Our Natural Resources are Under Attack!

Some people boast that the economy is healthy due to the our current GOP administration. But after doing some research on the subject I found out the agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting industry has plummeted as indicated by these employment figures from the chart found below from the US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics found at http://www.bls.gov/data/home.htm. Not only that but the Farm and Ranch Land Presevervation in under attack by the Federal Government, please see http://www.slowfoodusa.org/change/03-17-06_take_action.html. These resources need to be protected for providing food to this nation!

We at Nipmuc Rod and Gun have also experienced a decline in activities, events, participation and membership. We can't allow ourselves to become lax in the pursuit of protecting what all of us members have in common, the love of nature. Whether it is fishing, archery, bird watching, shooting, hunting, hiking, whatever. Please help protect our natural resources now for the future!

Burrrrrrrrrr!

Look at me, I am skating!

This past winter I took some pictures of geese and ducks for students to draw for the Jr. Duck Program. It was almost as if this Chinese Goose knew what I was doing the way it was posing.
I have several good shots of this bird and it didn't even count as a prospect for the program....but I didn't tell it that though. It would have made an excellent candidate if it were.

Massachusetts Sportsmen's Counsel Banquet

State Representative, Ann Gobi and Worcester County League Vice President, Terry Hanson.

Massachusetts Sportsmen's Counsel celebrated their 77th year with their annual banquet, Saturday, April 8 at the Chester P. Tuttle Post #279, American Legion, in Auburn, MA. Terry Hanson, Worcester Country League of Sportsmen's Vice President, from Spencer Fish and Game was prestigiously awarded the Lillian Gribbons Award. This award is given in recognition of the tireless efforts of a sportswoman who has dedicated her time, quietly, and unnoticed for the benefit of all sportsmen of the Commonwealth. You go girl!

The Raymond L. Gribbons Award went to Clem Caryofilles, Sportsmen Senator - Senator, Stephen Brewer, Sportsman Representative - Representative, George Peterson, Sportsman of the year - Peter Marie, special awards were given to Jim Kennedy, Representative, Ann Gobi and Russ Williams.

Look for more pictures in the club events section........

Two Nations Pow-Wow-12th Annual Cliff Johnson Memorial- Frontier Games-9th Annual Native American Pow-wow

This years event will take place May 6 & 7. Frontier Games (fishing, traditional bow, black powder, sling shot, knife and hawk throwing) takes place Saturday May 6. Registration for Games will take place from 7:00 - 8:00 AM. Nipmuc Rod and Gun members form teams for this fun filled challenging event at the Century Sportman club, Rochdale Street, Auburn, MA 01501. For more information please see www.centurysportsmansclub.com or contact Gerry Lemire at fritterman48@Hotmail.com.

The weekend is a fun filled weekend and has something for the whole family........

Jr. Conservation Camp

This years Junior Conservation Camp is to be held from August 6 - August 18 and is for anyone from age 13-17.

If any one is interested please write a letter to the Worcester County League on why you would to go and win a sponsorship to one of the 2 camp slots that are reserved. These letters are due by April 21. Please send your letter to: Worcester County League of Sportsmen, PO Box 766, West Boylston, MA 01583.

For more information on the camp go to the website www.juniorconservationcamp.org

If you have any questions please contact Nancy Wentworth at newsletter@nipmucrodandgun.com . Good luck!

Jessica mastering the art of drawing birds.

Jessica has been participating in the Jr. Duck Program which began in January. This is the first time we have offered this program at Nipmuc Rod & Gun. It is also the first time I have instructed the program and I have enjoyed it very much. The only brave student who participated in this initial program is Jessica. I am in no way disappointed. Jessica's progress has inspired me to continue with the program in the future.

I have learned through this intial experience how much this program has to offer students. I will be starting up the next session in June. We will meet twice a month...until March 15. If students are interested please contact me at n.wentworth@verizon.net or call me at 508-478-1549. There will also be a sign up sheet at the clubhouse.

General Posting/Open Forum

This posting is an open forum for general use. Any Club, Sportsmen or Sportswomen related issues may be discussed. Your comments may be posted anonymously or you can sign your name. Click on the word comments below to begin.

Jr Duck Stamp Program

A sign up sheet has been posted at the club for classes for the Jr. Duck Stamp Program. Classes will begin on Wednesday, January 11, at 6:00 until 8:00 PM. This program is for grades kindergarten through 12 grade.

Students bring a unlined notebook, pencils and pens.

Parents of students can also sign their children up for the program by contacting me at 508-478-1549 or email: n.wentworth@verizon.net .

For more information about the program please visit http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps

Respectively yours,

Nancy J. Wentworth

Tailgate Party

Sunday, November 13, 2005

Tailgate Buffet 11:00 AM

WIDE SCREEN TV...........................RAFFLES

Tickets $10.00 at the clubhouse----------On Sale NOW!

Annual Halloween Party

Saturday, October 22, 2005

5:00 PM-11:00 PM

Please bring your friends and family!

Please bring any appetizer, main dish, or dessert to share with your fellow ghouls!

Also please donate one bag of candy

There will be screeming contests, costume prizes, and a spooky trail!

Enter the pumkin carving contest!

(Please bring your pumpkin pre-carved)

Cash Bar will be available

Flea Market

Flee Market

Satuday, October 15, 2005

8:00AM - 2:00 PM

Come and rent a table and donate some items to sell for the Club

$20.00 without table

$15.00 with your old table

Please call 508-478-9778 for reservations

Worcester County League Of Sportsmen Club's

The Worcester County League (WCL) had their first meeting of the year Friday, September 16. Gerry Lemire and I are delegates from Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club. The League had their annual elections. Gerry and I were nominated and elected to serve as directors on the board.

For those that don't know, delegates represent each club in the Worcester County. We meet at different clubs each month to discuss issues impacting sportsmen which includes legislation, public relations, conservation and education. Delegates are responsible to report pertinent issues effecting sportsmen to their clubs and visa versa.

The league produces a monthy publication that you can pick up at the clubhouse. The next meeting is on October 21, 2005, 8:00 PM at Brookfield Rod and Gun. If anyone is interested in being an alternate delegate from Nipmuc, please contact Gerry Lemire at fritterman48@Hotmail.com .

Woodsmen Competition

Troop 1 Hopedale

Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club coordinated a Woodsman Competition Weekend with Troop 1 Hopedale last weekend. The program incorporated fishing, rifle shooting, archery and knife throwing with the guidance and assistance from Gerry Lemire, Bruce Tiedemann and Dan Sullivan.

The boys camped on the grounds Friday and Saturday night. Saturday was a day full of fun filled competition. After a hearty supper, the boys were awarded trophy's and ribbons at the club house. The trophy's were provided and awarded by Gerry Lemire. Nipmuc is looking forward having more of these type of events in the future. It was an event that enjoyed by all.

Club Renovation

Renovation of the porch.

Thanks to Bill DelloRusso, we have brand new railings! : )

Gary Fadden provided paint supplies and led the paint crew, Bruce Tiedemann, Jonathan Tiedemann, Joe Kedski, John Powers, Josh Alger and myself. We got a great deal of painting done but there is still a great deal more to do.

Jack Hoberg & Jayme Armstrong surprised the workers by bringing them a hearty stew for lunch. : )

If any member could spare some time to help paint the clubhouse please contact me at n.wentworth@verizon.net . Please inform me when you are available. We need to schedule some more dates to complete the work.

Clubhouse Renovation

On Saturday, September 24, starting at 8:00 AM we will be painting the trim and foundation of our clubhouse. We are currently seeking to coordinate volunteer members to assist in this project. If you can possibly spare even a couple of hours to paint please contact me at n.wentworth@verizon.net or call me at 508-478-1549. Of course, the more volunteers we have, the easier this project will be for all.

Also on that day, one of our members, who is a carpenter will be replacing our porch railings.

I look forward hearing from you, thanks!

Nancy J. Wentworth

Secretary

Clambake Success!!

Congrats for another successful Clam Bake thanks to Mike Moroney, Danica Gibson, Jayme Armstrong, Jack Hoberg, Norman khoury, Charlie Petry, Harold Dickinson, Dan Sullivan and Gerry Lemire.

The five pound lobster raffles were won by Margo Bick and Jimmy Huang. Carolyn Topping won a free ticket for next years Clam Bake, and John Powers took home the 50/50! Congrats!

We would like to thank all those who attended and look forward seeing you next year! You are more than welcome to leave your critics! : )

Clambake "05"

Our annual Clambake will be on August 20, at 2:00 P.M.. Our Clambake Master, Mike Moroney is known locally for his seafood expertise. So if you enjoy seafood, and have never been to one of our Clambake's.............don't miss this event! I need not convince anyone who has been to our past clambakes, (see our event photo's). Some of those who have attended this event in the past, plan their summer vacation around it. Mike has posted his menu.....which I am sure will be to everyone's delight. (see Clambake flyer on home page)

You may purchase tickets at the bar at the clubhouse or send a check to: Nipmuc Rod & Gun Club, PO Box 171, Hopedale, MA 01747 before August 2. You may contact Danica Gibson at: autumneve62@hotmail.com to answer any questions, comments, or concerns regarding ticket sales.

"Bon Appetite"!

Tagged Animals

We had a participant that found an interesting road kill on his way to our St. Jude's 3D Shoot. When he came in to register he told us about a bear that he and his friends picked up and put in the back of his truck. It had been found on 495 in Hopkinton. I went out to see it. I was surprised how huge it was. He asked me for Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) phone number to report it since it had a tagged ear.

At our last Worcester County League of Sportmen's Clubs meeting, I asked Bill Davis, Central Wildlife District Manager, about the bear. He told me that the division didn't get it on timely basis. When they recieve a road kill they do an autopsy on the animal for research. Because the bear was not brought in on a timely basis, nothing could be selvaged from it and it was extremely difficult for them to do the autospy. When I learned that, my heart broke. It was truly a beautiful animal and it was such a waste.

It was a very hard lesson learned for me and felt that I needed to share it with everyone. I will never make the same mistake again. When the person asked me for the number I should have had the number and made the call right then and there for them to come and pick up the animal. If indeed anyone finds a tagged animal please call the Division of Fisheries of Wildlife as soon as possible! The number is 1-800-632-8075. I now have that programed into my cell phone.

I also learned that if indeed a tagged animal is found, it is the property of Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. It is up to them whether they allow any remains to the founder. So, the sooner you report it the better.

By the way, for those who had a chance to see the bear, it was originally handled three winters ago at a den in western Massachusetts by the DFW. So it had traveled quite a distance.

While I am on the subject of the WCL, I wanted to report that Dave Papale from Auburn Sportmen's Club and former president of WCL won the $15,000.00 raffle. Lucky him!

Nominees were chosen and Gerry and I were re-nominated as board of directors. Elections will be held in September when we reconvene after the summer break.

In Fond Memory.....

Emmit Francis, Ranger Jennifer Stowe & Gerry Lemire

Last night at our Worcester County League meeting at the North Worcester Fox and Coon Club, we were given a demonstration by Ranger Jennifer Stowe of the ability's of a trained search and rescue dog that was sponsored by the Worcester County League Of Sportsmen.

It was quite coincidental how this came about. Sandra Smith gave a fundraising event to raise money in honor of her Godfather, Francis Walleston who was a member of Nipmuc Rod and Gun Club. She gave the check to Gerry to bring to his favorite organization (WCL) in his honor. That same night at our meeting we received a letter of a dire need of funds for a search and rescue dog.The check happened to be the exact amount they had requested. A motion was made and passed that the check would be used to sponsor a search and rescue dog. The dog was named in Fran's honor. It was a sheer pleasure meeting him.

Last weekend, Fran was also honored by a donation that was made to sponsor a target sign in his name for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Ranger Jennifer Stowe will be coming to Nipmuc to give a demonstration at our Members Meeting.............please stay posted.