Challenge The Outdoors, Inc

 WELCOME TO CHALLENGE THE OUTDOORS, INC.

MAY 2024 NEWSLETTER

www.ctoforme.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Carl Gierke

Many thanks to everyone that helped make the annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser another great success. The event was held April 13 at J&H Game Farm and we were blessed with beautiful weather, which was very welcome considering some of the cold and rainy days we’ve had over the last few years. We had a great turnout of about 350 shooters and volunteers and shooters enjoyed brats and hot dogs, beans, potato salad and other goodies. The fundraiser involves a lot of planning and work, but it’s always a good time too.

The Sporting Clays Shoot funds many of the events that CTO hosts throughout the year and is always a great team effort.

Whether you helped set up or clean up, sell raffle tickets, helped advertise the event, collect donations, or helped the day of the event, your contributions of time and effort are greatly appreciated. We received a lot of positive feedback from the shooters that attended and many of them really look forward to attending every year. A big thank you to the Fundraiser Committee consisting of Barb and Fred Kaun, Anne Atnip and Debi Delie for their help that started way back in December. Thanks also go out to Pam Schwartz, who supervised the kitchen operations for the first time and to Alicia Kroening, who has made spectacular cakes the last few years that are almost too beautiful and creative to eat (but we eat them anyway). As always, thanks to Dianne and Steve and everyone at J&H for all their help in making things run smoothly.

I’ve come to enjoy getting out and selling raffle tickets and talking to people about CTO. It’s always gratifying to meet so many people that support our organization and thank us for what we do. This year a lot of people had seen the construction going on at Peter’s Pond in Angelica and the new sign, which are both very visible from Highway 29, and asked about what CTO does. It’s created a lot of visibility for the organization and generated a lot of interest.

Thanks again to everyone that helped make this year’s fundraiser safe and successful. Next year’s shoot is scheduled for Saturday, April 12th , so put it on your social calendar – we look forward to doing it all over again.

EVENT RECAPS

SPRING PHEASANT HUNT – Carl Gierke

On March 3rd , CTO hosted its spring pheasant hunt at J&H. We were blessed with great weather and a lot of great help. Attendees each went home with two cleaned birds and full stomachs after eating a delicious lunch prepared by the folks at J&H. This year we had several young helpers and participants at the event – the Sticka, Wegner, and Nieuwenhuis families each had three generations attend the hunt. It’s always great to see younger folks getting involved in the outdoors and CTO - judging by their smiling faces they had a good time. The fall pheasant hunt will be held October 20 th , so let me know by October 15th if you’re interested.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

CHASING RAINBOWS AT WILDERNESS SPRINGS TROUT POND – Carl Gierke

On Saturday, May 11th and Saturday Aug 24th, 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. Please note that the original date of May 18th was changed to May 11th . 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 contact Carl Gierke (920-986-3272) as soon as possible.

CTO SUNDAY AND THURSDAY SPORTING CLAYS SHOOTS AT J&H GAME FARM - Randy Swille, Steve Harvey & Roger Urmanski

Our Sunday Sporting Clay Shoots for 2024 will be occurring on June 2 nd and June 23 rd . These events include the shoot, shells, and lunch. Contact Randy Swille 920-373-8081 if you’re interested.  Shoot Of Your Choice will be held Sunday, August 4 th . This includes shoot, shells, and buffet meal. Contact Steve Harvey at 920-494-3143. Remember CTO is willing to pay for up to four shoots per year.  Our Thursday shoots will be July 11 th , September 12 th , and October 3 rd and will conclude with a meal. Contact Roger Uramanski at 920-468-8872 if interested in the Thursday shoot. All of these shoots will start at 9:30AM and go until about noon.

SHAWANO LAKE FISHING – Carl Gierke On Saturday, June 1st, CTO will hold its annual fishing event on Shawano Lake. 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 8:30 am and fish until about 11:30 am, 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 27 th , so we know how many people to expect. Hope to see you there!

Rocker Baseball Game - Steve Harvey (Chair)/Sharon LeFevre (Co-Chair) CTO will have a Rocker Baseball Game on June -25th in Green Bay at Capital Park on Holmgren Way. Gates open at 5 pm for the game, but we ask that you arrive by 4:50 to get your tickets and can get to the seating area with the group. If you signed up for this event at the Holiday Party, please call to confirm your place for the game. The sign-in sheet has been misplaced. Food and refreshments are included. You must call for tickets by June 10th.

Steve Harvey 920-494-3143 or Sharon LeFevre 920-615-2356

Rocker Baseball 50/50 Fundraiser - Steve Harvey/Sharon LeFevre

We have been given the opportunity to partake in a 50/50 Fundraiser from the Rocker group once again this year. The game is on June 22, 2024. This is how it works. You purchase a ticket using the QR Code on the flyer and you pay $15.00 for your ticket. With your ticket purchase, you receive a Rocker Baseball Hat and $4.00 dollars of the ticket price is given back to CTO. We also have volunteers walking around selling tickets for a 50/50 drawing after the 7th inning and CTO gets half of the money collected at this game. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or text. Steve Harvey 920-494-3143 or Sharon LeFevre 920-615-2356 Hope to see you there.

2024 LAKE MICHIGAN CHARTER FISHING - Randy Swille

CTO will be offering two boats for Lake Michigan Charter Fishing out of Algoma, Wisconsin on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 26 th from 1:00pm to about 6:00pm. We will again be fishing with Captain Lee Haasch. We have plenty of members that have told me to write them down to go fishing.  I will be calling and confirming their trip and sending out reminders where, when, and licenses to have on person. Any questions call Randy Swille 920-373-8081

WOLF RIVER FISHING OPPORTUNITIES- David Paul

CTO would like to make you aware of several easy-access fishing opportunities in the area. Shadows on The Wolf is a non-profit organization that has built 12 piers on the Wolf River that are handicap accessible and provide access free of charge. To find the pier locations, check out their website at shadowsonthewolf.org

Once you reach their website, click on projects, then click on the RED SQUARE BUTTON and it will take you to the locations with pictures and directions to drive to these piers. 

Annual Membership Banquet - Sharon LeFevre

Our banquet is set for July 14th at Stadium View in Green Bay. It starts at 3pm and we will have our annual election for board members with a small meeting to begin with and then dinner will follow at 5pm. Please look for your invitation in May and respond accordingly for reservations. The deadline to register will be June 25th.

Call Sharon LeFevre at 920-615-2356 or text or e-mail at bookmom53@gmail.com

Also, if you are interested in helping with the event that day please let me know. We can always use volunteers. Thanks and hope to see you all there.

BOARD ELECTION FOR JULY BANQUET-Sharon LeFevre

It’s that time of year to let me know if you have an interest in becoming a board member for our great organization. If you want to run for a board position please let me know and send me a short Bio regarding yourself by May 20 th . We meet once a month and discuss the business of making decisions for our organization. If you would like more information or are interested, please contact Sharon at 920-615-2356. Thanks and hope to see you all there

SHAWANO LAKE & PONTOON BOAT 2024 - David Paul

Our pontoon boat is setup with a ramp so wheelchairs can safely board the pontoon. The docks have been installed at the Cecil Village Boat Launch and I will have the boat in the water around May 6 th , weather permitting. We are keeping our pontoon boat on Shawano Lake in Cecil (southeast corner of the lake). The boat will be located at slip #7 this year and each slip is marked with the number. The boat is available to any CTO member to use from roughly May 6th through mid-September. All you need to do is call David Paul, (920-740-2775) to reserve the boat for a half or full day. You’ll need to bring your own fishing equipment.

CTO Pontoon Boat Guidelines: Failure to follow these guidelines may terminate your use of the pontoon up to one year from date of infraction per CTO Policy.

A) Keys and signup sheet are at the BP gas station located at HWY 117 & 22 in Cecil. Report any issues or damage immediately to David.

B) First time users are REQUIRED to receive training on operation of the pontoon and the lake topography.

C) You must follow the Wisconsin DNR boating regulations and you are responsible for knowing these regulations. Failure to do so can lead to legal ramifications that you are solely responsible for.

D) Prior to leaving dock:

1) Make sure you have at least one working cell phone with you on the boat that gets adequate

reception.

2) Retrieve personal flotation devices (PFDs or life jackets) from storage and make sure one is

accessible for each person. Individuals under the age of 13 are required to wear them. Make sure

one throwable flotation device is accessible in case of emergency.

3) Tilt motor down into water, but not hitting bottom. Trim down further when in deeper water.

4) Turn on running lights in dark or foggy conditions.

5) Make sure you have untied the pontoon from the dock. Leave the chains used to keep the boat tied up at the dock.

E) When returning to dock.

1) Remove any garbage, worms, fishing gear, food, etc. from the boat.

2) Bimini Top (canopy) should be lowered and please reattach the cover to the Bimini unless it is wet.

3) Make sure all running lights are off.

4) Make sure pontoon boat is secured at all points to the dock and close and latch all doors.

5) Return life jackets and other equipment to storage area it came from.

6) Return keys to BP gas station and call or text David Paul when you are done for the day. 920-740-2775

7) There is no need to refill the gas tank.

WRPCO DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITY- David Paul

Please look over the Wisconsin River Power Company (WRPCO) Deer Hunting opportunity for this coming year and all details below. I am passing this on to our members to consider this opportunity as an alternative to the CTO deer hunt that we sponsor. It is important to note that you may NOT participate in the CTO HUNT and THIS HUNT. You must CHOOSE one or the other. The CTO Deer Hunt sign up does not start until July 1st and ends at the end of August. Signing up for the WRPCO hunt is your responsibility and applications are due by July 1 st . The WRPCO hunt takes place in our Petenwell Wildlife Area located on the Wisconsin River between the Petenwell and Castle Rock hydroelectric project reservoirs near Necedah in Central Wisconsin. This year the hunt is planned for October 11-13. Interested hunters with a Wisconsin Class A, B, C or D disability permit affiliated with your organization are welcome and encouraged to apply (click on application link below) on our website wisconsinriverpower.com. 

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION - Sharon LeFevre

We will have recognition at the July Banquet for one able-bodied volunteer and one disabled volunteer. Please send your nomination to Sharon LeFevre at bookmom53@gmail.com or call or text to 920-615-2356 by June 25th.

LAND NEEDED FOR THE DEER HUNT - David Paul

If you know of any land that we could enroll in the deer hunt please contact me. The land doesn’t need to be in or near our traditional area we have hunted in the past, so think of a family member or family friend who might consider putting their land in our program. If you own land, I encourage you to contact me so we can arrange for you to hunt on your land for this hunt. I can answer most questions you might have regarding this. Contact -David Paul 920-740-2775

LILY LAKE FISHING EVENT CANCELLED- This event, originally scheduled for July 21st , has been cancelled and may be rescheduled.

CROSSBOW HUNTING OPPORTUNITY – David Paul

I want to share with our members an opportunity for individuals who are wheelchair bound or have a disability to participate in a Crossbow Deer Hunt in northern Wisconsin each fall.

This event is not run by CTO but is offered by WHEELCHAIR WHITETAILS and you can read more about this great opportunity on their website, WHEELCHAIRWHITETAILS.ORG 

I will highlight some of the important facts about this hunt and you will need to complete the application on their website. Once again, CTO has nothing to do with this hunt but many of our members have participated in the past. Feel free to share this information with friends who might be interested in this opportunity as this is open to anyone who meets their eligibility requirements.

 PARTICIPANTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE WHEELCHAIR BOUND BUT ARE GIVEN PREFERENCE IF THEY ARE FOR THE HUNT.

 THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND. 

 YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING YOUR CROSSBOW LICENSE. A DISABLED HUNTING PERMIT IS NOT NEEDED.

 CROSSBOWS ARE THE ONLY WEAPON THAT MAY BE USED. YOU MAY BRING YOUR OWN OR ONE WILL BE PROVIDED IF YOU DON’T OWN ONE.

 YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ARRANGING YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE HUNT AND YOU MUST HAVE AN ASSISTANT WITH YOU. (SPOUSE, FRIEND, RELATIVE).  ASSISTANTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HUNT.

 LODGING, MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION ARE PROVIDED ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT THE CAMP.

 THE HUNT IS GUIDED ON PRIVATE, UNFENCED PROPERTY IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN WHERE 15 GROUND BLINDS ARE ESTABLISHED.

 HUNTS START IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER AND RUN UNTIL MID NOVEMBER.

 PARTICIPANTS ARRIVE THURSDAY AT NOON AND STAY AT THE LODGE UNTIL NOON SATURDAY.

 PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE ABOVE FOR ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. YOU MUST APPLY ONLINE FOR THE HUNT.

NON-EVENT INFORMATION

MEMBER PARTICIPATION/CANCELLATION POLICY (implemented JUNE 2011)

An event chairperson(s) may bar a CTO member for one (1) year from participating in the same event, if the member signs up for an event and fails to attend the event without giving prior notice given to the event chairperson(s) that she/he will not be attending. There shall be exceptions given for sickness, injury, equipment failure, or a death. The event chairperson(s) will have final authority to say if a one (1) year ban from the following year’s event is warranted depending on the circumstances surrounding the absence and impact on the event. This policy was implemented because occasionally, people unable to attend events did not notify CTO or event chairpersons, causing spaces to go unfilled. Please notify the chairperson as far in advance as possible if you can’t attend an event you’ve signed up for. We just want to ensure that as many people as possible can attend events. Thanks!

DISABLED VETERAN RECREATION CARD

Resident disabled veterans who are receiving disability compensation benefits due to a disability rating of at least 50% or greater for a service-related disability, or who are individually unemployable are eligible to receive the annual Disabled Veteran Recreation Card. Privileges include fishing, small game, state park admission and trail pass.

CTO BOARD MEETINGS - CTO’S Board of Directors meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5pm, currently alternating between Appleton (American Legion) and Green Bay (Home Instead). If you would like to take part and offer your ideas, help with events, or just find out how things work, you’re welcome to attend. If you have a question for a specific board member, please refer to the list below.

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 – Randy Swille

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 – Randy Swille

3) Field Grants – Supplements the cost of 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 – Debi Delie

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.

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 1-800-847-4836 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.

PERMITS FOR DISABLED HUNTERS Qualified disabled persons may obtain a permit to hunt from a stationary vehicle.

Visually handicapped persons may be able to obtain a permit to use a laser sighting device while hunting with a firearm, bow or crossbow. An authorized health care provider must complete and sign the Hunting or Trolling Disability Permit Authorizations Application form 9400-604 [PDF].

To obtain a form, visit dnr.wi.gov and search using the keywords “disabled hunter permit” or contact the DNR Call Center at 888-936- 7463 for further information. Allow six weeks for the permit application to be processed.