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MO Teaming With Wildlife Coalition Update |
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Please share with members of your organization! | April 2012 |
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Teaming With Wildlife is a coalition of businesses and organizations that support additional dedicated funding for fish, forest and wildlife conservation as well as related education and outdoor recreation.
Spread the word! Encourage other organizations and businesses to join the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition by filling out the form at www.teaming.com/user/register ___________
JOIN CFM! ___________ |
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 Legislative Update
TWW Fly-In - Successful Impact & Results
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) sent participants of the Teaming With Wildlife (TWW) Fly-In a big thank you. Pats on the back and congratulations to all Missouri TWW Coalition members. Thank you for your encouragement and support in advocating for State & Tribal Wildlife Grant Funding. Two Dear Colleague letters have been completed and sent to subcommittee leadership. The Teaming With Wildlife Fly-in was a great opportunity for Missouri's TWW steering committee to help the national TWW coalition and AFWA reach success this year.
One of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies measures of success for the Fly-in is how many members sign on to our Dear Colleague Letters. This year 110 members signed on to the House letter and 33 to Senate letter. Both totals surpassed last year. In addition to those who signed on to the letters nearly a dozen members said they would help in other ways such as by submitting a programmatic request or by talking to appropriators. Members of the National Teaming With Wildlife steering committee will be meeting with appropriations staff over the next several weeks to hand deliver copies of the letters. All this work results in a strong position to fend off more potential cuts to the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program. Links Final Senate & House Dear Colleague Letter (with signatures) | List of members who signed on by state News Release in Outdoor Hub on House Letter |
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 NEW MEMBERS!!!
MO TWW Coalition Has 310 Members!
Missouri Teaming With Wildife is proud to welcome our newest coalition members! We have officially reached 310 and are the 4th largest coalition in the nation!!! Please join me in welcoming the Labadie Environmental Organization(LEO), Millcreek Watershed Coalition (website coming soon), and the Wildlife Rescue Center in Ballwin, MO. The Wildlife Rescue Center is brand new and having an open house May 12th with behind-the-scenes tours, guided nature walks, family fun, local animal welfare and environmental groups in attendance.. See "Events" below.
Thank you for joining our happy outdoor family! PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND GET OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO JOIN!
For those who are wondering, the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality and welcome. |
 | | Rep. Eric Burlison - Chairman of MLSC |
2012 Sportsmen's Rally at the Capitol
Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) and the Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus (MLSC) held the first Sportmen's Rally at the State Capitol in the rotunda on Wednesday, April 11th from 2:00pm -5:00pm. Speakers included Dave Murphy - Executive Director of CFM, Rep. Eric Burlison -Chairman of MLSC, Rep. Donald Phillips from Kimberling City and Rep. Billy Pat Wright from Dexter.
It is important to speak up for Missouri's outdoors and conservation around the state. The MLSC works statewide and nationally to support our great outdoors. |
 Western Arctic Campaign
Known as "Alaska's Duck Factory," the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (Reserve) in northwestern Alaska is the largest single tract of public land in the U.S. at over 22 million acres. The Reserve contains some of the most extraordinary wildlife values on the continent, supporting millions of migratory birds; two major caribou herds; tens of thousands of ducks and molting geese; high-density raptor concentrations; and marine and terrestrial mammals including polar bears, beluga whales, walrus, grizzly bears, wolves and wolverines. Congress has directed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide "maximum protection" for these extraordinary values as it manages the Reserve. BLM has now released a draft management plan for the Reserve creating an opportunity for Missourians to get involved and create public comment on how to best strike a balance between oil and gas exploration and conserving wildlife habitat.
You can learn more about the Western Arctic and tell BLM to protect migratory birds that come to Missouri and habitats at http://www.nwf.org/arctic
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 MPF 3rd Annual Prairie Bioblitz
You are invited!!!
Attend the free and fun Third Annual Prairie BioBlitz at Schwartz Prairie. The Missouri Prairie Foundation's Schwartz Prairie teems with life-within its 240 acres of upland prairie are 330 documented native plant species, numerous quail and other grassland birds, regal fritillary butterflies, and literally thousands of other life forms.
The natural abundance of this special place is maintained through hard work-including invasive species control and prescribed fires-and that work in turn is made possible by several funding sources: Missouri Prairie Foundation membership support, other donations, and funding from the federal State Wildlife Grant program. This program-which Teaming With Wildlife works hard to keep funded by Congress-helps ensure that habitats remain healthy across the country, so wildlife can thrive for generations to come.
You are invited to experience for yourself the natural diversity of Schwartz Prairie in St. Clair County by participating in the Missouri Prairie Foundation's 3rd Annual Prairie BioBlitz June 9 and 10. Nature enthusiasts of all ages will team up with biologists specializing in butterflies, ants, bees, plants, birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and other organisms. Not only will you learn a tremendous amount about prairie biology, as "citizen scientists" you will help collect important plant and animal data about this special place.
After an afternoon of nature study, we'll enjoy a potluck dinner, star gazing (several astronomers and telescopes will be on hand), and tent camping on the prairie. More BioBlitz activities will continue on Sunday morning. We look forward to seeing you there! Details and directions.
 | | Photo courtesy of MDC. |
At MPF's 2011 Prairie BioBlitz, Lepidopterist Phil Koenig, one of many BioBlitz leaders, helped a young naturalist learn about butterflies. Join us for the 3rd Annual Prairie BioBlitz June 9 and 10, 2012.
Carol Davit, Executive Director
Missouri Prairie Foundation
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FilmFest 4-H | August 6-8, 2012
Youth 11 and Up Can Enter!!!!
Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) is a new sponsor to an exciting event for kids in 4H and their families. CFM is working with the University of Missouri Extension and the National 4-H Task Force on Communications and Expressive Arts to sponsor the national film festival called "FilmFest 4-H". The 2nd annual event will take place on August 6-8, 2012 in Branson, Missouri.
This national film festival is an event connecting participants to professionals in the film industry. It celebrates the work of young filmmakers ages 11 and up. There are four categories: Narrative, Animation, Documentary and 4-H Promotional. As with any medium, an outdoor flavor can be added to any of the categories and of course CFM would love to see more participants showing their Missouri pride with an outdoor heritage perspective. This is a great opportunity for CFM to work with 4H kids, volunteers and youth with an interest in filmmaking. It includes workshops, showcases and family fun. Keep watching for new updates on CFM support for FilmFest 4_H!!
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 Invasive Plant Workshop
May 16-17, 2012
Powder Valley Nature Center
11715 Cragwold Road | Kirkwood, MO
May 16th and 17th, 2012 | 8:45 AM - 4:30 PM Both Days
This workshop is for professionals and provides an opportunity for MDC staff, agency partners, city and county parks personnel and NGO members to hear invited speakers present information on a variety of aquatic and terrestrial invasive plant species. Several esteemed invasive plant experts will be presenting information on many of Missouri's invasive plants.
Workshop registration deadline is May 1st. However maximum capacity of the Nature Center could be reached prior to May 1st so please register early to make sure your seat is reserved and to help me plan accordingly! Registrations will be accepted in the order they are received.
A registration fee of $30 for both days or $15 for one day will be used to help defray the cost for provided lunches and refreshments. A block of rooms has been reserved for the evenings of May 15th and 16th at the Drury Inn located at 5 Lambert Drury Drive Fenton, MO. A group rate of $89 for a double or king single are available through April 13th by calling 1-800-325-0720 and indicating you are a member of the Invasive Plant Workshop group # 2143313.
Contact Tim Banek with questions or comments at tim.banek@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 522-4115 ext. 3371
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Upcoming Events
The Wildlife Rescue Center Open House | May 12, 2012 10 am to 3 pm | Penelope Beache, Development Director
Wildlife Rescue Center | 1128 New Ballwin Rd. Ballwin, MO 63021 | Ph: 636.394.1880 Ext: 203
Invasive Plant Workshop | May 16-17, 2012 | Powder Valley Nature Center | 11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, MO
8:45 AM - 4:30 PM Both Days | Contact Tim Banek with questions or comments at tim.banek@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 522-4115 ext. 3371
MPF 3rd Annual Prairie BioBlitz | June 9-10, 2012 | Details and Directions.
Ozark Summit
June 12-14, 2012 | Missouri State University in Springfield | http://ozarks.cr.usgs.gov/ozark_summit_2012.htm
FilmFest 4-H | August 6-8, 2012 | Branson, MO | BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ENTRY DEADLINES!
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