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 If you are 17 years old or
younger and you like hunting, fishing, hiking, camping or just being outside
with your family, Colorado JAKES is the program for
you. JAKES stands for Juniors
Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship.
Wheelin' Sportsmen NWTF provides
people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities.
Colorado Wheelin' Sportsmen are dedicated
to the education and entertainment of these enthusiasts and their able-bodied
outdoor partners.
 Since 1998, the NWTF's
Women in the Outdoors
program has worked to share the outdoor tradition by providing expert
instruction and hands-on education through events designed for women.
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Gobbles 'N' Yelps from the President: |
Hello everyone….I am
Frank Hempen and was elected President of the State Chapter in
January.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Jim Hamilton, our
outgoing President for his two great years of leadership as president on the
State Board. His "retirement" was short lived. It was my pleasure to appoint
him to the East Slope Vice President post I vacated in becoming
president.
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STATE BOARD ACTIVITIES
The State Board has been busy. We
have held two teleconferences since the January Board meeting. Along with
administrative matters such as budget approvals and selecting a site for the
2009 Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, we have adopted two interim goals for
2008.
First, we intend to spend more time communicating with local
chapters on NWTF issues that are of importance to both the State and those
chapters. Don't be surprised to hear from Jim Hamilton, Rob Courtney or myself
regarding who should be included on that list from your chapter.
Second,
it is the Board's intent to expand the January Annual Meeting and Award Banquet
by developing informational sessions on a wide variety of subjects that could
enhance the effectiveness of local chapter's activities. "How To" subjects on
WITO, JAKES, and Wheelin' Sportsmen Events; information on raffle games that
work and those that can get you in trouble with the Secretary of State; and
using the Super Fund for conservation and outreach programs are examples of
what to expect.
The Board is planning its first "face to face"
meeting on July 12th. If you are interested in attending a State Chapter Board
meeting, please contact me for additional information.
STATE
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Congratulations to Taylor Close, Flatirons Chapter
and State Scholarship winner. She will represent Colorado in competition with
other state scholarship winners for the $10,000 National NWTF Scholarship.
Taylor has been involved with student government, is a varsity golfer,
and has maintained a 4.25/4.00 GPA over her high school career. Words such as
"outstanding" and "academic excellence" pepper her resume. A sampling of her
community service includes Hunter's Dream for the Cure, 4-H, DU, and the NWTF.
And, yes, she has a summer job! Her essay on why she is choosing the
conservation field as a career is really worth reading and is on the NWTF
Scholarship section of our webpage.
MORE PLACES TO HUNT!!
The
NWTF has undertaken a new program known as "MORE PLACES TO HUNT." In
conjunction with that program, the Federation has been asked by the U.S. Forest
Service (USFS) and U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to assist them in
identifying potential projects to improve hunting access to public lands. This
initiative is not connected with issues regarding changes in current access to
USFS or BLM properties. The focus is concerning access to public properties for
which entry is now difficult or non-existent. There is a tentative deadline of
May 10th for initial submissions. Regardless, of that deadline, please let me
know of candidates and I will advise the NWTF offices of the situation.
COLORADO CHAPTER 7TH IN L.A. DIXON AWARDS
Colorado was
recognized at the NWTF Annual Convention and Sports Show in Atlanta for placing
7th in the L.A. Dixon "Best State Chapters 2,000 to 4,999 memberships." Check
out the news release on the website main page.
STATE STRATEGIC WILD
TURKEY PLAN
The State Chapter Board is working with Stan Baker, NWTF
Regional Biologist, and the DOW in developing the state's first NWTF sponsored
Strategic Wild Turkey Plan. This effort is part of a nation-wide undertaking by
the NWTF. When completed in Colorado, it will serve as a guideline for
promotion and conservation of wild turkey issues for the state. A draft plan
should ready for adoption by June 1, 2008. In my discussions with Stan, it is
clear this document will be dynamic and subject to adjustments as new issues
arise or current issues decline in importance. Interested? Contact either Stan
Baker (stanbaker@earthlink.net) or me.
AND FINALLY,
Many of
you may be aware of changes taking place in Edgefield. Rob Keck is retiring and
several other long termed management staff is no longer associated with the
NWTF. There are many rumors pertaining to the impact these changes will have on
the future of the Federation. I have spent the last month discussing these
issues with individual national Board members, state chapter presidents and
numerous NWTF sponsors (Knight & Hale, Federal Cartridge, Will Primos,
etc.) in an attempt to access the ramifications these changes may have on the
NWTF. If you are interested, please contact me. I will gladly share any
information and impressions I have.
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