Found this in my e-mail after returning from Alaska...this is probably a big-oil/military complex conspiracy--


For Immediate Release: August 26, 2004
Contact: Jodi Stemler, 202-543-6850


BUSH SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER CALLING FOR FIRST PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN MORE THAN 90 YEARS


Denver, CO -- At a press conference to announce increased support for cooperative conservation programs, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton carried an Executive Order from President George W. Bush calling for a President's Partnership Conference on Wildlife Conservation. Reminiscent of the May 1908 conference hosted by President Theodore Roosevelt and strongly supported by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and other members of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, the President's conference will provide the first venue in nearly a century to outline priority conservation needs with the Executive office.

"The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is pleased to see wildlife issues and recommendations by sportsmen's organizations receive this level of attention from the Administration," stated Melinda Gable, Executive Director of CSF.

The idea for such a gathering was first conceived by Boone and Crockett, and then pushed forward by the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a loosely affiliated group of more than 40 wildlife conservation organizations who meet several times annually to develop and make recommendations on wildlife and natural resource issues to Congress and the Administration. Jeff Crane, CSF's Director of Policy is the incoming Chairman of the AWCP.

In addition to the Partnership Conference, Secretary Norton announced a series of cooperative conservation grants benefiting state, tribal, local and private partners in Colorado and across the nation. The programs are part of the Cooperative Conservation Initiative, which is building partnerships for innovative, incentive based conservation to preserve open space, restore habitat, conserve species and maintain hunting and fishing opportunities for citizens on public lands. By focusing conservation on community cooperation and voluntary action, the Interior Department is working with the American people to achieve healthy lands and thriving communities across the Nation. Specifically, the Secretary announced that the Department would be allotting a total of $16 million in grants for the Private Stewardship Grant Program, the Tribal Landowner Incentive Program, and the Tribal Wildlife Grant Program.

"President Bush has shown tremendous leadership in the creation of this innovative program," Secretary Norton said today. "The Interior Department alone has awarded more than $1.3 billion in cooperative conservation grants over the past three years. This new round of grants will help reinforce Interior's work to build partnerships for the conservation and restoration of wildlife and habitat across the nation."

Joining the Secretary at the Press Conference were CSF Board Member and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President, Peter J. Dart; Dr. James Earl Kennamer, Senior Vice President for Conservation at the National Wild Turkey Federation; Bob Model, President of the Boone and Crockett Club; Steve Mealey, with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners; Terry Riley, Policy Director with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; and Russell George, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.


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About CSF: For 15 years, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) has been working with the more than 300 members of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to provide sportsmen a seat at the table when decisions impacting our outdoor traditions are debated in the nation's capital. With the success of the Sportsmen's Caucus in the U.S. Congress, CSF is now helping to start state legislative sportsmen's caucuses to provide a voice for sportsmen closer to home. There are now 20 state sportsmen's caucuses helping to support the rights and interests of the nation's hunters and anglers. Through our unique affiliation with state and federal elected officials, CSF serves as the sportsmen's link between these decision-makers and our partners in the nation's leading conservation organizations. For additional information, visit the CSF website at http://www.sportsmens link.org


The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
110 North Carolina Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Better change that moniker to ANTI M.....against everything.

For those who think that this is an electioneering ploy-- I imagine you are right. However, I see two points emerging here.

One: Bush has sense enough to reach out to sport fishermen for support in an election year. That may not make Aunty feel all warm and fuzzy, but it does indicate an appreciation of our group.

Two: Bush has held at least three meetings with sport fishing groups; the first two were with industry leaders of sport fishing companies.

That says a lot to me.

Keith

Poor ANTI M.....she can't help it...she hates everything

AuntyM,

So your voting for Ralph Nader now?

He has the strongest and most environmentally friendly platform and agenda of all the candidates running for president this year--by far.

He's also the only canidate running that opposed invading Iraq and removing Saddam and his regime from power, and has vowed if elected he'll withdraw our troops immediatley.

Ralph Nader sounds like your ideal candidate.