KAMO – July, 2022 Newsletter
For comments related to this 4 page document, contact Mike

Website – If you have events coming up, please take the trouble to post them on your chapter?s page. Is your chapter even able to do that? A starting point is to have one person designated to modify your webpage. Examples of modifications would be adding pictures and posting upcoming activities. Please discuss this at your chapter?s next meeting. Once you have a designee, please have them call me at 608-799-5037 and I can walk them through it. It is easy, fast, and user friendly.
We’ve had over 800 visits to the website in the past 30 days, the highest monthly figure so far.

Gmail Accounts – Instructions have recently been sent to those chapters who have Gmail accounts about how to use your account information.
Scott Linssen of Coulee deserves our respect and appreciation for his work on the state Gmail account and putting the profile forms together.
They make a huge difference in efficiency and planning.

Challenge to group – We need a president. I (Mike) hold two positions at the chapter level and two at the state level, therefore I?m declaring myself off the candidate list. If someone steps up to the position though, I am in an excellent position to support and guide them to make it a minimal amount of work or worry for them. Would someone be willing to do it for one year? September 2022 – September 2023.

Event Advertising Experiment – The Coulee Chapter had a large event to which we wanted to attract a maximum number of people, but without spending much money advertising it. One of our mentors, Kati, took an average poster Mike made on Canva and made it more colorful and attractive. The original version was electronic. We had 60 of these printed and went to lengths to hang them in the area. We also had the electronic version of that poster put on Facebook, Nextdoor.com and sent to our KAMO group mailing list, to Boys and Girls and Big Brothers/ Big Sisters.
When the evening came for the event, we did have a good turnout and as people checked in, we asked how they heard about the event. No one mentioned they learned about it from a poster hanging somewhere.
Of two organizations where the poster?s electronic version was sent and we have a standing relationship – five BB/BS pairs came in (10 people), Three adult staff came with 11 kids from B & G (14) – All other participants (45) came in by word of mouth from mentors and their wives who organized the event.
The last time we had a convention, the chapter event organizers from around the state agreed that for the average outing, texting the parents of KAMOKIDS is the most effective means of communication and engaging participants.

Chapter Reports

Baraboo – The Baraboo River chapter met on July 11. We made final plans for a brat fry fundraiser that we did on July 30th at WCCU credit union in Baraboo. Although we didn’t have a great turnout, we still came away with $156 in sales and donations and we were able to get the KAMO name out in the community. All those that stopped by to support us said they are thankful for what we do, but unfortunately very few will actually get involved. Recently one of our mentors did a camping and canoe trip on the lower Wisconsin River, which he said was a real success. We will continue to move forward with the vision that KAMO was founded in regardless of the political or economic hardships we may face.

Tradition Forward.

Rick

Coulee – Our chapter had a Norskedalen fossil outing on July 2nd, already mentioned in the June Newsletter. We partnered with the Genoa Fish Hatchery on July 13th to hold a four station event on the hatchery grounds. USFWS did an archery station, USGS did a water quality station,and KAMO had bird calls/ ID and outdoor art. 34 kids and 10 parents/grandparents came to the event. Most were families local to the Genoa area.
The takeaway from partnering with other groups on activities is that it is beneficial for all. Spread out the duties, offer a little more. Build It and they will come.
Our pontoon rides are an annual open to the public event held on the Black River featuring views of both the refuge and the city of La Crosse. Kids are allowed to drive.
This is the ultimate build it and (hope) they will come – arranging with 10 pontoon owners to board passengers at the West Clinton Street docks means that we hope 65 – 80 riders show up. Then there?s always what mother nature has in mind that evening, often on short notice – will those dark clouds on the horizon not mentioned in the forecast skirt the area? We started advertising weeks in advance via posters, Facebook, word of mouth at our other events,and sending messages to churches. We had 36 kids and 33 adults come in for a ride including 3 adults,12 kids from Boys and Girls Club, 5 adults, 5 kids from Big Brothers/ Big Sisters.
We went to the West Salem Rod and Gun Club on the evening of July 28th. Nine youth,4 parents,and three mentors shot .22, shotguns,and archery. Two mentors took two kids to the Best Dam Fishing Float on the morning of July 29th.
One of our mentors, Jim March, bought and donated to our chapter a 20 gauge Stoeger semi auto shotgun. You rock Jim.

Dodge County Conservation – No activity in July

Meadow Valley – No activity in JUly

Northwoods – Hello from the Northeast Chapter,
We held our Hooked on Fishing event on July 9 and had about 22 kids with several first time fisher kids. There was a free lunch and each kid got a tee shirt and a new fishing pole and starter box to hit the water. Our can donation pick up is going great and we probably turned in over $1200 of aluminum the last year and a half!!! Our local taverns and restaurants have been donating cans to our group and a volunteer has been picking them up and turning them in. Consider working with some local establishments in your towns as this is a nice way to generate revenue.
The pheasants have been ordered already for our fall hunt and trap shoot as birds were becoming scarce due to bird flu.
We are looking into sponsoring a tubing event at the end of August to cover kids tube rental and provide a lunch with an Ok from the group.
As always, good things ahead, enjoy the rest of summer!

Johnny Johnson from Florence Wisconsin.

Yellow River –

“New mentor recruitment was discussed at our July meeting with an emphasis placed on ways to increase our name recognition in the area. One suggestion was to place an ad in the county-wide weekly paper describing the KAMO mission and inviting folks to attend a meeting or planned activity. We will also be attending the Central Wisconsin Outdoor Youth Day on September 10 where we will be manning a KAMO display. This will be a great way to introduce KAMO to a large audience (180+ kids attended last year’s event). This free event is open to youth16 and under and members in all KAMO groups are welcome to attend. The event will be held at the Central Wisconsin Sportsman’s Club in Marshfield, WI and take place rain or shine. Some further details as follows:

What: Rich Chronquist Central Wisconsin Outdoor Youth Day. NOTE: all youth must attend with an adult.
When: Saturday, September 10, 2022; 9 am -2 pm; lunch provided
Where: Central Wisconsin Sportsman’s Club, Marshfield, WI (Please note that parking at the event is limited to those with disabilities only. General parking is at Kobussen Busing, 1507 S Anton Av, Marshfield. Attendees will be bused to the site (10 minute ride).
Why: Gun safety and hunter education, BB gun,.22, and trap shooting; catch and release fishing; archery shoot; fly fishing and dog training demos; bean bag toss. All equipment provided.