07/27/2010
Pennsylvania NWTF's Super Fund Spending Exceeds $5 Million
EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Pennsylvania State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has passed the $5 million mark in spending through the state's Hunting Heritage Super Fund – a milestone reached by only one other NWTF chapter.
Administered jointly by the NWTF, its state chapters and state wildlife agencies, the Hunting Heritage Super Fund is used for projects that support the conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of the hunting tradition. Nationally, NWTF chapters and cooperating partners have raised and spent more than $306 million for wild turkey conservation.
Pennsylvania's 86 local NWTF chapters and more than 12,500 members have raised and spent $5,012,307 through the state's Super Fund on habitat management, wild turkey management, turkey hunter safety education, land acquisitions and NWTF outreach programs.
"This monumental accomplishment is a testament to Pennsylvania's turkey hunters and especially all past and present NWTF volunteers whose hard work and support made achieving this goal possible," said Don Heckman, an executive officer of the Pennsylvania State Chapter's board of directors. "With the help of NWTF volunteer members, Super Fund banquets and the money raised and spent on wild turkey resource and habitat management programs, I believe turkey hunters have experienced the best decade in the past 110 years for wild turkey management and turkey hunting."
Heckman, who is recognized statewide and nationally as a leader in wild turkey conservation, remembers the humble beginnings of the Pennsylvania chapter's involvement in Super Fund banquets. He said a group of volunteers first heard about the fundraising banquets in 1984 during a meeting in Saint Mary's and all wondered how they would ever get one going.
A group of 40 Pennsylvania chapter directors and staff met at Trout Run Lodge in Elk County with a keynote message of commitment from state and local chapters to hold Super Fund banquets to raise money for supporting the future of wild turkeys and turkey hunting in Pennsylvania. The Laurel Highlands Committee hosted the first Super Fund banquet, now called a Hunting Heritage Super Fund banquet, in southwest Pennsylvania in April of 1984.
"NWTF members in Pennsylvania are the cream of the crop," said Bob Eriksen, NWTF director of conservation operations for the northeast region. "They willingly devote their time and energy as volunteers to help put conservation on the ground. By working with NWTF members and partnership agencies, the Pennsylvania chapter has reached a milestone that many of us never dreamed possible back in 1984."
NWTF's Pennsylvania State Chapter, which was founded in 1975, has built an impeccable resume when it comes to following the Federation's mission of being dedicated to conservation of the wild turkey and preservation of our hunting heritage.
The Pennsylvania chapter is celebrating its $5 million milestone with a "Grand Slam" membership drive to invite others to share in its success.
"People want to be a part of a winning team and know that their time, efforts, energy and money are making a tremendous difference," said T. Scott Wojton, member of the Pennsylvania State Chapter's board of directors. "With increased membership come more volunteers and increased resources, which will enable the chapter to accomplish more and make an even greater contribution to the wild turkey resource, habitat enhancement projects and NWTF outreach programs here in Pennsylvania."
Visit the NWTF Pennsylvania State Chapter's website at www.panwtf.org and click the "$5 Million Membership Drive Information" link for additional information and membership drive sign-up sheets.
