Membership News - September 23, 2008

1. MPGA Board Meeting - September 28:

Board of Directors - Sunday, September 28, 2008 at 9:00 AM. Location is the Holiday Inn on Odlin Road in Bangor.

General Membership - Sunday, December 7, 2008 at 9:00 AM. Location is the Holiday Inn on Odlin Road in Bangor.

Members are welcome to attend all Board meetings.

2. MPGA Celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day

Congressionally Appointed Commemoration Set for Sept. 27

MPGA's "Events Committee" will be in full action this weekend to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day -- the 37th annual, Congress-appointed, president-proclaimed celebration of hunters, anglers and conservation. We hope you can join us and share in the celebration.

The fourth Saturday of every September is a formal reminder for Americans who forget that wildlife and wild places exist only because of leadership and funding from hunters and anglers. Together, they keep our country's unique conservation system strong. MPGA works hard in Augusta to remind lawmakers who pays for these programs - sportsmen!

MPGA will be at L.LBean on Saturday and Sunday, and at Kittery Trading Post on Saturday. The Events Committee is providing two hunting presentations at L.L.Bean. On Saturday, MPGA member Jerome Richard will talk about taking youth hunters on archery deer hunts; and MPGA member Capt. John Nowinski will put on a talk about sea duck hunting on Sunday.

Special thanks to all the members who volunteered to help, including John Nowinski, Jerome Richard, Charlie Hamel, Wayne Dillon, Robert Demchak and Don Dudley. Thanks also to MPGA members Debbie Doyon, Don Kleiner, Stephen Philbrick, Joel Gott and Denise Murchison who have volunteered to help our Events Committee.

If you would like to help at future events, contact Don Dudley at ddudley@hughes.net. Next up is "Hunters' Gear Up Weekend" at Kittery Trading Post, October 18 & 19.

3. MPGA Fundraising Raffles in Full Swing:

Now is the best time to sell Raffle Tickets, and they are indeed selling! The Super Raffle is our major fundraiser. Its success is vital to MPGA's continued efforts in Augusta.

It’s no secret that outsiders away from this state, and some from within, spend many countless hours plotting and seeking to dismantle our guiding traditions, and for most of us, our livelihoods. Although it pains us to think that some people with nothing at stake would take time out of their lives to harass us for doing what we do, it is sad but true…

They are out there. They want to put you out of business. And they work hard raising money every day to fight us in the legislature, elsewhere in Augusta, in the courts, and at the polls.

Each and every one of us has an ultimate responsibility to defend what we know is right. What we know is ours. Our livelihood. Despite the flurry of things we must take care of in the upcoming months, we must not forget to also sharpen our defenses.

Your hunters and guests will buy Raffle Tickets - all you need to do is show them your recent MPGA newsletters, and then -

• Explain that the money goes toward MPGA's lobbying effort in Augusta to maintain their privilege to hunt in Maine.
• Explain that MPGA lead the fight to protect bear hunting in Maine.
• Explain that MPGA created the Deer Task Force to re-build northern Maine's deer herd.
• Explain that MPGA created the Sportsman/Forest Landowner Alliance to maintain access for hunting opportunities.
• Explain that MPGA participates in many Task Forces and Committees to maintain access for hunting, fishing and boating. Including:
  • Deer Predation Task Force
  • Resource Agency Consolidation Task Force
  • The Governor's Task Force on the Management of Public Lands
  • The Governor's Task Force on Access for Traditional Uses
  • Eco-Reserve Advisory Council
  • The Allagash Advisory Council
  • The Maine Tourism Commission
  • The Governor's Nature Tourism Task Force
  • The Bureau of Parks & Lands Management Planning Committees
  • The Land for Maine's Future funds that buy lands and access rights for hunting
  • The Governor's Green Infrastructure Committee
  • The Land Use Regulatory Commission

4. Elk Hunt Raffle:

At $5 each or 6 for $25, the Elk Hunt has been a great seller so far this year! You saw the tickets in your June and August newsletters. Cut them out and sell them. Or contact us for more preprinted tickets.

This Idaho Elk Hunt is worth $4,250.00 and was donated by MPGA member Joe Cabral. Let's all help make it worth his generous pledge.

Remember - get your tickets to us by October 25. The winner will be drawn on October 26.

Send the tickets to:

Rick Hill
1517 Shin Pond Road
Mount Chase, ME 04765

For more Elk Hunt Raffle Tickets - check your newsletter or send an email to info@maineguides.org. You can also download a newsletter here.

5. Sell Super Raffle Tickets - Earn a New Marlin Rifle!:

Remember, we award prizes to anyone who sells lots of Super Raffle Tickets!

• Sell $1,500 in tickets - win a Marlin Guide Gun with MPGA emblem. If this will be your second Guide Gun, you will receive a stainless model.
• Sell $1,000 in tickets - win a $200 LL Bean Gift Certificate.
• Sell $500 in tickets - win a $100 LL Bean Gift Certificate.

For info on the incentive program, and a printable Contest Entry Form, visit MPGA's Super Raffle Contest webpage. You must send a Contest Entry Form along with your sales receipts in order to be credited for all your sales.

For other information on the incentive program, and for pre-printed tickets, contact Bert Goodman at (207) 528-2320.

6. Donate a Super Raffle Prize:

Donating a prize trip helps you sell tickets.

It is like selling your clients a chance for a free hunting or fishing trip next year. No need to have a special raffle of your own. Remember, winners will bring friends with them next year - and they pay their own way. You increase your sales, while helping MPGA fight for you.

Members who donate trips will have their prize info added to our Super Raffle website. Each donated trip is listed with a description and link to your own website.

Lock In Your Customer

If your guests win a trip, MPGA wants them to return to your outfit! You can assure this by becoming a trip donor. It takes less than one minute to do this.

Contact Bert Goodman if you wish to donate a trip and need a Trip Donor Form - (207) 528-2320. Or simply CLICK HERE to download a Trip Donor form. PRINT it. Fill out the form by hand. Mail it immediately to:

John Rust
P.O. Box 459
Hampden, ME 04444

7. Super Raffle Questions:

If you have any questions or need more tickets, please contact Bert Goodman at:

Tel: 207-528-2320
E-mail: info@northcountrylodge.com
Mail Address: P.O. Box 323, Patten Maine 04765

Thank you all very much, and good luck this season.

Visit the MPGA Website for more news and info.