In 1854 Louis Pasteur stated, “…chance favors only the prepared mind.”

Challenged as all non-profit charitable organizations in what has been labeled by many as the “worst economic recession since the depression” your Wild Sheep Foundation has been posturing for a brighter future. A future beyond the GSC/O lawsuit that has tragically sapped time, talent and most significantly our treasure resources; a future beyond the current economic conditions which as a perpetual optimist I know will soon pass; a future where we will and can once again focus 100% of our efforts on “Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountain” worldwide. As in Pasteur’s quote above we are not betting the WSF legacy on chance but are rather preparing for the future and engaging members, chapters, affiliates and industry partners to ensure our future is not only bright but mission focused and effective.

Our recent June Board of Directors meeting held in Reno, Nevada was very successful with committee assignments and portfolios discussed and established, new strategic initiatives proposed and productive plans put into place for our 2010 convention. A strategic focus I want to bring back to WSF is the volunteerism that made us the finest mountain hunting organization in the world. An initial step in this regard was to bring in two of the best convention volunteers and talent available, Dr. Richard Allen as Banquets Chair and Tommy Caruthers as Convention Center and Expo Chair. I have worked with Richard and Tommy for more than a decade producing 11 successful conventions. It is great to have them on our team - please welcome them on board.

Our 2010 Convention “The Sheep Show” scheduled for February 4-6 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center and Silver Legacy Resort & Casino is shaping up to be our best to date. We are more than 80% sold out of booths, have secured more than 21 special sheep and other permits as of press time and expect to exceed our 31 permit offering of 2009 including some soon to be announced first-time desert bighorn opportunities. Corporate, industry, member, chapter and affiliate sponsors are joining the effort as financial supporters of the convention. For the first time, WSF has an “Official Sponsor,” Midway USA, who has partnered with the Wild Sheep Foundation in a very generous and significant fashion to ensure our convention and organizational success. All of our fine sponsors (as of press time) are recognized in the convention sponsor pages of our convention site. We are indebted to their support!

Our full registration package will include the Wednesday Night Welcome Back Party, Friday and Saturday Auctions, Saturday Ram & International Awards Luncheon and the Saturday Night Grand Finale Gala plus entrance to the expo hall and seminars. As a special incentive, members and guests purchasing their Full Registrations by December 15th will receive their choice of a WSF logo Boyt Harness duffle or tote bag and EVERY Full Registrant will be entered into a 2011 Dall Sheep Hunt drawing with Majestic Mountain Outfitters of Alaska fully sponsored by WSF Life Member Kevin Rinke. Additional events planned include our world class International Hunters Party, Awards and Banquet Thursday evening, our not to be missed Ladies Wine Tasting Thursday, spectacular Ladies Luncheon Friday and Saturday morning Life Member Breakfast celebrating the core of our membership.

We have engaged and partnered with our chapters and affiliates to boost attendance and are pleased to announce our collaboration with our “Host Affiliate” the 3,500 member Nevada Bighorns Unlimited to ensure the 2010 Sheep Show is the biggest and best mountain hunting convention and celebration in the world! WSF is returning to Reno in style - please help make this 2010 convention the most fun, productive, informative and profitable for you and your Foundation by registering early for the event and attending! You’ll want to be a part of the action! You can register online shortly and view the entire convention schedule in the convention section of our site.

For more than a year we have been working with our chapters under the goal and mantra of “One Tent – One Campfire” whereby our 13 chapters and the international headquarters work more closely together as a team to accomplish our collective mission and purpose. The first Chapter Summit was held in Cody, Wyoming in May of 2008 and we held the second gathering, Chapter Summit II, in Reno mid July hosting 35 delegates from 12 of our 13 chapters. The one and half days of meetings and camaraderie culminated in a bold and strategic board approved move to co-op our non WSF members into the WSF ranks. This one time co-op will boost the Wild Sheep Foundation membership by nearly 70%, expanding our “tent,” reach and market significantly. I want to thank our chapters and board of directors for their vision and support in this effort. Chapter Summit III will be held next summer and will be expanded to include Chapters and Affiliates for a WSF Chapter/Affiliate Sheep Summit including fundraising workshops, networking opportunities, scientific forums and the finest sheep and mountain hunting and conservation talent together around  “One Tent & One Campfire.”

In addition to focusing on our convention and organization, the Foundation has been engaged during the spring and summer months working on our mission. Director of Operations, Neil Thagard, has been at the forefront of action in Idaho – ground zero for the conflict between bighorn and domestic sheep and goats. We have been working as a collaborative with Idaho legislative and agency bodies, federal agencies, the Nez Perce Tribe and domestic sheep industry to work towards solutions. In addition, Neil spent a week advocating for wild sheep in Washington, DC. Read more on his work and accomplishments in the “New News” section.

WSF is not betting on chance. We are preparing our minds and Foundation for the future. Help us be a part of this success by attending our convention, inviting a mountain hunting friend to join as a member and sharing the WSF family.

Have a great rest of the summer,

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