LET’S GET COOKING

MCAA is putting together a new cookbook.  We plan to have it available by Mother’s Day.  Please send wild game recipes to Marsha Jones or Joannie Bledsoe.  Include any pertinent stories about your dish or photos of the hunt.  We will try to use as many recipes as we can.  We need all recipes by February 28, 2006.

NAWEOA
Each year MCAA sponsors members to attend the annual North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association conference.  For the 2006, conference the board has approved sending the President, one board member, one member in good standing, and one new member.  A new member is defined as a person who joined MCAA since August 30, 2005, or is a person who has been a previous member and has rejoined since August 30, 2005.  MCAA will provide $1000.00 each to the four members selected. The drawing to select the lucky members will be held at the MCAA meeting on January 30, 2006.  This years’ NAWEOA conference will be held in Quebec City, Quebec.

COPS
We have been helping Concers for Police Survivors for several years now.  See what Oklahoma has to say about us.

NAWEOA MUSEUM
Kudos’ to all who helped to support the NAWEOA Museum with your $5.00 donation.  The Memorial Gardens are moving right along.  Previous donations have been made in memory of Mike Bethel, District Supervisor, and Garret Coffman, Conservation Agent.  They both have a stone to honor their service, which was paid for with funds from friends and loved ones. 

YOUTH DEER HUNTS

In 2004 MCAA sponsored 11 kids from Deaf Camp participants to get together youth deer season weekend to have a go at taking a whitetail deer.  We sponsored an additional 8 participants in 2005.  The hunts took place at H. Roe Bartle Boy Scout Camp and Randolph County landowner Glenn Spotts farm. Several of the kids were successful and all had a great time.

WE NEED YOUR HELP-
Booths at UBM and Compton Conferences

United Bowhunters of Missouri and Compton Traditional Archery have been great supporters for the Outdoors Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Kids.  Through this working relationship   Dennis Garrison has been granted booth space at both of these events.  UBM’s conference will be held in Jefferson City in February and at Compton’s in Michigan in June.  All proceeds from these booths will be earmarked for future MCAA support of the camp.  *Dennis could use some volunteers to man the booth in Jefferson City.

MCAA on the WEB

We’re back!  Next time you are on the internet check out www.moagent.com.  It is a work in progress by Rob Brandenburg.  In the future, you will find information on Association activities, Deaf Camp, scholarships and more.  In the members only area you will find information on membership, and minutes of the past board meetings.  If you have any information you would like posted, send it to Rob at rbranden@misn.com.  If you want access the member’s only area contact Rob for details.

Y-HEC

 In 2004 and 2005, MCAA sponsored events at the annual Y-HEC event. We were impressed to see a couple of members coaching their own teams.  Good Job, Rob and Bob! 

MCAA sponsored the Missouri Conservation Agents Association Wild Game, Fish, and Nature’s Harvest Cook-Off at the Missouri State Fair in August, 2005.  Once again lots of good stuff made it to the table and the recipes will be printed in the State Fair Cookbook.  We will also be reprinting the winning recipes in our new cookbook later this year.  There is still time to get your name in the hat to be a judge for the 2006 competition.  Check with KC Rep. Andy Bullock for details.

Catastrophic Relief

The past two years have been harder on some of us than others.  MCAA has been very fortunate to be able to offer financial assistance to those in need.  Some have been members of our Association, some Department employees.  Others like the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita are merely kindred spirits in other states.