Greetings!
This is my last column as your MHHF President. On March 30th, at our Annual Business Meeting, Stacie Hubler will be named President of Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation. She is the second person to serve the Federation in this position. Stacie has served MHHF and its members for seven years, both as a volunteer and as a member of our Board. I’m excited for this transition and look forward to supporting her as she leads our organization over the next several years.
In addition to helping with this leadership transition, I will continue on the Board for another year representing MHHF at Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) and other association events, producing our Annual Progress Report, developing an endowment for the continued funding of our organization, supporting new member recruitment, continue to coordinate the Annual Henry County Waterfowl Clinic and, oh yeah, expanding the Henry County Chapter!
Before I go, I’m very excited to announce the appointment of Kenneth Kieser to our Board of Directors. Ken is an award-winning outdoor writer of 41-years with several thousand bylines in newspapers and magazines. His work, writing and photos have appeared in most of America’s top outdoor magazines and numerous newspapers. Ken is very passionate about getting youngsters outside and behind a firearm or a fishing pole.
In addition, Brandon Butler has accepted the Board’s nomination to a three-year Director term. I met Brandon 10 years ago at the annual conference of the Professional Outdoor Media Association in St. Louis. Despite the 22-year difference in our age, we found we had much in common. For the last five years he has been the Executive Director of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, as well as an MHHF life member and clinic mentor.
Speaking of CFM, Stacie and I attended the 83rd Annual Conference in Jefferson City March 9th and 10th. At the Affiliate Luncheon, MHHF received a check for $1,250 from the CFM-David Risberg Memorial Grant. This is the second year this grant has been awarded, and MHHF has been a recipient both times. Conference speakers included Ben Ellis, Division Director of Missouri State Parks and Sarah Parker Pauley, Director, Missouri Department of Conservation. It is always a thrill to be at a conference surrounded by so many others who are passionate about Missouri’s outdoors.
CFM’s Explore the Outdoors-Kansas City Banquet https://www.confedmo.org/kansas-city/ will be held May 2nd at The Bass Pro Shops, Independence. If you haven’t attended, this is like a mini-conference with dinner, key note speaker and silent and live auctions. If you are interested in attending please let me know. Depending on the number of us going, we may be able to get a MHHF table.
I sincerely hope you’ll consider joining us on Saturday, March 30th at the Annual Business Meeting and stick around for the 8th Annual Spring Fling Trap & Turkey Shoot Benefit. http://www.mhhf.us/events In addition to the usual business of electing officers, reviewing our accomplishments and presenting our Keith McCanse, Allan Hoover and Volunteer of the Year Awards, we’ll get to meet our new State Hunter Education Coordinator, Justin McGuire. Come on out!!!!