archives: 2024 MEETING AGENDA

The following agenda is from the 2024 Meeting which has passed. ​

2024 MAFWA Directors' Meeting photos courtesy of Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Sunday, June 23, 2024
2:00pm - 6:00pm (CT)	*Conference Registration Desk Open
4:30pm - 6:00pm (CT)	MAFWA Executive Committee Meeting
6:30pm - 8:30pm (CT)	Welcome Reception Sponsored by Brandt Information Services Remarks by Travis Warren
7:30pm - 9:30pm (CT)	Live Music by Redhorse! Folk Rock Roots Americana Blues Originals
Monday, June 24, 2024
7:00am - 5:00pm (CT)	Conference Registration Desk Open
7:00am - 8:00am (CT)	Attendee Breakfast Sponsored by Archery Trade Association Remarks by Dan Forster
8:00am - 8:30am (CT)	Honor Guard and Welcome to Illinois Natalie Finnie, Director, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
8:30am - 9:15am (CT)	Presentations 8:30-8:55 Everyone Belongs in Nature Campaign – Jose Burgos and Natalie Phelps Finnie 8:55-9:15 – Diversity in the Outdoors & Workforce; Connecting with the Youth – Jose Burgos
9:15am - 10:00am (CT)	Federal Partners Session U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Will Meeks, Region 3, Director U.S. Forest Service – Steve Kuennen, Region 9, Renewable Resource Director USDA/APHIS-Wildlife Services – Scott Alls, Western Region, Assistant Director U.S. Geological Survey – Olivia LeDee, Midwest Climate Science Center, Regional Administrator
10:00am - 10:30am (CT)	Refreshment Break Co-Sponsored by The Wildlife Society & Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
10:30am - 12:00pm (CT)	State Hot Topics Session Each Director will describe a recent agency challenge and response as a teaching moment.
12:00pm - 1:30pm (CT)	Awards Luncheon Co-Sponsored by Ducks Unlimited & Canadian NAWMP Partners Remarks by Mark Flaspohler and Stephen Carlyle Presented by: MAFWA Awards Committee - Pete Hildreth, (IA) Wildlife Biologist of the Year Fisheries Biologist of the Year Spirit of the Shack Excellence in Conservation Sagamore Award President’s Award
1:30pm - 3:30pm (CT)	Presentations 1:30-1:50 AFWA Fall Flights Program – Andy Raedeke, AFWA Fall Flights Manager 1:50-2:10 USDA, Wildlife Services & IL DNR Partnership – Johnathan Walls 2:10-2:30 Coyote Tracks & ENTICE, Connecting with Teachers and Youth – Lorna Shuman and Stan McTaggart 2:30-2:50 R3 & Illinois Learn to Hunt program – Dan Stephens and Phil Borsdorf 2:50-3:10 R3 & Public Fishing Collaboration: The Midwest Walleye Challenge – Jeff Kopaska 3:10-3:30 Marketing and Branding for Invasive Species Management Goals – Kevin Irons
3:30pm - 3:45pm (CT)	Refreshment Break Co-Sponsored by DJ Case and Associates and Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever
3:45pm - 4:15pm(CT)	Conservation Law Program Carol Frampton, NWTF, Chief of Legal Services
4:15pm - 4:45pm (CT)	AFWA Report Ron Regan, Executive Director, AFWA; Chuck Sykes, AFWA President and Alabama Director
4:45pm - 5:00pm (CT)	Group Photo
5:00pm - 6:00pm (CT)	Networking Reception Sponsored by PayIt
6:00pm - 8:00pm (CT)	Dinner Event Sponsored by Bass Pro Shops Remarks by Bob Ziehmer
7:30pm - 9:30pm (CT)	Live Music by The Mason Dixies! Dixieland Jazz and Polka Band
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 NOTE: Attendees will be offsite for a full day of tours and presentations. Transportation will depart following breakfast.
7:00am - 8:00am (CT)	Attendee Breakfast Sponsored by Gordon-Darby Remarks by Mitch Strobl
8:00am - 9:00am (CT)	Travel to Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery (45-minutes) Information on natural area sites provided by local biologists along the route.
9:00am - 11:30am (CT)	Hatchery Tour and Presentations (Two groups) Group 1: 9:00-9:30 IL DNR Climate Action Plan – Chris Young and Cassie Carroll 9:30-10:00 Illinois Hatchery Production System – Paul Brown and Mike McClelland 10:00-11:30 Hatchery Tour Group 2: 9:00-10:30 Hatchery Tour 10:30-11:00 IL DNR Climate Action Plan 11:00-11:30 Illinois Hatchery Production System
11:30am - 12:00pm (CT)	Travel to Havana
12:00pm - 1:00pm (CT)	Lunch in Havana Sponsored by National Wild Turkey Federation
1:00pm - 1:30pm (CT)	Travel to Dickson Mounds Information on natural areas provided by local biologists along the route.
1:30pm - 2:00pm (CT)	Museum Tour - Logan Pappenfort
2:00pm - 2:20pm (CT)	Tribal Relations in Illinois – Natalie Phelps Finnie
2:20pm - 2:40pm (CT)	The Emiquon Story – Randy Smith
2:40pm - 4:15pm (CT)	Committee Reports Moderated by: Ollie Torgerson Private Land working group Public Land working group Deer and Wild Turkey group Furbearer group Wildlife Diversity Climate Change CITES Feral Swine CSS/HD committee AMFGLEO Ad Hoc CWD Fish & Wildlife Health R3 & Relevancy
4:15pm - 5:30pm (CT)	Transit to and visit Emiquon Site (weather permitting) Hear from local partners and biologists on research and conservation projects in the area. Locally sourced drinks and hors d'oeuvres provided by Illinois Conservation Foundation
5:30pm - 6:30pm (CT)	Return to Peoria Refreshments Sponsored by Whitetails Unlimited
Evening	Dinner on Your Own
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
7:00am - 12:00pm (CT)	Conference Registration Desk Open
7:00am - 8:00am (CT)	Attendee Breakfast Sponsored by National Shooting Sports Foundation
8:00am - 12:00pm (CT)	MAFWA Business Meeting Amanda Wuestefeld, MAFWA President Call to Order and Roll Call Agenda Review Approval of 2023 Annual Meeting Minutes Approval of 2023 Special Board Meeting Minutes Treasurer’s Report – Roger Luebbert Audit Committee Report – Pete Hildreth (IA) Investments Committee Report – Dave Olfelt (MN) Bylaws Committee Report – Tim McCoy (NE) Resolutions Committee Report – Brian Clark (KY) Awards Committee Report – Pete Hildreth (IA) Executive Secretary’s Report – Ollie Torgerson R3 & Relevancy Coordinator Report – Keith Warnke Fish & Wildlife Health Coordinator Report – Tricia Fry Old Business Mid-America Monarch Board Update – Pete Hildreth (IA) National Wild Pheasant Plan Update – Scott Taylor (PF) Midwest Landscape Initiative – Tim McCoy (NE)/Craig Czarnecki (FWS) New Business USFWS/MAFWA Cooperative Agreement Extension — Amanda Wuestefeld MAFWA Strategic Improvement Recommended Actions—Pete Hildreth/Michelle Wilson (IA) 2024 Budget Approval – Roger Luebbert Election of Officers—Amanda Wuestefeld/Tim McCoy (Nominations Chair) Appointment of 2025 Nominations Committee—Amanda Wuestefeld Passing of Gavel & Past Presidents Remarks—Amanda Wuestefeld (IN) New President’s Remarks Presentation of Past President’s Plaque Indiana Spotlight (2025)
10:00am (CT)	Refreshment Break Co-Sponsored by National Archery in the Schools and Aspira
12:00pm (CT)	MAFWA Meeting Adjourns
12:00pm - 2:00pm (CT)	CEF Board of Trustees Annual Meeting New MAFWA President Presiding Call to Order and Roll Call Agenda Review Approval of November 6, 2023 Minutes Financial Report — Roger Luebbert CEF Bylaws Amendments — Tim McCoy CEF/MFWC Committee Report — Tim McCoy (Chair) CEF/DEM Contract Amendments — Tim McCoy MFWC Planning Handbook Amendments — Ollie Torgerson Election of Seventh Board Member — CEF President Adjourn