MEETING AGENDA

The following agenda is from the 2022 MAFWA Directors Meeting which has passed. 

Monday, June 27, 2022
2:00pm - 6:00pm (MT)	Conference Registration Desk Open Located at Creekside Lodge
4:30pm - 6:00pm (MT)	MAFWA Executive Committee Meeting Located at Creekside Lodge in the Norbeck Room
4:30pm - 6:00pm (MT)	Custer State Park Visitor Center Custer State Park Visitor Center is a great starting point for your stay. Stop in and chat with the knowledgeable staff or take a break in the 100-seat theater and watch the 20 minute movie that plays every half hour.
6:30pm - 9:00pm (MT)	Welcome to South Dakota! Presented by: Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden Located at Creekside Lodge; Heavy hors d'oeuvres available. Co-sponsored by South Dakota Parks & Wildlife Foundation and Bass Pro Shops
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
7:00am - 4:00pm (MT)	Conference Registration Desk Open Located at Creekside Lodge
7:00am - 8:00am (MT)	Breakfast Buffet Located at the Pavilion Sponsored by National Wild Turkey Federation; Remarks by Becky Humphries
8:00am - 8:30am (MT)	Welcome to South Dakota Located at the Event Barn Kevin Robling, South Dakota Cabinet Secretary Honor Guard (Conservation Officers) and Pledge of Allegiance
8:30am - 10:30am (MT)	Hot Topic RAWA Session Located at the Event Barn Facilitator: Kevin Robling Each state director will discuss how they are preparing to be RAWA Ready and what MAFWA’s role should be. In addition, we’ll identify any issues that might need to be discussed and/or resolved by AFWA/USFWS joint committee before RAWA implementation.
10:30am - 10:45am (MT)	Refreshment Break Located at the Event Barn Sponsored by National Archery in the Schools
10:45am - 11:45am (MT)	Customer Service and New Technology Located at the Event Barn Presented by: Emily Kiel and Nick Harrington Meeting Customers Where They Are License Sale Opportunities and Challenges South Dakota Go Outdoors E-Commerce System Marketing to Diverse User Groups R3 and Relevancy as strategies What’s Next?
11:45am - 12:00pm (MT)	HuntSafe in the Schools Located at the Event Barn Presented by: Brandon Maahs
12:00pm - 1:30pm (MT)	Awards Luncheon Located at the Pavilion Presented by: The Awards Committee—Kendra Wecker, Chair Sponsored by Sovereign Sportsman Solutions; Remarks by Eric Richey
1:30pm - 2:30pm (MT)	Director Panel Discussion with Questions and Answers: Workforce Challenges and Opportunities for Recruitment and Retention Located at the Event Barn Facilitated by: Chris Hull Competing Interests Employee Marketplace Seasonal Opportunities Remote Work Expectations Employee Values Law Enforcement Recruitment
2:30pm - 2:45pm (MT)	Refreshment Break Located at the Event Barn Sponsored by National Shooting Sports Foundation
2:45pm - 4:00pm (MT)	Working with Landowners Located at the Event Barn Facilitated by: Tom Kirschenmann Key Areas of Discussion: Habitat and Access Priority | Presented by Paul Coughlin Private Lands Habitat and Access Programs | Presented by Mark Norton Aquatics Habitat and Access Programs | Presented by Jake Davis Wildlife Damage Management Program | Presented by Mike Klosowski Law Enforcement Responsibilities | Presented by Sam Schelhaas
4:00pm - 4:15pm (MT)	Director Group Photo
4:30pm - 6:30pm (MT)	Special Activities: Fly Fishing*, Lover’s Leap Hike, Lakeside Breather Legion Lake, Wildlife Jeep Tour See details below. *If fly fishing, must purchase a 1 day non-resident fishing license.
6:30pm - 8:00pm (MT)	Dinner – “The Game Lodge Cookout!” Located at the Pavilion Sponsored by Brandt Information Services; Remarks by Richard Wise
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
7:00am - 4:00pm (MT)	Conference Registration Desk Open Located at Creekside Lodge
7:00am - 8:00am (MT)	Breakfast Buffet Located at the Pavilion Sponsored by Archery Trade Association; Remarks by Dan Forster
8:00am - 9:30am (MT)	Managing and Taking Care of Public Lands Located at the Event Barn Habitat Stamp Implementation Projects | Presented by Tom Kirschenmann Aquatic Infrastructure Overview | Presented by Jake Davis Game Production Area Management | Presented by Paul Coughlin CREP Management | Presented by Mark Norton State Parks Habitat Success | Presented by Ryan Persoon
9:30am - 9:45am (MT)	Discussion on Science and Research Priorities Located at the Event Barn Presented by: Russ Mason, State of Michigan
9:45am - 10:00am (MT)	Discovering and Building the Conservation Decision-Making Tools Located at the Event Barn Presented by: Jen Mock Schaeffer, Independent Contractor for Wildlife Management Institute
10:00am - 10:15am (MT)	Refreshment Break Located at the Event Barn Sponsored by Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
10:15am - 10:45am (MT)	AFWA Report Located at the Event Barn Presented by: Tony Wasley, AFWA President; Ron Regan, AFWA Executive Director
10:45am - 11:45am (MT)	Federal Partners Session Located at the Event Barn U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Charlie Wooley, Region 3, Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Matt Hogan, Region 6, Director U.S. Forest Service—Karl D. Malcolm, Ph.D., Acting Renewable Resources Director USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services—Keith Wehner, Western Region Director USGS Midwest Climate Center—Mark Gaikowski, Center Director, Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center
11:45am - 12:00pm (MT)	Prairie City USA Located at the Event Barn Presented by: Pat Conzemius, Wildlife Forever
12:00pm - 1:00pm (MT)	Lunch Buffet Located at the Pavilion Sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises; Remarks by Mitch Strobl
1:00pm - 2:00pm (MT)	MAFWA Committee Reports Located at the Event Barn Facilitated by: Ollie Torgerson, MAFWA Executive Secretary Climate Change Deer and Wild Turkey Feral Swine Furbearers Hunter and Angler Recruitment and Retention Law Enforcement CITES Private Lands Public Lands Chronic Wasting Disease Wildlife Diversity Wildlife and Fish Health
2:00pm - 2:15pm (MT)	Refreshment Break Located at the Event Barn Sponsored by Airgun Sporting Association
2:15pm - 4:30pm (MT)	Highlighting South Dakota’s Resources and Telling the Story Located at the Event Barn Peregrine Falcon Recovery in SD | Casey Heimerl Pheasant Harvest History and Weather Models | Travis Runia Elk Management | Andy Lindbloom Missouri River Fishery | Jake Davis Aquatic Invasive Species | Tanner Davis Big Horn Sheep Recovery | Chad Lehman Telling the Story | Nick Harrington
4:30pm - 6:30pm (MT)	Special Activities: Fly Fishing*, Lover’s Leap Hike, Lakeside Breather Legion Lake, Wildlife Jeep Tour See details below. *If fly fishing, must purchase a 1 day non-resident fishing license.
6:30pm - 8:00pm (MT)	Dinner – “The Dakota Field & Stream Buffet” Located at the Pavilion Co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited and Canadian NAWMP Partners; Remarks by Jamie Rader and Stephen Carlyle, CEO, Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation
Thursday, June 30, 2022
7:00am - 11:00am (MT)	Conference Registration Desk Open Located at Creekside Lodge
7:00am - 8:00am (MT)	Breakfast Buffet Located at the Pavilion Sponsored by ACI Worldwide; Remarks by Justin Dull
8:00am - 10:00am (MT)	MAFWA Business Meeting Located at the Event Barn Colleen Callahan, MAFWA President Call to Order and Roll Call Agenda Review Approval of 2021 Annual Meeting Minutes Treasurer’s Report – Roger Luebbert Audit Committee Report – Colleen Callahan (IL) Investments Committee Report – Dan Eichinger (MI) Bylaws Committee Report – Sara Parker Pauley (MO) Resolutions Committee Report – Sara Parker Pauley (MO) Awards Committee Report – Kendra Wecker (OH) Executive Secretary’s Report – Ollie Torgerson Approval of Affiliate Members – Ollie Torgerson Old Business Mid-America Monarch Strategy Report – Claire Beck (MAFWA) and Ed Boggess (MAFWA) National Wild Pheasant Plan Update – Scott Taylor (PF) Midwest Landscape Initiative – Sara Parker Pauley (MO) and Craig Czarnecki (FWS) Non-Lead Partnership Recommendations - Lindsey Long (WI) R3 Coordinator Position - Megan Wisecup (IA) New Business R3 Committee Organizational Guides - Megan Wisecup (IA) CSS/HD Committee Organizational Guides - Faren Wolters (SD) Midwest Wildlife Health Coordinator - Ollie Torgerson (MAFWA) Great Plains Fish Habitat Partnership - Ollie Torgerson (MAFWA) 2023 Budget Approval – Roger Luebbert
10:00am - 10:15am (MT)	Refreshment Break Located at the Event Barn Sponsored by D.J. Case & Associates
10:15am - 12:00pm (MT)	MAFWA Business Meeting (CONTINUED) Located at the Event Barn Closing Comments – President’s Remarks Wisconsin Spotlight (2023)
12:00pm (MT)	Conference Adjourns

 

Special activities

​We’ve arranged for a number of outdoor activities on Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Descriptions for the activities are listed below; you can sign up for these when you register to attend.

SAFARI JEEP TOUR
The Custer State Park buffalo safari tour will take you trekking through the park in an open-air jeep in search of pronghorns, elk, turkey and buffalo. This guided tour will provide you with historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife. The tour will be available both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and will last about 1.5 hours. Maximum of 50 people each evening.

FLY FISHING ADVENTURE
The Black Hills of South Dakota are known for their mountain lakes and fresh-water streams brimming with brook, brown and rainbow trout. This fly fishing experience will be unlike any other. Guides and equipment will be on site and available to those who participate in this adventure. This activity will be available both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. Anyone participating in this activity MUST purchase a fishing license. A non-resident, one day fishing license costs $22. It is preferred that these be purchased ahead of attending the conference at gfp.sd.gov. The conference registration desk can also assist with purchasing these licenses on site.

LAKESIDE BREATHER AT LEGION LAKE
Take advantage of some down time with the natural surroundings of Custer State Park at Legion Lake. A variety of watercrafts (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) will be available on a first come, first served basis for two hours. During this time, guests can also enjoy lakeside patio viewing near the newly renovated restaurant and gift shop. Additionally, several hiking trails are nearby, including the Centennial Trail and the Badger Clark Historic Trail—and a one-mile leisure trail that circles the lake. This activity serves as a quiet lakeside retreat perfect for summer days. Life jackets are required for all guests and will be provided by Legion Lake. We recommend bringing sunscreen, hat, and water. There is an activities waiver that will need to be signed by each guest ahead of time, which will be available at the conference registration desk onsite. This activity will be available both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and is limited to 30 people each evening. 

LOVER’S LEAP HIKE
This guided hike will take you to the summit of Lover’s Leap and back. Guests will learn about the wildlife that use this riparian habitat, which is unique from the rest of the habitat within the park.  Additionally, guests will learn about the park visitor services, staying relevant and updating the park’s information using current trends to attract the ever-changing visitor base. This hike will be approximately 3 miles long with a moderate rating for difficulty. This hike is available both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and is limited to 30 people.