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| Conservation
Issues |
More Honors Heaped on W.Va. Federation
By Chris Lawrence
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| (l to r) WVBF President John Burdette, WVDNR Director Ed Hamrick, and
WVBF Conservation Director Jim Summers following the awards presentation Sunday at Stonewall Jackson Lake. |
The West Virginia Bass Federation received even more recognition during the DNR's National Hunting and Fishing
Days Celebration at Stonewall Jackson State Park. President John Burdette has been named the West Virginia Sportsman
of the Year and the West Virginia Federation was bestowed the high honor as 2002 West Virginia Conservation Organization
of the Year.
"The West Virginia Bass Federation has truly become one of the state's most active and most important organizations
for conservation." Said DNR Director Ed Hamrick in remarks ahead of the presentation. "They have been
tireless in their efforts to help out whenever we've needed volunteers or resources to put programs together."
Hamrick noted the monetary contributions as well as manpower and boats the Federation provided for the Governor's
Spring Turkey Challenge. The DNR has also called on the Federation on other occasions to help with fish sampling,
work on courtesy docks, support and consultation on management decisions, and for other volunteer efforts to take
visiting groups to West Virginia fishing.
"No organization can be successful without a good leader." Continued Hamrick. "John Burdette has
taken an active role in organizing the Bass Federation and forging a strong working relationship between his people
and the West Virginia DNR."
Burdette accepts the West Virginia Sportsman of the Year award following his recently recognition as B.A.S.S. National
Member of the Year.
"The award we're giving him today pales in comparison to the national honor." Said Hamrick.
"The only weakness that this man appears to have is his ability to successfully guide people onto fish!"
Laughed Hamrick about a less than successful day on the water with Burdette earlier this year.
It's the first time the West Virginia Bass Federation has ever been recognized as Conservation Organization of
the Year and the first time any member of the Federation has been awarded the prestigious Sportsman of the Year
Award. The honors are granted to groups that demonstrate solid efforts to promote the protection and conservation
of West Virginia's wildlife resources and make strides in educating the general public and future sportsmen and
women about those resources. The Sportsman of the Year Award is presented annually to the sportsman who demonstrates
leadership ability and personal efforts above and beyond the norm to protect and conserve West Virginia's natural
resources and to pass along the enjoyment of those resources to future generations.
"I think John and the West Virginia Bass Federation easily meet and exceed the qualifications for these awards."
Said Hamrick. "It's an honor for me to present them to such a fine organization." |
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