Wildlife Action

Wildlife Action

How to Assist Your Chapter:

Wildlife Action deeply appreciates your acceptance of the position of Senior Vice President. Even though you may be an avid outdoor enthusiast and sportsperson, you may not know exactly what will be expected of you with this new position.

You may also not know how to begin educating your chapter on the values of ethical outdoor activities, or what bills will be detrimental or valuable to your sport and the conservation movement in the United States.

This section of your book has been designed to assist you in those areas. Use it freely. All information has been sanctioned by Wildlife Action, Inc.

Please read the resolutions for Wildlife Action carefully; you will find that WLA has already adopted a good many regarding hunting, fishing, and environmental issues. Please be advised that if a problem occurs in your community or state and WLA has already taken a stand on this issue, you have the freedom to work within the perimeters of our constitution/resolutions to fight a specific issue or develop a project which meets the desired results as stated in the resolutions.

As a chapter, you need not take a stand on any issue or develop a project. However, our motto "Local Folks Solving Local Problems" encourages each of us as members of Wildlife Action and responsible citizens, to improve the quality of life for generations to come.

Responsibilities: (see Constitution for specifications)

1.       attend meetings, making a report on activities/projects/problems, etc.

2.        be familiar with impending problems, making proposals to the board concerning solution(s) to these problems and possible resolutions to adopt

3.       from committees to handle issues that are of local, state or national concern or between states such as: hunting and fishing legislation; clean water act; etc. this would include letters to politicians, newspapers, etc.

4.       share with chapter the information sent from National or State

5.       educate chapter on your community's specific needs

Funding Sources For Special Projects:

It is important to remember that there is money out there, LOTS OF IT, to use for valuable projects. However, in order to receive funding, a chapter must plan a well-organized and worthwhile project. This takes time. But where there is a will, there is a way.

1.       State Wildlife Department

Many states budget money from outdoor recreational license taxes for use in land procurement, protection of wildlife habitat, etc. Contact your wildlife department and apply for these funds. In states where applications are not made and the money is available, those funds are then used for other statewide projects. That becomes the outdoor lover's loss.

2.       Local Governmental Agencies - City and County

Often there are funds available for projects from city and county governmental agencies: This can come in the form of accommodation tax money, county licenses, etc. Contact both your city and county governmental agencies for information regarding acquiring money for chapter projects.

3.       Businesses and Corporations

Businesses and corporations generally budget a specific amount of funds annually for community projects. At the beginning of the new year, have your project in mind and approach these resources asking for funding. Remind them it is ail tax-deductible since WLA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

4.       Schools

This a great source of income if you can justify that your chapter's project will directly benefit school children of the community.

5.       For further information regarding fundraiser projects, material is available from National headquarters at a nominal fee.