Many thanks to all of you who joined us Saturday, March 18th, for the MHHF Annual Business Meeting and the 6th Annual Spring Fling Trap & Turkey Shoot. The weather was superb, the bar-b-que was outstanding and my shooting was… so-so. Thank you to President Elect Stacie Hubler, her event committee and Executive Director Susan Williams for organizing a great day.
One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of the Keith McCanse Award to Phil Needham at the Annual Business Meeting. This MHHF award was created to recognize pioneers in modern day conservation and defenders of our hunting heritage. Phil, conservation agent and a Ducks Unlimited Chapter President has been a constant advocate of MHHF efforts, organizing an annual goose clinic, instructing and mentoring at other clinics and providing year round support as a member.
Members of the McCanse family and outdoor writer Brent Frazee were there to share information about the legacy of Missouri conservation pioneer, Keith McCanse and to present the award. Thank you to George McCanse who traveled from Texas to join us along with three other members of the McCanse family, and to Mr. Frazee for your participation.
On the topic of “Thank You,” on behalf of MHHF, I tip my hat to our Spring Fling Sponsors, Clinic Sponsors, Life Members, Heritage Donors and Sustaining Partners listed elsewhere in this update.
As most of you know, from our beginning, MHHF has been an affiliate member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. At CFM’s affiliate luncheon during their Annual Conference, National Wildlife Federation President and CEO Collin O’Mara spoke about the importance of conservation. He noted that in the 1930’s people came together to reform wildlife and natural resource management in Missouri and nationally, that it was unanimously held that the most important step for protecting these resources in the future was to educate the next generation. He stated that opinion holds just as true today as ever. Your support, as contributors and members, enables us to educate the next generation. Through your generosity, MHHF takes youth lacking access and opportunity and provides them a weekend which introduces them to the outdoors firsthand, complete with personal instruction in Missouri’s hunting tradition.
77 Clinics, 417 families to date and growing!
-Lee