By John McLaurin, SCI President
Originally published in the May 2024 edition of Safari Times.
Safari Club International currently is making more progress on more fronts than ever before in its history. One example is moving the business offices from Tucson, Arizona, to San Antonio, Texas.
We expect the new offices in San Antonio to be operational before the new fiscal year begins on July 1, with the Grand Opening Ceremony to take place on June 29. Details to follow. But if you are in San Antonio at that time, please come by.
This is much more than merely a geographic relocation of operations. It is a necessary part of long-range strategies that are intended to keep SCI at the forefront of protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting sustainable use of wildlife conservation worldwide.
When viewed historically, this move is a continuation of what began over a half-century ago in Southern California when SCI Founder C.J. McElroy personally handled club operations out of his house in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood.
SCI’s operations moved with Mac when he relocated to Tucson, first into an office building downtown and later to the International Wildlife Museum, where operations have been conducted until now.
As much as that was an interstate move eastward, so too is the move now from Tucson to San Antonio. There are myriad advantages to this move. Bottom line: It makes sense for the future of SCI.
For openers, Texas is a hunter-friendly state and that matters. Also, SCI already has Texas Trophy Hunters Association in San Antonio, so combining offices for both organizations makes sense, both financially and operationally.
Certainly, Texas is more centrally located in the country and easier to access than Tucson. This means there are logistical reasons for relocating to Texas beyond simply where the professional staff reports to work each day. Succinctly stated, San Antonio is where SCI needs to be today.
SCI is not just creating its business offices of the future, we are rewriting how effective hunter advocacy is done as we begin to make full use of the Hunters’ Embassy SCI World Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Government officials, as well as the world at large, are taking note of SCI’s enhanced presence — all indicative of our growing advocacy effectiveness on behalf of hunters and wildlife.
Concurrently, SCI’s expanded presence in Europe heralds a new era of cooperation and effectiveness there. This ranges all the way from partnerships with entities there like the Cinegética hunting convention in Spain to a renewed level of excitement among all European members and Chapters. SCI is also growing in presence and effectiveness within the European government and hunting organizations like FACE (European Federation for Hunting and Conservation).
Additionally, SCI is expanding its efforts and presence in South America, Africa and Oceania. SCI is becoming a more vibrant positive force for hunting and wildlife all the time. These are exciting times!
As much as SCI can look back proudly upon its history, we also proudly look forward as we boldly address the challenges that lie ahead. We are doing that by taking the steps necessary now to ensure that structurally, we are able to capitalize on all opportunities to create a bigger and more powerful footprint around the globe.
Never before has the “International” part of SCI been so important and so real.
I thank all members and SCI for the opportunity to serve as your President during such a crucial, yet exciting, time. TOGETHER we are taking SCI to places not even imagined a few years ago, with the end result that SCI is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and sustainable use wildlife conservation here in the U.S. and globally!
