Acadiana Chapter, Louisiana

Donna Thibodeaux and the rest of the Acadiana Chapter stay busy all year when it comes to Wheelin' Sportsmen. This year alone, they've held almost a dozen events, treating disabled members in the Pelican State to teal hunting, deer hunting, dove hunting, turkey hunting and fishing. In addition to being so dedicated to Wheelin' Sportsmen, the chapter hosts a wonderful Hunting Heritage Banquet and is involved in other NWTF outreach programs.

Last issue, we featured the Shelley Nickell Chapter in Kentucky. We got a few details wrong, but the work this Smithland-based chapter is doing for disabled veterans is worth taking a second look. Here are a couple pictures from the second annual Wounded Warrior Turkey Hunt.

Illana Burkhart
Wheelin' Sportsmen Coordinator

Check out the new Outreach Event Manual at www.wheelinsportsmen.org.
Click on the Events link.

Staying connected

I recently came back to work after several weeks of maternity leave with my newest son. As much as I enjoyed getting to spend the time with my growing family, I also missed my NWTF family. After almost eight years, you are almost as much a part of me as the folks with whom I share the same DNA.

Being away for so long made me realize how much I have come to value the friendships I've made with you all over the years. However, much to my delight, a great number of you (as either individuals or chapters) are on Facebook, so I was able to stay in touch and never felt too far from the flock.

I am an admitted Facebook addict. Some people watch soap operas, some use tobacco. Me? My vice is Facebook. I log on several times a day to check updates, view pictures and get my fill of random news from my friends. I have rediscovered childhood classmates who would have faded into memory had it not been for our connection on Facebook. I've also learned quite a few interesting details about folks I see every day and thought I knew.

In my job, I feel like I don't meet business "contacts" but instead gain friends. And by maintaining our friendship online, I've gotten to expand upon our working relationship, because I feel a stronger connection to them personally.

Not only are social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter great ways to stay connected to friends far and near, they are also great ways to share the news of what your chapter is up to with folks who might not otherwise hear about us. Both Virginia and Illinois state chapters have Facebook pages just for their Wheelin' Sportsmen programs

Our NWTF website is another great way to stay connected to the program and learn about or promote upcoming events in your area. With the fall hunting seasons rapidly approaching, make sure to send information about the events your chapters are planning to your regional director, who will make sure the information is submitted to us here in Edgefield. Then it will be posted on our website.

We receive phone calls and emails everyday from folks looking for a way to connect to our group. Let's give them several avenues to bring them into the fold both virtually and in person.

You never know when mere contacts will turn into participants, committee members or even friends. — Illana