THE NEXT GENERAL MEETING, REMEMBER THE DATE: THURSDAY MARCH 4TH, 7:30 PM, AT THE CLUB HOUSE, LINCOLN PARK ROAD, IN DERBY TOWNSHIP.

The speaker for our March general meeting will be The Bird Lady, Cindy Cartwright. Cindy is responsible for getting the Bruce Peninsula Birding Observatory established at Cabot Head, she also started the Bruce County Bird finding club who tour biweekly out of Port Elgin. Last summer she went to BC, completed her training and returned as the only Master Bird Bander in GreyBruce. Known far and wide in birding circles for her limitless enthusiasm and strong work ethic, her first engagement as SSA guest speaker promises to be entertaining.

New Members!!
The S.S.A. welcomes the following new members:

• Dan Orlowski Adult
• Lin Nicol Adult
• Russell "Ward" Hemstock Adult
• Teresa and Craig Smith Family
• Howard Wilcox Senior
• Patrick Letson Adult
• Jason Thom Adult.

DATES AND OTHER THINGS TO REMEMBER!
 

New Wildlife Project Needs Your Help

S S A Members are being asked to help with a new wildlife project. New member Dan Orlowski, who lives in Beamsville is, and has been working on a project to grow nut trees in his greenhouse and then transplant them into ideal locations. Blake Smith and I met Dan at the Rankin Resources Group last year. Dan donated 20 Chinese Hybrid American Chestnut trees to the club which are now planted in the Demonstration Wildlife Area. Dan has also agreed to provide assistance with chestnut and perhaps some Sawtooth Oak plantings in 2004. Dan plants the nuts inside a plastic pop or water bottle with the top and bottom removed. We are asking our members to save these bottles so that we can make them available to Dan. This is what we need: a plastic bottle from 500 ml to 1 litre in size. Please unscrew the plastic top and rinse out the bottle. Don't cut off the top or bottom, Dan will do that himself. Unfortunately, the large 2 litre bottles are too big and can't be used. If you would collect the bottles in a plastic garbage bag and then bring them to a club meeting or contact Blake Smith at 371-4682 or John Ford at 372-0410 to arrange to deliver them to us, we would appreciate it. Thanks in advance for your help.

John Ford

2003 is now behind us, and your directors have seen fit to re-appoint me as the 2004 SSA president. I will do my best to meet the membership's needs and expectations.

We certainly will be calling on our members for considerable volunteer duties, and we trust that, as in the past, all challenges will be met. Our club is known as one of the leading conservation organizations in the province, and it is only the magnificent volunteer efforts of our members that has given us this recognition. Let's keep up the good work.

How many of our members have seen Lloyd Jackson's latest erection? Under the auspices of the SSA and the Kemble Lions Club, he built and erected a mammoth bat hotel behind the pheasant pen at Harrison Park. Lloyd did a beautiful job on it, and his efforts are very much appreciated.

This is the time of year when the constant snow and blow gets on one's nerves...the winter blahs...whatever you want to call it. How does one get through it? Jim Weir, our club sage, says that in order to make winter pass more quickly, he borrows a large sum of money in January with the repayment due date on April Fool's Day. He spends the money immediately, and is then absolutely amazed at how quickly winter has passed and spring is upon him. So...we should look at the bright side of things. At least, at this time of year, driving is far better because the potholes are full of snow.

Blake Smith. President

FORESTS & WILDLIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The forests and wildlife committee met on the 25th of January, and roughed out a tentative program for 2004.

We will plant and maintain trees and shrubs on at least three properties, maintain and erect new wood duck houses and maintain and inventory existing ones, erect a raptor (hawk or owl) perch on the old dump site, maintain and assess a bluebird program and erect a viewing stand on the demonstration wildlife management area.

We will be calling on our members now and then for some volunteer assistance, to keep our wildlife programs alive and on track. The above is what we will definitely be doing, but undoubtedly, we will be engaging in other projects as the year progresses.

We note that the federal government is still saying that a free vote will not be allowed on the gun registration issue. Translated, that means that we are still governed by a herd of trained seals who are not allowed to think for themselves, but who, nevertheless, must vote, by raising their flippers when the boss so orders. MP Albina Guarnieric' is supposed to address the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters at the annual convention. If she does show up, some of us just might have a few comments and questions for her. It may not do any good, but we have to keep trying whenever any chance at all comes our way.

We have many reports that our deer are doing quite well. Turkeys had a pretty rough time during January's continuous fall of light, fluffy snow. However, lots of birds are being seen now, and they are up on top of the snow and moving around quite well. Indications are that they are doing all right.
Note: The next meeting of the Forest and Wildlife Advisory Committee will be held on Sunday March 7th at 1:00 pm
at the Club House

Blake Smith,
FWAC Chairman.

Youth Activities Program

The YAP held a great campout this month with a good turnout of juniors and adults. The weather was really cold but we all had a fun time.
The air rifle program continues every other Sunday and starts at 1:00 pm at the clubhouse.

Five of our youth members participated in the OFAH Get Outdoors conference in Toronto Feb. 27th to the 29th

If you would like any information about the Youth Activities Program please contact me at 363-9845 or call 363-2893 to reach Mary Stephenson.

Sarah Stephenson YAP President

FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Volunteers were out in February to take off some of the snow from the roofs of the hatchery as things are looking good within.The year plus rainbow are loooking like good stream size speckeld trout and will hopefully be out stocked in early March.The browns have been moved around to give them more room to grow and the salmon are progressing to
their next size of feed.

February 26th is the start of the Toronto fishing show and our club will be well represented with volunteers promoting all aspects of beautiful Grey and Bruce countiess.If you are planning to attend please drop by.

MIKE PREVOST
F.A.C.CHAIRMAN

Member Profile
STEWART WALLACE

Stew Wallace was born in London, England, and tells us that much of his childhood was spent under the kitchen table while the Germans were bombing.

Stew came to Canada in 1971, and lived in Toronto until April of 1997, when he moved up to his baronial estate in rural Sydenham Township.

Stew joined the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association whereby he could spend a great deal of time engaged in his favourite activity, pistol shooting. Just this past year, Stew bought himself a shotgun...shoots trap and sporting clays, and is looking forward to shooting at our upcoming skeet range.

Stew has been social events chairman, and has been a mainstay in both the long gun and pistol courses for possession and acquisition licenses, and Stew is a very willing volunteer whenever asked to help out on club projects, such as tree
planting and nest box maintenance.

FOR SALE

Browning BT99 Pigeon Grade Trap Gun;
everything is adjustable, 3 choke tubes, excellent condition, with original box, papers, etc....$2000.

Winchester 101 O/U Pigeon Grade Trap Gun;
adjustable cheek piece, excellent condition, nice wood.....$1495.

Call Garry-519:376-5347