By W. Laird Hamberlin, SCI CEO
The May SCI Board of Directors meeting last month in Minneapolis reflected the fact that SCI is in great shape and is going into the future with both purpose and passion. The Board of Directors approved an operating budget for the coming fiscal year (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023) that will allow SCI to realize its mission of protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide.
By all measures, SCI is in the best shape it has ever been and is positioned to expand its presence and influence around the world. Every member can be proud to be a part of this magnificent organization. Elections for the top leadership positions on the Board of Directors went smoothly and those elected are the best of the best. Their collective vision coupled with the work of the professional staff will put SCI into the strongest position possible during the coming year.
During the Board meeting, we were all reminded that now is the time to register for the 2023 SCI Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, and that hotel rooms are filling quickly. So, please register and book your rooms now because you will not want to miss this Convention. It promises to be the best ever.
The Convention, as part of the larger Event Services operations within SCI, is one of the pillars upon which the future of this organization and hunting itself rest. I often repeat the truth that the future of SCI rests on six pillars: Advocacy, Chapters, Event Services (Convention), Hunting, Membership and Conservation. Speaking of Membership and Chapters, I am pleased to report that membership numbers have been increasing for 13 straight months — to record levels — and that we are seeing a dramatic increase in Chapter 30% donations now that the world is recovering from the pandemic.
And, since Hunting is now one of the pillars, it is appropriate to note that this is the time of year when hunting is in full swing in the Southern Hemisphere. As hunters and members of SCI, we are all at our best when we are hunting. So, if you are not hunting now, plan to do so soon. This is the safari season, after all.
Meanwhile, get a friend or family member to join SCI or to upgrade their memberships if they are already members. SCI’s strength is in its members, so the more members we have, the stronger we can be.
That strength is never more apparent than at the annual SCI Convention, so I ask each member to do just three things right now: 1) Plan to attend the Convention, 2) Register for the Convention, and 3) Book a hotel room for the Convention. If we all do just those three things for now, we’ll be ready to enjoy the biggest and best Convention in the hunting world next February.
I look forward to seeing all members at the Convention. It will be a blast. To book a hotel room for the SCI Convention Feb. 22-25, 2023 in Nashville, visit showsci.org/hotels. To register for the Convention, go to showsci.org or you can get to the registration information via the main SCI website at safariclub.org. You could also call SCI business services at (520) 620-1220 and follow the prompts for assistance.
