KAMO – June, 2022 Newsletter
For comments related to this document, contact Mike

President?s remarks – Hello to all KAMO members and friends of KAMO,
This will be my last report as President of KAMO for now and maybe for good. Last month I wrote that I was going to be ending my tenure as of 7-15/2022 as I was going to be taking care of my girlfriend Michelle Chiaro as she battled a stage 1 case of breast cancer. We had a year of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation in front of us but the prognosis was for a 100 percent recovery so we never did anything but look to the future.
On June 12th Michelle became very ill but her doctors thought it was due to a strong batch of chemo. On June 14th Michelle was medflighted to Meriter Hospital in Madison and she passed away 24-hours later. I understand that we all have to pass away but I am completely out of my element. We had been together just over five years and were a 100 percent team.
I have so much grief that I cannot think straight, my hourly cure is to keep my body moving and stay out of the house. I am sad to say that I have to step away from KAMO for the time being in order to save myself. I earn a living as an outdoor columnist and have for 33-years, I honestly do not even know how I can do that but I literally have to.
I have been the only President of KAMO and it has been an honor and a privilege to help as many kids as possible and bring so many adults together for such an excellent cause. I am hoping that someone steps up to the plate and takes over the helm of this excellent ship,
Yours truly,
Mark G Walters
Gmail account/ Electronic Forms – Two chapters are actively using this process. Scott and I (MIke) meet periodically during the summer and can arrange to give your chapter a boost with your computer stuff. Let us help you establish a gmail account and start with the electronic forms.
President Replacement – Unless someone from within the KAMO group steps up, we are going to have to find someone outside the organization. In the meantime, the Vice Presidents – Bob Nicksic and and Mike Brown can be contacted for any matters the president might normally handle.

Chapter Reports

Baraboo – The Baraboo River Chapter met on June 13 at Rivers Edge Resort. The main part of our meeting was to finalize plan for our annual camping trip, which did happen, but as the old saying goes, “The best laid plans” don’t always work out. We found that to be true as one of our mentors, who was bringing 5 of the 6 kids attending, tested positive for covid just a couple days before the trip, so a painful decision was made to cancel the camping weekend. We will be planning a trip for next year, but we are unable to book any sites as the area we normally stay at will be going through renovations with some tree removal, new electric hookups, and new roads being put in. Our goal is to book the last weekend in June, so if there are other chapters that would like to join in, put it on your calendars. We will be doing some recruiting and advertising at the DEZ Tactical Arms anniversary celebration on July 27 and then having a brat fry fundraiser at the Co-op Credit Union right up the street on Saturday July 30 from 10-2pm. Hopefully we get some new individuals interested in sewing the love and skills they have for the great outdoors, into the next generation of sports men and women. Our slogan “Tradition Forward” is the reality that if it is not passed on it will be lost forever. KAMO is a great organization and I am proud to be part of a great group of men and women who have taken the slogan to heart.

Rick Miotke

Coulee – Our chapter had a fishing day and a Bugs,Bugs, and more Bugs event as soon as school got out. The fishing event location changed to Pettibone Park because of high water. The bug event was a first time activity, primarily focused on dragonflies. This is an excellent learning and hands on topic if you have a bug enthusiast in your area.
We had two fossil hunting outings at Norskedalen on June 12th where 29 people showed up between the two times. There are Norwegian settler buildings on site at Norskedalen and kids really ask a lot of questions when touring them. We went to Holmen Rod and Gun on June 28th. We had an event at the Genoa Fish Hatchery on June 29th – a video, a tour of the interpretive center, holding live sturgeon, feeding fish, and Scott?s lemonade.
Some of our kids graduated from high school and will be moving on. Some of these kids still come to our activities and one, Tony, served as a mentor at the rod and gun. Between the electronic forms, mentor enthusiasm about running events, and the lower risk from covid, this chapter has been more active. We have taken on 3 new families who collectively have 5 kids this month.
The La Crosse Tribune runs a story on a local nonprofit every Monday and on Monday,June 13th there was a KAMO article. Mike traveled to Whitehall to talk with representatives of U.W. Extension and Trempealeau County to see what it would take to get some mentors in that county.

Dodge County Conservation – Dodge County Conservation KAMO held a Brat Fry on June 25th at the Beaver Dam Piggly Wiggly. It was well attended even with the gloomy weather. More information was handed to a lot of interested people. 5 Members of DCC KAMO attended the DNR classes to become Hunter Safety Instructors and will be holding a class in early August. Discussion was talked about having a KAMO Bowling event as well as Having some Kids go and Visit Marsh Haven on the North end of Horicon Marsh to learn about all the things that go on in the Horicon Marsh Wildlife area . A motion was made at our last meeting to sell the Pontoon Boat that was gifted to the Chapter. It was tabled until the next meeting on Tuesday June 28th at 6.30 pm at Tower Lanes In Beaver Dam

Meadow Valley – Our June shooting event and meeting ended up getting canceled due to a tornado outbreak in the area that night. We will be meeting again on July 13th to discuss summer events and continued participation with the New Lisbon Fishing Club.

Aaron

Northwoods – This chapter is holding its Hooked on Fishing event the weekend of July 9th.

Yellow River – Did not meet in June due to scheduling conflicts.