KAMO February, 2024 Newsletter – 3 pages
For comments related to this document, contact Mike

President?s message – This is Kids And Mentors Outdoors president Mark Walters with my
monthly update.Last Saturday I joined The Northwood’s Chapter of KAMO “Florence area” for their annual kids ice fishing event.If a person ever needed to see how much KAMO can affect an area in a positive way this event proves it. Good people from all over the area come out
to help with the 3 annual events that Northwood’s holds and it is a lot of fun.My hats off to Northwood’s president Johnny Johnson for his get it done attitude.
Please remember that on Saturday, March 23rd we have our annual state members meeting at Stevens Point. There are just a few days left to submit your thoughts on who should receive the annual President’s Award which is given out at the state meeting, please send me your ideas and I will get the plaque made. Bob Nicksic of the Meadow Valley Chapter has been a solid Vice
President for this organization for several years. Bob is looking to be replaced and if anyone is interested, please give me a call, text or email.The work that Bob does for Meadow Valley and “The Joe” helps keep that chapter and The Joe on solid ground and we should all thank him for his years as one of KAMO’s VP’s.
I am the lucky person that see’s KAMO from the view point of 6 functional chapters. What we do in a year’s time is a beautiful thing.

Thank you very much,

Mark

Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expos (MOHEE) – Did you know that we have a partnership with this organization? A memorandum of understanding was drafted in 2023 that allows KAMO to set up promotional materials at MOHEE events.
The next opportunity would be at the MacKenzie Center on May 15 – 16th. The event hours are from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm each day.This is a Wednesday and Thursday and the youth that come in as participants are released from school to attend.
This is an enormously well attended event.

State Convention – Saturday, March 23rd, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, Schmeekle Reserve and Visitors Center, 2419 North Point Drive, Stevens Point.
Agenda items include: Planning for a December hunt which would be entirely different, ways to fund the state Treasury, ideas that have worked to attract more people as mentors, our insurance, does our waiver need rewording?, should we be looking for another liability insurance company?, Do we need forms such as thank you/ donation?
Officer positions. There will be some distribution of KAMO hoodies, hats, shirts.
Samples of golf shirts (polo) will be brought in so we can pick out a style and color that we can all live with. I (Mike) would like to leave the convention with the quantity and sizes. When they are completed, they will be shipped to your chapter.
Chapter leaders – Please keep track of the number of clothing items you leave the convention with so you can reimburse the state Treasury for what you took from the meeting.

Funding – Do you have any ideas for funding the state? A statewide raffle, seek sponsorships, sell donated boats/ other equipment. Please feel free to offer your ideas about this or any other topic.

Dues – Chapter dues for 2024 are coming up. They are still $600 and are payable before March. Jim Rydmark is the new treasurer. If you need his address, it is in the directory or you can get it from me (Mike). The Marshfield Chapter can disregard payment.

Chapter Reports –

Baraboo – The Baraboo River Chapter of KAMO held our monthly meeting on February 12th at River?s Edge. Our group recorded 134 hours in the past month of getting kids outdoors. Rick collected the annual dues from all members present for 2024. We discussed the upcoming State meeting on March 23rd, where Rick Miotke will represent our Chapter. The 2024 Joe Hunt dates will be a major topic at the State meeting since we are unable to get our ?normal? weekend of December 13?15th, 2024 at the MacKenzie Center. We did reserve the MacKenzie lodge & bunkhouses Dec 6?8th, 2024 but there are some restrictions. There are also some additional options that will be discussed.
We reviewed fundraising ideas for our Chapter as well as for the State. Raffles seemed to be a popular choice. We are planning an upcoming presentation for the Lake Delton Sportsman Club, which may result in additional donations/funding. AJ has volunteered to get some updated pictures of our group on our website and had an excellent idea of placing a brochure rack on the trailer to advertise our group?possibly a ?fish mailbox?. Our annual summer campout has been set for June 28th?30th at Juneau County Park and 5 campsites have been reserved. Our next meeting will be Monday March 11th at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center.
Thanks,
Greg

Coulee – Coulee has planned some activities for March and April with the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters – a bonfire/ activity night and a trip to the fishing float. There has been an on and off ban on fires in this area, so an adjustment may have to be made to emphasize activities in the event we can?t do a fire. Some of our mentors have planned a March 16th hunter education class.

Dodge County Conservation – DCC KAMO had a pretty slow month and had a lot of pending projects on the burners. Jim Braker and Lori Schultz took some kids to Icefest in Waupun and went to Marsh Haven nature center and a lot of activities were going on. The Organizer will be talking to our Chapter to coordinate things we can do together for next years event. There were a few of us that participated in the Conservation club Bunny Hunt and were very successful . I will send Mike a picture . March is going to be busy. Hunters Safety is on the calendar and the Open season expo is also planned.

Meadow Valley – ?6 people attended the February meeting with 1 visitor. We discussed the canceled ice fishing day and decided based on the weather to not reschedule this year and hold the poles and gear for the kids for next year. Aaron will be taking the Fishing Club to the fishing expo in Madison on the 25th.
No inquiries yet on the bow loaner program. Learn to hunt turkey training is March 23rd with the LTH on April 6 -7. We discussed the LTH bear program we did this past year and afte discussion have decided to do it again this year. Elections will take place at the next meeting

Northwoods – Hello from the Northwoods!
We pulled off our winter fishing event last Saturday with about 15 kids showing up and parents included. The ice was slick but we threw out 100 pounds of floor dry to add traction (excellent idea FYI). We had 4 large hub shacks set up over cribs and the kids had a blast sight fishing and catching lots of panfish. Mark Walters also joined us for the day with alot of good conversation and ideas. Our next fundraiser will be selling 50/50 tickets at the 3rd annual Uphill Truck Drags held at Keyes Peak in Florence March 9th. Last year we raised $750 by selling tickets for the Fire Dept, Ski Hill Committee and Snowmobile Club. For the summer coming up we hope to add a river float tube outing besides our annual fishing day. I hope to meet everyone at the state convention next month. Good things ahead!

Johnny Johnson from Florence Wisconsin