January 19, 2023
Legislative Luncheon in Annapolis
On January 19, 2023, the HUNTERS OF MARYLAND, LLC hosted a much-anticipated meet/greet with Administration officials, State lawmakers, et al, at Harry Browne’s Restaurant on State Circle, Annapolis. For the two past years, this luncheon has been cancelled b/c of the pandemic.
To say we were surprised by the actual turnout – often, RSVP’s are made with no shows – would be an understatement. We met with dozens of State and local lawmakers, including top officials within the Moore Administration and NGO’s, courtesy duly afforded the presiding Senate Co-Chair of the bi-partisan Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (The Honorable Jack Bailey) and the Senate Vice Co-Chair of the Caucus (The Honorable Katie Fry Hester). The Caucus is critical to the success of hunters’ policy agenda in the Halls of Annapolis as it has been since its inception in 2002.
Among those in attendance were: (1) the Senate President (The Honorable Bill Ferguson); (2) the new Chairman of the new Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee (The Honorable Brian J. Feldman); (3) the new Secretary of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (The Honorable Josh Kurtz); (4) Gubernatorial Deputy Chief-of-Staff (Shaina Hernandez); and (5) the field representative for The Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin (Jessica Cook).
Notably present also was former State Senator John Astle, who not only served with distinction as Senate Co-Chair of the Sportsmen’s Caucus since its inception, but, also served as the “First” Chairman of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (2004-2007); thus, bringing national notoriety to Maryland.
https://congressionalsportsmen.org/caucuses/nasc-state
Other attendees included lawmakers from local governments to representatives from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and animal rights groups to the environmental community. The HUNTERS OF MARYLAND believe it is imperative to remind the public, at every opportunity, that hunters were the original conservationists and remain so today.
In the immortal words of President Theodore Roosevelt:
“WILDLIFE AND ITS HABITAT CANNOT SPEAK, SO WE MUST AND WE WILL”.
We articulated these sentiments on January 19th along with our recognition of the AMERICAN SYSTEM OF CONSERVATION FUNDING whereby hunters, not taxpayers, underwrite virtually 100% of the attendant cost to wildlife management, research, and habitat preservation, including here in Maryland.
Without reservation, we can say the positive feedback about hunting in general at our well-attended luncheon rivaled that of attendance, thankfully.
WE’RE OFF TO AN IMPRESSIVE/HOPEFUL BEGINNING FOR 2023 AND BEYOND!
Pictured from left to right: Ryan D. Showalter, Esq; George Nitzel, HOM Member; Ed Kramer; Senate President, The Honorable Bill Ferguson; Dale Gertz, HOM Member; James Winn, Wicomico County Councilman; Beth Hill, HOM Member; Bill Miles, HOM Advocate; Steve Keithley, HOM Founder; and Joe Beuchert, HOM Member.
