1998 Chapter Summary

The Show-Me Chapter sponsored the 9^th annual Missouri Natural Resources Conference with Missouri Chapters of the American Fisheries Society, The Wildlife Society and the Society of American Foresters. Appreciation awards were presented to several chapter members and annual awards were presented for Professional Conservationist, Volunteer of the Year, Conservation Educator, News Media, and the President’s Award. The $500 chapter scholarship was also presented. The chapter president, past-president, and president-elect participated in both 1998 Missouri Quad-society Presidents’ Council meetings.

The chapter executive council conducted four meetings and one teleconference. The spring meeting was held at the Monsanto International Research Headquarters in St. Louis. A teleconference was held to approve sponsorship and seed funding for a northeast Missouri manure management conference. The chapter’s Northwest Area hosted a golf tournament and meeting and earned $50 in profits for the chapter.

The chapter education program included sponsoring travel expenses for six minority high school students to participate in the Missouri Natural Resources Career Camp; SWCS cartoon booklet sales; and the annual $500 scholarship. A committee was formed to develop a permanent funding source or trust for the scholarship. The chapter launched a web site with assistance from the University of Missouri with links to other state conservation societies and agencies. The chapter is a charter partner in the Missouri Watershed Information Network. Four timely newsletters were published. The chapter display was overhauled this year. The topic of the annual Fall Forum, held in southwest Missouri, was "Livestock and Streams: Compatible or Catastrophic." Jay Truitt, Missouri Cattlemen's Association, and Ray Evans, Mo. Department of Conservation, gave lively and entertaining arguments. Affiliated membership in the Conservation Federation of Missouri continued and chapter representatives served on key committees. A sponsoring legislator was informed of the chapter’s position on state flood protection legislation.

Ten members and their families participated in the SWCS Annual Meeting in San Diego. Five members participated in the Chapter Development Workshop and five members presented technical papers. Bob Ball received a commendation award and the President’s Citation. The chapter received a Chapter Achievement Award for sponsoring the 1998 Missouri Natural Resources Conference.