IWC 2017 Conference

North Conway, New Hampshire, July 17 - 20, 2017

47 attendees– 23 states and 3 Canadian Providences were represented

Highlights of the meeting:

Executive Director, Lewis Rather provided a presentation on IWC’s history,

advancements, new initiatives, and membership importance– see page 2.

IWC International Liaison, Marty Markel presented via recorded video on the value of IWC, partnerships and

memberships —see page 3

Corporal John McDonald with Maine Warden Service gave an overview of the creation and success of the “Northwood's

Law” television show

Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation’s Scot McClure, gave his presentation on the Outdoor Adventures program that is

available for students available as a co-ed physical education course.

Ty Gagne, CEO of Primex3, gave a presentation on a NH mountaineering accident and what it teaches us in managing risks

and decision making.

IWC President, Wayne Saunders presented his proposal to create a list of IWC Certified international outfitters/guides to

help promote hunting ethics and increase IWC revenue.

Grant Hacking, a NH wildlife artist , presented examples of his art and offered to produce wildlife prints for IWC.

Candice Henderson, IWC Executive Secretary, went over the association’s recommend bylaw amendments, she reviewed

all income/expenses for July 1, 2016—June 30, 2017. Henderson also advised the Executive Board had reviewed 19 grant

applicants for wildlife decoys (pg 7), and 2 grant applications for Wall of Shame trailer updates. It was voted on and

approved to fund Alberta Conservation Association ($500) and the state of Vermont ($1,000 using remaining funds from

Cabela’s Outdoor Fund grant) for Wall of Shame trailer updates. The states of Michigan ($750), Rhode Island ($1,000),

South Dakota ($1,540) and Wyoming ($1,400), received funds for wildlife decoys.

Avery Tubbs (FL) was voted in to serve as the southeastern Regional Director, Lee Elis (SC) was voted in to serve as Second

VP and host the 2020 annual conference in South Carolina.

Wayne Saunders (NH) passed the gavel on to incoming President Ron Ollis (OH).

October2017

IWC Mission Statement: International Wildlife Crimestoppers’ Mission Statement is simple: We Are Dedicated to Stopping

ALL Poaching. We are a non-profit membership organization created by wildlife resource officers dedicated to reducing the illegal tak-ing of the world's fish and wildlife resources through the global exchange of information with anti-poaching organizations. We strategi-cally partner with effective like-minded organizations that support sustainable use of our natural resources. With special emphasis on youth education, we provide public education on the difference between sustainable use and poaching, creating a force multiplier for law enforcement charged with protecting the world’s natural resources.

IWC Momentum 2017 – Limits Begin Where Vision Ends – The Way Forward - Lewis Rather

Two years ago, IWC attended the January 2015 DSC convention. The plan was to request IANRC to sponsor travel for the Maine war-

dens (North Woods Law) along with wardens from AZ Game and Fish. This was the beginning of a new awareness of the then IANRC

association. Numerous folks from all over the globe attended and many visited the Texas OGT trailer booth, where IANRC presented

with the Texas program. The attendance by these wardens along with TPWD wardens, focused national/international interest in global

wildlife law enforcement.

In July 2016, the IANRC conference was held in Texas, with the largest attendance on record for a conference to date. This was signifi-

cant since several changes were made within the association. At this meeting a name change was made from IANRC to IWC to more

clearly state our mission which is to stop global poaching. Due to our growth, we also added an executive director and assistant director

board position.

In January 2017, IWC was once again in attendance at the DSC convention, sharing table space with the TPWD OGT program. This

year however was different as we experienced an increased awareness as convention visitors became more aware of the IWC mission.

This new awareness brought on a supporter that will be committing financial support for IWC and our mission. As director, my focus is

gaining new strategic partners, financial partners, corporate sponsors and supporting respective global anti-poaching law enforcement.

IWC is now a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) a very prestigious membership, RMEF, NWTF,

OTF, SCI (Houston), The Hunting Report, DSC, Conservation Force, Cabela’s and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.

As the past IWC President I have been working with a prospective (anonymous) donor since September 2015. I have been in negotia-

tions with the donor for an annual $500,000 matching funds donation program, up to 2 ½ million over five years. Potentially more after

that time, based on our production as an association, raising money for our goals. As a result of numerous conversations with the do-

nor’s mediator and IWC’s International Liaison, Marty Markl from DSC, I was advised at the January 2016 DSC convention in Dallas

that the donor has decided to commit substantial funding to help IWC with all of its anti-poaching initiatives for several years to come.

Although a specific timeline has not been finalized, it is close to fruition. IWC will now definitely be noticed and even more relative to

the wildlife conservation world.

We cannot however, only rely on committed donated funds, we need to expose IWC to as many folks as possible around the country.

Each of us can and should be dedicated to raising funding for all of our initiatives in order to:

Continue to be a driving force in our anti-poaching mission.

Provide funding for families of fallen or injured game wardens or conservation officers in the line of duty.

Provide funding for specialized equipment for officers in the war on poaching that are not attainable through normal budgetary

constraints.

Provide funding when necessary for public and private school systems that incorporate the OA program from OTF in their school

curriculum.

Develop a more comprehensive grant program for state members of IWC for use on their state OGT programs (ex: trailers,

mounts, etc.).

Create and grow a REWARD fund to be granted to states for major poaching cases.

Continue to support anti-poaching efforts across North America and throughout Africa.

Assist in the lobbying of State legislatures with partners like NASC, National Assembly of Sportsman’s Caucuses.

This should make it clear why it is important to not only remain an IWC member, but to remain a productive member, actively engaged

in the continued growth and success of the only International Wildlife Crimestoppers Association around the globe, comprised of and

focused on Stopping All Poaching through enforcement and support.

We have all come a long way from where we were in 2010, when I was fortunate enough to become involved as a state rep. with the

then IANRC association. We do however, have a long way to go and each of us are now involved with something much bigger than

ourselves and our state organizations or agencies. Together we can, and will make an even bigger difference in the year to come. It is

right in front of us, all we have to do is ask ourselves-“Am I excited to be part of something that will make a real difference for years to

come?” It’s time to turn our vision into reality! Become ENGAGED.

Hello Everyone.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there with you but I know that you are going to have the best con-ference to date.

It’s been a remarkable year for IWC. Last year in Fredericksburg I made you a promise along with giving you a challenge. I promised you that IWC would need to learn to drink from a fire hose and challenged you to see our organi-zation as an answer that is bigger than the question. The last year has seen the conserva-tion world begin to realize the moral authority and leadership that IWC can bring to bear in stopping global poaching.

Thanks to the dedicated and hard work of our Executive Director, Assistant Executive Direc-tor and Executive Secretary, this year IWC has achieved among other things:

International Union for the Conservation of Nature, (IUCN) membership—arguably the most prestigious global conservation organization advocating sustainable use of our natural resources.

New strategic partners and updated rela-tionships with existing partners including The Hunting Report, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federa-tion, SCI (Houston), Conservation Force, Boone and Crockett, Cabela’s and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund.

Lewis also has other major organizations, corporate donors and industry manufac-turers that he is actively engaged with, looking at how we can work together to advance our mission of “Stopping all Poaching”

A huge success that you’ll hear more about later in the program is our growing and suc-cessful partnership with the Outdoor Adven-tures Program that Scot McClure presented at the conference last year. IWC not only inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OTF, but IWC also sponsored a hugely suc-cessful luncheon at the conference for Texas professionals that are the decision makers capa-ble of placing the OTF program in their re-spective schools.

Another success this last year has been an un-solicited gravitation to IWC and our mission as word of IWC becomes more public and wide-spread. Strategic partners, art galleries and even table makers offering unsolicited financial and in kind support for our mission.

As everyone knows, Lewis and I have worked

together for quite a few years beginning with Texas OGT and now with IWC. His commit-ment and enthusiasm to the IWC’s evolving mission, along with the same from all the IWC officers and Board have created tremendous momentum for this next year. No flattery, just true and always refreshing, but people seeing the passion they have for the IWC mission is a very real reason people want to be involved with IWC.

THE CHALLENGE

What does IWC want to do, want to become? I hope that everyone here heads home with an absolute answer to that question. As I have said before, I believe that the answer is bigger than the question. I believe the answer is for IWC to become the leading anti-poaching organization in the world. To let the world know that our mission is to “stop all poaching” where ever it might be around the globe.

There is an amalgam of organizations, agencies, corporations, game departments and NGOs that are looking for an organization that can speak with one coordinated voice and act as the leading voice for anti-poaching. The reali-zation that IWC not only has that opportunity, now today, is what has become clear in the last year. Evan clearer now is how many groups WANT IWC to take this leading role. Lewis can elaborate, but the requests come from law enforcement, government and NGOs.

Who else can say what we can say to State’s Legislatures and Provincial Legislatures, Air-lines and global game departments, to the press and can lobby on a global basis? Our press releases should be in every environmental pub-lication with our policy positions on matters affecting sustainable use of resources, youth education, law enforcement and their respec-tive relationships relative to stopping all poach-ing. We should be quoted in every hook and bullet newsletter and outdoor publication con-tinually and be the leading authority in the anti-poaching field. I want see Lewis on TV news and quoted in the newspapers as the source that reporters call on for anything related to global poaching and the efforts to define, lo-cate it and stop it.

There is a great deal of money that can be drawn to our mission statement from all stake-holders because our mission is to STOP ALL POACHING, not to the benefit of any one

group, but for the benefit of all. Lewis and I have been working with several donors that are committed to our mission. They are business-men and are willing to donate subject to several thresh-hold requirements. The first of which being that several projects that they are in-volved in being completed. The second being that IWC have an executable plan for the infra-structure needed to allocate and administer that level of funding on a cost benefit basis. How is the money being spent? For example;

Have you established and how will you accomplish your PR objectives?

Have you established how will you lobby effectively at multiple levels?

Have you established and how will you measure the effectiveness of dollars spent? For example; which will go farther in stop-ping poaching, $10,000 in adds where no one knows what benefit is derived or that same amount spent on PR that directly delivers our messages to those that use the resources and support that mission?

Have you established how will you sup-port training wildlife officers in other countries?

Have you established how you will devel-op and distribute your policy positions and distribute them.

These are just a few examples that need to be addressed.

I believe that codifying such an executable plan will, in itself, provide an attractant to allow all IWC members to peruse substantial financial donations from every class of donor allowing IWC to become a large distributor of funds directly to a myriad of anti poaching projects.

IWC is at a crossroad-if IWC embraces the opportunity to be the global leader in stopping all poaching there are a great many who are willing to jump in and associate themselves with IWC. This last year made that clear, but to do so effectively over the long haul IWC’s members must all have the same vision because “Limits Begin Only Where Vision Ends.”

Thank all of you for allowing me to be a part of IWC. It is one of the most important things that I will do in my life.

Gods speed to each of you and to all our col-leagues on the front line. Please be safe out there.

A Word from Marty Markl (Dallas Safari Club)

$1,000 Challenge

Colorado, Maine and Alberta

raised $1,000 each in donations to

contribute to the continuing effort

of protecting our fish and wildlife.

Mark your Calendar

December 2017 – 25 Days of Christmas Raffle. See page 7 for more details.

July 22-25, 2018 — IWC 2018 Conference will be held in Huron, Ohio at the Sawmill Creek Resort on Lake Eerie. More information will be made available in upcoming newsletters.

The Rhode Island Clay Shoot fundraiser was a successful cooperative effort between IWC and the Rhode Island Environmental Police Officers Association. The shoot brought in $11,861 for each organization to share equally, which the RI Environmental Police Officers Association will receive $5,930.50 when they obtain their 501c3 status.

In-coming President Ron Ollis, Ohio, accepts

the gavel from Wayne Saunders-NHFW, at the

2017 IWC Conference in New Hampshire.

IWC Members

New regular members: New Jersey, Prince Edward

Island, and Oregon. Members who have rejoined:

Alaska, Nebraska, NW Territories, and Indiana. Total

2017 memberships: 38 states, 11 provinces, 7 associate

members, 3 honorary members, and 10 Lifetime As-

sociate Members.

Please see page 9 for membership information.

Fish and Wildlife officers help with hurricanes Harvey and Irma

After hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaked havoc and destruction across Texas and Florida, fish and wildlife of-

ficers from across the nation leant a helping hand in search and rescue efforts.

S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) game wardens helped with hurricane Harvey search and rescue

efforts.

Texas Parks and Wildlife, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Louisiana Department of Wild-

life and Fisheries along with other first responders from multiple agencies, provided help in searching the flood-

waters for survivors.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks sent 26 swift water search and rescue officers to assist

Florida Department of Wildlife officers.

Nearly 100 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers, 17 high water vehicles, two mobile com-

mand centers, eight shallow draft vessels and four patrol boats went to Houston to help with rescue efforts

during the epic flooding caused by Tropical Storm Harvey.

28 Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers helped with hurricane search and rescue. Additional information about hurricane efforts by Kansas and other agencies can be found on the IWC Facebook page

What started as an ordinary evening patrolling

some of Skagit County’s dirt roads turned into a

late-night search and rescue mission last month

for Shawnn Vincent of the state Department of

Fish & Wildlife’s law enforcement team.

He spent hours the night of Aug. 20 driving his

truck along the dirt road where a 16-year-old boy

was last seen on his dirt bike, then bushwhacked

his way through blackberry brambles to reach

the injured boy and eventually led an ambulance

to the scene.

The boy and his family credit Vincent with saving

the boy’s life, and Fish & Wildlife recognized Vin-

cent with the state’s Lifesaving Award for his ac-

tions.

“I wasn’t quite expecting it,” said Vincent, who was also recently promoted to sergeant for a Fish & Wildlife detachment serving Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties. “It was humbling to know that he is only 16 years old, so to know that he is going to have the rest of his life to live and to get to have a family like I do.” On that night, Vincent said he was patrolling

mountain roads when he heard over his scanner

that someone had called 911 not far from his lo-

cation. Vincent went there and found a frantic

man who said he couldn’t find his nephew who

he had been riding dirt bikes with in the area

east of Clear Lake.

“He had busted out his window to try to get his

cell phone because he had locked it in the car.

He was a little distraught,” Vincent said.

Vincent drove the area following dirt bike tracks

and looking for signs of the boy from just after

dark until shortly before midnight when he heard

someone yelling for help.

Vincent said he cut his way through about 25

yards of blackberry bushes to reach the injured

boy.

“It wasn’t fun trying to find him. I could hear him

crying and screaming and everything. Being a

former firefighter and EMT, it’s not something

you like to hear,” said Vincent, who volunteered

for several years with the Darrington Fire Depart-

ment and worked for the Burlington Police De-

partment before joining Fish & Wildlife.

It took another half hour for a Skagit County

Sheriff’s deputy and an ambulance to get to

them.

“He was pretty hysterical but glad that I had

found him,” Vincent said. “He had some pretty

gnarly injuries.”

The boy was taken to Skagit Valley Hospital,

then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in

Seattle.

Following several surgeries the boy is now home

“in good spirits,” Vincent said, and is asking to

meet the man who came to his rescue.

The boy has since told Fish & Wildlife Sgt. Russ

Mullins that he struggled to maintain conscious-

ness during the hours after he went off the road

at high speeds.

The boy, his uncle and his mother also told Mul-

lins that they believe Vincent saved the boy’s life.

Vincent said he would gladly do it again.

“I’ve been in public service my whole life, it’s how

my family raised me ... If I can go out of my way

to make sure someone will live it’s what I’m go-

ing to do,” he said.

Washington Fish and Wildlife officer recognized for

saving boy’s life

International Wildlife Crimestoppers Announces Wildlife Decoy Grant Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Blairsville, Georgia, August 30, 2017 – International Wildlife Crimestoppers, announced this week that the organization has awarded $4,690 to four state agencies requesting a wildlife decoy grant for conservation enforce-ment. In its first year of offering this grant, IWC received 19 grant applications from state conservation agencies across the United States.

“The use of decoys is a tremendous tool for conservation law enforcement officers. By using decoys, officers can target hard-core poachers who commit not just wildlife violations, but firearm related crimes. The use of decoys in high complaint areas aids in the apprehension of those who hunt before or after the legal shooting hours, hunt with an artificial light, shoot across or from a public roadway, shoot from a motor vehicle, or hunt without permis-sion on private property and other lands closed to hunting,” said IWC President Ronald Ollis of the Ohio Depart-ment of Natural Resources.

The wildlife decoy grant program can be applied for on an annual basis. The next application acceptance period will begin in January, 2018 and IWC hopes to fund more decoy grant applications. The program provides current IWC members up to $1,500 for the purchase of a wildlife enforcement decoy(s).

The mission of the International Wildlife Crimestoppers, Inc. is simple: We Are Dedicated to Stopping ALL Poaching. We are a non-profit membership organization created by wildlife resource officers dedicated to reducing the illegal taking of the world's fish and wildlife resources through the global exchange of information with anti-poaching organizations. We strategically partner with effective like-minded organizations that support sustainable use of our natural resources. With special emphasis on youth education, we provide public education on the differ-ence between sustainable use and poaching, creating a force multiplier for law enforcement charged with protect-ing the world’s natural resources.

On September 15, 2017 IWC Executive Director, Lewis

Rather attended the TPWD Operation Game Thief

sporting clay fundraiser in San Antonio, Texas. Over

250 shooters competed for prizes and trophies. A total of

305 attendees were treated to a steak and shrimp luncheon

along with live auction and raffle prizes to claim. Lewis set

up an IWC booth and educated numerous folks about IWC

and its mission.

Photo: Belt buckles with the IWC logo were the shooter

prizes where IWC was the prize sponsor of the event.

NEW 2017 Challenge Coin—$20. To purchase please contact

Candice Henderson @ wildlifecrimestoppers@gmail.com

Online purchasing coming soon

25 Days of Christmas

http://wildlifecrimestoppers.org/2017-christmas-raffle/

IWC greatly appreciates our

Supporters:

Prime 8 Offshore, Inc.

Mark Cavanaugh

Etter Tree Care

Safari Club International - Houston Chapter

Dallas Safari Club

Dr. John Hoerster

J.B. and Kelly Kolodzey

Cabela's

Cavela's Outdoor Fund

Jim's Restaurants

Grant Hacking

Mike Fell

Joshua Spies

Billy Shoemaker

And Strategic Partners:

Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation

National Wild Turkey Foundation

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

White Mountain Anglers

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The Hunting Report

Safari Club International - Houston Chapter

Conservation Force

Our mission is to promote the conservation, enhancement and protection of the world’s

natural resources for the enjoyment, appreciation and benefit of current and future

generations by involving the community, the various natural resource crime stopper

programs, and the media to help reduce the incidence of natural resource crimes.

How can you help us protect our nation’s cultural and natural resources?

Please consider becoming a sponsor/partner of the IWC at any of the following

levels:

$5,000—includes conference fees for five (5) years, IWC shirt and cap, window decal,

annual newsletter, and 10% discount on IWC merchandise (shirt/caps).

$3,000—includes conference fees for three (3) years, IWC shirt and cap, window decal,

annual newsletter, and 10% discount on IWC merchandise (shirt/caps).

$1,000—includes conference fees for one(1) year, and IWC shirt and cap.