for the fund in the form of a website. 

With the help of Jason Keehr who donated web space as well as his expertise as a web designer, and the helpful input of Bill Haynes, past president of the NTA, the website was created in a matter of a couple of weeks. The first donation was received shortly thereafter and many have followed.

Four weeks after hurricane Katrina had caused so much destruction, another hurricane took aim at the Gulf coast - Rita. More taxidermists became victims of Mother Nature's fury and were assisted by TERF. It soon became apparent that in order to keep the TERF fund going into the future we would need the help of all taxidermists. 

Thanks to the continuous efforts to generate funds and keeping TERF on the minds of fellow taxidermists, Terrie Wilson, John Janelli, Bill Haynes, Jason Keehr (Web Designer), and Evelyn Mills managed to keep the fund going. 

Let us not become complacent at this time that no need seems to exist for this fund.  The next natural disaster or human made catastrophe could strike any day at any time in the form of vast wildfires, earthquakes, blizzards, or more hurricanes and tornadoes. The need for TERF is as great as it was in the beginning, if not more. We need to be in a healthy financial state, so when the next disaster strikes, we will be prepared and there will be no delay in providing aid to the victims.

This is a great opportunity  to fund a program that will be in place for any future catastropic event that affects any taxidermist, regardless of whether he or she is a member of any association. 

Thank you for your continuing support.

Sincerely yours
The TERF committee

Notice- Due to the NTA being a 501(C) 6 corporation, donations to TERF are not tax deductible.

Check Donations: 
Please take a moment out today and send in a check for any amount you can afford made payable to:
NTA Headquarters 
C/O TERF
108 Branch Drive 
Slidell, LA 70461

Call, write, or e-mail Cindy at NTA Headquarters 
NTA Headquarters Phone 1-866-662-9054 
108 Branch Drive, E-mail: headquarters@nationaltaxidermists.com 
Slidell, LA 70461 Fax: 985-641-9463