From the President-

Happy Spring time!! Have you looked at your calendar lately? It will be spring before you know it and are you ready for it? I have heard it said that there are 3 kinds of people in the world: 1) those that make things happen, 2) those who watch others make things happen, and 3) those that are unaware things are happening! Well, I do not want to see any of you miss out on any of the happenings or action that is going on with Outdoor Women of South Dakota. This is your organization that you joined because you love the outdoors and want to learn more and do more in the outdoors. Let me tell you what is going on and the changes with OWSD.
+ The newsletter will be going on email status in May or June. We have updated the website, and have been working on making it user friendly for you to get on to access events, recipes, calendar, sponsors link sites, scheduled events and outings and the newsletter. If you do not have a computer, or an email address you will need to let Charon Geigle, secretary or Deb Kuchera, board member know right away. If you have recipes, articles, photos that you would like to submit forward them to the newsletter email - owsdnews@hills.net.
+ The annual membership meeting will be held Sunday during the 10th Anniversary Convention being held in Sioux Falls on April 3, 2005 at Great Bear Ski Lodge at 1030 am. Election of board members and officers, review of bylaws, and general membership meeting of members will be on the agenda for this meeting. If you are interested in being on the OWSD board and/or assisting with planning events, writing articles for the newsletter, teaching classes let a board member know that you are interested. Your organization needs your ideas and your time and talent.
+ The annual convention will be held April 1, 2, and 3, 2005 in Sioux Falls. The list of classes, instructors, food, and location will be fantastic. A block of rooms has been reserved for the convention at The Best Western Towers across from the Empire Mall. The motel offers full breakfast buffet, swimming pool, hot tub and is located near the mall and near the interstates for easy access to class locations. Call 605-361-3118 now to reserve your room- rates are $58.00 per night for up to 4 people in the room. Be sure to mail in your registration for convention NOW- deadlines are fast approaching, and the limit is 100 registrations for the convention. Come on and support your organization and have a fun, educational weekend.
+ Second Sunday Gathering was started in the Rapid City area over a year ago. These events have been well attended with a variety of topics being offered. In the Sioux Falls area, board members are starting Second Sunday Gatherings and will be posting a list of topics and locations on the website and in the newsletters. At the last board meeting discussion of these events included how to have Second Sunday Gatherings in every part of the state. Are you interested in starting these events in your area? Talk to a board member and we will help you get started and assist with the events.
+ Board meetings are scheduled every other month- 6 per year- with one meeting at convention and one at Becoming an Outdoorswoman weekend in September. These meetings are open to general membership to attend to give ideas, and assist with the planning of events. Next meeting is March 6, at 1100 am in Chamberlain at the Anchor Grill on Main Street.
+ OWSD is 10 years old this year. Where do we go from here? What do you as a member of OWSD see this organization doing in the next 10 years? And what part do you want to have in that? Do you want to volunteer for the board, teach a class, organize a women’s hunt, or hike, or bike ride or bird watching excursion? Outdoorwomen of South Dakota means ________to me. (go ahead and fill in the blank for yourself). Let’s start making plans now for the next 10 years and where OWSD will be then. I appreciate your assistance and your input into Outdoor Women of South Dakota. Please email me your ideas and suggestions to memories57@hotmail.com.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your president.

See you at Convention 2005!

God Bless you- May Schaefer.