WELCOME TO CHALLENGE THE OUTDOORS, INC.
NOVEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – Carl Gierke Sadly, COVID-19 is still a huge issue for CTO, as it is for all of us. When we made the difficult decision to cancel events this past spring when there were less than 500 COVID cases per day in the state, it was hard to see what direction this was going. Now with daily cases routinely exceeding 4,000, it’s difficult to see what the future holds for next year and beyond. Considering that the health and safety of our members is the highest priority, it’s likely that at least some of our events will be put on hold until the pandemic is under control. Our board of directors will have the responsibility of deciding when that is and we’ll keep you informed in our newsletters and via social media.
On a more positive note, we told you in our last newsletter about the wonderful gift that Steve Nooyen is providing to CTO. This consists of land near beautiful downtown Angelica (between Green Bay and Shawano along highway 29) and funding for a building that will serve as a clubhouse, as well as a fishing pier on the small lake on the property. Steve is also covering operating expenses for the next 10 years. You heard right!! What a great opportunity for CTO to have some roots, more visibility, and help us grow and provide additional opportunities for our members. The Project Team will hold its first meeting in mid-November to discuss plans for the property, so we’ll keep you informed of progress in future newsletters.
Again, we thank the Nooyens so much for their support. Steve Nooyen has been a long-time supporter of CTO, providing us with office space at the Green Bay Home Instead facility as well as financial backing. His generosity and willingness to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities and others has been incredible. James Nooyen, who serves on the CTO board and does a wonderful job as our treasurer, has also contributed to our organization in so many ways over the past several years. We thank you both and everyone that supports CTO for making our future bright!!
Hopefully, in our next newsletter we can share good news about what the future has in store regarding our events, but until then, we all need to do our best to keep ourselves and those around us safe and healthy. I hope we can get back to something resembling normal and get a chance to get together soon. Enjoy the fall and good luck hunting!
DISABLED HUNT IN MANITOWOC COUNTY OCTOBER 2020- Joe Palmer Although we did not bag a deer during the hunting week, we did have pretty nice weather and were able to get outside and watch for deer! There were seven disabled hunters, two of which hunted from their vehicles. Collins Marsh worked for the hunt because it was a central location, and the participants were able to drive to some of the hunting areas. Ground blinds were set up in locations identified by DNR game managers, Steve Easterly and Matt Gross. Many thanks to Manitowoc Fish and Game for making this opportunity possible in Manitowoc County.
2021 BEAR HUNT OPPORTUNITY – Carl Gierke Joe Kalmon, who runs Wisconsin Black Bear Guide Service in Mellen, Wisconsin is graciously donating a bear hunt to a CTO disabled hunter for next September. Mellen is in Iron County in the far northern part of the state. If anyone has preference points accumulated and is interested in obtaining a kill tag, please contact me to see how many applicants we have. If we have more than one applicant, we will have a drawing to see who would hunt. If you are chosen, you could then apply for a kill tag by the December 10th deadline.
Alternatively, if anyone knows of someone that would be willing to donate a kill tag to a CTO hunter, please let me know. Joe runs a first-class guide service, has very comfortable accommodations and is looking forward to guiding a CTO hunter. Thanks for your generous offer, Joe!
SPRING TURKEY HUNT – Tom Narmore This coming May of 2021, 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 21st through May 23rd. 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 is December 10th, 2020. If you forget to apply by that deadline, you can also purchase a tag over the counter sometime near the end of March 2021. 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 spring turkey hunt for May 2021 sign-up will begin January 15th, 2021 and go till March 15th, 2021. No exceptions. Your cooperation is needed for better planning with our mentors and landowners. Please note that sign-up for 2021 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, please let me know if you think you might need help with any personal care issues, as it may be your responsibility to bring your own assistant, depending on the issue(s). There will be plenty of room and food for your assistant to stay with you the whole event. To sign up, please contact Tom Narmore @ (920)410-4436 or email him @ narmore1988@yahoo.com. Please keep in mind that depending on the current state of the pandemic that this event may not happen or there will be some changes.
NEWSLETTER-David Paul The Challenge the Outdoors Newsletter is published at the beginning of January, March, May, July, September and November. Members can choose to receive it via email, which is preferred, or regular mail. If you know of a member that is not receiving the newsletter, please contact David Paul at 920-740-2775 or dcp7576@gmail.com.
FOR SALE- Jazzy electric wheelchair, very good shape. Price is $450, but if a CTO member buys it, Gary will offer it for $400. Gary can send you pictures as well as answer any of your questions. Call Gary Vanden Heuvel at 920-205-2758.
NEW MEMBERS - None
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 (except awards), you must be a member for at least one year. See the website for further additional information and application forms. Otherwise, please contact the event 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 our 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, Deb Pheifer at 715-412-4162 or email at deb57ncliff55@gmail.com. Time frame to submit an entry for an award is from July 1, 2020 thru June 30, 2021.