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Greetings grouse hunters! It's that time of the year! Good grouse hunting (that depends on how straight that side-by-side shoots), catching up with old friends, NGWH, and another year for an Under Broken Wing's child to enjoy what UBW has to offer at this year's event.
Our 2012 UBW child is 14 year old Matt Grgurich (pronounced: grg'-rich) from Allegan, Michigan. Though Matt has a serious impairment called Dyslexia, which causes extreme difficulty with his short term memory and why he attends Special Ed classes back home, the other reason Matt and his mom are joining us at the NGWH is one of finances. Plus Matt's desire to hunt grouse. Something his mom cannot afford. Unfortunately, dad is not around to help with these struggles.
Matt loves to hunt and is learning a lot from his mentor, Nate Onken, who will also attend this year's event. Matt met Nate when his mom, Karen Rush, contacted an organization called "Hunter's Helping Kid's." Nate has been mentoring Matt ever since. Both Karen and Matt took hunters safety.
Matt is all about being a boy. He enjoys anything outdoors and playing in sports. It does not matter what the weather is like, Matt just loves the outdoors. Matt is blessed to have two brothers and a very loving mom. The boys help mom in every way they can.
As a family they like to go camping, hike in the woods, go to the beach (mom and boys live about 25 minutes from Lake Michigan), visiting family, and going to the movies.
If you plan on attending this year's NGWH in Grand Rapids, MN, please make sure to reach out to Matt and his family. They would like that very much.
- Jim Hayett
- RGS and UBW Board Member
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2010 hunt...
~ Giving Back ~
When I was in high school wrestling my coach, Glen Swenson, told me "Sometimes you have to give back to the sport you love so much." During the past twenty-five years of being a huntsman and a member of the Ruffed Grouse Society I have gained countless memories and friends. The words of my wrestling coach have been going through my mind wondering what I could do to give back. I want other people to share in the joy of friendships and memories that the Ruffed Grouse Society has to offer!
A few years ago while hunting with a friend, Joe Chandler, I ran an idea of bringing a disabled youth to the national hunt. Joe immediately thought it was a great idea. The following year I was hunting with another friend, Jim Hayett, I ran the same idea by him. He also thought it was a great idea. Between the three of us our wheels started spinning. We wanted my idea to become a reality.
Our first Under Broken Wings hunt was held during the 25th anniversary of the National Ruffed Grouse Hunt in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It was a huge success! To this day Under Broken Wings is a success because of all of the people that are willing to give back.
OUR GOAL
To give a child with a disability the chance to Grouse Hunt.
- Enable one child (larger groups in the future) with disabilities the opportunity to participate a grouse hunt, through the guidance of a sponsor from the Broken Wings chapter.
- Open this opportunity to all boys and girls 14 to 18 years old. As many of the members are male, our recommendation would be to host a young man as he may feel more comfortable in this setting. Until this great non-profit organization prospers, for the first few years we will look in our local area for this candidate.
- Costs for this trip will be paid through donations generated by the sponsors (ie: meals, lodging, shells, hunting vest, hat, and license). If RGS or other sponsors wish to help defray some of these costs their assistance would be greatly appreciated. This should ultimately make the cost to the RGS very minimal if any.
- As a small token for sponsoring this individual we would like to recommend that a RGS hat with a special Broken Wing logo be presented at the time of donation to the disabled child’s family and our sponsors.
- This goal was achieved at the 25th National Grouse Hunt.
MISSION STATEMENT
As RGS members we advocate respect and care for our natural resources.
Through education of new members we strive to increase our vision for
a healthy environment. By providing a person with disabilities the
same opportunity to participate and learn about the environment we are
developing this respect for nature in an untapped group of individuals.
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