Bait trap incident

[Leptraps at aol.com]

I have attempted to end the bait trap incident and move on. However, others 
will not leave well enough alone.

I cannot believe the absolute arrogance of some people who are NABA members 
that are opposed to collecting butterflies and have risen to the defense of 
the two people who destroyed my trap. ( I have since learned that another 
person on the NAPA field trip cut down the other two traps and tossed them 
into the woods. We have since recovered both traps.) One person accused me of 
setting up the incident to embarrass NABA. Another person wrote to claim she 
believed a raccoon tore the trap up (If a raccoon tore up the trap, we need 
to sign him up for the Olympic Frisbee Team as the heavy round base of the 
trap was thrown a good distance into the woods). And finally, I received a 
telephone call from a woman who called me a liar and said I made this whole 
thing up. All of these people claimed that they were present on the field 
trips. On the other hand, I have had several people contact me who were 
present while others destroyed the trap and apologized for standing by 
without reacting. They are also opposed to collecting but believed that the 
actions of these two individuals was wrong (I have also learned that there 
may have been a Heaven's Gate field trip in the same area that weekend. That 
would explain a lot!!){I may have lost a trap but no my sense of humor! The 
world is too full of morons for me to do that!}.

I was in error when I spoke for the Lepidopterists' Society and stated that 
there was a division between the Lepidopterists' Society and NABA. The 
division is between the members of the Lepidopterists' Society who collect 
and NABA members who are opposed to collecting. 

The Lepidopterists' Society is a society. It has a constitution, members 
elect officers, the Society supports various educational activities and when 
necessary, policed the membership. The Lepidopterists' Society has removed 
members for inappropriate behavior, illegal collecting activity, and 
fraudulent business practices. A quick review of the List of Members of the 
Lepidopterists' Society indicates that the majority of the members collect, 
some as professionals, some as amateurs and others as hobbyist. The balance 
of the membership have varying degrees of interest, some are gardeners, 
watchers, photographers, or a passing interest. The Lepidopterists' Society 
is society.

I have learned since my last posting that NABA is not a society but a 
Corporation. There is no constitution, no election of officers, the Board has 
virtually no power and Jeffrey Glassberg is the President in perpetuity. In 
other words, Mr. Glassberg is NABA. If this statement is not correct, please 
correct it with documentation. Also, I understand that Mr. Glassberg is an 
Attorney amongst other things. Any direct confrontation with NABA could be 
expensive. If the anti-collecting rhetoric and opposition to collecting from 
NABA members is to end, it will be up to the individual NABA members. 
Unfortunately, I do not believe that will happen. 

I am almost of the opinion that those opposed to collecting will continue to 
beat the war drums. They have no interest in advance the knowledge of 
Lepidoptera. I received an e-mail which stated that if their were only moths 
in the trap it would have remain untouched. This is the mentality of some 
people. Both butterflies and moths are Lepidoptera. 

Ms Kilmer, I hate to disagree with you, regardless of the organization, both 
have those who demonstrate a lack of character and good judgment. I was told 
last night by a person I know very well (a former neighbor here in Florida) 
that she would not shed a tear if someone were to "bumped me off" to prevent 
me from killing butterflies. I reminded her that she was at Starkville 
protesting against the death penalty the day the state of Florida executed of 
Ted Bundy. There was a long period of silence before she hung up the phone 
without responding. 

I want to apologize to Alana Edwards, the field trip coordinator, for any 
difficulty or grief that my help and my traps have caused her. Her heart is 
always in the right place. I have spent time with Alana in the field, 
although a watcher at heart and upbringing, she is a true Lepidopterists'.

Thank you to all who responded to my postings. I have learned from this 
incident. Regardless of the mindless rhetoric, senseless comments, unfounded 
accusations, I refuse to allow myself to become entangled in a war of words 
that would result in my lowering myself to their level. 

I have said my last on this matter. 

Leroy C. Koehn
6085 Wedgewood Village Circle
Lake Worth, FL 33463-7371
Hm: 561-966-1655
Cell: 561-301-4215
E-mail: Leptraps at aol.com