Below is a reprint from the July-August 2024 issue of Bugle magazine.
Merriam-Webster defines ‘volunteer’ as a person who willingly undertakes or expresses an enthusiasm or eagerness for service. Synonyms include donate, sacrifice and pitch in.
RMEF volunteers surely define all of these attributes, focusing their passion and desire to give back to wildlife, habitat and the future of hunting. There is no doubt RMEF would not be celebrating its 40th anniversary without legions of rock-star volunteers who gave or continue to give of their time, talents and resources to advance the mission.
Between the fall of 1985 and spring of 1986, volunteers hosted the first seven RMEF banquets ever held, which attracted more than 1,300 people that netted over $30,000. Four years later, volunteers held 136 banquets with attendance topping 31,000 and generating more than $2.3 million. Thanks to our volunteers, RMEF was off and running!
Since then, RMEF put millions upon millions of dollars on the ground, greatly elevating those amounts by matching funds from conservation partners, to enhance habitat, conserve and open public access to prime elk country, restore elk to their native ranges and better support wildlife management and hunting heritage, topping $1.6 in total conservation value.
Along the way, something happened, perhaps somewhat unexpected. Then again, maybe not given the determination and mindset shared by volunteers driving this conservation movement.
“I’ve seen people meet each other and get married. I’ve seen people who made new friends and took their vacations together for years,” says Charlie Decker. RMEF co-founder. “There’s a common culture. We think alike and our values are very similar.”
That shared vision of conservation, hunting and the outdoors permeates RMEF from coast to coast.
“I’ve been to hundreds of banquets. You can sit down with eight strangers, and you’ve got eight friends when you leave. Don’t ask me how that works but it does,” says Decker.
Want to see your banquet or volunteer project featured here in Bugle? Email a brief article and high-resolution photos to [email protected].