Volume XX, Number 23

Wednesday, January 5, 2005

The 14th Annual Ernst Peterson Photo Contest is accepting entries now through February 14. Photos should depict "The Best of Montana." There are six amateur categories, each in Black and White and in Color for a total of 12 amateur categories. The categories are Scenic, Animals, Portrait, Flowers, Macro and Miscellaneous (at the judges' discretion). Digital photos may be entered in any category. Manipulated digital photos may be entered in the Miscellaneous category. New this year are two professional categories: Black and White, and Color.

Photographs must have been taken in Montana, Yellowstone, Glacier or the Selway/Bitterroot Wilderness, Ernst Peterson's primary areas of photography. Entries should not have been exhibited in a previous Ernst Peterson Contest. All photos must be at least 8" by 10", matted in white only, not framed. The Ravalli County Museum staff will attach a hanger on the back of each entry this year. There is a $2 entry fee for each photo submitted.

Prizes will be awarded for all first place winners, and ribbons will acknowledge each second and third place. The grand prize winner will receive an Ernst Peterson photograph.

Deadline for entries is February 14, 2005 at 4 p.m. Awards will be announced on February 27, preceding the Sunday Series program. Entries must be left on display through April 11.

For more information, contact the Ravalli County Museum at rcmuseum@cybernet1.com, noting "peterson contest" in the subject line, or call 363-3338, Thursday through Monday.

Writing competition

Feeling creative? The San Gabriel Writers' League, based in suburban Austin Williamson County, TX, invites you to enter its annual "Writing Smarter" competition. Entries will be accepted in poetry, fiction and non-fiction.

Cash prizes will be awarded to entries for first, second and third place in each category; honorable mention entries will also be recognized at the awards ceremony to be held at the League's Spring 2005 Workshop.

Complete contest rules and entry forms are available at www.sgwl.org/contest2005.htm Entry forms can also be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the League's 2005 Contest Coordinator, Melissa Leedom, at P.O. Box 798, Georgetown TX 78627. Start polishing up those manuscripts and get your entries in!

Scholarship announcement

The Montana State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation would again like to remind high school seniors of our ongoing efforts to award academic scholarships to qualifying graduates.

The Montana Chapter of the NWTF is awarding sixteen $250.00 scholarships statewide this school year, which is the fifth year of this scholarship program in Montana. Qualifying students may obtain the application information from their school guidance counselor or on our website at: www.treasurestate.com/mtnwtf or www.nwtf.org/jakes. The application must be postmarked by February 1 to: NWTF Scholarship, PO Box 6504, Helena MT 59604.

Committees will select the local scholarship recipients whose names and application packets will then be forwarded to the Montana State Chapter for consideration in the statewide scholarship of $1000. The winner of the state scholarship will then be forwarded to the National Wild Turkey Federations headquarters for consideration in the $10,000 national scholarship.

The National Wild Turkey Federation is built on simple, basic principles that include respect for the flag, regard for religion and the importance of family and conservation. These principles are very important to the NWTF and supporting our children's education through this scholarship program is just one way the Montana State Chapter can ensure we have the dedicated conservationists needed for the future.

Lions Club ski bus program

Ski bus rides to Lost Trail Ski Resort are available to local youth each Saturday (January 8, 15, 22 and 29 and Feb. 5, 12 and 19) courtesy of the Hamilton Lions Club. The bus leaves from Westview Junior High in Hamilton, loading at 8 a.m. and departing by 8:30 a.m. The bus returns to Westview by 5 p.m., when parent or guardian must be there to pick up their child. the cost is $5 per rider with season discounts of $5 for under 12, $10 for 13 to 18 and $11 for over 18. (Only exact cash can be accepted; no checks).

Those wishing to participate should sing up at their school office, so a count can be called in each Friday. The Hamilton Lions Club has sponsored the ski bus program for local youth since 1975.

Stretching seminar

A free stretching seminar will be held Tuesday, February 8 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hamilton Senior Center, 820 N. 4th. The seminar will be presented by New Horizons Physical Therapy. To register call 363-2570.

AARP meeting

AARP will hold its regular bimonthly meeting Thursday, January 13 at the Hamilton Senior Center, 820 N. 4th. A potluck will be held at 12 noon. Bring a dish, your own place setting and a friend. This will be followed by a short business meeting and installation of new officers. Guest speaker will be Detective Steve Snavely, who will speak on Identity Theft, an important subject for seniors. Detective Snavely is originally from Phoenix, and has lived in Montana 11 years where he has graduated from the Law Enforcement Academy and has been a reserve officer for Hamilton for six years. He is now a detective in the Hamilton Police Department.

Dana Gallery Collectors' Show

In February, the Dana Gallery will be hosting the Second Annual Collectors' Resale Show. If you are interested in consigning your art work to the Dana Gallery for the Collectors' Resale Exhibition, bring it to the Dana Gallery, 246 N. Higgins in Missoula, by January 25th. The exhibition will be juried so not all entries will be accepted. The show will run from Friday, February 4 through Tuesday, March 1. Contact the Dana Gallery at 721-3154 for more information.

Perryman exhibit

Toddy Perryman will show her contemporary abstract and figurative acrylic paintings on paper and canvas through the end of January, 2005 at the Food Fetish Catering and Cafe, 308 Main St., Stevensville (777-2133 for business hours).

The primary goal of this work is to continue to explore the potential to project healing energy through painting; to draw the intention of healing toward physical reality.

These paintings are a continuation of Toddyıs work with the healing technique called Reiki, one of the arts of energy healing. She has been using this healing technique with individuals in the Bitterroot area where she lives. She focuses on the individual and sends energy through the Reiki symbols painted on the page. The paintings have strong rhythm and color components expressing this projection of energy.

For more information, contact Toddy Perryman at 961-4959 or e-mail toddy@logonfrog.net.

Scandinavian dinner

A Scandinavian Dinner is being held at Faith Lutheran Church, 171 Lewis Lane, Hamilton, on Saturday, January 22 from 3 to 8 p.m. The dinner includes lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, salads and wonderful Scandinavian desserts. The tickets are $12.00 for adults, $6.00 for children 6-12 and under 6 free. Tickets can be reserved by calling the church office at 363-2964 or purchasing them at the Paper Clip or through Cory Keith at 375-5434. This is a congregational fundraiser for high school scholarships. Everyone is welcome.

Grant, scholarship deadlines approaching

Grant and scholarship programs honoring the legacy of the late Phil Tawney, a third generation Montana, lifetime sportsman and conservationist, deadline on January 31, 2005. One-year grants for 501 (c) (3) non-profit organizations for $500 to $5000 and a $1000 scholarship are being offered by the Phil Tawney Hunters Conservation Endowment and Montana Wildlife Federation.

The Endowment seeks projects that emphasize one or more of the following: the interface between hunting and wildlife management, especially as issues affect children; strategies to promote environmentally healthy wildlife habitat; public policy changes to improve conservation habitat; strategies to improve and promote hunting ethics, fair chase, values, and safety; and activities to stimulate the recruitment, mentoring and involvement of youth in hunting and conservation activities.

A $1000 scholarship will be awarded to a college student with an academic major in a field related to conservation, who exhibits a commitment to general public hunting ethics, fair chase and supports values to perpetuate the sport of the hunt through efforts to conserve habitat and wildlife. Scholarship materials have been distributed to all college financial aide offices and appropriate departments.

The MWF endowment was established in 1998 to honor Phil's passion and commitment to protecting Montana's fish and wildlife, their vulnerable habitats and the future of hunting which are the heart of the Endowment Mission Statement:

"To educate and inform the general public about hunting ethics, fair chase, and values to perpetuate the sport of the hunt through efforts to conserve habitat and wildlife; and to stimulate the recruitment, mentoring, and involvement of youth in hunting and conservation activities."

Land Tawney, Phil's son and Endowment board officer said, "My mother and I are excited that a student and non-profit group will benefit from these awards. These awards, a 'living legacy' for conservation education funds, are a great tribute to my father who committed his life to our wildlife heritage and our Montana hunting legacy."

For more information contact Jan Cronin, Montana Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 1175, Helena MT 59624, or email: jcronin@mtwf.org or call (800) 517-7256. Application deadline for both the grant and scholarship is January 31, 2005 with announcement of the awards at the Montana wildlife Federation's Annual convention in April 2005. If you would like to contribute to the Endowment, contact MWF.