To All Great Lakes Council Members,
I am writing to ask for your help in raising funds for two major priorities for 2020.
The first is our James D. Schramm Scholarship award given to one or more students majoring in fisheries at one of our Great Lakes Council’s universities. Each year we provide a $1,000 scholarship to a masters or doctoral level student planning a career in this field. Our 2019 awardee included one outstanding young future fisheries scientists at Michigan State University.
The second priority is the Great Lakes Council’s Conservation Grant program which supports conservation projects across our region. If we’re able to fund these grants, Fly Fishers International will provide matching funds. The projects we supported last year with $1,500 grants include:
Pere Marquette River Railroad Stream Bank Restoration – The Council awarded a grant to the Conservation Resource Alliance & Pere Marquette Watershed Council to help fund a project to reinforce and stabilize the stream banks along the railroad that runs adjacent to the upper fly water on the PM. If the eroding bank in this section of the river is snot stabilized it is possible that a train could end up in the river and threaten the health of the entire watershed.
The Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative – The GLC is one of nearly 50 partners joining with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians on a mission to restore self-sustaining populations of Arctic Grayling within its historical range in the state.
Here’s where we need your assistance. We’re asking each of our members to donate funds to support these projects in the amount of …
You can specify which project your donation goes towards, or allow the executive board to make that decision on your behalf. Please specify your choice on the PayPal checkout page. Either way, you’ll help the Council continue our commitments to our education and conservation goals in the Great Lakes region.
Also, many companies also match or exceed their employee donations to 501(c)(3) organizations such as the GLC. Please check with yours to see if they offer such a program to increase your total amount.
As an enticement for this donation we are having a raffle. For every $10 sent in we will place your name in for a chance to win an Orvis Clearwater 9′ 5wt 6-piece rod. Second prize is a Battenkill II fly reel.
$10-15 = 1 ticket
$20 -30 = 2 tickets
$40-50 = 3 tickets
$100 + = 5 tickets
For those who would rather pay by check please make it out to the Great Lakes Council FFI in care of Dennis O’Brien 5530 Newberry Rd, Durand, Michigan 48429
Thank you for your generosity. Your contributions will help ensure that our fisheries and their habitats remain healthy
Sincerely,
Dennis O’Brien
President, Great Lakes Council
