2017 Highlights
Wildlife Trust Fund Continued to acquire more conservation lands in 2017-5 properties; 639 acres Managed by volunteers and staff Partnering with our affiliated Clubs and other organizations Over 80 locations Provide opportunity Side by side raffle tickets
Acquisition & Protection Purchase Donation Lease Voluntary Agreements Conservation Easements Partner with other organizations and affiliated Fish & Game Clubs Eco-gifts
Land management Grazing Leases Oil and Gas Development Fencing Access Issues Livestock Management Noxious Weed Control Property Inspections Neighbouring Landowner Relations Liaison with other Conservation Groups Referrals Habitat Assessment and Evaluation
Works directly with landholders secure and enhance prairie wildlife habitats voluntary stewardship agreements approximately 900,000 acres Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Program US Fish and Wildlife Service - DBHC funding
Antelope Corridor Enhancement Entering its 10 th year northern-most distribution in Alberta annual migrations narrow passages en-route to key seasonal ranges Barbed wire/page fences create great difficulties Lower strands are generally 30 cm (12 in.) above ground crawling under often results in serious scrapes replaces lower barbed wire strands with smooth wire raises them in height Over 1,200 kms of restrictive fencing re-configured to wildlife-friendly standards. Well-received by landowners Thanks to ACA and MSL for support
News releases Communications news releases to print and electronic media sent to all on our email list posted on website website Feedback be exact Twitter, Facebook, Search function Print AFGA Clothing
Community presence Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer Sportsmen s Shows Other Sports shows, events Cabela s Need Volunteers
Government Action Fisheries Grizzly hunt, access, land sales Chronic Wasting Disease--shutting down, once and for all, game farms Suffield Elk Pack dogs Side arms Access to publicly leased land Cumulative effects Pipelines Park Expansions
Government Action..cont d Feral Horses Bison in Banff Land use plans Recreation lease security deposits
What you can do MEET Local MLA s MEET Local Members of Parliament Many decisions made federally that affect Alberta Fisheries act; National Parks policies Suffield Provincial MLA s do talk to their Federal counterparts
Volunteer Stewardship Program part of the Wildlife Trust Fund teams of volunteers throughout Alberta that conduct a minimum of 2 inspections annually on our 100+ conservation properties. provides the benefit of ensuring that conservation lands are maintained opportunity for people to enjoy the outdoors. training provided to volunteers.
Camps firearm safety, archery, boating, survival, Wilderness 1 st aid 2 Women s -- Becoming an Outdoor Woman Youth -- ages 12-17 camps held in summer and 1 held during the Christmas break
Wildlife Awards Competition This program exists to recognize the exquisiteness of Alberta s fish and wildlife. Wildlife Awards Banquet in April hold measuring events and courses to train measurers. 55 th on April 21, 2018 at the Polish Hall, Edmonton
Committees 36 conservation/outdoor use-related committees Alberta Conservation Association watershed councils Outfitter allocations Endangered Species Conservation Committee Alberta Game Policy Advisory Council (AGPAC) Feral Horse Committee
Other Activities Education Farm/Ranch Program Landowner Recognition Stewardship Program Hunter Education Annual Conference Website on-line sales Administer MSL Fund-raising sales/grants
Membership At December 31, 2017 -- membership stood at 25,177 up 75% from 2002 --14,432 Way to go AFGA Clubs!
Membership (cont d) Moving towards more and better use of online programs Have cut down wait times from receipt of rosters to return to Clubs Monthly mail-outs only 1 mail out per month which will include everything from rosters to invoices to other correspondence membership cards worthwhile? Office assistance get in touch with me or Cheryl if you have any suggestions that can help you do your job to attract and keep members, assistance with regular club administration, something on your mind? We can only know if you tell us.
Membership (cont d) Member Benefits Program Includes: the Outdoor Canada West magazine (published bi-monthly), Discounts from several retail merchants such as Mark s, Participation in the Annual Wildlife Awards Competition, Discounts on personal insurance, Opportunity to participate in youth and women camps throughout Alberta, $5,000 AD and D benefit while participating in hunting, fishing, trapping or authorized Club activities Discounted $10,000 life insurance Club insurance And the biggest one of all belonging!
Search and rescue up to $10,000 $5,000,000 coverage Live fire dog trial with range will be covered Aggregate limit eliminated Restricted U.S. coverage $250,000 limit AIL program 11 th year in a row that there has been no increase in range fees Continue to shop the market for additional coverage, i.e. quads, boats Vicarious liability guilt by association Insurance
Minister s Special Licence AFGA listened to your feedback last year about limiting ticket sales 100 tickets per purchaser per day for each species for the first 90 days of sales. Sales started on January 11, 2018 and the 90 day period will be over on April 11. three separate raffles, one each for a tag for antlered mule deer, antlered elk and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep purchase tickets online or over the phone Sales are strong draw date August 03, 2018.
Minister s Special Licence Projects 80% 0f $ raised goes to on the ground projects $1,023,000 granted in first 4 years Bighorn Sheep Management Seminars Bighorn Sheep Surveys Prevention of Bighorn Sheep Die-off due to Pneumonia Persistence of the Ya Ha Tinda elk population Increasing and enhancing Wildlife Habitats on Alberta's working ranches Antelope Corridor Enhancement Experimental Harvests for CWD control in Mule Deer Restoring Grizzly Bear populations to southwestern Alberta: monitoring and conflict resolution Effects of industry on wolverine ecology Conservation camps
AFGA Office Relocation We have moved! search has been going on since early 2016 capital campaign Saved thousands of dollars Alberta Social Enterprise Fund $3,000-$4,000 Staff did all the moving $15,000-$20,000
How d we get here? Business plan 3 year cycle 2014-2017 Operations/development Membership Communications Advocacy Education Habitat 2017-22
All our collective successes over the past year as well previous ones could not have been achieved without the strong support of you the members and Volunteers. Your successors will thank you.
The cost of membership in AFGA is pretty small when you compare it to your investment in fishing, hunting and outdoor gear, and especially when you compare it to what we ll all lose if misguided laws and regulations cripple our hunting, fishing, and trapping traditions.