President’s Message for November/December 2012

President’s Letter:
December 2012
It is the end of another year. Gee, how fast time goes by as I get older. It is also time to reflect on this past year for AWF and our partners and say thanks. I can’t say enough about the support AWF has gotten over this past year from so many of our partners and supporters. AGFC has been very supportive and helpful; we want to say thank you for all of your help and support.

U S Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation have been our supporters for the Bearcat Hollow Project. Dwayne Rambo and Jim Dixon from USFS, and Adam Liljeblad of NFF were extremely helpful and beneficial to our work. Volunteer workers on Bearcat Hollow Project include our affiliate youth clubs: Arkansas Tech University Fisheries & Wildlife Society, and University of the Ozarks “Outbackers” Club. We could not have done it without your help. Also, Sam Sneed and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; Yell County Wildlife Federation; Dr. Kellner and Dr. Nupp with ATU; Dennis Daniels and Elliott Glass with the National Wild Turkey Foundation; along with many other volunteers for their support on Bearcat Hollow Project. This project has, and will have, a very big impact on wildlife today and in the future.

Thanks to all of AWF’s affiliates for all of the work you do in your communities and your support to AWF. Your leadership and your efforts reflect your commitment to the environment and wildlife for future generations. AWF is very proud of your work and support.

Thanks to Creative Ideas and our partnership to put on the “Wildlife of Arkansas” Student Art Competition. We appreciate the work of Creative Ideas, their volunteers and judges, as well as all of the schools and students across Arkansas that participates. Of course a big thank you also goes out to the team at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center for allowing us to hold the awards ceremony at their facility and to let the students’ art be put on display and seen by thousands of visitors.

We have also enjoyed working with the Traildogs. Our work on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail has been fun as well as educational. The trail is beautiful to behold and we look forward to helping finish the project.
Thanks to U S Army Corp of Engineers for allowing AWF and our new affiliates to keep four of our parks along the Arkansas River open to the public. These affiliates and their volunteers work very hard to maintain these parks and keep them open for public use and enjoyment.

Thanks to Arkansas Forest Commission for your support and donation of trees that we give away each year. In 2012 we gave away over 13,000 hardwoods and 3,000 pine seedlings to the public for free. We planted trees on school grounds at three schools while hundreds of young students watched and learned about the importance of trees and what they are used for and how they help our environment. We also had a training station for all of the 5th graders in Garland County to teach them about the importance of native trees for forage and habitation. Over 500 students got to take trees home.

A special thanks to all of our sponsors for our annual Conservation Achievement Awards Program. This awards program has been, and continues to be, a big part of AWF. The ceremony helps reflect the special people, organizations, businesses, and programs in Arkansas that care about nature and our environment. Thanks to Heartland Bank, The Center of Bryant, and the city of Bryant for your support and use of your facility for the awards banquet. Thank you to all of the other sponsors for your support. We couldn’t have done it without you.

I would also like to thank all of the AWF Board members and affiliates for your help and support to this organization, programs, events, and to making AWF a success in Arkansas. A big thanks goes to Geralyn Hoey and National Wildlife Federation for allowing AWF to be a part of your programs and for your support.

Wayne Shewmake