What Your Branch Needs to Know This Month

Transcription

1 What Your Branch Needs to Know This Month Regional Elections the SWF Board of Directors has passed a motion to realign the elections for regional positions to make them consistent across the board. All four regional positions (Habitat/Wildlife Advisory/Fisheries/Henry Kelsey) will be elected every 2 years with Regions 2, 4, 6 in even years and Regions 1,3, 5 in odd years. In so implementing this change, elections will take place at the fall regional meetings the positions were listed in the August Branch Memo. Branches wishing to put forth a nomination may submit same to the SWF's Central Office prior to the regional meeting. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Resolutions at Regional Meetings Any resolutions being brought forward to the fall regional meetings for presentation at the annual convention must be brought forward and passed at the branch level first. All resolutions must meet the following criteria as determined by the Resolutions Committee: Be consistent with the SWF s goals, aims, and objectives. Be relevant to current or future SWF issues. Not be discriminatory or slanderous in nature. Not be of a purely local nature. Branches have the following options to deal with local issues: Draft and pass a resolution at the branch level, and deal with the issue at the branch level. Draft and pass a resolution at the branch level, taking it to the regional meeting to be passed and dealt with on a regional level. Draft and pass a resolution at the branch level, taking it to the regional meetings, and if passed forwarding it on to the annual meeting to be dealt with on a provincial level. Membership books will be available at the Fall Regional Meetings please have a representative present to pick them up. If you need them prior to that date, please let us know. Henry Kelsey entry fees have changed: $15 for members and $25 for non members. Call for nomination of Provincial President branches must submit their nomination to the SWF Central Office on or before January 15. Election will take place at the convention in Moose Jaw. It is time to start thinking about nominations for provincial awards: Clayton Young Memorial Award, Branch Project, Resource Management, Gordon Lund and Bill McDonald Youth Conservationist of the Year Award are issued by the SWF at our annual convention in February. Careful consideration should be given towards choosing worthy recipients for these most prestigious awards. Please send your submissions into Central Office by January 1. Submissions can be made by your branch or any interested individual. For details please go to awards.html Please send us the name of your Top Membership Salesperson before December 31. Presentations will be made at the Annual Convention. The SWF s books are closed off at the end of October. We would appreciate it if you could pay off the balance of your branch account before this date so we do not have to carry this over into the new fiscal year. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation. Remington Calendar order forms were included in August Branch Memo please complete and return to Central Office if you would like to order calendars this year. Order a supply of Hunter Courtesy Cards for your members by calling Central Office at (306) The 2 part cards give the landowner the hunter s personal information with a pledge that the hunter agrees to hunt in a respectful and responsible manner and thanking the land owner for access to the land. The hunter s portion provides written permission to hunt. Operation Respect Signs are designed to promote good hunter/landowner relations. The following signs are available: Respect the Landowner's Rights Ask Permission to Hunt Building in this Area No Shooting Please No Vehicles Allowed Hunting on Foot Only Please Close the Gate Hunting with Permission Only Livestock in this Pasture No Hunting Please We can provide plaques to the branches for your annual awards. Please send us your order with details, and the date you require them by fax or sask.wildlife@sasktel.net. Please make sure to let us know of any changes to your executive by calling or ing SWF Central Office. This is most important for mail outs and s. Life Insurance Please circulate the Insurance info from August Branch Memo to your members in your newsletters or tree. Just a reminder about the Great Western Brewery opportunity for fundraising banquets, fish fries, BBQ s, and other events for all Branches. For every case of Great Western beer (12 pack) purchased your Branch will receive a $2 rebate and Great Western will contribute $1 to SWF provincial programming. Please send pictures and a paragraph or 2 of your The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup on the details of your clean up (place/date/# of volunteers/ lbs. of garbage, etc.) into Central Office mail: sask.wildlife@sasktel.net) As of the end of September 2013 SWF 9 Lancaster Rd. Moose Jaw, Sask. S6J 1M8 Phone Fax: sask.wildlife@sasktel.net

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4 Habitat Trust Report By Jim Kroshus, Habitat Trust Coordinator Hide Collection Hunting season has begun, and with it comes the start up of the SWF's Hide Collection Program, coordinated through Central Office. Money raised through this program has been instrumental in purchasing, retaining, and enhancing tens of thousands of acres of critical wildlife habitat in Saskatchewan for future generations to enjoy. Branches are encouraged to participate in this important fundraising venture by setting up a hide collection depot in their area, and encouraging local hunters to donate their big game hides by putting up posters, etc. provided by the SWF. Please fill in the form (in August Branch Memo) and return it to Central Office asap, as we pass this info onto the driver so he can coordinate the hide pick ups. Bryan is still the contact person, although it is no longer Halford Hides, but is now Southern Alberta Processing Co. collecting the hides. When you require a pick up, please call Bryan at If he does not answer, please leave a message giving him a phone number, the town you are in, and a time when he can call you back. If you do not have very many hides to pick up, please try to consolidate your hides with another branch. Pickups should be finished by the end of February (depending on the weather), so please make sure to arrange a pick up before then. Education Report By Ian Kutarna, SWF Education Program Coordinator Late August and the temperatures have finally begun to soar! Hopefully everyone has had a chance to get outdoors and enjoy some fishing, camping & other summertime activities. It s been a busy spring and summer here at the SWF. The Fish Artwork Contest had 250 entries this year with top prize going to Aidan Rowe from Humboldt. Second and third place were awarded to Greysin Asplond (Melville) and Deryck Bagui (Humboldt) respectively. Winners received a fishing package including rod, reel, tackle box and assorted lures. Thanks to Jiggy Joe for providing tackle. Prize winning artwork will be on display at the annual Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Convention. Youth Conservation Camp was held July 7 21 st at the new Education Facility at Candle Lake. Twelve girls and 21 boys attended this year s camps. Congratulations to our Murray Doell winners: Nichole Grad, Boggy Creek Wildlife Federation and Nolan Drake, Central Butte Wildlife Federation. Thank you to all the volunteer presenters who were able to contribute to the camp s success. NASP archery demonstrations were held at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park and Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Approximately 100 individuals came out to try a little hands on archery and become familiar with the program; now running in over 165 Saskatchewan schools. Yellow Fish Road kits were sent to Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Kerrobert this summer. Yellow Fish Road raises community awareness about the harmful effects of chemical and waste pollution entering local watersheds through storm drains. Participants paint yellow fish next to storm drains and distribute fish shaped door hangers to remind residents to be aware of what s going down their local storm drains. Women s Outdoor Weekend plans are in the works with a tentative weekend of September at Pike Lake. Check the website and head office for further details and registration information. As we move into the school year and yes, as we prepare for the inevitable return of snow, remember to book early for the BigFOOT snowshoe loan program. Spots fill up quickly and we don t want your group missing out. Get out and enjoy what s left of the summer and get ready for what promises to be an exciting autumn! Hide Care Tips Please trim off heads and legs If the hide cannot be frozen immediately, please salt it (10 lbs for each deer, 20 lbs for each moose, elk, or cattle hide). Lay the hide out flat flesh side up. Remove any excess meat or fat. Spread approx. 1/4" of salt over the entire flesh surface and leave it laid out flat for a minimum of 3 days. Hides can be piled one on top of the other to approx. 3' high to save space. Antler Collection we have begun another fundraising venture for the Habitat Trust Fund. We will be collecting antlers at the fall regional meetings, so if you have some on hand, or there is someone in your branch that has a shed full of sheds, please contact our office and/or bring them to the fall regional meeting. We will keep you posted on the progress/success of this program. Congratulations to Adam Matichuk, SWF Fisheries Program Coordinator. Adam s wife Heather gave birth to their first child on September 18, Quinlan James Matichuk was born at 3:22 am, weighing 7 lbs 5 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long.

5 Provincial Henry Kelsey Big Game Records Chairman Report By Pat McKenzie, Provincial Henry Kelsey Big Game Records Chairman There are some major changes for big game trophy entries in Saskatchewan that meet the Henry Kelsey minimum score requirements for 2013 which all hunters need to be aware of. Similar to both Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young organizations there is now a Mandatory requirement to submit photos with all entries. The entry requirement is to provide three photos (Left, Right and Front) for all species and a fourth photo required for bear skulls only which is taken from above. The photos may be provided with the entry score sheet either ed digitally or printed onto photo grade glossy paper. The entry fees have also been increased to $15.00 for members of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and $25.00 for non members to keep pace with rising costs of records keeping administration. A special request to our Region 2 members is we are in need of increasing the number of Official Henry Kelsey measurers in this portion of the province to provide more coverage. If you are seriously interested in becoming an official measurer here is the criteria and process to follow: Bringing You the Facts By Greg Illerbrun, SWF Firearms Chairman We have a new safety minister with the retirement of Vic Toews whom I would like to thank now for all his efforts on the long gun registry battle. I am told it will be business as usual with our new Minister from Quebec. It sounds like he may be making a trip across the country in the near future and we have asked for a meeting should he come to Saskatchewan. The next meeting of the advisory group has not been set but the members have all been contacted by his officials. Meanwhile in Quebec they are still trying to maintain their registry and have now been challenged in court by an individual from there and with support of the NFA. The city of Chicago has reluctantly scrapped its 45 year old registry after the US Supreme Court ruled that every state must adhere to the second amendment. Here on the home front our very police chiefs Must be an active S.W.F. member and be sponsored by your branch. First step is to become a branch measurer; this can be attained either through writing and passing the HK official exam or attending a HK branch measurer s workshop. The individual must be a branch measurer for a minimum of 2 years before their name can be submitted to qualify as a HK measurer Those who have successfully completed the HK measuring exam must have attained a mark of 80% or better to qualify as an official HK measurer and have their names placed on a Henry Kelsey reference list. Areas of the province feeling there is a need for a Henry Kelsey Measurer may send in a request to the Chairman with a formal explanation. The request must come from the branch president via a copy of their monthly general meeting minutes indicating the individual s name to be put forward as a HK measurer. A copy of these minutes must be sent to both Central Office and the HK Chairman The request and explanation will be voted on by the Henry Kelsey Regional Directors. A tie have come out in favour of removing the simple possession of marijuana from the criminal code. They justify this saying criminal charges place a significant burden on police and court resources. Spokesperson Jim Chu goes on to add that a criminal record places barriers on future travel, employment and citizenship. WOW, this is the same argument we have been making regarding the criminalization for firearm owners for the simple possession of a firearm. However the chiefs have stood front and center in their support to criminalize farmers, ranchers, hunters and sport shooters, I guess they find us much more contemptuous then the drug smoking community and it would appear perfectly willing to tie up police resources and court time to prosecute a farmer for possessing a.22 and get him or her a criminal record! It s my belief that maybe they should get their heads out of the sand!!!! will be broken by the Chairman. A written response will follow. The individual must attend a special 2 day HK workshop before they become an official HK measurer, this is hands on experience where the individual measures more difficult and complicated trophies, ex. non typical. Outfitters or guides will not be accepted as Henry Kelsey Official Measurers. (NB professional means someone who is getting paid full time for their work.) As of 2013 taxidermists may be accepted as official Henry Kelsey Measurers on a case to case basis. Official B&C and P&Y measurers will automatically be accepted if a request is sent in by their branch. If you have any questions, concerns or comments feel free to contact me at patmckenzie@sasktel.net All of you have no doubt heard about the police kicking in the doors of ordinary citizens during the flood at High River Alberta, where it is becoming more and more obvious they were once again targeting firearm owners. I personally talked to an individual from there where he told me that they actually kicked in the door of a family who were still sitting at the supper table with an UNLOCKED DOOR! Well after much protesting including a town hall meeting and a possible upcoming class action suit it looks like they are going to get compensation. Again it is my opinion that we need a civilian oversight committee for the RCMP as they continue to do a very poor job on occasion of reflecting the people they serve. It seems in the end they investigate themselves and sweep all under the rug. With another shooting rampage in the US we will and have heard more calls for gun control in spite of a US study which their own Government sanctioned and found it all to be a waste of time and resources. As usual the anti s aren t concentrating on the real issue of mental health. As usual Never Forgive Never Forget

6 Calendar of Events SWF Regional Meeting for Region 2 Macklin Sun Oct 6 SWF Regional Meeting for Region 6 Moose Jaw Sun Oct 6 Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation Wild Game Supper Sat Oct 26 SWF Regional Meeting for Region 3 Yorkton Sun Oct 27 SWF Regional Meeting for Region 4 Alameda Sun Oct 27 Indian Head & District Wildlife Federation Dinner & Auction Sat Nov 2 SWF Regional Meeting for Region 1 Tisdale Sun Nov 3 SWF Regional Meeting for Region 5 Saskatoon Sun Nov 3 Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Heritage Day Fri Nov 15 Sat Nov 16 Battlefords Wildlife Federation Horn Scoring & Photo Contest Sun Dec 8 New Staff Member The Board of Directors and Staff would like to welcome Tyler Vanstone to our team as our new Fisheries Technician. Tyler is taking over the reins from Darren Clay who is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Tyler has a background in Integrated Resource Management and geomatics. His wide range of experience will be an asset to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. Welcome aboard! Farewell On behalf of the SWF Board of Directors and staff, we would like to thank Darren Clay for over two years of service as our Fisheries Technician. We appreciate his contributions and will miss his friendship. Darren is leaving at the beginning of October to pursue other opportunities. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours. Battlefords Wildlife Federation Annual General Meeting and Elections Wed Jan 11, 2014 Moose Jaw Wildlife Federation Trophy & Appreciation night Sat Jan 16, 2014 Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Annual Convention Moose Jaw, SK Thu Feb 13 Sat Feb 15, 2014

7 Membership Update *** Indicates branches that have met or exceeded their Membership target. Congratulations! REGION ONE (28) Regulaate Affili Target Actual REGION THREE (29) Target Regular Affiliate Actual REGION FIVE (17) Target Regular Affiliate Actual BASIN LAKE*** Bruno CARROT RIVER*** CREIGHTON CUB HILLS*** Cudworth HUMBOLDT*** La Ronge Lake Lenore LEASK MARCELIN*** LUCIEN LAKE*** MALLARD*** Melfort Mistatim Naiverdale NIPAWIN*** Park View Porcupine PRINCE ALBERT*** St.Brieux St.Peters SHELLBROOK*** STONY RAPIDS*** STRUTHERS LAKE*** Tisdale VALLEY TRAILS *** Wakaw Weldon Regional REGION TWO (17) Regulaate Affili Target Actual Battlefords Beaver River Cut Knife Dorintosh Fielding Lloydminster Lost Horse Creek Macklin Meadow Lake REDBERRY LAKE*** St. Walburg Thickwood Hills Turtle River Unity Wilkie WITCHEKAN*** Regional Sask Falconry Assoc BEAVER HILLS*** BUCHANAN*** CANORA*** DELWOOD*** East Shore Endeavor ESTERHAZY*** Foam Lake Fort Qu'Appelle HUDSON BAY KAMSACK*** KUROKI*** Langenburg LEROY*** LOON CREEK Melville NORQUAY*** PARKLAND*** PHEASANT CREEK*** PREECEVILLE**** Riverridge Sturgis TIMBERLINE**** TOUCHWOOD HILLS*** VALLEY VIEW*** Watson Whitesand WILLOWBROOK Yorkton Regional REGION FOUR (15) Target Regular Affiliate Actual Boggy Creek BROADVIEW*** ESTEVAN*** Grenfell Indian Head Moose Mountain Radville Redvers REGINA*** Rocanville Saveagoose SOURIS MOOSE CREEK WAPELLA PIPESTONE*** WAWOTA*** WEYBURN*** Regional Branches should check their totals to this sheet every month. If there are discrepancies between the two totals, please contact Central Office. Arm River BIGGAR BRIGHTWATER BLACKSTRAP CENTRAL BUTTE*** EAGLE CREEK*** Elbow Kerrobert Kindersley KYLE Luseland Outlook ROSETOWN*** Saskatoon SNIPE LAKE*** VISCOUNT*** WATROUS*** YOUNG*** Regional REGION SIX (13) Target Regular Affiliate Actual ASSINIBOIA**** Buffalo Lake DEEP SOUTH*** DIRT HILLS*** GREAT SANDHILLS*** MAPLE CREEK *** Moose Jaw NOTEKEU*** Shaunavon SOUTH SHORE*** SWIFT CURRENT*** WILLOW BUNCH*** Wiwa Creek Regional Branches exceeding their 2013 target 60 Regular Members Affiliate Members Provincial Members 158 Corporate Members Memberships to Sept 30, , Memberships to Sept 30, ,286 INCREASE 786 Target Actual To Go % Region Over % Region % Region Over % Region % Region % Region Over %