June Presidents Message




It’s been a busy first half of 2011.  It started off with a new governor in Madison which brought a lot of changes in the DNR.  We now have leadership in the DNR that are hunters themselves and understand what hunting means to Wisconsin residents and also what it means to our economy.  Then we moved on to the SCI Convention, the Hunters Rights Coalition (HRC) Summit and all the chapter banquets.  I have not heard of one chapter that didn’t have a great banquet.  Also, while we were preparing for our banquets we had to find time to go to Madison to testify for some of the new bills coming down to make hunting better not just for this year but into the future.  By time this is published the “bear bill” will be signed and hopefully the “deer bill” and “concealed carry” bills will be on the governor’s desk or already signed.  This would be an appropriate time for congratulate the man who has worked very hard for SCI in Wisconsin on not only these bills but for years for or against bills that would help or hurt hunting in Wisconsin.  He has been the voice of SCI in Madison working with our lobbyist Bob Welch and many other organizations to protect hunting and make it better here in Wisconsin.  Now our voice Greg “Kaz” Kazmierski has been appointed by Governor Walker to the Natural Resources Board and has been accepted with a unanimous vote.  Congratulations Kaz it will be nice to know we have a hunter with your dedication on that board.  You leave some very large shoes to fill.
While I’m giving out congratulations I would like everyone to congratulate and welcome our two new board members:  Susan Becker and Phil Raikowski.  Sue and her husband Mark have been great supporters of our chapter and Sue has been a volunteer for the last couple years.  With Sue’s background in education we are looking forward to having her help with our education and humanitarian programs.  Phil also has been a great supporter of ours and his enthusiasm and fresh ideas will be welcomed. 
I would also say thanks to our outgoing board members Keith Koback and Kris Marchel who both served multiple terms on the board and felt it was time to move on and bring some new people with new ideas to the board.  Thank you for your many years of dedication.  Keith has served as a secretary, treasurer and vice president in his time on the board.  We were assured he would still be a strong volunteer in the future.  Our vice president, Bob Jakusz, was also re-elected to his 3rd term on the Board.
Our fall social has moved this year to Rookies on the south side of Stevens Point.  Bob Jakusz has been very generous through the years allowing us to hold it at his business (Club 10). We felt it was time though to take it to a larger hall and add a nice buffet dinner. This is to bring in more of our membership and their families.  See our ad for details.  We had a great social last year and are looking for an even better event this year.  Another change for this year is a ticket holder can bring family members for a reduced rate.  They just won’t be in the big 10 raffle drawing, but will enjoy the dinner, drinks, and can play all the other raffles at the social.  So get your tickets now;  there will only be 300 available.
Congratulations again to Phil & Sue on becoming our newest board members, and Kaz for his appointment to the Natural Resources Board.







Joseph Koback - President 

Central Wisconsin Trophy Record Book