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theGinsue
04-18-2011, 12:10
* I feel obligated to state that CO-AR15.com is not affiliated with the Rocky Mtn Elk Foundation and is in no way implying an endorsement of this request beyond graciously approving this thread & providing me with the platform in which to make it. This site has no responsibility for the content of this request.*

Colorado has more elk than any other state. Current estimates put our elk population at approximately 300,000. This is one of the things that makes this state such a wonderful place to live and visit.

Sadly, every day in the United States we lose an average of 5000 acres of habitat for elk and other wildlife to poorly planned development. Once this land is developed, it will never again be prime habitat land, often displacing elk and seriously reducing the ability of the land to support the wildlife that we take for granted.

This is why the mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. This may sound easy, but it isn’t; it takes hard work and lots of money.

Once a year each RMEF chapter hosts a Big Game Banquet (BGB). These events are more than just an enjoyable time for attendees; it’s also our primary fundraiser for the year. To raise funds we have live auctions, silent auctions and many raffles. Obtaining the items for these activities puts the chapter financially in “the red” before the event - which tremendously undercuts our fundraising efforts “bottom line”.

In an effort to minimize our pre-banquet indebtedness we look for financial donations and underwriting from individuals and businesses. This is where YOU come in.

On May 7th the Pikes Peak Chapter is having our annual Big Game Banquet. We are going into this banquet more than $10k “in the red” and critically need donations and underwriting.

So, what’s in it for you besides the knowledge that you’ve done something to help ensure the future of elk and other wildlife in Colorado? First off, donations and underwriting are TAX DEDUCTABLE! That’s right, a tax write-off. Secondly (and this is more important to businesses), we advertise our donors (this covers underwriters as well) a minimum of 2 times, and up to 5 times to all banquet attendees. Those 2 minimum times are provided to every attendee in our BGB Handout provided at every table place setting. On average, the Pikes Peak Chapter has approximately 300 attendees each year. Imagine the potential impact this cheap advertising could provide. Lastly, each donor is provided with an RMEF Donor decal which they can display at their business to let potential/existing customers know that you support us.

If you are interested in donating/underwriting for our event, please contact me. You can either PM me or use the site link to send me an eMail. I will provide anyone who contacts me for this with my contact number(s) and eMail address. I will come to you to facilitate this process and provide you with your receipt and donor decal (and, if interested, a copy of our Bugle magazine).

We’ve only got 3 weeks until our chapters big event so if you are interested, please don’t delay.

If you are interested in attending our BGB, the event is considered for “members only”, but the good news is that you can become a member while paying for your event tickets [I also have event invitations and membership applications]. Go to: http://www.rmef.org/State/Colorado/Chapter/Pikes+Peak/ (http://www.rmef.org/State/Colorado/Chapter/Pikes+Peak/) for more event information or to order event tickets.

Here’s just a little bit of what the RMEF has accomplished

To date in Colorado, we have permanently protected 163,221 acres and enhanced another 220,891 acres of habitat land. In 2010 alone, the RMEF permanently protected 431 acres with another 4678 acres enhanced.
The RMEF currently has 11 active projects in Colorado.
The total value of the RMEF’s efforts in Colorado to date are: RMEF funding of 2.9 million dollars with a partner dollar value of $118 million.
By the end of 2010 across the United States and Canada the RMEF completed 7,037 projects with 973,484 acres permanently protected, 4.9 million acres enhanced, and 626,875 acres newly opened up to public access.Thanks for your time & I hope to hear from you soon.

Thomas
theGinsue

Mtn.man
04-18-2011, 13:06
Been a member since they started.

theGinsue
04-18-2011, 13:47
Well, come join us in the Springs for our Banquet; I'd love to finally get to meet you. (And bring Bailey Guns with you!)

theGinsue
04-19-2011, 12:32
Man, 58 views and not one person interested in donating or underwriting; sad. I was certain that the advertising aspects alone would entice some of our Industry Partners at least.

One example of the RMEF's efforts to permanently protect lands here in CO is Bosque Del Oso (http://wildlife.state.co.us/Hunting/BosqueDelOsoStateWildlifeArea.htm). For those of you not familiar with Bosque, it is a 33,000 acre area just West of Trinidad that used to be mining property. When the RMEF heard rumors that the mining company was considering selling the property we jumped in and bought "first right of rejection" (aka first dibs) for the property. Once the final decision was made to sell the property, the RMEF used their funds, partner funds and state funds to make the purchase. Since the RMEF is not a landowner, the property was turned over to the state for use as a State Wildlife Area (SWA). Hunters know this land now as BGU #851 and elk hunters happily offer up their collected preference points for an opportunity to hunt some of the outstanding elk on this property. Partnering with the DOW and USFS, RMEF volunteers regularly work on projects @ Bosque to remove old fences, clear out small meadows of encroaching brush and trees to enhance this area.

This is just one example of the RMEF's efforts in CO. Imagine what we could do if we just had the funding?

Ryan_Th3_K1d
04-19-2011, 17:25
I'm interested...just a poor college student :(