3/19/2008

What is a Youth Leader?

A Youth Leader is a Pheasants Forever Ringnecks or Quail Forever Whistlers member age 10 – 16 who likes wildlife and is interested in hunting, conservation and being outdoors.  Serving on the Youth Leadership Council, you will be a spokesperson for other youth your age on a variety of conservation and hunting subjects.  You will be part of a group of 20 youth who will be asked to give your opinion on various topics:

·         What should be included on a website for Ringnecks and Whistlers members?

·         How can we improve our magazines?

·         What are some ways that we can get youth to participate more in outdoor activities?

·         What types of activities would you like to participate in if you attended a Conservation Field Day?

 

Qualifications to be a Youth Leader:

·         Must be nominated by a Pheasants Forever (PF) or Quail Forever (QF) Chapter.

·         Must be a current Ringnecks or Whistlers member.

·         Must have participated in a PF or QF chapter-sponsored event.

·         Must like being in the outdoors and interested in wildlife and outdoor activities like hunting and fishing.

·         Must be no younger than 10 and no older than 16.

·         Must have access to a computer and an email address.

·         Must agree to regularly check emails (once per week) and respond to requests for input or assignments.

·         Must be willing to have your photo and brief bio published in the Upland Tales magazine and on the PF and QF websites.

·         Must have permission from your parents to serve on the Youth Leadership Council.

 

What you will be asked to do:

If you are selected to be on the Youth Leadership Council, your photo and a brief biography will be published in the Upland Tales magazine and put on the PF & QF websites.  You will be contacted occasionally by the PF & QF Youth Program Specialist to get your opinion on a topic of interest to PF or QF regarding youth.  You will be asked to give the best answers you can that you think will represent you and your friends and your age group.  You will be asked to serve as a Youth Leader for at least two years.

 

 

Rich Wissink, the Pheasants Forever Youth Program Coordinator, recently polled the NYLC and asked them for a list of their accomplishments.  It was a pretty amazing list and here are some of the highlights:

 

As a group they have determined what positions (Committee Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Specialist and Fund Raising Specialist) would make up the NYLC Leadership Committee and then held a national election on the web site and magazine to fill those positions. Every NYLC member has helped at their local chapter level with banquets, fund raisers, youth events, habitat projects, etc.  Several are active in other conservation organizations as well. Several of the NYLC are voting members on their local chapter’s committee and hold a committee position.  Two are the first women and youth on their respective committees.
All have been active in promoting the farm bill by making copies of PF or QF action alerts and distributing them at banquets, giving talks at schools and in their communities, contacting law makers, etc.
Several attend and help work at state or district meetings.
Many have done radio shows, written articles for PF or QF magazines, written articles or been interviewed by local or state media.
Most have attended Pheasant Fest(s) and have worked along side staff or volunteers.  Some have even given seminars at PFest.
Three members have contacted law makers in their states to discuss restrictive age limits when it comes to introducing kids to hunting.  Two have testified in front of state law makers.
Each has made a pledge to mentor one young person from their area who does not have an opportunity to be introduced to outdoor activities or conservation.  They have pledged to include that person in outdoor activities every two months.
All are active in a variety of other conservation organizations, community organizations, sports or clubs at school and spending time outdoors.
 

 

Eddie Johnson is the Kansas representative on the Pheasants Forever National Youth Leadership Council.  He is a Russell High school student.  The Black Gold chapter nominated Eddie for the youth council and he has been a member for two years and recently accepted the Treasurer position.

 

Eddie will be raffling off a Pheasants Forever $1,000 Life Membership on March 29, 2008 at the Black Gold banquet. The membership Includes: PF decal, Membership card, 5 issues of PF Journal, Framed Life Member Certificate, Gold Pin, Boyt® Custom Canvas and Leather Travel Set and recognition in PF Journal.  You can purchase a chance to win for $10 or three chances for $25.  All the proceeds will benefit the National Youth Leadership Council.

 

You can call 785-324-0692 – Eddie Johnson or 785-483-9780 – Micky Johnson to purchase chances for the life membership.  You do not have to be present to win.

 

Unfortunately he has never placed a bio in the Pheasants Forever magazine.  This is some information I have about Eddie.  Eddie is a junior at Russell High school.  He participates in Football, Track, Power Lifting, and Kay club. He is an academic letterman. He is the self appointed #1 Bronco fan dressing in wild red and blue clothing and has even worn a sign to school stating his status as the #1 bronco fan.   Next week he will be attending the Leadership: On and Off the Field Conference at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. He has been an avid hunter for 6 yrs and recently started duck/goose calling.  He will attend the World Champion Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, AR this year.  He loves to be outdoors and is also a member the Duck Unlimited Board.