During our most recent Western Division business meeting in Phoenix last August, Division members unanimously approved a proposal to establish a fund to promote long-term sustainability of our grants program. Background and procedural information about the proposal presented in Phoenix are posted on the Division website (www.fisheries.org/wd/committee/grants/grants.htm), but the complete text of the motion as introduced and approved reads:

"Establish a Western Division Grants Fund with an initial infusion of $50,000 from Western Division cash reserves. Pursue a fund target of $100,000 through investments, donations, periodic contributions from the Division, or other means and begin using interest from the Grants Fund to support the Grants Program upon attaining this target. Develop criteria for evaluating proposals and identify areas of emphasis for using these grant funds."

A quick perusal of the motion should make it apparent that the EXCOM was directed to pursue three specific activities; investments, developing formal grants criteria, and fund raising. Subsequently, and pursuant to a commitment linked to the motion approved in Phoenix, President Eric Knudsen recently renamed the ad hoc Grants Funding Committee as the Grants Funding and Investment Committee. This committee is now charged with oversight of three sub-committees established to address the directives of the motion approved in Phoenix. Bill Bradshaw (Colorado/Wyoming) has been named Committee Chair and will coordinate activities of the sub-committees: Henry Booke (Oregon) will continue as the lead for investment planning, Ken Hashagen (Cal/Neva) now chairs the fund-raising sub-committee, and grants criteria will be developed by the Division Excom comprised of Division officers and Chapter Presidents.

Because all of this is viewed as a long-term endeavor, the Grants Funding and Investment Committee is also charged with formalizing and perpetuating its mission by seeking incorporation as a Standing Committee of the Western Division. Creating a new standing committee requires an amendment of our bylaws, and it is expected that this will be brought forth for membership consideration at the next annual business meeting in Spokane this spring.

And finally, anyone interested in helping the Division proceed with any of these three activities is asked to please contact Bill Bradshaw at 307-672-7418 or Bill.Bradshaw@wgf.state.wy.us