In the Weeds: November 2007

"In the Weeds" takes a closer look at the chapter projects, events and happenings of the over 700 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever chapters across the country. This month, we profile the first union chapter of PF, formed last month in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Carpenters Form First Union Chapter of Pheasants Forever

Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners chapter established in Saint Paul, Minnesota

In the Weeds: November 2007 Members from the Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners have formed the first union chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF). The union hopes to draw PF members from their 14,000-person constituency in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Based out of Saint Paul, the new group will be known as the Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners Chapter of PF.

To date, almost every PF chapter has been based on geographic county lines. The Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners chapter will be made up of union carpenters and prospective union members from across a three state area. The creation of the chapter is the result of a two-year-old partnership between The Council and PF to raise money for the Build a Wildlife Area campaign. Through that Build a Wildlife Area partnership, union carpenters have generated over $7,000 for the campaigns by constructing bluebird houses with children at Game Fair in Ramsey, Minnesota.

The chapter and its founding committee members formed the chapter with the idea of expanding those Build a Wildlife Area efforts into something even bigger. "Most of us enjoy carpentry because we like working with our hands outside, not unlike hunters," said Tom Hemberger of Cottage Grove, the chapter's inaugural president, "Hunting and conservation are legacies we want to pass on to future generations. Our dream within the next few years is to help create the Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners Wildlife Management Area, an area where all can enjoy the great outdoors forever."

Though the group has formed the first non-traditional union chapter in Pheasants Forever's 25-year history, the new chapter will operate like any PF chapter. PF applies a unique and successful model of empowering local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100% of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. PF is the only national conservation organization to employ this unique locally-driven chapter model.

"Conservation isn't defined by county lines, and we hope the initial success of this new chapter spurs other groups to find creative ways to get involved for the benefit of habitat and wildlife," said Eran Sandquist, PF Regional Wildlife Biologist for northern Minnesota, "Whether you belong to a union, a corporation, or an association; you are part of a community. And as part of the Pheasants Forever community, you have the ability to do good things for conservation bigger than any of us can accomplish alone."

The Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners Chapter of PF has also elected Larry Parks of Hastings as treasurer, Steve Stender of White Bear Lake as youth/education chair, Walter Wahl of Blaine as recruitment chair and Terry Hawley of Plymouth banquet chair. The chapter will hold its next meeting on Thursday, November 15th at 6 PM at the Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners office located at 710 Olive Street in Saint Paul. The meeting is open to the public, and the media is invited to attend. For more information on the chapter and the upcoming meeting, contact Tom Hemberger at (651)458-8263 or via email at hembergerc@aol.com.

If you have story ideas, dog photos, pre-1980 hunting photos and requests for future On The Wing consideration, please send correspondence to ahauck@pheasantsforever.org.

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