Melbourne Beach Women in the Outdoors Chapter wins national award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - If a picture is worth a thousand words, the smiles and fun captured in photos at the many Women in the Outdoors events held nationwide would speak enough to write a novel. For doing an exceptional job of introducing women to activities in the great outdoors, Melbourne Beach Women in the Outdoors, from Melbourne Beach, Fla., was honored as the Best New Event Award winner during the National Wild Turkey Federation's 34th annual National Convention and Sport Show, sponsored by MidwayUSA, and held in Nashville, until Feb. 21.

"There are plenty of women out there that have no clue what experiencing the outdoors is all about," said Patty Foster, volunteer with Melbourne Beach Women in the Outdoors Chapter. "But during our events, many women discover they have a real knack for some of the activities they try."

Since 1998, NWTF volunteers have worked through the Women in the Outdoors program to share the outdoor tradition by providing expert instruction and hands-on education through events designed for women. During its inaugural year, Women in the Outdoors hosted 18 events and today the program organizes more than 240 events annually across the nation.

"The NWTF's Women in the Outdoors program is for North America's moms, daughters and sisters, who want to get outside, learn new activities and make new friends," said Teresa Carroll, Women in the Outdoors program coordinator. "Melbourne Beach Women in the Outdoors has taken the lead in their area for introducing women to activities like self-defense, canoeing, fishing, hunting, shooting and more."

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, spending more than $306 million to conserve 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.

The Federation works to increase interest in the outdoors by bringing new hunters and conservationists into the fold through outdoor education events and its outreach programs - Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES.

For more information about the Women in the Outdoors outreach program or the NWTF visit www.nwtf.org or call (800) THE-NWTF.

2010 Convention Sponsors:
Affinity4, ATK/Federal Premium Ammunition, Bank of America, Bass Pro Shops, Benelli, Browning, Call Makers and Collectors Association of America, CamoFX, Chevrolet, Farm Service Agency, Foxy Huntress, Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, HuntVe, Knight Rifles, Leupold & Stevens, Marlin Firearms Company, MeadWestvaco, MidwayUSA, Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, National Band & Tag Co., O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., Mossy Oak and The Pursuit Channel, The Outdoor Connection, Remington Arms Company, Inc., SHE Outdoor Apparel, TriStar Sporting Arms, USDA Forest Service, Weatherby, Inc., Wild Turkey Bourbon, Winchester Division/Olin Corp.

About the NWTF: The National Wild Turkey Federation is a nonprofit conservation organization that works daily to further its mission of conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its more than 350,000 members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, spending more than $306 million to conserve 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.

The Federation works to increase interest in the outdoors by bringing new hunters and conservationists into the fold through outdoor education events and its outreach programs - Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES.

The NWTF was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C. According to many state and federal agencies, the comeback of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.

Visit www.nwtf.org or call (800) THE-NWTF for details.

Contact:
Michael Turbyfill at (803) 637-7667.