Past President, Member Jury Committee, Camp Fire Club of America

I am now in the first year of a second term on the Camp Fire Conservation Fund’s (CFCF, the Fund) Board of Directors, and serve on the Jury Committee of the Camp Fire Club of America (CFCA, the Club).

My membership with CFCA began in 1987, followed by service and leadership as Club President in 2005 and 2006. During that time, lifetime membership with the Fund was established. When JP Bigotte and I assumed leadership roles of the Fund and Club,, respectively, the two entities were not aligned to their potential. That divide was bridged through close collaboration, restoring a shared conservation vision and setting a foundation for an enduring coordination between Club leadership and Fund operations that exists today.

Conservation has remained a central focus throughout my involvement in the Club. I am a longstanding member and contributor to the Conservation Committee.  Collaboration with Len Vallender and Preston Bruen has provided the opportunity to support several of the Fund’s most visible and influential initiatives. Notably, the lion collaring research initiative in Zimbabwe was later brought to public attention following the death of Cecil the lion, and an elk population study was launched in the aftermath of severe wildfires in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. Both projects exemplify science-based, hunter-informed conservation backed by CFCF.

Parallel to conservation efforts, my ongoing governance service has included 12 years on the Club’s Board of Governors, five years as Treasurer, and chairmanship of the Archery, Shotgun, Lead, and Nominating Committees. The Club Archery Championship and the 3-D course were also products of mine during this time.

Across all roles, work has remained focused on strengthening the strategic alignment between CFCA and CFCF, ensuring that the Fund’s purpose and practice reflect its commitment to ethical hunting traditions, scientific credibility, and long-term conservation impact.