Challenge The Outdoors, Inc

 WELCOME TO CHALLENGE THE OUTDOORS, INC.

January 2022 NEWSLETTER

www.ctoforme.org

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Carl Gierke

Welcome to a new year, everyone! I hope 2022 is a good year for CTO and all its members, volunteers, sponsors and friends. During 2021, we were able to hold several events again and it was great to get out and see everybody. Covid has certainly forced us and everyone to make some modifications in how we do things, but our directors, event chairs, and volunteers stepped up to the challenge and provided safe and fun opportunities to our members. I want to thank everyone that volunteered, donated, or participated in the many events for their help and for being patient with the changes we made.

With vaccinations coming out a few months ago, it looked like we were going to be able to put Covid behind us and go back to a pre-Covid way of life. But now medical professional are saying that the new normal may be getting shots and boosters for the foreseeable future to stay ahead of the variants we’re already seeing, similar to how we deal with the flu. That will require CTO to stay on top of current safety protocols and technology to make sure we can offer events that are safe for our members and volunteers. So if you do see changes made, please realize they are made with your safety in mind.

As you probably already know, this year is bound to be an exciting year for CTO for another reason – it looks like the clubhouse in Angelica will be completed sometime this summer. So far, the weather has cooperated and a lot of concrete work has already been completed, so it’s time to look to the future as far as maximizing the use of the facility and property. Steve and Kristi Nooyen, who have made the project possible, said that they’d like to see the property used as much as possible, not only by CTO, but by other groups as well. So if you have ideas on using the facility and property, we’d be glad to hear from you. Thanks again to the Nooyens for their help and generosity!

As we head into 2022, please check out the event calendar in this newsletter so you can plan ahead for upcoming events, many of which are already scheduled. We hope to make it another year with lots of opportunities to get out and see old friends, meet some new friends, and have some fun. Happy New Year everybody – here’s hoping that 2022 is your best year yet!

UPCOMING EVENTS

SPORTING CLAYS SHOOT / FUNDRAISER – APRIL 2nd - Barb Kaun, Carl Gierke Mark your calendar for CTO’s annual sporting clays fundraiser, which will be held April 2nd 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.

Planning for the April 2, 2022 Annual Sporting Clay Fundraiser has already begun as we acquire higher-priced, main ticket prizes such as fishing or hunting trips, guns, club memberships, or sporting equipment. Now is the time to think about where you can best volunteer. Volunteer to set-up on Friday, April 1, 2022, or on April 2nd to register shooters, serve food to shooters and volunteers, sell bucket raffle tickets, help record raffle prize winners during the drawing, be a safety monitor on the shooting line, drive a UTV to transport people, or spend some time cleaning up after the event.

Every member can, at their leisure, sell main raffle tickets prior to the event or obtain prizes for the raffles. We’ll have raffle tickets available for distribution at the Holiday Party on February 12th.

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, have a major donation or know any business or individual willing to make a donation, please let us know.

Thanks for your help!

GREEN BAY GAMBLER HOCKEY GAME - Steve Harvey CTO is sponsoring an evening of action-packed fun at the Gamblers Hockey Game on Friday, January 28, start time is at 7PM at the Resch Center in Green Bay. CTO will cover the cost of ticket and a $10.00 food card for each person. Participants will need to cover their parking cost. Please be in the lobby by 6:40PM to receive your tickets. Late-comers will need to contact me for tickets. We have a limited number of tickets and the deadline for ordering is January 22nd. Please contact Steve Harvey 920-494-3143 or Sharon LeFevre 920-615-2356 to reserve a spot.

HOLIDAY PARTY 2022 – Sharon LeFevre This February 12th, CTO will host its Holiday Party at Willow Creek Lanes at 2020 Verlin Road in Bellevue. (Please note this is the same location as two years ago on the East Side of Green Bay). The festivities will commence at 11AM and run until 4PM. Lunch will be served at noon with bowling starting at 1 PM and continuing until 4 PM. When making your reservation with Sharon or Steve, you will be asked if you prefer pizza or chicken tenders. CTO will also provide cheese and veggie trays, fruit trays, cake, and soda. You are welcome to bring your own shoes and bowling ball. You will need to call or text Sharon LeFevre at 920-6152-2356 or Steve Harvey at 920-494-3143 by January 10th to reserve your spot.

CTO BOOTH AT HUNT EXPO – Carl Gierke CTO is considering having a booth at the Hunt Expo in Green Bay on February 25th (3-9pm), 26th (9am-7pm) and 27th (10am-4pm). This year’s event will be held at the new Resch Center.

This is a great opportunity to get the word out about what CTO does, meet potential members and volunteers, and sell some tickets for our upcoming sporting clay shoot/fundraiser. If you’d like to help staff the booth for a few hours on any of those days, please let me know.

SPRING PHEASANT HUNT AT J&H GAME FARM – Carl Gierke On Sunday March 6th, CTO will host its spring pheasant hunt starting at 8AM . Some of the things we will be coordinating include ordering pheasants, dogs and handlers, machine operators, back-up shooters, cleaners and baggers. In addition, expect great food made by J&H and a chance to get acquainted with other CTO members and listen to plenty of their stories. Each disabled hunter will be allowed two pheasants. If you don’t have your own gun, there will be guns available at J & H Game Farm for your use. You should wear orange-colored clothing and have proper eye protection. Each hunter is welcome to bring family members or a friend to assist them, but pheasants are provided only for disabled CTO members. Please sign up by March 1st, if you are going to be part of this hunt.

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 sign-up 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 care issues, 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.

RECAP OF RECENT EVENTS

PONTOON EVENTS 2021- David Paul The pontoon boat was placed in Shawano Lake on May 15th and remained there for members to use until September 30th which is the deadline for removing the boat set by the Village of Cecil.

The pontoon boat was used a total of 33 times over the boating season with July being the busiest month, (11 outings) and May being the least busy, (2 outings). Members used the pontoon boat for fishing and pleasure boating. With the addition of a new fish finder and a trolling motor, fishing became the most popular choice between the two activities.

The pontoon will return to the waters of beautiful Shawano Lake this upcoming May and will remain at its summer home at the harbor in the Village of Cecil until the end of September. More information about the pontoon activities for 2022 will be coming in future newsletters.

NON-EVENT INFORMATION

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.

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. 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: Gary Forehand, Vernon & Debra Sumnicht, Tim Miller, Vicky Verbael, David & Mary Hildebrandt, Roger Hanson, Matt Ernst, and John Krumrey.

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