IHEA-USA Recognizes Achievements and Service
OutdoorHub 06.27.14
The International Hunter Education Association-USA (IHEA-USA) recognized the achievements and service of hunter education administrators, program leaders, volunteers and industry partners at its recently completed, annual conference held in Charleston, SC and hosted by the South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources. The conference was managed by Capt. Billy Downer and SCDNR staff.
IHEA-USA Executive Director Steve Hall said, “The hunter education program has long been a successful program in training and educating safe, ethical hunters. It’s been successful in large part because of the dedicated men and women who serve its mission. This year’s award winners personify the commitment, skills and professional character of those engaged in training our students in such a meaningful way. We extend our gratitude to all who were recognized at conference, and, to all who made such selfless contributions to hunter education, as well as the SCDNR personnel who made the conference a huge success.”
Instructor of the Year-Floyd “Link” Grass of Denver, North Carolina, was named the IHEA-USA Volunteer Instructor of the Year. This prestigious award is sponsored and selected by Federal Premium Ammunition, which supports numerous conservation programs nationwide and has been a long-time supporter of hunter education.
Grass has been an active member in the North Carolina hunter education program for more than 15 years. In 2013, he organized and taught 56 hunter education courses that certified 811 students. He also recruited 11 additional volunteer instructors. Grass has received multiple “Instructor of the Year” awards at the state and local level, and has been recognized for special achievement and dedication to North Carolina’s hunter education programs.
Professional of the Year-Thomas Baumeister, Education Bureau Chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, was selected as the Hunter Education Professional of the Year, an award that recognizes a Hunter Education Professional’s efforts over the last year. The award is sponsored and judged by the National Rifle Association.
As chairman of the IHEA-USA Standards and Evaluation Committee since early 2013, he understood the critical role widely accepted standards play in delivering Hunter Education across North America. He mapped out a plan that would seek participation and input from literally every entity that has a stake in Hunter Education, hunting and the shooting sports and give them a seat in the process.
He organized a small team of subject matter experts, who served diligently to draft the core content, and then planned and conducted a multi-day meeting that brought together national stakeholders to “truth” and “flesh-out” the proposed framework.
Thomas’ professionalism and leadership style enabled the diverse group of committee members with highly varied regional interests to create science-based, measurable set of draft standards and learning objectives that will serve IHEA-USA and the Hunter Education community for years to come. The draft standards document was reviewed by U.S. Hunter Ed Administrators and was unanimously adopted at the IHEA-USA June 2014 business meeting. It goes next to the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies for consideration by directors of the state wildlife management agencies, which oversee hunter education programs across the country.
Edward L. “Kozicky” Award-was awarded to the IHEA-USA Standards Committee for their collective work in drafting a science-based, measurable, contemporary set of core standards for the Hunter Education Program. The award, named after Ed Kozicky, an individual who epitomizes the essence of the hunting heritage and led early efforts to educate hunters across North America. This award is given to an individual or organization that assists the President of IHEA in a manner which far exceeds a general effort. The award was selected and presented by Randy Huskey, President of IHEA-USA.
Standards Committee members include: Charles Bruckerhoff (CT), David Dodson (VA), Thomas Baumeister, Chairman (MT), Kent Barrett (KS), Jason Kool (SD) and John McKay (NV), Susan Langlois (MA), Mike Streeter (NE) and John Sturgis (LA).
Along with the Kozicky “Coyote Award,” each committee member received a custom, limited edition, Silver Stag Knife provided through partial donation by Brad Smith, Smith & Partners, LLC.
Industry Award– Anthony Imperato, president and owner of Henry Repeating Arms, Bayonne, NJ, was awarded the IHEA-USA “Industry Award” for his many years of dedication and service to the administrators, state hunter education programs and instructors. Under Imperato’s leadership, Henry Repeating Arms continues to donate firearms to each state every year, donates to special state events, and provides discounts to instructors.
The award is selected by IHEA-USA. John McKay, Awards Chairman presented the award to Jeffrey Post, Henry’s Customer Service representative, who accepted on behalf of Imperato and Henry Repeating Arms.
IHEA-USA Executive Director’s Award– Focus Group, Inc. received the IHEA-USA Executive Director’s Award for their hard work publishing both the Hunter Education and Shooting Sports Journal and annual Hunter’s Handbook.
They also produced many discount programs, networked with industry partners on behalf of IHEA-USA, assisted the Executive Director, Steve Hall, at NRA Annual Conventions and hosted the Hunting Heritage Hunt (see www.ihea-usa.org). Focus Group, Inc. also secured many donations for the annual IHEA-USA auction. In addition, IHEA-USA and Focus Group revised a complex publication’s agreement which required significant review time, coordination of legal counsel and a committed spirit of partnership.
Focus Group is a small publishing company that has been an active partner with IHEA-USA for 23 years. In addition to its publication and hunt contributions, Focus Group has helped provide over a half million dollars in funding to IHEA-USA through the sponsorship proceeds of manufacturer/partners. The company’s primary objective is to help the human race have the hunting experience in a safe, ethical way.
Focus Group’s Brian Thurston and Leaha Wirth were on hand to accept the award and distribute annual awards selected from a drawing of students, instructors and administrators based on submissions to Hunter’s Handbook, just one of the many contributions they make to supporting and promoting hunter education each year.
VOLUNTEER HUNTER EDUCATION HALL OF FAME AWARD-two awards given
Jerry Brown of Goodwater, AL was awarded the Hall of Fame Award that recognizes Hunter Education volunteers for their efforts supporting Hunter Education over the course of their lives. Nominations were made by state or local administrators.
Brown has been a hunter education instructor since August of 1979 and has built one of the best hunter education teams in Alabama. He never turns down an opportunity to assist when asked. He provides live fire in each of his classes so that the students truly have a quality hands-on experience, even though that is not required in AL. His students get a real hunting experience following the life fire exercise and Brown has even constructed four ranges on his property so students can shoot safely out to 100 yards. Going even further to pass on the tradition of hunting, he regularly hosts deer hunts for youth and women who are new to hunting. He helps with any advanced classes AL offers the public throughout the year, for teachers, classes for the general public during conservation expos, classes held for special students, and more.
Brown has also devised a game trailing scenario in which the students learn blood trailing, ethics, safe gun handling, fence crossing, and laws. It is a realistic scenario that provides a memorable learning experience. Rather than just being told that something is legal or ethical, students have a first-hand learning experience. The scenario includes home-made pop up deer and turkey targets for ethical shoot/don’t shoot scenarios, and a visit from the local conservation officer to check to see if they have permission to hunt on an adjoining landowner’s property.
The award winner is passionate about passing on the tradition of hunting to future generations, readily shares what he has learned and developed, and has spent a significant amount of his own money to make his hunter education classes informative and enjoyable.
Allen C. Basala-of Cary, NC is a life-long, active participant in conservation and a hunter education volunteer since 1985. Basala exemplifies the best kind of instructor. He has consistently garnered additional certifications to expand his training and knowledge to be passed on to others.
Basala coordinated one of the first Hunter Education teaching teams in NC and has assisted North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) with as many as 20 special hunter education events a year. He assisted with development of a tree stand safety display for National Hunting & Fishing Day and hunter education displays at the Dixie Deer Classic, where he is chairman of the “Wildlife Conservation Through Education” Committee. He is a guest lecturer at Meredith College, a large, independent women’s college, on the topic of “Wildlife, Nature, Spirituality and Art.” He also assisted the biology faculty in creating a Wildlife Club at Meredith. In addition, he assisted NCWRC with training of initial licensed agriculture education teacher with obtaining hunter education instructor certification prior to graduation from N. C. State University.
His vision and passion is conservation and his motivation has highly impacted NC Hunter Education Program, beginning in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when he championed the cause of hunter education in NC. Through his leadership position with the Wake County Wildlife Club, Basala helped NCWRC meet the early demands of legislation requiring hunter ed certification of all first time license buyers. He has taught more than 8,000 hunter ed students.
According to NCWRC Hunter Education Administrator, Travis Casper, who nominated Basala, “There is no part of the NC Hunter Education Program that has not been touched by this nominee. He has been a visionary in presenting courses and looking for new audiences to encourage participation.”
Innovation in Technology Award-Kurt Kalkomey, president and co-founder of Kalkomey Enterprises and Hunter-Ed.Com accepted IHEA-USA’s” Innovations in Technology Award” for his many years of innovation with hunter education products, manuals, Internet sites, registration and certification systems used throughout the country. The award was presented by John McKay, IHEA-USA Awards Committee Chairman
Board Member Award was given to Bill Balda (KY) (right), from IHEA-USA President, Randy Huskey (TN), honoring his years of service to the executive board of the IHEA-USA.
