Friday, June 13, 2008
Thornton to head NWTF
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
Recent columns
Facing a time of turmoil, the National Wild Turkey Federation has tapped George Thornton as its new chief executive officer.
Thornton, recently retired CEO of Agriliance LLC, succeeds longtime NWTF top executive Rob Keck, who abruptly announced his resignation earlier this spring.
Keck was the NWTF's chief executive for 27 years and helped build the South Carolina-based nonprofit into one of the largest species-specific conservation groups in the country.
He resigned in late April -- a day after chief operating officer Carl Brown and vice president of sales and marketing Dick Rosenlieb were fired.
Brown and Rosenlieb have since sued NWTF for unlawful termination and defamation. The NWTF hasn't yet responded to the suit.
Thornton has already assumed his position.
Scenic shots sought
Scenic Virginia is seeking entries for its first annual scenic viewshed photo competition.
The nonprofit group is looking for photos in the following categories: coastal scenes/Chesapeake Bay; mountains; open space/farmland; rivers/waterways; and urban beauty.
Winners in each category will receive a $50 honorarium, recognition at an awards ceremony in November and publication on the group's Web site.
An overall winner will be featured on the group's holiday card and will be considered for publication in Virginia Living magazine.
Additional details are available at scenicvirginia.org or by calling 804-643-3915. The entry deadline is Sept. 1.
Sherwood to host traditional shoot
At the same time a growing number of Virginia archery hunters are picking up crossbows to take advantage of liberalized regulations, many other archers are taking things in a different direction.
They're trading in their compound bows -- or at least stashing them -- for recurves and longbows.
Archery as it used to be will be the game next weekend at Sherwood Archers, a Roanoke County club that features a strong contingent of traditional shooters.
The club is hosting its second annual Sherwood Archers Traditional Rendezvous on June 21 and 22.
The event will feature a 28-target field course, a 30-target 3D course, a 14-target animal fun shoot and a 10-target tough man shoot. A number of side shoots will also be offered.
Vendors will include Hummingbird Bows, Eagles Flight Archery, Lancaster Archery Supply, Anneewakee Archery, Hawk Arrows, Cold Mountain Bows and Sipsey.
Food will be available on site, and limited camping spots will be available.
The adult fees of $20 per day or $30 for the weekend cover unlimited shooting. Fees for shooters 12-18 are $10 and $15, respectively. The weekend cost for a family is $45.
For more information contact R.D. Brookshier at 384-7376 or stykbow59@comcast.net.
--Mark Taylor
