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Highlites Welcome members. 2008 has has all the indications of a busy year for Livingston County Pheasants Forever. The banquet is over and we are on to bigger and better things. Planting season is over and we are waiting to see the results. Our Youth Events and promotional events will take place throughout the summer and fall. We have a new Youth Chairman who is scheduling some youth events.The date for the Youth Shoot has been changed to Sept 7,2008. See the Youth Events page. Please check the calendar for upcoming events. We can also use new, active members with fresh ideas. We welcome your participation. Seed distribution days are over. If you need any information on getting your seed into the ground contact Jim Baughn (517) 223-7610 or Brian Woolcock (517)388-0051. Check out the soil test documents on the "2008 Soil Testing Procedures" section. |
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TODAY !!!
• LCPF YOUTH SHOOT
9:00am-2:00pm Annual youth shoot at Livingston Conservation and Sports Club
Officers List
Links Section
President:
Therese Slaby
Vice President:
Ray Green
Treasurer:
Robert Edwards
acting secretary:
Robert Edwards
Habitat Coordintator:
Jim Baughn
Banquet Chairman:
Athea Baughn
Education Chairman:
Brian Woolcock
Youth Chairman:
John Barr
Members:
Jim Witt
Trustee:
Peggy Green
Board Member:
Lynne Tykoski
Trustee:
Paul Slaby
MICHIGAN DNR CITIZENS FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION LIVINGSTON CONSERVATION DISTRICT HOWELL GUN CLUB PHEASANTS FOREVER NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
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Livingston County Pheasants Forever
Livingston County Pheasants Forever, Chapter #465, is a non profit organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant and other wildlife populations through habitat restoration, education and public awareness.
The National Pheasants Forever Organization has been active since 1982. Pheasants Forever’s unique system of fundraising and project development allows nearly 100% of funds raised to remain at the chapter level. The purpose and objectives of the group is threefold.
Our primary emphasis is to provide members with the seed, implements and technical advice necessary to plant nesting cover (prairie and cool season grasses) and a variety of food and winter cover plots. Habitat restoration has helped reverse the problems caused by intensive farming practices, which led to the demise of pheasants, song birds and other wildlife.
Secondly, our members serve as youth mentors, emphasizing a knowledge and appreciation of land ethics, gun safety, wildlife management and conservation. We partner with the Boy Scouts, 4-H Clubs and other youth organizations, serving as counselors, leaders and advisors for a variety of projects.
Our “Ringneck” program is an adjunct to the parent organization and allows youths under 16, who are accompanied by parents or guardians to experience a Youth Shoot at the Howell Gun Club and a Youth Hunt, utilizing bird dogs, held at a local shooting preserve. Safety, sportsmanship and a respect for wildlife is emphasized.
Finally, to foster conservation education, we fund the in-servicing of teachers, scoutmasters, 4-H leaders and others by sponsoring Leopold Education Project workshops. LEP is an experience-based curriculum for educators and conservationists emphasizing land ethics. LEP materials provide 24 lesson plans which correlate with the content standards and draft benchmarks of the Michigan MEAP Test.
PF Chapter #465 meetings are held at 6:00 pm, on the first Thursday of the month, at the American Legion Hall on the corner of M-59 and Grand River Ave. For information call President Therese Slaby (313) 300-0674, Habitat Chairman James Baughn (517-223-7610), or Education Chairman and Crop Advisor Brian Woolcock (517-521-3849).(bvwoolcock@acd.net) Email us at lcpheasantsforever@charter.net or visit our website www.lcpf.org.
This is our major fund raising event of the year and the proceeds from this banquet fund our habitat and youth events throughout the year.
The Banquet Committee is looking for donations of new articles or services to be auctioned or raffled off at the 2009 banquet. At the 2009 Banquet everything to be auctioned or raffled, except the banquet package the chapter purchases from PF National and the firearms, will be donations from our members. To make this banquet as successful as we have had in the past please contribute an article or a service.
Pheasants Forever is a non-profit organization so the actual value of everything donated can be written off on your taxes.
The totals for the 2008 Banquet will be available by contacting our chapter treasurer Bob Edwards. The food served was excellent. The Crystal Garden Banquet Facility had an excellent spread and a beautiful facility. There were a lot of games, raffles, blitz's and auctions. Everyone should have had a good shot at coming away with something. Our auctioneer was great and our two MC's did an outstanding job keeping everyone advised of what was going on. It seemed everyone had a good time. We hope you can make it next year.
The PF State Council and Livingston conservation District is hosting a Habitat Expo with a PF Banquet after. The Habitat Expo is open to the public with a small fee and the Banquet has a $30 fee for PF members or $60 per person fee which includes a PF membership for the year. Come to the Expo and learn from leading wildlife professionals about habitat planting & management. See habitat planting demos, dog training seminars, fun events for the kids & more. Hog roast lunch is included. It is a pre register event so download the paperwork from the National, State Council page.
*******State Convention Update:Although there were dire predictions of the weather for June 21 it turned out to be, for the most part, a very nice day. There was a turnout of about 200 visitors. The food was very good and the Seminars were informative and interesting. We had a rain shower as we were packing up in the afternoon. Most of the visitors said the event was a success and they had a good time. The Banquet at the Brookshire Inn in the town of Williamston was very nice. The guest speakers were (Howard Vincent, PF CEO and Bill Zehnder). The food was good and the fund raising games were fun. Donated items were auctioned off to fund projects by the PF State Council. The evening went very well.
August Membership Meeting Constitutional Changes
The Constitution committee is evaluating the meeting schedule and considering having fewer meetings. We are also considering moving the meetings to Thursday or Tuesday. We would appreciate any feedback you have regarding what months and days you think we should or should not meet. Please send your thoughts to PaT_Slaby@sbcglobal.net
********update******The chapter constitution and bylaws were updated and voted on by the members at the August 6 Membership Meeting. For a copy of the revised constitution and bylaws contact acting secretary Bob Edwards (lcpheasantsforever@charter.net.
What Did Our Chapter Do In 2007
In 2007 Chapter #465 has:
- Added 93 new members, bringing our total to 373. (We also have 144 “Ringneck” youth members).
- Provided members with over $16,700.00 of seed, fertilizer and herbicide to plant 712 acres of habitat.
- Collected 53 soil samples (312 on file). Samples target PH/nutrient needs, and improve efficiency
- Conducted two Youth Shoots for 68 youngsters at the Howell Gun Club and the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association. Hunter safety instructors helped our “Ringnecks” utilize the rifle, trap and archery ranges. Ten new firearms, purchased by PF, were part of the youth raffle held at the end of the second event.
- Sponsored two Youth Hunts for 18 “Ringnecks” at the Red Cedar Hunt Club (Dan Shaw) and the Variety Farms Game Preserve (John Bulloch)
- Assisted twenty-seven 4-H youth in a pheasant rearing project. We supplied the chicks, expertise and habitat supplies. The youth showed the pheasants at the County Fair and created posters to demonstrate what they learned. They released the pheasants in habitat areas deemed outstanding by PF Board members. An awards banquet finalized the four month effort.
- Partnered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters by offering a fishing extravaganza. Over 30 youngsters enjoyed catching large pan fish on every cast. Dan Leppek hosted the youth and their mentors. The event culminated in a buffet style dinner.
- Taught a B.S.A. Merit Badge Seminar. Eight scouts finished Soil and Water Conservation M.B.
- Partnered with the Livingston Conservation Soil Conservation District at their second annual Field Day. Over 200 youth and their parents/guardians, enjoyed hiking, hay rides, scavenger hunts and a hayride. Experts provided opportunities for hands on learning via educational seminars dealing with a variety of environmental issues. Our chapter planted all of the habitat plots.
- · Sponsored two Leopold Education Project Workshops for teachers and other youth mentors
- Hosted the first annual Women’s Hunt at Dunn Creek Outfitters, owned by member Paul Mahaney.
- Sent Amelia Tykoski, L.C.P.F. Ringneck member, to the National Pheasant Fest Convention in Minneapolis, MN. Amelia is Michigan’s representative on the 20 member National Youth Leadership Council. These NYLC members, “offer ideas for magazine and website content, outdoor activities for youth events and chapter youth programs. “Chapter #465 was selected to nominate the state youth representative because of the outstanding work they do with youth programs and the emphasis they have placed on bringing along the next generation of conservationists.”
- Selected by the Michigan State Pheasants Forever Council to host the first annual STATE CONVENTION/HABITAT EXPO at the Livingston County Soil Conservation District Nature Center on Roberts Road. The Expo will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2008 and additional information is available on our State Council Activities page.
There has been a change of format at our monthly membership meetings. During the 1st hour we will conduct the business of the chapter. During the 2nd hour of the meeting we will, if possible, have a guest speaker enlightening the members on topics of interest to most everyone. At the June meeting our speaker gave a presentation of "Prescribed Burns" as a method of maintaining our habitat. At the September meeting we will have Ronda Bozek-Smith the County Executive Office (Farm Services-Livingston/Ingham Counties). She will be explaining the new"SAFE" program for small farmers and farmers that lease their land out to receive payment and other perks for retiring their land for habitat.
At the October Meeting our PF Regional Biologist, Mike Parker, will give a presentation on the life cycle of the Ringneck pheasants.
Please try to attend these meetings and see what our chapter is all about.
Chapter Elections
At the August meeting several of our officers were elected and several positions remain open. You can see the current officers listed on the sidebar on this page. We still need a secretary position filled to comply with the National and Chapter Charters. We also have several other board positions open. If you think you can help the chapter or know of someone that would be willing to fill one of these positions please contact our new President (Therese Slaby, [313] 300-0674).
Passing out seed
Members Signing Up For Seed
2008 Seed Distribution
The chapter has cool season grass available for fall or winter seeding. Contact Jim Baughn (517)223-7610.
Our chapter enjoys putting on the events for our members and the youth of our county. Unfortunately, as often happens, the same few people are called on to man the booths and work with the kids. This leads to burnout for some key people. The quality and quantity of events of the chapter can be affected as well as losing dedicated members. The chapter can use some help with the remaining events of the year.
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