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About this site
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by Buzztail1 on September 8, 2008
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Nobody seems to care to read the standards in the sidebar to the left, so I am posting here the basic ideas behind this site.
If you don't agree with these standards, that is perfectly fine. No-one is twisting anybody's arm to use this site. With the current status of the Internet, everyone is free to set up a site and subsequently an organization to meet their own standards.
Attempting to change the standards here through negative criticism is not going to be received well. If you have suggestions, you may send them to:
webmaster@venomousreptiles.org
Have a great day.
R/
Karl H. Betz
SHHS Assistant Site Manager
Our History
The Southeastern Hot Herp Society is a non profit organization dedicated to venomous reptile conservation through education. The society was formed in September 1998 as a response to the lack of an official body specifically for venomous reptile keepers, and due to an ever present apathy toward venomous reptile conservation. The society is primarily composed of venomous reptile keepers and is based in the southeastern United States.
Our Mission Statement
The main goals of the Southeastern Hot Herp Society are:
1. To provide a forum for the information exchange on the ecology, natural history and behavior of venomous reptiles.
2. To promote conservation and protection of venomous reptiles.
3. To encourage responsible animal husbandry by venomous reptile keepers.
4. To educate the general public to the benefits of venomous reptiles in nature.
5. To serve as a clearinghouse of information on venomous reptiles.
Our Position On The Pet Trade
Although the SHHS condones the selling and trading of live animals, we do not support the exploitative, or illegal trade of reptiles and amphibians. Summarily, the conservation of wild populations AND a sustainable, responsible pet trade is what the SHHS represents. Commercial interests who wish to join the SHHS must agree to abide by this philosophy.
Our Logo
In the center of our logo is a Canebrake rattlesnake, a coastal plains form of the Timber rattlesnake. Rather than the typical coiled defensive pose, this particular view was chosen to promote a more positive image. In the center are the crossed tools of amateur and professional herpetologists: a hook and tongs. This represents responsible handling.
Disclaimer
The Southeastern Hot Herp Society in no way encourages anyone to keep venomous reptiles. Venomous reptiles are inherently dangerous and a bite / envenomation can lead to permanent injury or death. If a person keeps venomous reptiles or is planning to keep venomous reptiles, the Southeastern Hot Herp Society feels that it is that person's right to do so, as long as they accept the responsibility that comes with it. This includes responsibility for their own safety as well as the safety of others around them.
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RE: About this site
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by FSB on September 9, 2008
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Karl, just so you know, I read this long ago on the sidebar.... do I get a cookie?
I have absolutley NO negative input about this site... it is clearly the best of its kind on the internet.
I was wondering, however (and some people may HATE this idea) but have you ever considered charging a nominal dues to belong to this organization? Surely you guys have some expenses to cover, and it could also be a way for members to demonstrate a deeper commitment. I'm in no way awash in funds, and it wouldn't be easy for me to come up with any extra cash right now, but it seems that a small dues payment wouldn't be out of order. Perhaps some of the funds could go the USARK or other conservation orgs that support our interests.
The only suggestion I have is that the new Mexican rattlesnake species (C. ericsmithi) should probably be added to the "Rattlesnakes" page whenever someone has time... Also, Crotalus d. pifanorum seems to be missing from the list... I really think that the rattlesnake list on this site should be THE definitive listing for rattlesnakes on the web, and it's getting close!
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RE: About this site
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by LadyBloodRose on September 9, 2008
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I definately agree on the rattlesnake list! :) This site is awsome an I enjoy the information that its provided. The fact that I met an awsome hot keeper (Chuck Hurd) here only makes it beter! With out this site i probly never would havemet him an began wading back into keeping Southern Pitvipers!!! :D
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RE: About this site
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by Adamanteus70 on September 10, 2008
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Karl,
I know exactly how much work goes into a website first hand. When wise guys bash it, it makes it even harder to swallow. Everyone involved with this web site is doing a excellent job, and all of you deserve a round of applause.
Thank you all for providing a excellent site for the entire world to view.
I still think there should be memberships and passwords to keep out the undesirables...
Paul Moody
EasternDiamondbacks.com
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RE: About this site
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by Cro on September 10, 2008
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Paul, the site does required Registration and a Password and filling in of the Profile before someone can post. At least, that is how it is supposed to work, and as long as we continue to remind folks to fill in their Profile. It would be better if the code of the site could be changed so that they would have to do that before they posted.
However, going back to a dues paying society would have many problems. First off, people are going to want something more than website access for their hard earned money. Perhaps something like a newsletter and membership card and sholder patch ???
However, if you go there, you will be going against one of the main purposes of the society, as Karl resently reminded folks:
4. To educate the general public to the benefits of venomous reptiles in nature.
The general public should not have to pay for membership to be able to come here and ask questions.
Filling in their Profile should be required, though.
Also, the idea that having a paid membership would weed out the "undesirables" is a bit of a problem. Just who is going to decide that someone is undesirable ? We really do not have all that much of a problem with trolls at the site anymore. By eliminating annonomyous posting, we stopped a lot of that. Every now and then folks get carried away a bit, and start personal attacks. But they are quickly warned by the site administratiors to chill, and the posts are deleted. If they really cause a problem, then they are banned from the site.
Overall, the site is running well. We have a great group of folks here who are willing to spend some time trying to answer questions for the general public. And the topics seem to be tending toward a more scientific state. Exceptions will happen, and some questions will be asked again and again by folks who are too lazy or dumb to search the site for previous posts first.
While we could bring back the dues, and publishing, and be an actual herp society again, that would take many more people with the time to make it work. It could be done without restricting access to the web site. We allready have a SHHS Banquet at the fall Columbia Show, and there are still gatherings of members for herping trips. What we are really lacking is the sholder patch and a publication. A publication takes an Editor, and folks who are willing to submit articles for publication. Karl published the SHHS "Rattle" for many issues, and it had some great articles. As with most journals, the lack of people submitting articles for publication caused the journal publication dates to change. I ran into the same thing when I published the Bulletin of the Georgia Herp Society. An Editor will often find himself begging folks to send in material to fill the next issue. Then people who paid their dues to be members will whine and complain when they do not get the issues of the journal that they "paid" for. I would be willing to help bring a bulletin back to the SHHS if there is a lot of support for it, however, it will not be an easy task. Most of the articles that once went into the bulletin are now being published here on the Articles Section of the site. And that does not cost anyone anything. Maybee instead of a $15.00 to $25.00 per year membership with a bulletin, perhaps we should just have the sholder patch printed again, and offer then for $5.00 ?
Anyway, just some musings about herp societies, memberships, and things of old, and of new.
Best Regards John Z
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RE: About this site
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by earthguy on September 10, 2008
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Maybe we should have a 'swearing in' of the society...
SHHS rep:" place your snake hook over your heart and repeat after me. I (state your name) promise to abide by the rules and bylaws of the Southeastern Hot Herp Society..."
Seriously, though, I want one of the shoulder patches (and the decoder ring). And there should be some way to gently pass newbies through the mission statement and the FAQ page.
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RE: About this site
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by Cro on September 10, 2008
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Josh, we have a lot of SHHS logo items that can be ordered from the site, however, the sholder patch is not available, and is often requested.
It would seem a simple thing to order more of the sholder patches from the original source, or a new source. If Chris would approve that, I would be willing to have the patches made up, and make them available at the reptile shows and even mailorder.
It would take a simple ad at the site to let folks know that they are available again, and how to order them.
Best Regards John Z
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RE: About this site
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by Cro on September 10, 2008
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I just checked out a couple of places on the web that create embrodered patches. It would actually be quite easy to send them one of the original patches, and get a bunch of duplicates made up.
The prices seemed very reasonable, especially, if you order 100 patches at a time.
Perhaps we can make it happen.
As far as the secret decoder rings, well, I am still working on that one, LOL !
Best Regards John Z
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RE: About this site
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by nightwolf on September 14, 2008
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If you all wanted to go to a paid membership I'd be happy to pay it , and a patch sounds good to me . But I see people come here needing answers to one or two questions , and they might leave with questions un-answered rather then join and pay dues . For me , the sharing of knowledge here is fantastic , and appreciated .
Kenny
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