The Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society is here to serve you as wildlife professionals.
At the same time, in order to be effective and to influence circumstances for
Montana’s wildlife resource, we must have an active and committed membership. So,
please volunteer, or when one of the current Board members calls on you to help in some
fashion, please leap in and help however you can!
Refer to Bylaws for duties and composition of standing committees (Article VIII).
Standing Committees
Nominating and Elections – A three-member Nominating and Elections Committee shall be selected by the President of the Montana Chapter not later than October 1 of each year and shall submit to the Secretary on or before October 15, the names of two candidates for each of the elective positions; namely the President-Elect, and every other year the Secretary or Treasurer, depending on the position coming open. 2007-08 Members: Terry Lonner, seeking additional members.
Membership – This committee shall encourage the maximum number of qualified persons working or residing within the Chapter’s organizational area to become members of The Wildlife Society, the Northwest Section, and the Montana Chapter. The Committee shall also recommend Honorary Membership for deserving individuals in accordance with Article IV, Section 4. 2007-08 Members: Joe Weigand, Adam Messer, seeking additional members.
Programs - This committee shall arrange programs of all regular and annual meetings and provide the President with a proposed agenda for the Annual Meeting at least two months prior to the meeting date. The President- Elect shall serve as Chair of the Program Committee. 2007-08 Members: Bryce Maxell, Ryan Rauscher, Paul Hendricks, Scott Thompson, John Haufler, Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology Board members, Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation members, volunteers welcome
Education and Information (Publicity) - This committee shall seek and employ methods of informing the public of basic wildlife management concepts and of Chapter and Wildlife Society activity and interests. 2007-08 Members: Volunteers welcome
Resolutions and Public Statements - This committee shall receive proposed resolutions or public statements from members at any time, and shall prepare, submit, and recommend action on such items to the Executive Board in accordance with Article VII, Section 5. 2007-08 Members: Executive Board. Submit resolutions/statements to the Executive Board.
Awards - This committee shall consist of three members, one from each geographic region of the Chapter. A fourth member of the committee will be appointed by the President for input on selection of recipients for the Bob Watts Wildlife Communications Award. This fourth member will be one of the Board Members of the Bohemian Corners Foundation, until such time as all original members of the Bohemian Corners Foundation, as published in the June 1990 Chapter Newsletter, are no longer members of the Montana Chapter.
2007-08 Members: JoAnne Dullum, Lewis Young, Don Sasse, Allison Puchniak Begley, Craig Knowles
Scholarship - Each year the Chapter President will appoint a three-member selection committee to consist of one wildlife instructor from the University of Montana, one from Montana State University, and a member-at-large from the Chapter membership. The committee will select all scholarship recipients. The committee chairmanship will alternate every other year between the two universities. 2007-08 Members: Jim Williams, Bob Garrott (MSU), Dan Pletscher (UM)
Financial Management - This committee shall consist of a Chair and at least two other members, serving staggered three-year terms. The Financial Management Committee shall review the financial records and supporting documents of the Treasurer at least annually. The Committee also shall review these records and documents prior to any change in the office of the Treasurer. The Committee shall prepare an annual financial management plan for approval by the membership at the annual meeting. 2007-08 Members: Frank Pickett, Marion Cherry, Dan Pletscher, Rich DeSimone, Vickie Edwards
Ad Hoc Committees
Legislative Affairs – This ad hoc committee monitors legislative and congressional issues pertinent to the Montana Chapter and makes recommendations to the Executive Board regarding reporting requirements and efforts at the legislature and during interim periods by lobbyist Members: Denise Pengeroth, Gael Bissell, Jodi Canfield
Contact the Montana Wildlife Federationto get on their Legislative Alerts mailing list. Please email
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to sign-up for the Legislative Alerts mailing list.
Contact the Montana Audubon Society to get on their Legislative Alerts mailing list. Please email
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to sign-up for the Legislative Alerts mailing list.
Contact the Northern Plains Resource Council to get on their Legislative Alerts mailing list. Please mail Mike Scott to sign-up for the Legislative Alerts mailing list.
Grants – This ad hoc committee shall receive and review applications for Montana Chapter Grants, and make recommendations to the Board. Grants may or may not be distributed annually depending on the financial status of the Chapter. See GRANTS page on website. Members: Vanna Boccadori, Bob Garrott, Dan Pletscher
Species of Concern – This ad hoc committee oversees the review of the status of terrestrial animal species in Montana through;
1. development of a status paper which summarizes all relevant information on the biology and status of the species in Montana, and
2. completion of the NatureServe status model which evaluates population size, range extent or area of occupancy, short and long term population trends, intrinsic vulnerability, environmental specificity, and scope, severity, and immediacy of threats.
Status papers and status scores are reviewed, revised if necessary, and voted on by committee members. Approved status papers and status recommendations are forwarded to the joint Montana Natural Heritage Program and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Species of Concern Committee. Portions of status papers are posted on the online Montana Animal Field Guide and status recommendations are used to update the Montana Animal Species of Concern Report. The Montana Animal Species of Concern Report provides a basis for resource managers and decision-makers to direct limited resources to priority data collection needs and address conservation needs proactively. Members: Bryce Maxell, Paul Hendricks, Susan Lenard, Grant Hokit (overseeing Carroll College students), seeking additional members
Effects on Recreation – This ad hoc committee oversees distribution and updates of the Montana Chapter report entitled, Effects of Recreation on Rocky Mountain Wildlife – A Review for Montana. See Recreation in Wildlife Habitat - Report and bibliography page. Members: Gayle Joslin, Heidi Youmans; seeking additional members
