New Pheasants Forever Chapter Launches North of Columbus
Chapter's Leaders Focused on Continuing State's Hunting Heritage
Delaware, Ohio - December 16, 2009 - Ohio's Delaware and Franklin counties are home to the nation's newest chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF). The group, named the Central Ohio Chapter of PF, becomes the state's 30th PF chapter and the first to service the Columbus area. Chapter leaders plan to focus their efforts on connecting area youngsters to the outdoors and America's hunting heritage.
"The leaders of this chapter are committed to preserving our outdoor traditions for future generations," explained Rob Williams, the new chapter's president and Powell resident. "By starting this chapter, we hope we can all take the time to give something back that will benefit our children and beyond. We are dedicated to maintaining and nurturing Central Ohio’s outdoor legacy through conservation and youth education."
The chapter plans to hold a fundraising banquet this spring. With funds from that banquet, the chapter will design an outdoors event for area youth. PF and its quail division, Quail Forever (QF), are the only national conservation organizations that empower local chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. This local control allows members to see the fruits of their chapter efforts in their own communities, while belonging to a national organization with a voice on federal conservation policy in Washington, D.C.
"There has been a void for our organization in the Columbus area despite the large number of bird hunters in and around Columbus. I am extremely excited to have this group of enthusiastic guys come together to continue a tradition that is important to the area's heritage," said Doug Bensman, PF's regional wildlife biologist for Ohio.
Ohio boasts 30 PF chapters and 2 QF chapters accounting for 5,500 members statewide. Since the state's first PF chapter formed in 1989, chapters have completed 15,000 habitat projects in the state to the benefit of more than 122,000 acres across Ohio. To learn more about PF in Ohio,check out www.OhioPf.com.
Joining Williams as chapter officers are Jeff Paulus o fWesterville, Matt Christian of Hilliard, Jonathan Peele of Powell, and Jim Marshall of Lancaster. The chapter plans to hold their next organization meeting in January. The meeting is open to the public, and chapter leaders would encourage anyone who is interested to attend. In order to learn more about the chapter, please contact Rob Williams at (614) 668-9071 or via email at pres0878@pfofficers.org.
Please contact PF's Doug Bensman at (937) 597-3737 or dbensman@pheasantsforever.org if you are interested in joining an Ohio chapter or learning about starting a chapter in your community.