Dear Members,
It’s hard to believe February is here already and our annual banquet is just
around the corner. 2006 was an exceptionally good year for pheasant hunting in
North Dakota. Some credit needs to be given to mother nature, but I know that is
the hard work and support from sponsors and members of Pheasants for the Future
to get bird populations to the numbers they are. Pheasants for the Future is
celebrating its 25th Aniversary this year, so we are putting together a very
special banquet to commemorate this occasion.
With the huge response at last years banquet, we have been working with the
Holiday Inn to accommodate for such a large crowd. The dining and main auction
are the only activities that will be conducted in entire coliseum room. All of
the gaming raffles, club information tables, chick sign up, clothing and mug
sales, and silent auction will in the convention center. This is going to allow
for much more seating during dinner. There is additional parking at the ND State
Fair Grounds, and we are supplying a shuttle service from there to the Holiday
Inn.
We are excited for this to be the best banquet ever, so mark your calendars for
March 16, 2007 at the Holiday Inn in Minot. The doors will open at 5:00 pm and
the banquet meal begins at 7:00 pm. The gaming activities start at 5:00 pm. And
continue through the evening until the main auction begins at 8:00 pm. We have 7
raffle tables where every ticket holder is a guaranteed winner! There will be a
silent auction, a 50 item table, a 30 item table, a gun safe, and two additional
gun tables to be raffled off. We encourage members to bring along return address
stamps to expedite the buying process of tickets. Our annual collector’s mugs
will be sold for $10.00 each which entitles you to drink free keg beer until the
kegs are gone, or bar pour mixed drinks for $2.25/drink. As a reminder, if you
do win a gun, we will fill out the paperwork the night of the banquet but, you
will have to go to Scheels to pick up your gun. For legal reasons we cannot
release the guns the night of the banquet.
Enclosed are two banquet tickets, one for you and another for someone you might
know who would like to join our fine organization and attend a great banquet.
The cost is still $30.00 per member, but for just $15.00 your spouse can join
you at the banquet. Fill out the banquet ticket stub and mail it with your
membership fee to: Pheasants for the Future, Inc, PO Box 594, Minot ND 58702.
Please get it to us by March 9th so we can have your name on the membership list
and reduce your waiting time. If you’d like to spend the night, call the Holiday
Inn at 701-852-2504 or 1-800-468-9968 by March 1st to reserve your room at a
special rate of $45.00
We will again offer 50 newborn pheasant chicks to our members that are
interested in raising and releasing birds. A deposit of $10.00 entitles you to a
coupon for a free 50lb bag of chick starter feed. The pheasant chicks will be
available for you to pick up at the Punkin’ Patch Pheasant Ranch in mid May.
Pheasant chicks will not be given to commercial enterprises.
We will again sponsor several summer camps. As a member, you can enter your
child’s name for the Triangle Y Fishing Camp (age 8-14), and the Youth
Conservation Camp (age 12-16). We’ll announce the lucky youngsters at the
banquet. Also, any youth who shot a pheasant with a leg band on one of our Youth
Hunting Area’s must contact a board member. Each youth will receive a Pheasant
for the Future cap and will have his/her name placed in a drawing to win a
shotgun.
The Board of Directors would like to extend a huge “Thank You” for your
continued support. We remain the largest wildlife club in Northwestern ND! Our
winter feed program helps keep birds alive and close to cover during the harsh
winter months. Our organization has been instrumental in the release of over
520,000 birds in the past 25 years. Our habitat program continues to grow. We
want to help landowners develop suitable pheasant habitat that remains open to
public hunting. We are expanding our youth programs, promoting good hunting
opportunities and ethics in our future hunters. You will find several tables set
up at the banquet with interesting information on our programs, so please stop
by, visit with a board member and pick up some literature. You should be very
proud of your club. The money raised at the banquet stays in the local area and
helps local people do a great job making a positive impact for the benefit of
wildlife.
Please plan to join your friends and fellow members for a chance to take home
over 80 guns, hunting pups, wildlife prints, a gun safe, accessories for your
den or cabin, and hunting and fishing gear galore! Bring your spouse and enjoy
one of the finest meals in town. We look forward to seeing you again at the
Holiday Inn on Friday, March 16th.
The Board of Directors
