Contact Pete Muller at (803) 637-7698

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation’s dedicated volunteer base is the heart and soul of the organization’s efforts to Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. For this reason, NWTF Board of Directors President Harlan Starr announced the creation of a new volunteer advisory council designed to increase information flow between the national board, staff and the state chapters.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization,” Starr said, “and this committee gives our national leadership the opportunity to benefit from their knowledge and passion.”

A past or current state chapter president from each of the NWTF’s five administrative regions will serve on the council. The sixth member, also a past or current state chapter president, will join the council as its chair.

2019 Council Membership
• R.L. Bennet, Missouri – Chairman
• Ralph Martone, Pennsylvania (Northeast Region)
• Denise Helms, Florida (Southeast Region)
• Pat McFadden, Indiana (Midwest Region)
• Steve Sams, Arizona (West Region)
• Don Erbert, Kansas (Central)

As with any national organization, NWTF volunteers’ needs, challenges and opportunities, as well as volunteer demographics, vary on a regional basis, and council members will be charged with providing critical volunteer feedback on the NWTF’s National Convention, volunteer awards, proposed organizational changes and other key issues for the conservation organization.

“Listening to the voices of our volunteers is vital to the continued success of this organization,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “The advisory council gives our organization an additional opportunity to hear from all regions of the country, allowing our greatest asset – the volunteers – to weigh in on important issues.”

Appointed volunteers will serve one-year terms, and the board president may reappoint members to serve additional terms. However, no council member may serve more than three consecutive terms.

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters' rights. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org