This New Chapter is All About You!

I’ve been around long enough to know that there are precious few things in this world that are truly new. In fact, whenever I see a product on the grocery store shelves that is marked with that big, bright, colorful word—”New!”—then I’m pretty sure what’s new is that it’s the same old thing in a smaller box at the same price. Who do these people think they’re fooling?

That’s why I’m particularly excited about something the North Carolina Wildlife Federation has to offer that is truly new. New and different and designed to make a real impact on the wildlife and natural resources of this state. It’s the commencement of our drive to establish statewide NCWF Chapters from the mountains to the sea. These Chapters are designed to empower local wildlife enthusiasts—anglers, backpackers, birders, hunters, photographers, hikers—to have a direct and effective impact on the conservation of wildlife in their community, and on the state as a whole.

Recently, we formed our first Chapter. Based in southeast Mecklenburg County, Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, or HAWK, is a grassroots group of NCWF members who want to do more for wildlife than sit on the sidelines. More than 80 people showed up for the inaugural meeting! “Partnering as an NCWF chapter gives us more opportunities to work on creating habitat sites, protecting lands, and influencing how natural resources will be managed right here in our own backyard,” says founder Carol Buie-Jackson.

And it’s likely to be a lot of fun, too.

Fun, and work. But working for wildlife is what our new Chapter program is all about. NCWF Chapters aren’t social gatherings. We want to help North Carolina citizens work efficiently and effectively for the wildlife resources and the natural areas they are most concerned about. To make sure Chapters are working for wildlife, NCWF will ask that Chapters prioritize top conservation issues and projects, adopt by-laws and a constitution, participate in community natural resource conservation projects, and engage in outreach and education efforts.

What will the North Carolina Wildlife Federation do? We have all the tools you need to organize and kick off an official NCWF Chapter. We have staff available to meet with your Chapter leaders for training in effective advocacy and fundraising that supports specific conservation goals. We have a statewide network of other wildlife enthusiasts who are ready and willing to meet with you and help you jump-start a community-based conservation group that can direct its own future —and connect to an organization that will use statewide and national resources to ensure its success.

We can help you:

• Gain access to legislators ready to hear why you work for wildlife
• Develop a nesting box program or adopt an island
• Promote environmental education activities in school
• Jump-start a community fishing, hunting, or clean-up event
• Plan a celebration of International Migratory Bird Day
• Plug into a statewide network of volunteers monitoring owls, frogs, birds, reptiles, and more

What do you think? NCWF is looking for people across the state who want to do more than grouse about the loss of wildlife habitat and the decline in access to North Carolina’s wonderful wild places. We’re looking for groups of two or three or 20 people who want to build a better place for wildlife by building a local wildlife organization that can go from its first meeting to the fast track by utilizing the stature of two of the most recognizable names in wildlife work: the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, and our partner the National Wildlife Federation.

This is my personal invitation to you, to make the North Carolina Wildlife Federation be all about you—your concerns, your conservation priorities, the projects you want to see. If you are interested in forming or participating in an NCWF grassroots chapter for local conservation projects, educational seminars, wildlife field trips, and to teach and practice environmental habitat stewardship, please contact Tim Gestwicki, Deputy Director, Conservation Programs at tim@ncwf.org or (704) 332-5696.