Sierra Club Reeled in Supporters for Mercury Free Waterways at Hunting & Fishing Days
Whether it was the 4-foot long stuffed bass (pillow), the fishbowl full of colorful fishing bobbers, the whimsical “Keep Me Mercury Free” fish stickers, or Flossie the Fly-Fishing gal that attracted their attention we may never know. But we do know that something reeled in many people to the Sierra Club booth at this year's Southern Illinois Hunting & Fishing Days Celebration.
As a result, Shawnee Group volunteers got to speak to many people about the environment, the need to work together to conserve our open lands and resources, and about the serious threat to our health from mercury pollution in our lakes and rivers. In fact, 70 people signed postcards asking the Governor to take swift action to deal comprehensively with mercury pollution in Illinois. Many people took literature home and promised to share it with their children's teachers.
While booths and talking and postcards are great tools for getting our message out, even better is a hands-on activity with children and parents. Thanks to the invaluable assistance of Eric Uram, Midwest Conservation Organizer and Tim Guilfoile, Kentucky Water Sentinel we were able to offer an entirely new Fly Fishing Area to the Hunting & Fishing Days slate of hands-on activities.
Take a look at the happy face on the little guy who just caught his first fish and you know that our efforts helped him on what could be a life-long journey of love for nature and the environment.
The Club's involvement in Hunting & Fishing Days would not have been possible without the committed volunteers that devoted their time to making the weekend a success. Thanks go to Fly Fishing volunteers Kevin Dickey (and his parents Dawn and Alan, HOI Group, who drove him all the way from Peoria), Ed Heist and Brett Timmons from the SIU Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Ron and Melanie Schmeck, and Jim Rodemaker. Because of a rainout on Sunday, the latter four didn't get to help, but they all showed up anyway! Veteran booth volunteers included John Wallace, Kevin Nagele, Judy Lewis and Barb McKasson; new to the booth this year was Tim Stenson.
The Illinois Chapter and the Shawnee Group also extend many thanks and much appreciation to the Club's Hunter/Angler Partnership Program that has supported our efforts at Hunting & Fishing Days for the past two years by providing major sponsorship for the event. This sponsorship gives the Club much more visibility, stature and acceptance - all essential aspects to building a bridge to unity in wildlife and environmental conservation.
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Contact: Sierra Club Hunters & Anglers Partnership
Sierra Club recognizes hunting and fishing as a legitimate and necessary tool, and acknowledges the contributions that hunters and anglers have made through the years as advocates for conserving the nation's clean water, wildlife and wildlands.
Hunters, anglers and environmentalists make up over 65 percent of the nation's population-by working together we have the ability to speak with an exceptionally strong voice for the environment.
Since over twenty percent of the Sierra Club members are anglers and/or hunters it only made sense to form the Sierra Club Hunters & Anglers Partnership (SHA). The partnership seeks to increase the effectiveness of the Club's efforts to protect fish and wildlife habitat by fully engaging and empowering Sierra Club members who hunt and fish to:
For more information about SHA contact: Bart Semcer, Washington, DC Representative, Fish and Wildlife Policy / Hunting and Fishing Programs, Sierra Club, 408 C Street, NE, Washington DC, 20002, (202) 547-1141.
For more information about promoting SHA for the Chapter or your Group, or to volunteer to help with Hunting & Fishing Days next year, please contact Terri Treacy, Illinois Chapter Conservation Field Representative, 618-683-2161. |