The Chain-O-Lakes Gobblers, The local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation wins big at the State Awards Banquet in Destin, Florida August 20, 2005. Dale Wessling, president of the Chain-O-Lakes Gobblers accepted the first ever FULL STRUT award. This award is presented to the chapter that goes above and beyond the call of duty not only for the National Wild Turkey Federation but also for their community. The Gobblers also won two other awards; they took first place in the Women in the Outdoors category and second in the membership category. Congratulations to all of the chapter members that work so hard through out the year. You are the ones that made this award possible.

Dale Wessling (center) receives Full Strut award.


Carol Gordon (center) and Jackie Tuten (right) accept State WITO awards

We are proud of our accomplishments and we have received these awards for good reason. Our dedication to the education of children, women and the handicapped has driven us to try and become one of Florida's, and the Nation's, most active and successful NWTF chapters. We have been a busy group since our first Banquet on May 17, 2003. Since then we have done the following:

1.   SEPTEMBER 24 & 25, 2003: WE HAD A JAKE EVENT AT CIRCLE-C-HUNT CLUB AND CAMP OUT. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40 JAKES WERE THERE.

2.   OCTOBER 3, 2003: WE ASSISTED WITH THE WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS STATE EVENT HELD AT THE OCALA CONSERVATION CENTER IN THE OCALA NATIONAL FOREST

3.   NOVEMBER 2-3 AND 10-11 THE WHEELIN SPORTSMAN WORKED THE TURKEY SHOOT PUT ON BY THE LION'S CLUB.

4.   NOVEMBER 9 THE WHEELIN SPORTSMEN ALSO COOKED IN THE LEESBURG CHILI COOK-OFF. THEY DIDN'T WIN BUT LOOK OUT FOR NEXT YEAR.

5.   DECEMBER 12 - 13 THE WHEELIN SPORTSMEN PARTICIPATED IN AN OSCEOLA HUNT AT OSCEOLA OUTFITTERS IN ST. CLOUD.

6.   JANUARY 23-25 2004 WE HOSTED THE FIRST STATE JAKE EVENT AT CIRCLE-C-HUNT CLUB. THERE WAS AROUND 100 KIDS THERE. WE ALSO HOSTED THE STATE BOARD MEETING AT THIS TIME.

7.   FEBRUARY 21: ASSISTED THE MIDDLEBERG FLORIDA CHAPTER WITH THERE FIRST WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS EVENT

8.   FEBRUARY 28 WE HOSTED OUR 3RD ANNUAL WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS EVENT AT CIRCLE-C-HUNT CLUB. WE HAD 103 WOMEN PARTICIPATED MAKING OUR EVENT THE LARGEST IN THE STATE FOR THE 3RD YEAR.

9.   FEBRUARY 28 WE ALSO WORKED A BEER BOOTH AT MARDI GRAS TO HELP RAISE FUND FOR OUR CHAPTER.

10.   MARCH 20TH WE HOSTED A WHEELIN SPORTSMAN BIRD HUNT AT CIRCLE-C-HUNT CLUB. THERE WERE AROUND 15 WHEELIN SPORTSMAN AND THEIR SPONSORS. CIRCLE-C HAS ADDED RAMPS TO THE FRONT OF THEIR JEEPS SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE IN WHEEL CHAIRS FOR THIS TYPE OF EVENT.

11.   APRIL 17 - 19TH THE WHEELIN SPORTSMAN PARTICIPATED AND WORKED ON THE PVA (PARALYZED VETERANS ASSOCIATION) BASS TOURNAMENT LOCATED IN SANFORD.

12.   APRIL 23-25 WE WORKED A BEER TENT AT THE BIKE FEST TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE OUR CHAPTER.

13.   MAY 11TH - WE PRESENTED TWO SCHOLARSHIPS TO TWO LEESBURG HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS. KEVIN BRAUN RECEIVED $1000.00 FROM THE CHAPTER WILL DOZIER RECEIVED $500.00 FROM OUR WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS PROGRAM.

14.   MAY 19TH: DONATED $1,000.00 TO THE OCALA CONSERVATION CENTER FOR BEDDING ITEMS FOR THE KIDS.

15.   JUNE 12, 2004 LEESBURG CHAPTER BANQUET

16.  OCT 9, 2004 WHEELIN SPORTSMAN COOKED IN THE LEESBURG CHILI COOK-OFF

17.   NOV 20-21 THE WOMEN IN THE OUTDOORS DELIVERED 25 FULL MEALS TO FAMILIES OVER LAKE COUNTY

18.   DEC 4-5,2004 THE WITO WORKED AT BASS PRO SHOP TO RAISE WITO AWARENESS

19.   DEC 11-12 THE WHEELIN SPORTSMAN HEADED UP A TURKEY SHOOT IN GROVELAND FLORIDA. TO RAISE MONEY AND TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE WHEELIN SPORTSMAN.

20.  JAN 21-23 WE HOSTED THE SECOND ANNUAL JAKE STATE EVENT AT CIRCLE-C-HUNT CLUB (OVER 100 PARTICIPANTS)

21.   FEB 4 WITO WORKED FIRST FRIDAY IN EUSTIS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR THE WITO PROGRAM

22.   FEB 19: CHAPTER WORKED THE LEESBURG MARDI GRAS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CHAPTER

23.   FEBRUARY 25-26. WE HAD OUR 4TH WITO EVENT WITH OVER 100 ATTENDEES. WE CONTRIBUTED AROUND $8000.00 TO THE NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION.

24.   MAR 18-19: THE WHEELIN SPORTSMAN HOSTED A QUAIL HUNT WITH OVER 20 PARTICIPANTS. THEY CONTRIBUTED AROUND $1000.00 TO THE NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

25.   APRIL 1-2 ASSISTED WITH THE WHEELIN SPORTSMAN HUNT IN AVON PARK

26.   APRIL 22-24: CHAPTER WORKED THE LEESBURG BIKEFEST AS A FUND RAISER.

27.  MAY 17: CHAPTER RAN A JAKES ESSAY CONTEST AND A DAISY AIRGUN WAS PRESENTED TO THE WINNER AT OUR 2005 BANQUET

28.   JUNE 11, 2005: CHAPTER BANQUET

29.  OUR WHEELIN SPORTSMAN HAVE LEASED 650 ACRES OF LAND UP NEAR PERRY FLORIDA: ON THE AGENDA WOULD BE A DISABLED DEER HUNT IN 2005, TO GIVE WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE NOT HUNTED THE OPPORTUNITY. 2006 OFFER A TURKEY HUNT NOTONLY FOR THE DISABLED BUT FOR THE LOCAL WITO. IF ANY MEMBERS KNOW OF SOMEONE THAT IS DISABLED THAT HAS NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT PLEASE CALL JIM BUMP 771-0368 OR 636-3207 OR DALE WESSLING 217-2257.

AS YOU CAN SEE WE STAY PRETTY BUSY THROUGH OUT THE YEAR. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO JOIN OUR COMMITTEE AND ASSIST AT SOME OF THE EVENTS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUT WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:

• President - Dale Wessling   
• Women In The Outdoors Coordinator - Jackie Tuten   

Our Florida State Chapter deserves a great round of applause as well. The members of the NWTF state board of directors have done an outstanding job promoting conservation and the NWTF. We owe state board members and especially outgoing president Bill Marvin a debt of gratitude for their efforts in bringing the state of Florida to the forefront in the NWTF's national standings. For a look at what our state board has achieved read this press release.