Rocky Mountain Region News
May/June 2008
Scott Hampel , MDF Regional Director
It’s springtime in the Rockies and, from this RD’s perspective, the MDF banquet season has slowed down a little (just a little). What an astonishing first quarter took place in Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico (with more to come in 2008).
After two early banquets in January (Milwaukee, Wis. and Lander, Wyo.), February started with our annual convention in Salt Lake City. As indicated, this was another exceptional event with more than 25,000 people attending the four-day event.
A week later on February 16, the Northern Front Range Chapter of Greeley, Colo., hosted its eighth annual fundraising event in a new location with an attendance of 373 people and raising over $40,000. This was the highest attendance and net proceeds (at the time) ever achieved at a Colorado event. This eager committee, comprised of a high number of volunteers who make their living in the oil and gas industry, was highly motivated to increase its size and attendance as well as make a statement about “giving back.” They easily met their goal (and then some). Congratulations Northern Front Range!
The following week was a “double-booked” weekend with events in Casper, Wyo., and Santa Fe, N.M. Bob Meulengracht resumed a “Regional Director” role in Casper while Scott Hampel attended the event in Santa Fe, N.M. The Central Wyoming Chapter of Casper, for a second consecutive year, reached an astonishing goal of over $100,000 in net proceeds with 527 people in attendance with President/CEO, Miles Moretti and his wife Julie and MDF Chairman of the Board, Stan Lueck, and his wife Carolyn in attendance. MDF returned in New Mexico by hosting an inaugural event for the Northern New Mexico Chapter in Santa Fe. This resulted in over $14,000 in net proceeds with 145 people in attendance. It’s good to be back in New Mexico. The Santa Fe Chapter will be looking to find a bigger location in 2009. Congratulations to each of these chapters.
On March 1, the Muley Fanatic Chapter of Rock Springs, Wyo., hosted its second event at the Sweetwater County Events Complex. This chapter set a record of its own by going from a net of $23,570 to a preliminary net of $86,837 in 2008. This is an increase of 368.4%. Attendance increased from 178 in 2007 to 537. This is an increase in attendance of 301.7%. Annual memberships increased from 93 in 2007 to 260 in 2008. This is an increase of 279.6%. In addition, the chapter sold 13 life and 18 sponsor memberships. These are truly astonishing and outstanding statistics that may be unprecedented for a second year chapter in the history of MDF. Miles Moretti and Stan Lueck were present and were elated. Rock on Rock Springs!
The Mile High Chapter hosted its annual event on March 8. Although attendance was down slightly from 301 in 2007 to 280 people 2008, preliminary net revenues increased to $42,120, which is up 22.9% from 2007 setting a new record for Denver. Miles Moretti and Stan Lueck were also in attendance. Miles Moretti presented Colorado Division of Wildlife Director Tom Remington with a check over $6,000 to assist with the deer feeding effort in Colorado.
My hat goes off to each of these chapters for some remarkable accomplishments and achievements. Regardless of the statistics, we must remember here that the real winners are MULE DEER in Wyoming, New Mexico, and Colorado. It’s efforts such as these which allow more funding to be available to these respective states as well as other western states.
I anticipate that other chapters located in Osage Beach, Mo., Kemmerer, Wyo., Eagle, Colo., Colorado Springs, Colo., Walden, Colo., McCook, Neb., Silt/Rifle, Colo., Laramie, Wyo., will also have some great statistics to share later in the year!