Foundation fund-raising banquets protect future of elk habitat

Thu., Feb. 19, 2015

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

Local Safari Club sets
conservation banquet

The Inland Empire Chapter of Safari Club International will hold its 33rd annual benefit dinner and auction on March 7 at the Mirabeau Park Hotel in Spokane Valley.

The banquet includes door prizes and a variety of raffles and auctions with chances to win firearms, domestic and international hunting and fishing trips, furniture, art and more.

Organizers say more than 70 percent of the proceeds go to educational programs, scholarships for students working toward degrees in conservation, veterans and physically disabled outdoor activities, humanitarian aid, hunter-rights activities and local projects like tours through the Little Spokane River Fish Hatchery.

• Reservations: iesci.org.

• Contact: Brenda West, (208) 660-5462, Brenda.west05@gmail.com.

Area chapters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are organizing their annual fund-raising banquets to raise money for wildlife habitat enhancement projects throughout the region.

Since 1984, the Missoula-based foundation says it joined agencies and other partners to conserve or enhance 6.6 million acres of North America’s finest elk country.

The annual chapter banquet dinner-auction evenings are the primary fund-raising events, generating remarkable community support over the years.

“We have reached over $1 million raised from our local banquets helping to ensure the future of elk and wildlife habitat,” Jason Johnston of the Idaho Panhandle Chapter said.

RMEF chapter Big Game Banquets coming up in this region include:

• Saturday – Spokane Chapter, Mirabeau Park Hotel, 1100 N. Sullivan Rd. Info: Rich Furry, (509) 290-3557.

• March 14 – Pend Oreille Chapter, American Legion Post 217, Cusick. Info: Darlynn Thompson, (509) 671-6346.

• March 14 – Shoshone Chapter. Info: Frosty Greenfield, (208) 512-2015.

• March 21 – Idaho Panhandle Chapter, Best Western PLUS, 506 W. Appleway Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. Info: Elliot or Deanna Taub, (208) 691-1824.

• March 28 – Palouse Whitepine. Info: Debbie Brood, (208) 596-9310.

• April 18 – Selkirk Crest Big Game Banquet in Sandpoint. Info: Jade Smith, (208) 255-9331.

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Foundation fund-raising banquets protect future of elk habitat

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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