11-21-2007, 12:10 AM
Six new leaders from five states will help build NYLC's efforts
Saint Paul, Minnesota - Pheasants Forever's National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) - the only youth leadership council of its kind - has elected six new officers. They include: Chair - Ashley Bishop, Litchfield, Illinois; Vice-Chair, Heather Eaton, Cherokee, Iowa; Treasurer - Ashley Lopez, Selma, Indiana; Secretary - Rylee Young, Atkinson, Nebraska; Public Relations Specialist - Brooks VanDerBeek Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Fundraising Specialist - Sara Polge, Syracuse, New York.
Assembled in the summer of 2006, the NYLC is made up of 20 young people from around the country that were nominated by their Pheasants Forever chapter for their community involvement and conservation interests. They are the spokespersons for their age group on hunting and conservation issues and help advise Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever on youth programs. On-line voting was conducted at the Pheasants Forever's youth programs website, www.Ringnecks.org>www.Ringnecks.org, where visitors could read bios and campaign messages from the NYLC members nominated for each office.
"The NYLC has been very busy the first year plus of existence," said Rich Wissink, PF's Youth Program Specialist, "The election of officers is an exciting step that will allow the young leaders of conservation to continue to grow and represent their age group on issues related to wildlife conservation."
"It's important that this generation get involved and become knowledgeable about the issues that affect us," said Brooks VanDerBeek, the NYLC's public relations specialist, "We have a strong group of new leaders that is looking to make a difference."
PF chapters with a history of emphasis and demonstrated success with youth programs were asked to nominate a youngster to the Council last year. Nominating chapters for the newly-elected officers included: Ashley Bishop - Nominated by Montgomery County Illinois PF Chapter; Heather Eaton - Nominated by Cherokee County Iowa PF Chapter; Ashley Lopez - Nominated by East Central Indiana PF Chapter; Sara Polge - Nominated by Central New York PF Chapter; Brooks VanDerBeek - Nominated by Mahaska County Iowa PF Chapter; and Rylee Young - Nominated by Niobrara Valley PF Chapter.
The NYLC has worked on such important issues as bringing attention to the Federal Farm Bill and its significance to wildlife habitat and conservation, the role hunters have played in conservation in North America and helped pass state legislation to reduce age restrictive barriers to introduce young people to hunting. The NYLC will continue to work on issues that deal with hunting, conservation and wildlife habitat. For more information on Pheasants Forever's NYLC, log onto www.Ringnecks.org>www.Ringnecks.org.
Youths interested in joining PF can sign up for a Ringnecks youth membership. The Ringnecks membership comes with a year's subscription to the Upland Tales magazine (4 issues), a Ringnecks membership card, and an invitation to your local PF chapter banquet. To sign up, call PF toll free at (877)773-2070 or log onto www.PheasantsForever.org. Ringnecks membership is $15 annually.
Saint Paul, Minnesota - Pheasants Forever's National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) - the only youth leadership council of its kind - has elected six new officers. They include: Chair - Ashley Bishop, Litchfield, Illinois; Vice-Chair, Heather Eaton, Cherokee, Iowa; Treasurer - Ashley Lopez, Selma, Indiana; Secretary - Rylee Young, Atkinson, Nebraska; Public Relations Specialist - Brooks VanDerBeek Oskaloosa, Iowa; and Fundraising Specialist - Sara Polge, Syracuse, New York.
Assembled in the summer of 2006, the NYLC is made up of 20 young people from around the country that were nominated by their Pheasants Forever chapter for their community involvement and conservation interests. They are the spokespersons for their age group on hunting and conservation issues and help advise Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever on youth programs. On-line voting was conducted at the Pheasants Forever's youth programs website, www.Ringnecks.org>www.Ringnecks.org, where visitors could read bios and campaign messages from the NYLC members nominated for each office.
"The NYLC has been very busy the first year plus of existence," said Rich Wissink, PF's Youth Program Specialist, "The election of officers is an exciting step that will allow the young leaders of conservation to continue to grow and represent their age group on issues related to wildlife conservation."
"It's important that this generation get involved and become knowledgeable about the issues that affect us," said Brooks VanDerBeek, the NYLC's public relations specialist, "We have a strong group of new leaders that is looking to make a difference."
PF chapters with a history of emphasis and demonstrated success with youth programs were asked to nominate a youngster to the Council last year. Nominating chapters for the newly-elected officers included: Ashley Bishop - Nominated by Montgomery County Illinois PF Chapter; Heather Eaton - Nominated by Cherokee County Iowa PF Chapter; Ashley Lopez - Nominated by East Central Indiana PF Chapter; Sara Polge - Nominated by Central New York PF Chapter; Brooks VanDerBeek - Nominated by Mahaska County Iowa PF Chapter; and Rylee Young - Nominated by Niobrara Valley PF Chapter.
The NYLC has worked on such important issues as bringing attention to the Federal Farm Bill and its significance to wildlife habitat and conservation, the role hunters have played in conservation in North America and helped pass state legislation to reduce age restrictive barriers to introduce young people to hunting. The NYLC will continue to work on issues that deal with hunting, conservation and wildlife habitat. For more information on Pheasants Forever's NYLC, log onto www.Ringnecks.org>www.Ringnecks.org.
Youths interested in joining PF can sign up for a Ringnecks youth membership. The Ringnecks membership comes with a year's subscription to the Upland Tales magazine (4 issues), a Ringnecks membership card, and an invitation to your local PF chapter banquet. To sign up, call PF toll free at (877)773-2070 or log onto www.PheasantsForever.org. Ringnecks membership is $15 annually.