Challenge The Outdoors, Inc

WELCOME TO CHALLENGE THE OUTDOORS, INC.

March 2022 NEWSLETTER www.ctoforme.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Carl Gierke In recent newsletters you’ve heard us mention that the new CTO clubhouse is being built on property near Angelica, about halfway between Green Bay and Shawano near the Highway 160 intersection. The property contains a large pond that will provide fishing opportunities for our members and will be our new home for many events and outings. The project is moving along rapidly and with the weather cooperating, it’s looking like construction will be completed as early as this spring. From there we’ll move on to installing fishing piers and making decisions about other uses for the property. It’s an exciting time as we move into a new chapter for CTO and its members. Because there will be many days when CTO will not be using the facility, we want our members, volunteers, neighbors, and friends to know that the building will be available for them to use for non-CTO activities as well. These might include personal or family events, classes for hunter or snowmobile safety, fishing seminars, or boy/girl scout meetings – you get the idea. We’d like to be good neighbors in the community and opening our doors to others hopefully reflects that. We’ll be coming up with guidelines for use in the next few months, but if you have an event or organization in mind that could utilize the facility, let us know. Lastly, please see the article in this newsletter about our annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser, which is coming up on April 2nd. This is a great chance for you to support CTO, help raise money to pay for our events, and enable us to keep our membership affordable and open to anyone, regardless of financial status. There’s something for just about anyone to do at the fundraiser, so let us know what you’d like to help with. It’s a great chance to meet some CTO folks, make some new friends, have some fun and support your organization!

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPRING PHEASANT HUNT - Carl Gierke on Sunday March 6th, beginning at 8am, CTO will hold its spring pheasant hunt at J&H Game Farm west of Navarino. We’ve arranged for dogs and handlers, UTV operators, back-up shooters and lunch will be provided by J&H after shooting. It’s a great chance to get out and cure your cabin fever and get some fresh air. Each disabled hunter will be allowed two pheasants and can bring family members or a friend to assist them. UTVs and a trailer will also be available for those who need assistance getting out to the fields. If you don’t have a gun, there are guns available at J&H and ammunition will be provided, although you’re welcome to bring your own. Hunters and assistants are asked to wear orange clothing and eye protection is recommended. Please contact me (920-986-3272) ASAP if you’re interested in attending.

ARCHERY SHOOT- Brian Hess CTO will host a 3D Archery/Crossbow Target and Sighting Shoot on March 19th, from 10AM-3 PM at R& B Archery Range located at W5251 Pleasant Road, Black Creek WI. Please come and sight your archery equipment in or just come to practice and mingle with other members. There will be all sorts of 3D targets to shoot at from different ranges with various animal targets. We will have a small course set up to shoot at for a chance to win gift cards so bring your best shot. Pizza and a beverage will be provided and if you would like to bring a dish to pass that would be great. If you would like to try a crossbow but don’t have one, just give me a call and I can bring an extra one. Hope to see you there. If you have any questions, please call Brian – 920-680-7954. -7954.

SPORTING CLAY SHOOT / FUNDRAISER – APRIL 2nd - Carl Gierke Mark your calendar for CTO’s 22nd annual fundraiser, which will be held April 4th at J&H Game Farm near Navarino. This is a great opportunity for you to pitch in and help fund the events you take part in throughout the year. There are many ways you can help. You can collect donations for raffle prizes, sell raffle tickets, spread the word among your friends and family to come out and shoot, hang up posters in your favorite hang-out or watering hole, or help the day of the event. The Fundraiser Committee consists of Barb and Fred Kaun, Chris Savka, and myself. Thanks to all of them for their hard work and contributions. The event involves a lot of planning and contacting people, but it’s always a lot of fun, too. If you’d like to participate in any way, please contact anyone on the committee and let us know how you’d like to help.

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD INDOOR FOOTBALL GAME, April 24th – Steve Harvey CTO is sponsoring this event on Sunday April 24th at 3pm. Please meet in the lobby between 2pm to 2:30pm to get your tickets. The game is at the Green Bay Resch Center. It’s family night, so there are $2:00 hot dogs and brats. CTO will also provide each person with a $10 food card. Deadline to sign-up is April 19th. Contact Steve Harvey 920-494-3143 or Sharon LeFevre 920-615-2356

SPRING TURKEY HUNT- Tom Narmore This coming May, Challenge the Outdoors is teaming up with Shadows on the Wolf for a spring turkey hunt for our disabled members. We are able to take approximately ten hunters and the hunt will be from May 20th through May 22nd. Lodging for the hunt will be provided at the Christus Memorial Camp located just outside of Clintonville. Food will also be provided throughout the hunt; however, we will be doing a potluck dinner on Saturday afternoon. The main course will be provided by Challenge the Outdoors (further food details to come). Since we are limited on the number of participants we can accept, we will be giving preference to those who have never turkey hunted and to those who have never harvested a turkey. Deadline to send in for your turkey tag was December 10th 2021, but if you forget to apply by that deadline, you can also purchase a tag over the counter sometime near the end of March, 2022. When applying for or purchasing your turkey tag, please make sure you obtain one tag for zone 3, period E (5th period.) No matter how many tags you obtain, you will only be able to harvest one bearded turkey. The sign-up for the spring 2022 turkey hunt will begin January 15th and go until March 1st, 2022 (no exceptions). Your cooperation is needed for better planning with our mentors and landowners. Please note that signup for 2022 is a little earlier than normal and that, per CTO rules, if you sign up for this event and don't show up without contacting me with a reasonable excuse, you may not be able to attend the following year. Also, if you think you might need help with any personal cares please bring your own assistant. There will be plenty of room and food for your assistant to stay with you for the whole event. To sign up, please contact Tom Narmore @ (920)410-4436 or email him @ narmore1988@yahoo.com. More details to come.

2022 SPORTING CLAY SHOOTS AT J&H - Randy Swille, Steve Harvey, Roger Urmanski This year we are offering Sporting Clay Shoots during six different months. CTO will cover the cost of four of them. We are having three Sunday Shoots and three Tuesday shoots and all will be held at J&H Game Farm near Navarino. Note that the shoot on August 21st will be a Shoot Your Choice event where you have the choice of shooting several courses. Dates of the shoots are: Sunday, May 15th 9:00-11:00 am. Sunday, June 26th 9:00-11:00 am Sunday, August 21st 9:00-1100 am (Shoot of Your Choice) Tuesday, Sept. 13th 9:00-11:00 am Tuesday, Oct. 11th 9:00-11:00 am Tuesday, Nov. 8th 9:00-11:00 am For Sunday shoots you can contact for info and sign up: Randy Swille. 920-373-8081 or Steve Harvey 920-494-3143 For Tuesday shoots you can contact for info and sign up: Roger Urmanski 920-468-8872

SHAWANO LAKE FISHING – Carl Gierke On Saturday June 4th, CTO will hold its annual fishing event on Shawano Lake, beginning at 8am. The event is held at the park in Cecil and no fishing license is needed as this is the DNR’s free fishing weekend. Boats and baits are provided and CTO will have some fishing equipment available, although you’re welcome to bring your own equipment. We’ll start at 8am and fish until about 11am when we’ll take a break for lunch. If you’d like, you can go out fishing again after lunch. You’ll need to reserve a spot by calling me (920-986-3272) no later than May 30th so we know how many people to expect. Hope to see you there!

LAKE MICHIGAN FISHING TRIP- Steve Harvey We will be providing a charter fishing event on Friday, June 10th. We will be leaving very early in morning with more details in the next newsletter. You will need a fishing license and Lake Michigan Fishing Stamp. We will be calling you with more information as we get closer to the event. We have a limited number of members that can go and preference will be given to those members who have not attended in recent years. If you’re interested, please contact us by April 20th. Steve Harvey (920-494-3143), Randy Swille (920-373-8081).

CHASING RAINBOWS AT WILDERNESS SPRINGS TROUT POND - Deb Pheifer On Saturday, June 18th and Saturday Aug 27th, Chasing Rainbows will be held at Wilderness Springs Trout Farm, which can be reached by going west of New London on HWY 54 and then turn right on Madden Rd. Watch for CTO signs. No fishing license is required and there is no size limit on trout, with a two fish limit. Fishing will start at 9:30 AM. Please bring your fishing poles and secret lures, although CTO will have some fishing equipment available. Lunch, water, cane poles, bait, cleaning and packaging on ice will all be provided. To sign up for this event contact Debbie Pheifer at (715) 412-4162 or e-mail at: deb57ncliff55@gmail.com

SHADOWS ON THE WOLF – SOTW has constructed several Handicapped-Accessible fishing piers in Outagamie County and one in Shawano County. These include Mac’s Landing (north of Hortonville), Barker Park (south of Shiocton), Koepke Park (north of Shiocton), Village of Shiocton Municipal Building, Bamboo Bend Park (west of Shiocton), Co. Hwy S Boat Landing (west of Stephensville), and Sturgeon Park (City of Shawano). You can check them out and get directions on SOTW’s website (www.shadowsonthewolf.org) if you’re interested.

DONATED BEAR HUNT – Carl Gierke - CTO has been offered a bear tag and hunt for this fall in Taylor County (Zone A), near Medford. The hunt would begin on or about September 14th of this year and hounds would be used. The guide has a trailer available for use during your stay, otherwise there are several hotels available in the Medford area. Any disabled hunter will be considered, although preference will be given to a disabled youth or disabled veteran. An adult would need to have a Class A or B disability permit issued by Wisconsin DNR. If you or anyone you know might be interested in this hunt, please contact me asap, but no later than August 1st so we can put you on the list for consideration. If more than one hunter is interested, a drawing will be held.

ELECTIONS AND VOLUNTEERS- Sharon LeFevre Election for board members is coming up once again in July, so if you have any interest in becoming a board member or just getting more information about helping with events, please contact Sharon LeFevre at 920-615-2356.

EVENT RECAPS

GAMBLER HOCKEY GAME RECAP- Steve Harvey and Sharon LeFevre On January 28, 2022, CTO had its annual Gambler Game Night. We had 32 members signed up for the event. We had a great weather night for all of our members to get out and enjoy a good game. Each member received their ticket and a $10.00 food card to use at the game. The mascot came by and took pictures with all attending. Everyone had a great time socializing and watching some good hockey. Thanks to all that attended and we hope to see you all next year. Also, a special thank you to Thrivent for their gift toward this event made available by Rodney and Joan Sternhagen.

CTO/MWR FUNDRAISER - GRAND MERIDIAN RECAP- Sharon LeFevre, Gary VandenHeuvel On Saturday January 8th, Coyne Borree of Midwest Restoration sponsored a fundraiser for Challenge the Outdoors in collaboration with MWR Foundation. Jamie Merckx of MWR and CTO member Gary VandenHeuvel put together a fantastic fundraiser banquet. CTO is very grateful for all the hard work they put into organizing this event. A big shout out to all the businesses that sponsored tables and tried their best to win prizes. Another Thank You goes out to our volunteers that helped with the handling of the raffles, registration, auctions, ticket sales and other extras for the event. We also want to acknowledge our members that participated in this event to make it a great turn out. We are looking forward to next year's banquet scheduled for January 2023, so watch future newsletters for details.

HOLIDAY PARTY RECAP- Sharon LeFevre On Saturday, February 12, 2022, we held our yearly Holiday Party at Willow Creek Lanes in Green Bay, WI. We had 49 members attend the event and 20 bowlers for the day. We had a great lunch complete with a few great desserts that all enjoyed. Everyone left with a full tummy and a gift. It was great to see everyone again and to see all the smiles while socializing and bowling. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year. A big thank you to Steve Harvey and Randy Swille for helping me make this event such a great success. Gifts for the Holiday Party were donated by Steve Harvey, Sharon LeFevre, Gary VandenHeuvel and Darwin Swille. We would like to give a special thank you to Thrivent for their gift toward this event made possible by Rodney and Joan Sternhagen.

NON-EVENT INFORMATION

Spinal Cord Injury Data Base - Dear Friends, I recently came across a data base with just about anything related to a spinal cord injury. I am sharing it with you in hopes that you find it useful and willing to pass it on to other spinal cord injured. The WEB site is at https://msktc.org/sci. Jeff Pagels 920-366-5731 "Always Climb Higher"

ATTENTION THRIVENT MEMBERS! - Barb Kaun In the past, Challenge the Outdoors, Inc. has been the recipient of your Thrivent Choice Dollars. Thrivent will pay up to $300,000 in online processing fees per calendar year for personal donations made through Thrivent's online giving platform. Visit the following link https://service.thrivent.com/apps/ThriventChoiceMemberWeb/public/organizationSearchResults or call 1-800-8474836 to get personal assistance in donating your Choice dollars to benefit our current programs and help in future projects. Please consider CTO as the recipient of those donations.

CTO ONGOING PROGRAMS - CTO has several programs designed to supplement the cost of outdoor activities and encourage disabled members to get out and have some fun. To be eligible for these programs, you must be a member for at least one year (except awards). See the website for further additional information and application forms. Otherwise, please contact the chairperson if you have questions. These include: 1) Shooting Policy – Designed to encourage participation in shooting sports, allows up to $50.00 per year toward membership in sporting/gun club(s). Original receipts must be submitted for reimbursement. Contact – Jim Adamovich 2) Adaptive Equipment – Supplements the cost of disability-related equipment necessary for a disabled member to take part in a hunting or fishing activity. Original receipts must be submitted for reimbursement, which is half the cost of the item up to a maximum of $100 annually. Contact – Pat Nieuwenhuis. 3) Field Grants – Supplements the cost of guided or otherwise expensive hunting or fishing trips up to a maximum of $200 per year, with a maximum of three in a lifetime. Applications should be submitted two months before the event and receipts for reimbursement are required. Contact – Pat Nieuwenhuis 4) Awards Program - Each year at its annual banquet in July, CTO awards prizes for the biggest deer, turkey and fish of different species that are harvested at, or outside of, CTO events. These and other awards hopefully encourage members to get out and hunt and fish whenever they have a chance. If you’d like to register an animal for consideration in the awards program, please contact CTO’s awards coordinator, Sharon LeFevre at 920-615-2356 or email at bookmom53@gmail.com. Time frame to submit an entry for an award is from July 1, 2021 thru June 30, 2022.

TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION- Sharon LeFevre *CTO’s Website address: www.ctoforme.org *Facebook is: CTO - Challenge The Outdoors (this is a public group). Please note that you need to access this Facebook group page through Facebook and search for our name. *Facebook group page for CTO is https://www.facebook.com/groups/challengetheoutdoors/ -If you have questions regarding any of the above, you can contact Sharon at 920-615-2356 or www.bookmom53@gmail.com

NEW MEMBERS – Please welcome the following new members to CTO: Kimberly Buettner and the family of Steven Buettner

NEWSLETTER - David Paul The Challenge the Outdoors Newsletter is published every two months at the beginning of January, March, May, July, September and November. Questions, please contact David Paul at dcp7576@gmail.com.

MARCH BOARD MEETING DATE AND LOCATION CHANGED – The CTO Board of Directors meeting for March has been changed from Wednesday, March 16th to Thursday, March 17th at 5pm at Home Instead Senior Care in Appleton (3020 E. College Ave., Suite I).

SPREAD THE WORD!!!

CTO SPORTING CLAYS SHOOT - FUNDRAISER SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND 8:00AM- 3:30pm J&H Game Farm

CTO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CARL GIERKE PRESIDENT 920-986-3272 cgierke1@outlook.com RANDY SWILLE VICE PRESIDENT 920-373-8081 randyswille@yahoo.com JAMES NOOYEN TREASURER 920-246-6497 james.nooyen@homeinstead.com BARB KAUN SECRETARY 920-720-9689 b.kaun.316@gmail.com STEVE HARVEY DIRECTOR 920-494-3143 spharleyman57@gmail.com DEB PHEIFER DIRECTOR 715-412-4162 deb57ncliff55@gmail.com JIM ADAMOVICH DIRECTOR 920-722-2090 adamovich0208@yahoo.com FRED KAUN DIRECTOR 920-720-9689 fkaun@me.com SHARON LEFEVRE DIRECTOR 920-615-2356 bookmom53@gmail.com KEITH PAMPERIN DIRECTOR 920-494-3990 kjpamperin@aol.com DAVID PAUL DIRECTOR 920-740-2775 dcp7576@gmail.com BILL MAYVILLE ASSOCIATE DIR. 715-758-8363 bill.mayville@yahoo.com BRIAN HESS ASSOCIATE DIR. 920-864-7954 abhess@centurytel.net STEVE NOOYEN ASSOCIATE DIR. 920-621-2827 snooyen@homeinstead.com TAMMY MCFAUL KRITZ ASSOCIATE DIR. 920-527-0696 dantam2006@sbcglobal.net MARK BAEHR ASSOCIATE DIR. 920-766-9218 baehrm@sbcglobal.net PAT NIEUWENHUIS ASSOCIATE DIR 920-687-8707 nubby009@aol.com

Check calendar on website @ www.ctoforme.org for other events. Click on the date for more information about events in the newsletter.

Contacts: J&H Game Farm, Dianne 715-758-8134 Steve Harvey- 920-494-3143 Brian Hess 920-864-7954 Sharon LeFevre 920-615-2356 Roger Urmanski 920-468-8872 Carl Gierke 920-986-3272 Deb Pheifer 715-412-4162 Barb Kaun 920-720-9689 David Paul 920-740-2775 Chris Savka 920-470-1279 Tommy Narmore 920-410-4436