MOHA Says Citizen Council Critical to Passage of Dedicated Funding
February 15, 2008“We applaud the hard work of the legislature, the citizens and stakeholders who supported the dedicated funding amendment yesterday,” said Don McMillan, Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance (MOHA) president. “This dedicated fund will guarantee that our children and grandchildren have places to hunt, and fish. It will ensure Minnesota’s outdoor heritage and our way of life.”
MOHA joined with Senator Bob Lessard and others in 1999 to secure a constitutional amendment to fund conservation of Minnesota’s game, fish, and wildlife. At the very beginning of this campaign, we set out three principals we believe to be essential to accomplish our objectives; a) A guaranteed income stream for fish and game management, habitat conservation and related programs, b) That this revenue be constitutionally guaranteed, and c) that there be a citizen/stakeholders council to manage the fund.” These elements have been in nearly every bill in the House and Senate since then.
McMillan said, “Now the most important part of this campaign is to gain the public support for passage at the ballot in November. Critical to gaining the support is a citizen/stakeholders council representing hunting, fishing, and conservation interests that would provide assurance that the money raised will go towards the intended purpose. Last year the language introduced in the Senate and House included a council for the Heritage Fund. Final language in the Senate had a Council. The House version did not. Therefore MOHA looks forward to working with the legislature to pass language to establish the citizen/stakeholders council, this session, before the statewide vote.”
In addition it was announced, the Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Foundation is being formed to emphasize MOHA’s commitment to the future of these outdoor traditions. “Members of MOHA believe it is very important to focus attention on the core challenges within the outdoor community,” said Jim Klatt, president of the new Foundation. “We are losing a whole generation of older participants, and young people are not filling the gaps.”
Klatt points out that as participation in hunting, fishing and trapping declines, the revenue generated by these activities and associated funds going into general revenue also decline, leading to even bigger problems for wildlife and habitat. “The Foundation intends to focus a laser beam on efforts to turn around this decline, so Minnesota can remain the national leader in conservation and one of the best states in the country for hunters and anglers.” The new Foundation board of directors is still being assembled. It will include representatives from a broad spectrum of interests involved with outdoor and youth program statewide.
For more information about MOHA, dedicated funding, and the Foundation, please contact Don McMillan at 612-940-0823 or Jim Klatt at 952-933-5939.
SCI Files Amicus Brief in Minnesota Lynx Case
Over the opposition of anti-hunting and anti-trapping groups, SCI filed a substantive brief last week supporting the State of Minnesota's trapping program. These groups have challenged the program as violating the Endangered Species Act because in the past trappers have accidentally caught a few lynx, a species on the endangered species list. The lawsuit seeks to stop or severely restrict trapping in lynx range in Minnesota. The Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance (MOHA), a coalition of sporting and conservation groups, joined SCI in filing the brief. In their brief, SCI/MOHA explained that holding the State liable in this situation would harm beneficial sustainable use conservation activities like trapping and hunting. SCI/MOHA also made several other legal and factual arguments. SCI (represented by its in-house litigation counsel) and MOHA (represented by SCI/MOHA member Kirk Schnitker) will attend the hearing on the case the Court has scheduled for January 17, 2008 in Minneapolis.MOHA MEMO
To: MOHA Board Members And FriendsFrom: Jim Klatt
Re: Minnesota Sesquicentennial
Date: October 31, 2007
First, Happy Halloween. I hope fall hunting has been good for everyone so far. Good luck with deer season.
As many of you already know, MOHA has been selected by the State Sesquicentennial Commission to be the designated hunting/fishing/trapping organization at the big 150 year celebration next Spring.
Our major responsibility will be to organize a pavilion exhibit at the Capitol in May that will focus on 150 years (and more) of hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation in this state. In that capacity we’ll be sending applications to all MOHA Governing Board groups, and to many others who aren’t on the Governing Board, later this year – or right after Christmas. The goal will be to have each organization create a display of their own history for the pavilion (probably one really big tent).
We are awaiting details from the Sesquicentennial executive director in order to put together an accurate plan for you to look at – i.e. space available, potential cost, dates, hours of the exhibit.
The Commission is planning a 2-day celebration at the Capitol, and will do extensive pre-event publicity. This is an opportunity to really draw attention to what an important role hunting, fishing and trapping has played in the cultural and economic formation of this state – plus we can push hard for dedicated funding to protect these traditions in the future.
This memo is your “early alert”. Stay tuned for more details.
For Immediate Release
Contacts: Kevin Stirtz, Kinship Inc (952) 212-4681
Anthony Hauck, Pheasants Forever, toll free (651)209-4972
Kinship and Pheasants Forever Partner for Youth
Kinship and PF work together to provide outdoor experiences
Saint Paul, Minn. – September 25, 2007 –Minnesota Pheasants
Forever (PF)
and Kinship Inc are proud to announce a joint partnership. The new
relationship is aimed at introducing "Kinship Kids" to hunting
and the outdoors.
PF will encourage its local chapters to get involved with local Kinship affiliates to teach Kinship Mentors and Kinship Kids proper hunting safety and etiquette along with sound conservation practices. In return, Kinship will encourage its matches to get involved with the conservation efforts of PF. "PF is honored to work with an organization of Kinships reputation," stated Eran Sandquist, regional wildlife biologist for PF in Northern Minnesota. "What a great opportunity to pass on understanding and appreciation for hunting, conservation and the outdoors where there is a great need and desire."
Kinship Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization which believes in and promotes the concept of youth mentoring. The National Kinship office exists to serve as a resource for established and emerging local Kinship affiliates that support a grassroots approach to providing service. Building upon the strength of local communities is vital to the success of local Kinship affiliates.
"We understand that local Pheasants Forever Chapters and their volunteers have been providing quality instruction for those interested in hunting, conservation, and the outdoors in general," said Kevin Stirtz, Kinship Inc executive director. "We think this partnership is a perfect match for our Kinship Mentors and Kids that do not have the opportunity to experience hunting, shooting, and outdoors activities."
The Kinship Affiliate Network is made up of 47 affiliates located in the upper Midwest, having established mentoring relationships for nearly 1,800 of today's youth. Many want to learn target shooting, hunting, archery or fishing. The chance to provide quality, safe and fun experiences in the outdoors to those without opportunity coupled with Kinships record of helping youth, is the main reason for PF’s support.
Scott Luing, President of the Morrison County Pheasants Forever chapter, looks forward to working with Kinship of Morrison County in Central Minnesota, "When our chapter developed our local priorities, a main focus was educating youth about habitat conservation, appreciating our great outdoors and passing on the hunting tradition. We have built a youth program that reaches out to kids and provides them with the chance to learn and experience those things. However, we have found that we are often reaching the kids that already have that opportunity. Our chapter wants to do more for the kids and mentors in our area who lack outdoor opportunities and I think that this partnership will take us to that next level."
If you are interested in getting involved with the Kinship program contact Kevin Stirtz at (952) 212-4681or visit the http://www.kinshipinc.org. To learn more becoming involved with a local PF chapter contact Eran Sandquist at 320 236 7755 or esandquist@pheasantsforever.org.
For additional information about Pheasants Forever, please visit www.pheasantsforever.org