The follow press release was published on January 17, 2017:
CONTACT: Jeff Fetzer
Phone: (570) 885-6112
Date: Jan. 17, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ruffed Grouse Society to host Sportsmen’s Banquet in Williamsport
The Susquehanna River Valley Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will hold its inaugural Conservation & Sportsmen’s Banquet Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Genetti Hotel, 200 W. 4th St., Williamsport.
A social hour will begin at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature live and silent auctions, raffles, drawings and door prizes, highlighted with a selection of firearms, artwork and collectibles. In addition, two special guest speakers will deliver brief talks during the event.
Dr. Linda Ordiway, regional wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society, will discuss how membership in the non-profit organization assists in the creation and enhancement of wildlife habitat.
Lisa Williams, game bird biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC), will address the status and management of the ruffed grouse population in Pennsylvania. Williams leads an ongoing study examining the possible link between West Nile Virus and a statewide decline in ruffed grouse numbers.
“Creating abundant, high-quality habitat is the most important safeguard we can provide to our state bird,” Williams wrote in an article, “What’s Wrong with our Ruffed Grouse?” she penned for the September 2016 issue of Pennsylvania Game News.
The creation of high-quality habitat is at the heart of the Ruffed Grouse Society’s mission, according to banquet chairman Seth Heasley, who notes that proceeds from the Feb. 18 fund-raiser will be used to enhance habitat for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and other forest wildlife on public lands.
The Susquehanna River Valley Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society plans to focus its habitat work and member-recruitment efforts in the counties of Lycoming, Sullivan, Clinton, Potter, Tioga, Bradford, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Union and Snyder.
Individual membership and dinner tickets for the fund-raiser are $70. Dinner may also be purchased without a membership for $40. There also is a membership and spouse package with two dinners for $105, as well as a junior membership and dinner ticket for those 17 and younger for $35. Banquet, Conservation and Sustaining sponsorship packages are also available at $295, $550 and $1,000 respectively.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact ticket chairman Jeff Fetzer at (570) 324-2627 or (570) 885-6112 or by email: fetzer@epix.net.
Additional information can be found on the chapter website, www.susquehannagrouse.com.
Established in 1961, the Ruffed Grouse Society is the one international wildlife conservation organization dedicated to promoting conditions suitable for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and related wildlife to sustain our sport hunting tradition and outdoor heritage.
Information on the RGS, its mission, management projects and membership can be found on the web at: www.ruffedgrousesociety.org.
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