Sounds from the Northwest
July/August 2008
Ron Knapp , MDF Regional Director
April was a very busy month. It started out at home with the Mt. Vernon banquet on the 5th. Judy Knapp and her committee did a super job again this year with a 65% banquet efficiency and over $30,000 net. Then it was on to Spokane on April 12 for their annual banquet and fundraiser. With a friendly competition between Mt. Vernon and Spokane, Spokane was not to be out done this year. With MDF President/CEO in attendance and all the other attendees a great time was had. In the end the chapter netted over $35,000 with a 67% net to gross. From Spokane it was on to Kalispell for a meeting with this new chapter. Things seemed to be going well in the planning for a May 31 event (more on that later). Being in Montana, I checked in on a meeting at Missoula (planning for an October 18 banquet), and things appear to be on track for that event. From there I traveled to Tri-Cities, Wash., for a meeting with some mule deer enthusiasts interested in starting a chapter.
April 26 I had banquets in both Wenatchee and Post Falls. Being that I couldn’t be in both locations at the same time, I enlisted some help from George Justice. I went to Wenatchee and George went to Post Falls, as chapter chair Tammie Dykstra is his daughter. The crew in Wenatchee did a lot of hard work, and it paid off in raising both net dollars and banquet efficiency. Post Falls also went well, although this is a small banquet. Thanks to both committees for all of their hard work.
May 3 I could be found in Twin Falls for their banquet. Ron Bishop and committee did another great job with both the net dollars and efficiency increasing this year.
May 10 was a very emotional night, as it was the first banquet in Yakima without Maggie Justice. The committee and the community had dedicated this one to Maggie. Her husband George and the committee put a lot of work into this one, raising both the net dollars and banquet efficiency from the previous year. Over $2,000 was raised for a project to be done in Maggie’s name (the Maggie Justice Memorial Project). A special thanks goes out to all of those that helped with this event.
May 13 found me back in Kalispell for another meeting, and on May 31 the banquet was held. With a small crowd of just over 62 people the chapter netted almost $5,500. Not bad for a first time event, and it is good to know that MDF has arrived in Kalispell. From there it was off to the Montana State Workshop on the weekend of June 7-8.