VOLUNTEERS WITH OTG KICK-OFF MUCC'S 80TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN THE GRATIOT-SAGINAW SGA
Last weekend, a group of volunteers and MUCC Staff members helped kick-off MUCC’s 80th Annual Convention by building five large brush piles in the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area. The Gratiot-Saginaw SGA was the first project location for MUCC’s On the Ground (OTG) program when it began in March of 2013. Since then, five more wildlife habitat improvement projects have been completed in that area in various fields and wildlife openings. In the Gratiot-Saginaw SGA alone, an estimated 50 brush piles have been built by volunteers through MUCC’s wildlife habitat improvement program. Thank you to the volunteers and staff members that represented MUCC and its affiliates last weekend!
For me, it wasn’t out of routine to plan for a day of habitat work in the field as I coordinate 25 or more of these events throughout the year. Other MUCC staff including Executive Director-Dan Eichinger, Education Director-Shaun McKeon, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator-Anna Mitterling, Digital Media Coordinator-Logan Schultz, Policy Assistant-Ashley Bur, and Policy Intern-Alonzo all traded in a day in the office for a day in the field to participate in the event. Other volunteers included Jason Dinsmore representing the National Wildlife Federation Regional Center, Carol Rose representing the Upper Black River Council, dedicated OTG volunteer Doug Reeves, dedicated OTG volunteer Bill Dawson, local hunter Bob Orr, and local recreationist Marti Eisenlord.
The habitat event was followed by a picnic dinner at the Shiawassee Conservation Association to commence MUCC’s 80th Annual Convention. This club was the location that MUCC was originated at in 1937. The remainder of the weekend involved important policy making procedures such as regional club delegates voting on this years proposed resolutions. Interactions between various club members and local residents to Michigan’s many State Game Areas are important to the success of conservation policy and practices. Events offered by programs such as OTG present many opportunities for those interactions. If you’ve missed out, keep up to date with upcoming wildlife habitat improvement events throughout the state with On the Ground here!
Coming up on July 8th, 2017 we will be partnering with Roger Hinchcliff of Steelhead Manifesto and the Metro West Steelheaders for the third annual Manistee River clean-up. The Manistee River is one of the finest steelhead, salmon, and trout rivers in Michigan and the Great Lakes area and is one of the most diverse fisheries in the country. See more details and RSVP to volunteer here! Can’t make that one? Join us on Saturday, July 15th, to clean up a popular section of the Clinton River with the Metro West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council (CRWC); see more details and RSVP to volunteer here!
MUCC’s On The Ground Program is supported by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division
