Going on Safari to Nashville
Here's the latest dispatch.
Good evening,
Welcome to a special Sunday edition of the newsletter. I was traveling on Friday-Saturday and was unable to send out this update. We’ll return back to our regular Friday posting schedule this week.
For you newbies out there, welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
If you’re just discovering my musings, here’s a backgrounder and make sure we’re connected on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Safari Club Goes to Nashville
Over the weekend, I traveled to Safari Club International’s annual convention. SCI’s mission is as follows: “to protect the freedom to hunt and to promote wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI is the leader in educating and influencing elected officials and policy decision makers on the essential role of hunting in science-based management of wildlife and habitat.”
For some of you reading and wondering about the organization, don’t automatically dismiss the name. The term “safari” is whatever you make it — not just about African big game hunting. Cambridge Dictionary defines safari as “an organized trip to look at, or sometimes hunt, wild animals.” That’s a small slice of their work. Even a duck or deer hunt can be someone’s safari in the Great Outdoors.
Although I’ve been a member since 2017, it was first convention. This wasn’t my first (outdoor trade show) radio though.
This year’s event was held in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, it was held in Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada. Due the level of attendance — close to nearby high-density hunting states in the Eastern U.S.—there’s interest to keep the show in Music City for the long-term. Let’s hope!
With 30 hours to explore, I scheduled back-to-back meetings and networking events to make my visit worthwhile.
But I also fit in some time to sightsee around Broadway Street and eat some delicious Southern food. I even had some of The Hunter Chef’s (Michael Hunter) pulled boar sliders.
Attendees were greeted by this taxidermy-themed bar when approaching the third floor convention hall.
I naturally ran into old friends. Friends from politics and D.C. to friends from POMA and the greater outdoor industry. I also got to meet some long-time social media contacts and the Who’s Who in conservation. Recognize any faces?!
And after convention festivities were done for me, I met up with my good friend Alex Booze of East Coast Contessa and her mom for a brunch at Biscuit Love in Nashville’s Gulch District. So good! Afterwards, we fit in a tour of the Ryman Auditorium (a.k.a. The Mother Church).
And some sights and sounds from in and around Broadway in downtown Nashville:
I got a lot of questions about my ZARA Women Blue Satin Effect Midi Dress. Since it isn’t sold in stores anymore, I researched to see if it’s still available. If you want my dress, eBay apparently has some in stock. Go here.
Hope this write-up inspires you to attend convention next year!
Interview with TX Land Commissioner
Did you miss my interview with Texas’ new land commissioner, Dawn Buckingham? Catch the full exchange below:
ICYMI
Articles/ commentary/media appearances from the past week.
MEDIA MENTIONS
I was interviewed on WCHV (Charlottesville), WJIM (Lansing, MI), WMAL News (Washington,D.C.), and Bobby Gunther Walsh Show on right whales potentially being affected by offshore wind development.
And I was also quoted in Fox News on the Marine Mammal Council (MMC), another government agency, denying offshore wind’s likely impact on whales.
ARTICLES/BLOGS
Podcasts You May Have Missed
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
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—Gabriella