by John Dowd
Recently, a Stevensville resident was awarded the 2023 Lifetime Conservation Award from the Missoula Conservation Roundtable. Nominated by Tom Powers, George Bettas was recognized for decades of conservation work. Co-nominators included Gary Wolfe and Lance Schelvan. In his remarks at the banquet where Bettas was presented with his award, Powers said, “It is with great pleasure that we nominate George Bettas for the Lifetime Conservation Award. We believe that George is an excellent choice for this award because of his outstanding conservation leadership and administration experience.”
Powers contends that the majority of Bettas’ “decades of work and sharing were given by George as a volunteer.” The work Powers referred to includes: State of Washington Department of Wildlife – Wildlife Advisory Council, 1988-1990, The Mule Deer Foundation – One of the 10 founding members of this conservation organization in 1988, Vice President, President 1988- 1990, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation – Board of Directors, 1995-2001, Chairman of the Board 2000-2001, Boone and Crockett Club, Missoula, MT – Executive Director, April 2001 to March 2007, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Foundation – Development Director, 2007 to 2010; Executive Director, 2011-2014 and Montana Fish and Wildlife Conservation Trust – Trust Manager, 2011- 2015. Bettas is also credited with working for One Montana Foundation as Lead Instructor in the Montana Hunter Advancement Program, also called Master Hunter Program from 2018-19. He is currently Lead Instructor for the Hunter Enhancement program and Vice President of the Ravalli County Fish & Wildlife Association.
Powers said, “This is a very special award given because of this person’s dedication to conservation with a strong emphasis on our next generation. He lives right here in the Stevensville area and has for many years… What also makes this award so special is he has leukemia and a few months ago he thought he would be gone now, as there is no remission from this terrible disease. I truly believe that our daily prayers and his will to live have helped turn the corner on his well being.”
Some of Bettas’ most enduring contributions and legacy have been in the area of youth conservation education. Powers worked with Bettas since 2014 on many projects related to funding for conservation and education for youth. Powers explained that Bettas has helped “secure funding for some of the summer camps when we started them, and also helped by instructing classes when asked to do so.”
Powers also explained, “In 2013, we started with our first camp at the Theodore Roosevelt Ranch. In 2014 when George became involved, we added several more camps at Jack Creek Preserve and Raised at Full Draw. From then on, we have added more camp opportunities. This year we will have reached 22.” In 2019, the camp organization run through Montana Matters was able to send over 200 kids to the conservation related summer camps.
Powers continued, “I have to say that much of this can be attributed to the help and guidance that George gave us along the way.” Those camps now extend from the Theodore Roosevelt Ranch at Dupuyer, to the Magruder Ranger Station, along the banks of the Selway River in Idaho.
According to Powers, Bettas has left his footprint on numerous conservation organizations and projects over many years (both locally and nationally), has positively influenced an untold number of young conservationists and hunters and is truly deserving of recognition with the Missoula Conservation Roundtable’s Lifetime Conservation Award.