President Al Novosad and the members of the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society presented Lloyd and Bev Ure, Granton, Wisconsin, with the Outstanding Avicultural Award Lifetime Achievement at the 2004 APWS Convention in Perrysburg, OH.  Lloyd started raising pheasants in 1969 after purchasing eggs from Gene Montag.  He joined APWS that same year.  He and Bev attended every APWS Convention since attending their first convention St. Louis in 1971 until their resigning from the APWS Board in 2008.

Lloyd was elected Secretary-Treasurer at the 1975 APWS Convention held in Harrisburg, PA, and was to serve through 1977.  The decision was made at this convention to discontinue the APWS Bulletin and begin publishing the APWS Magazine.  According to Bev, membership at that time was approximately 330.  Publication of the APWS Magazine dramatically increased membership in a few years to about 1800.  Lloyd was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer again at every APWS Convention from 1977 to 1995. Bev went from attending APWS conventions to serving APWS when she was first elected to the Board of Directors in 1983.  She continued to serve as a Director until 2008.   At the 1985 APWS Convention, Bev and Lloyd were chosen to replace George Searles as editors of the APWS Magazine.  During the ten-year period that George had edited the magazine, membership had increased and there was a great deal of interest in the informative articles and classified ads.  Bev and Lloyd did a fantastic job of editing the magazine and getting it to the membership in a timely manner. In approximately 1995, the Secretary-Treasurer position was separated.  At that time Lloyd was elected Treasurer and Bev was elected Secretary.  They continued in those positions as well as magazine editors until 2005.

One cannot begin to measure all the things these two individuals have done for over 30 years to promote the American Pheasant & Waterfowl Society and to keep the Society functioning properly.

Information about the Writing of the APWS History 1936—2021

Charles Sivelle compiled the APWS 50 Year History for the years 1936-1986 which was printed in the December, 1986, APWS Magazine. His work was based on the records of the Society, and the writings of Lawrence N. Taylor and Jack Kiracofe.  Bev Ure compiled the history for the years 1987 to 2005. Terry Smith reviewed all existing minutes, convention packets, C. L. Sibley’s APS columns in Modern Game Breeders and articles in the APWS Magazine to obtain more information for this history.  The history for some years is quite sketchy compared to other years where we were able to find written records of what happened that particular year. Not having a complete set of Modern Game Breeding magazines for the years that it was the official publication of the A. P. S. compounded the problem of not being able to find information for some years.   Lawrence N. Taylor compiled a history which was printed in the October, 1955, issue of MGB magazine. Bernie Jager, Del Huebner, and John C.  Oliver provided  APWS programs, newsletters, and articles which were reviewed to complete the current history. Terry Smith typed  the information for the history.  Jan Trader set up the format for the published history, and she and E. T. Trader proof-read the final copy before it was sent to the printers for the 75th  Anniversary Booklet. To celebrate the 85th Anniversary in 2021, information of the years 2012 through 2020 were added by the work of Cathy Goss and Janet Trader . It is to be the initial 2021 issue of the APWS magazine.  

The Ornamental Pheasant and Watrfowl Society

The Ornamental Pheasant Society of America was organized January 8, 1936. C. L. Sibley, a breeder of show poultry, pheasants, and waterfowl, called for a meeting at 4 p. m. at the 14th St. Armory in New York City. It was to be held in conjunction with the New York Poultry Show in session at the time. Anyone interested in pheasants was invited to attend and approximately twenty people did. The annual dues were $2.00. The name “Ornamental Pheasant Society of America” was selected. A constitution was adopted at a follow-up meeting held January 15, 1936. Officers elected at that meeting were: President – Philip Plant, a collector of specimens for the American Museum of Natural History and the owner of a fine collection of birds in Connecticut. Vice-President – Frank Buck, who wrote Bring ’em Back Alive, Buck.· He was a noted wild animal collector who owned· a wildlife and bird zoo in Amityville, NY. C. L. Sibley, a fine aviculturist who was responsible for holding the organization together in its formative stages, was elected secretary-treasurer. The first Executive Committee was formed, consisting of G. Fred Yessler, C. F. Denley, John B. Robinson, and Mrs. E. Wikoff Smith. Others present at this meeting included A. H. Chambers, R. C. Haberkern, J. A. Gardy, John P. Gregory, William J. Mackensen, and M. N. Gist.

The charter membership was kept open until April of that year. The new society had 63 charter members. The secretary was directed to publish a monthly up-to-date report of the Society’s affairs together with news of the members, technical advice for beginners and other information of interest to the members in· Modern Game Breeding Magazine and the Game Breeder and Sportsman publications.· The office of the secretary also served as a “Service Bureau”. Questions about management, feeding, diseases, sources for obtaining birds, ect. came in from the members and each question was either answered by Mr. Sibley, or it was referred to a member who had the most particular knowledge in that particular field.· The first yearbook, published in Modern Game Breeding Magazine, contained articles by Dr. William Beebe, of The Monograph of Pheasants fame, Lee S. Crondall, Curator of Birds, N. Y. Zoo, W. Leland Smith, foremost aviculturist and pheasant importer of the time, Frank Buck, and other noted breeders of the time.· The Yearbook also contained a list of the charter members and new members· and a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws.

In 1969, the name of the American Pheasant Society was changed to the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society. The Society become a non-profit corporation and a committee was appointed to rewrite the constitution and by-laws.

These two men, Lawrence N. Taylor (left), who served as President, and C. L. Sibley (right) who served as Secretary, guided the American Pheasant Society through the early years and kept the society going during the difficult times of World War II. Lawrence N. Taylor edited many of the Yearbooks. C. L. Sibley wrote a column for many years entitled, “Information Please!” where someone posed a question which he answered in great detail

 

APWS History

1936  The “Ornamental Pheasant Society of America” was organized January 8, 1936.  C. L. Sibley, a breeder of show poultry, pheasants, and waterfowl,   called for  a meeting 4 p. m. at the 14th St. Armory in New York City.  It was to be held in conjunction with the New York Poultry Show in session at the time.  Anyone interested in pheasants was invited to attend and approximately twenty people did. The annual dues were $2.00.  The name “Ornamental Pheasant Society of America”  was selected.    A constitution was adopted at a follow-up meeting held January 15, 1936. Officers elected at that meeting were:  President – Philip Plant, a collector of specimens for the American Museum of Natural History and the owner of a fine collection of birds in Connecticut.  Vice-President – Frank Buck, who wrote Bring ‘em Back Alive, Buck.  He was a noted wild animal collector who owned  a wildlife and bird zoo in Amityville, NY.  C. L. Sibley, a fine aviculturist who  was responsible for holding the organization together in its formative stages, was elected secretary-treasurer.  The first Executive Committee was formed, consisting of G. Fred Yessler, C. F. Denley, John B. Robinson, and Mrs. E. Wikoff Smith.  Others present at this meeting included A. H. Chambers, R. C. Haberkern, J. A. Gardy, John P. Gregory, William J. Mackensen, and M. N. Gist.

The charter membership was kept open until April of that year. The new society had 63 charter members. The secretary was directed to publish monthly an up-to-date report of the Society’s affairs together with news of the members, technical advice for beginners and other information of interest to the members in  Modern Game Breeding Magazine  and the Game Breeder and Sportsman publications.  The office of the secretary also served as “Service Bureau”.  Questions about management, feeding, diseases, sources for obtaining birds, etc. came in from the members and each question was either answered by Mr. Sibley or it was referred to a member who had the most particular knowledge in that particular field.  The first yearbook, published in Modern Game Breeding Magazine, contained articles by Dr. William Beebe, of The Monograph of Pheasants fame, Lee S. Crondall, Curator of Birds, N. Y. Zoo, W. Leland Smith, foremost aviculturist and pheasant importer of the time, Frank Buck, and other noted breeders of the time.  The Yearbook also contained a list of the charter members and new members  and a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws.

1937 The first annual meeting of the Ornamental Pheasant Society was held in conjunction with the New York Poultry Show  January 5-9, 1937, in New York City.  Classes in the show were provided for these pheasants:  Chinese, Mongolian, Blackneck, Formosan, Melanistic, Mutant, Versicolor, Golden, Silver, Lady Amherst, Reeves, Nepal, Lineated, other Kaleeg, Swinhoe, Blue, Brown Manchurian-eared, another variety Manchurian, Impeyan, Fireback (any variety), Tragopan (any variety), Coppers, White, and any other variety.  At that meeting. all officers elected in 1936 were re-elected.   During 1937, the Society grew to well over 159 members including the late Dr. Jean Delacour, who was then President of the Ornamental Pheasant Society based in England. All paid-up members of the O. P. S. received Modern Game Breeding Magazine in order to keep up with society news.  Again a yearbook was published which contained the Constitution and By-Laws

1938  The January meeting of the Society was again held at the 14th Street Armory in New York City.  Phillip Plant was elected Honorary President.  Officers were: C. Fred Yessler, President; Mrs. Wikoff Smith, Vice-President; C. L. Sibley, Secretary-Treasurer.  The next meeting was held November 19th  in connection with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada. C. F. Denley was elected President, Mrs. Wikoff Smith, Vice-President; and C. L. Sibley, Secretary-Treasurer.  Board of Directors were:  John B. Robinson, A. H. Chambers, J. L. Lawrence, and Charles F. Denley.  The autumn lawn show or exhibition was held at the home of G. Fred Yessler in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on September 24-25.  Unfortunately, the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 occurred on September 21 so  many members were not able to attend the show. These shows were designed to help members to personally become acquainted with other members and to view collections of pheasants.

1939 For the American members who were not able to attend the November, 1938, meeting in Toronto, a meeting was scheduled for January 5th, 1939,  in New York City to be held in conjunction with the New York Poultry Show.  That meeting was presided over by President Charles  F. Denley. C. L. Sibley continued to serve as Secretary-Treasurer until 1947.  Directors:  A. H. Chambers, G. Fred Yessler, John B. Robinson, Roger Barr, Leland Smith, and P. J. Lambert of England.  In 1939,  Charles  F. Denley sent a letter to the officers and directors suggesting that  the name of the Society be changed from the Ornamental Pheasant Society of America to The American Pheasant Society (APS).  This was approved unanimously and breeders of wild turkeys, chukars, quail, peafowl, jungle fowl, and Ringnecks were now accepted as members of the APS .  There were no plans to publish a  yearbook.  When J. Allen Gardy of Pennsylvania offered to print the yearbook of the Society in the April issue of Modern Game Breeder  it was accepted.  This method of publication continued until 1956.  The lawn show and meeting of the A.P.S. was held at the home of the president, Charles F. Denley at Rockville, Maryland, on October 6th and 7th. Unfortunately, Mr. Denely suffered a heart attack a few days before the show and was hospitalized.   300-400   people viewed Satyr, Cabot’s, and Blyth’s tragopans, Impeyan, Koklass, Giant Argus, Maylan, Bornean, and Siamese Fireback, and game pheasants including Versicolor.

1940  The meeting was held January 4th in New York at the New York Poultry Show  at the 14th  Street Armory. A. H. Chambers was elected President; L. N. Taylor was elected  First Vice-President; Alfred Cook was elected Second Vice President; C. L. Sibley was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected:  G. Fred Yessler, Charles F. Denley, Leland Smith, P. L. Lambert, Roger Barr, and Mrs. Wikoff Smith.  There was no lawn show that year.  Lawrence Taylor, Lee S. Crandall, and Joseph Lawrence were appointed to a committee to meet with committees from other organizations to draft a suitable standard for judging pheasants.  This was an important task. Not only did the Eastern States Aviculture Society sponsor shows in the East, but there also were private lawn shows held almost yearly by various aviculturists especially during the war years. The April issue of Modern Game Breeding Magazine contained the Yearbook Issue of the Society. Secretary Sibley reported in the APS column in the July, 1940, issue of Modern Game Breeding  that APS member Jean Delacour’s estate in Cleres, France, had been bombed and many of the birds housed there had been killed. The collection of pheasants at Cleres was one of the best in the world.  The secretary-treasurer mailed a copy of the Constitution and the  By-laws and a list of paid-up memberships for 1940 to all paid-up members in October.

1941  At the meeting held on January 3 at the Hotel Capital in New York City, L. N. Taylor was elected President and remained so until 1945, guiding the Society with the assistance of the Secretary-Treasurer, C. L. Sibley, through the critical war years.  Mrs. M. Walter Young was elected Vice-President.  Directors elected: A. H. Chambers, Mrs. Wikoff Smith, P. J. Lambert, Roger Barr, Charles F. Denley, and Leland Smith. The American Pheasant Society ‘s 1940 yearbook was published in the April, 1941, issue of Modern Game Breeding magazine.  The preliminary report of the Society’s Standard Committee for 6 sub-species of Ringneck Pheasants was published in the October issue of Modern Game Breeding.  The APS Lawn show was held September 20-21 at the home of L. N. Taylor in Glen Moore, PA.  Nearly 300 visitors from eight states attended the event where they could view the first pair of White Eared Pheasants  in a collection in the East.  Membership  dues were $2.00, $10.00 for Contributing Membership, and $25.00 for Sustaining Membership.

1942  The annual meeting was held at the Commercial Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 3, 1942.  The meeting was held in connection with the Philadelphia Sportsman Show. Only twelve members attended the meeting.  Without a quorum, no election could be held so the officers elected in 1941 continued in office.    Preserving breeding stock especially of  rare species during the war crisis was discussed.   It was approved by the members present that the Secretary’s office be a clearing house to help, in an emergency only, care for or dispose of the birds of any member who was drafted or could not obtain feed for his birds.   C. L. Sibley extended an invitation to hold the Annual Fall Lawn Show at his farm in Wallingford, Connecticut.  His collection included pheasants, waterfowl, cranes, rheas, and some animals.  The show was held September 12, but there was a small group present due to the rationing of tires and gas.  A meeting of the society was held, but again here no quorum present and no election of officers.  Mr. Taylor wrote in his history, “What had to be done was accomplished by letters between officers and directors, and  Mr. Sibley and I, when we failed to hear from a majority of the directors, exceeded our authority and made decisions ourselves”  The 1941 Yearbook was published in the April, 1942, issue of Modern Game Breeding.

1943  Dues were raised to $3.00.  There was no annual meeting of the Society due to the war and the restrictions on travel.  The Officers and Directors elected in 1941 continued in office. During the war, some of the APS Directors had so much to attend to that the Secretary and the President were given carte blanche to decide on polices which would be advantageous to the Society.  In the September, 1943, APS column, Secretary Sibley explained two forms of membership for regional groups.  The first was Regular or Active Membership with $3.00 dues for the club or member.  This entitled the group to one vote at the Annual Meeting and a year’s subscription to the official publication of the Society. The other form of group membership was the Affiliate Membership. With this membership each member of the regional group was enrolled as a member of the APS with the payment of $1.00 yearly dues to the APS and was entitled to as many votes at the annual meeting of the Society as there were paid-up memberships.  No subscription to the official publication came with this type of membership. The 1942 Yearbook which contained 11 articles including the Pheasant Table by L. N. Taylor, “Pre and Post World War Pheasantries” by Jean Delacour, and “The Dulute Pheasant (Ringneck)” by Bernard Jural was printed in the April issue of Modern Game Breeding.

1944 The Society did not meet until December 28 in New York City at the Hotel Belvedere which was across the street from Madison Square Garden where the Madison Square Garden Poultry Show was being held.  Attendance was poor because of a heavy storm.  The Officers elected in 1941 continued in office.  Directors elected:  Fred M. Johnson, Henry W. Schwab, Harry L. Lehman, Leland Smith, P. J. Lambert, and Roger Barr. A sixth Director was to be elected by mail ballot of the directors from nominations at the Annual Meeting. The 1943 Yearbook was published in the April issue of Modern Game Breeding.  Jean Delacour, Technical Advisor to the New York Zoological Society,  was elected an Honorary Member by the Directors.  The APS Directors accepted the members of the Western State Pheasant Society  as APS Affiliate Members.  The Affiliate Membership was explained in detail in the September, 1943, Modern Game Breeding.

1945 Copies of the Constitution, By-laws, and membership list were  mailed to APS members and Western States Pheasant Society affiliate members.  Henry W. Schwab was elected President and served through 1946. Dr. Lee S. Candall was elected Vice-President.  C. L. Sibley reluctantly continued to serve as Secretary-Treasurer because no one came forth to assume the great amount of work done by the secretary-treasurer.  Directors elected were:  A. H. Chambers, Fred M. Johnson, Minot Beale, Mrs. M. Walter Young, P. J. Lambert, and H. G. Mack.  The 1945 Yearbook was printed in the April, 1946, issue of Modern Game Breeding.  It was dedicated to Dr. J. M. Derscheid, one of the world’s great aviculturists.  The native of Belgium was shot in a Nazi prison during World War II.

1946  The annual meeting of the APS was held March 13th at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City in connection with the American Wildlife Conference.  The following officers were elected Henry W. Schwab, President; Vice-president, Claude Hooke; and C. L. Sibley, Secretary-Treasurer who resigned later in the year.  The Directors appointed Joseph P. Kelly to complete his term. Directors elected were:  Dr. D. S. Newill, William F. Grimmer, Lawrence N. Taylor, H. G. Mack, George J. Pollard, and H. R. Gibson. The 1946 Yearbook, which was published in the April, 1947, Modern Game Breeding was dedicated to C. L. Sibley, who had served as APS Secretary-Treasurer for 10 years before he resigned.

1947  The annual meeting was held in March 24th  at the Penn-Sheraton in Philadelphia, PA,  in conjunction with the Philadelphia Game Bird Show which was judged by C. L. Sibley.  Dr. Jean Delacour was elected President, Claude Hooke, Vice-President; and A. Fred Sturgis, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors were:  H. R. Gibson, Dr. D. S. Newell, W. F. Grimmer, John J. Gregory, Lawrence N. Taylor, Frank L. Gary, George J. Pollard, William F. Grimmer, Henry H. Lehman, Dr. D. S. Newill, and H. G. Mack.  The Board of Directors met November 22 in Philadelphia.  Frank L. Gary, Chairman of the Committee for Revision of the Constitution, presented suggestions at the Annual Meeting.  A  Pheasant Show sponsored by the Society was planned for January 7 to 11, 1948.  It was to be held in connection with New York Poultry Show at the 14th Street Armory in New York City.

1948  The annual meeting was held February 28th at the Penn-Sheraton, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   A draft of the Constitution and By-Laws as amended was published in the April Yearbook issue.  Dr. Jean Delacour was re-elected President.  Dr. D. S. Newill, Vice-President, and Frank L. Gary, Secretary-Treasurer.  Honorary Directors were:  Henry G. Royer, Dr. Lee A. Candrall, R. L. Lehman.  Directors elected:  R. H. Gibson, Harold Krause, W. F. Grimmer, Lawrence N. Taylor, John L. Gregory, George J. Pollard, and G. R. Marshall.  At this meeting, Mr. Gary suggested that the annual meeting of the Society be expanded into regular conventions.  The Society sponsored its second  Pheasant Show in connection with the New York Poultry Show in January.  Over 100 birds were entered in the show which was judged by Lawrence N. Taylor and Douglas Marshall.  The 1947 Yearbook, published in the April, 1948, Modern Game Breeding was dedicated to Charles F. Denley, a charter member, past President, and Director of the American Pheasant Society, who died in 1947.  The Directors of the APS voted unanimously to sponsor a game bird exhibition at the New York Poultry Show at the 9th Regiment Armory in New York City. In the September, 1948, APS column in Modern Game Breeding, the   Secretary-Treasurer  announced that the Society would accept written nominations of members for the annual awarding of Master Breeder certificates.  A meeting of the Board of Directors was held October 10th at the home of Harry Lehman, Meyerstown, PA.  Dr. Delacour announced at this meeting that his book, Pheasants of the World would be available for distribution in 1949.

 

1949  The APS meeting was held January 5,1949, at the Armory in New York City in conjunction with the N. Y. Poultry Show.  Dr. Jean Delacour presided and presented an interesting paper reporting on the major collections in America and Europe.  Dr. Delacour was re-elected President, Claude Hooke was elected Vice-President, and Frank L. Gary was elected Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected were: John J. Gregory. Jr., George J. Pollard, Harry L. Lehman, Elmer A. Heft, Harold Krause, Gilbert Stewart, and G. R. Marshall. Lawrence N. Taylor and Robert H. Gibson were elected Honorary Directors.  It was voted to hold the next annual meeting of the Society in California. Claude Hooke was in charge of planning the  first true convention which was held on October 1, 1949, at the San Francis Hotel in San Francisco, where a number of fine papers were presented.   Attendees toured the aviaries of Claude Hooke, J. F. Fitzgerald, Robert H. Gibson, and  J. W. Steinbeck.  The Board of Directors approved a resolution to present an annual Award of Merit to a member who had done outstanding work in the sphere represented by the Society.  Officers elected to lead the Society were:  Claude Hooke, President; Fred Sturgis, Vice-President;  Rendell N. Mabey, Secretary-Treasurer.  He also completed the term of Fred L. Gary who resigned as Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were:  John J. Gregory, George J. Pollard, Dr. D. S. Newill, Elmer Heft, Harold Krause, J. F. Fitzgerald, and G. R. Marshall.  APS had 129 Active Members and 78 Affiliate Members from the Western States Pheasant Society.  Eugene Koder, from the Ornithology Laboratory of the  Zoology Department, Ohio State University, headed a committee to take a census of pheasants in America.

1950  The 1950 meeting was held October 21-22 at the Bellevue-Stradford Hotel in Philadelphia in conjunction with Harry Lehman’s annual Lawn Show.  New officers were: A. Fred Sturgis, President; George Pollard, Vice-President; Randell N. Mabey, Secretary-Treasurer. Elected to the Board of Directors were:  John L. Gregory. Jr., L. C. Thornton,  Lawrence N. Taylor, Elmer A. Heft, Harold Krause, George B. Bliss, and G. R. Marshall.  Harry L. Lehman and Jean Delacour were Honorary Directors. F. L. Gary, Vernon Spencer, and Rendell N. Mabey gave a report on the revised Constitution and By-Laws.  The proposed changes were printed in the October, 1950, Modern Game Breeding and would be voted upon at the next annual meeting.  At the meeting, it was voted that the Society give an award each year to a “Master Breeder” and to some member for outstanding achievement.  The first Breeder Award went to R. H. Gibson.  Eugene Knoder  was recognized by the Society for making the greatest single contribution to the aims of the American Pheasant Society by volunteering to undertake the task of taking a bird census  of the pheasants in the United States.  The 1949 Yearbook which was dedicated to Jean Delacour was printed in the April, 1950, Modern Game Breeding.  That issue contained the APS Pheasant and Waterfowl Census which was conducted by Eugene Knoder.

1951  Dr. George Allen headed up the committee that planned the convention which was held August 25th in Salt Lake City with the Utah Chapter of the Western States Pheasant Society acting as host.  R.H. Gibson was elected President, Dr. George A. Allen, Vice-President, and Randell N. Mabey, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected were:  John J. Gregory. Jr., L. C. Thornton, Dr. D. S. Newill, Elmer A. Heft, Arthur Tucker, Horace Duckenfield, and G. R. Marshall. Honorary Directors were Harry L. Lehman and Claude Hooke.  The final revision of the Constitution and By-Laws  which had been printed in the June issue of MGB was adopted.   Convention attendees toured Bountiful Canyon and points of interest in Salt Lake City, Tracy Aviary, and the aviaries  of Rendell Mabey, Lee York, and Dr. George Allen. During this year, Dr. Delacour’s Pheasants of the World was published. He was awarded the APS Accomplishment Award for his study of pheasants. Robert L. Gibson again was awarded the Outstanding Breeder Award.  Modern Game Bird Breeding Magazine continued to be the official publication of the Society.  The 1950 Yearbook edited by Lawrence N. Taylor was dedicated to Claude Hook.  It was printed in the April, 1951, issue of Modern Game Breeding.  The yearbook also listed the paid-up members and six honorary members.

1952  The 1952 Convention was held August 22-24, in San Francisco.  Speakers included K. C. Lint, Curator of Birds at the San Diego Zoo, Dr. Robert D. Orr, curator of birds and mammals at the Academy of Science, San Francisco Zoo,  and Jean Delacour.  Beginning August 23, all elected  officers of the APS would take office at the conclusion of the annual convention and be installed at the annual banquet.   Dr. G. A. Allen began publishing the Gazette which succeeded the Western States Bulletin.  The Master Breeder Award went to J. W. Steinbeck.  Dr. G. A. Allen was elected President, Ralph Britt, Vice-President, and R. W. Mabey, Secretary-Treasurer. The Board of Directors consisted of:  John J. Gregory, Jr., Dr. D. S. Newill, A. H. Chambers, Elmer A. Heft, Robert DeCamp, G. R. Marshall, R. H. Gibson, Harry L. Lehman, and President Emeritus: Jean Delacour. Jean Delacour was appointed a committee of one to select the master breeder award for 1952.  Members were to send him their lists of birds raised.   Lawrence N. Taylor  received the Accomplishment Award for his years of service to A. P. S. and for editing the Yearbook.  The 1951 Yearbook, published in the April issue of Modern Game Breeding, was dedicated to Rendell N. Mabey.

1953  53 people attended the annual convention which was hosted by the Pennsylvania Game Breeders Association at the Penn-Harris in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, August 28-30.   Dr. D. S. Newill was elected President, D. W. Rich, Vice-President, and Rendell W. Mabey, Secretary-Treasurer.  Dr. George A. Allen, Captain Jean Delacour, Robert H. Gibson, Paul R. Herzog, Dawson A. Smith. E. W. McFarland, Hardin A. McAdoo, Robert  B. DeCamp, and George Pollard were elected to the Board of Directors. During the convention, tours were taken to the Hershey Chocolate Factory, the Rose Gardens, commercial Ringneck farms, the State Pheasant & Wild Turkey Farms, and the aviaries of A. R. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kirakofe, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Britt, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lehman  Those going on the tours were served a typical Old Pennsylvania Dutch meal by Mr. & Mrs. E. Marvin Lehman.  Speakers included John A. Griswold, Curator of Birds at the Philadelphia Zoo and Charles W. Moses of the American-Lincoln Incubator Co.. R. H. Gibson was given the Master Breeder Award.  The 1952 Yearbook, which was dedicated to Robert H. Gibson, was printed in the April, 1953, issue of Modern Game Breeding.

1954  The annual convention was held September 5-7, in Madison, Wisconsin, where the program was enhanced with trips to the aviary of Elmer Heft and the Wisconsin State Game Farm. Ralph Britt was elected President, Elmer A. Heft, Vice-President, and R. W. Mabey, Secretary-Treasurer.  Board of Directors:  Dr. George A. Allen, Dr. Jean Delacour, Fred Fierke, Frank L. Gary, Robert Gibson, Paul Herzog, Harry L. Lehman, Dr. D. S. Newill, and Walter V. Oakie. Speakers at the convention included Jean Delacour, Dr. Alesandro Ghigi of Italy who developed the Ghigi (Yellow) Golden, Gilbert Gladish who manufactured the Leahy Incubator, Stokley Ligon who spoke on the Lesser Prairie Chicken, and Kenton L. Lint of the San Francisco Zoo, who spoke on the Incubator birds – the Australian Brush Turkey.   R. H. Gibson again won the Master Breeder Award.  Henry Butcher was given the achievement award for his work in exposing the so called Pheasant-Chicken hoax.  The 1953 Yearbook published in the April, 1954, Modern Game Breeding was dedicated to Harry L. Lehman

1955  The 1955 convention was held October 14-16 at the Robert E. Lee Hotel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Elmer Heft was elected President, Walter Oakie, Vice-President, and Paul R. Harzog, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were Dr. George Allen, Jean Delacour, Ralph Britt, Rendell Mabey, Robert Gibson, Fred Fierke, H. L. Lehman, Dr. D. S. Newill, and Robert McKeekin.  Dues were $5.00 per year and new members had their choice of either Modern Game Breeding  or the Gazette.   The Directors decided to reprint the APS history that was written and revised by L.N.Taylor.  It was printed in the October issue of MGB.  The convention ended with a tour of  Oakie farm. Beth and Walter Oakie were the recipients of the Master Breed Award. D. W. Rich was awarded the Achievement Award. Elmer Heft, Paul Hertzog, and Walter Oakie were appointed to design a new emblem for the Society.

1956 52 members attended the convention which was held September 29-30 at the Fontenelle Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska.  The membership approved a change in the constitution  that increased the number of Directors from 9 to 15. Speakers included: L. N. Taylor “History of the APS”, Melvin O. Steen “Pheasant Management”, and  Dr. J. M. Tufts “Disease of Game Birds”.  Films on Grouse and Prairie Chickens were shown at the banquet. Walter Oakie was elected President, K. C. Lint, Vice-President, and Paul R. Harzog, Secretary-Treasurer. Dr. George Allen, Jean Delacour, Elmer Heff, Dr. D. S. Newill, John Dick, Harry Lehman, C. C. Cain, Frank Shymanski, and N. M. Gist were elected Directors for 1956-1957.   Dr. Delacour was accorded the honor of President Emeritus of the Society.  Lawrence N. Taylor was recognized at the convention for the many years of service he gave to the American Pheasant Society.  The Secretary was instructed to obtain a census of the more rare species of pheasants. Paul R. Hartzog, secretary, reported in the August, 1956, Gazette that membership had grown from 125 members in October, 1955, to 425 members. The logo at right was used with the A.P.S. Convention information printed in the August, 1956, MGB.

1957  The 1957 Convention was held September 13-15, at the Hotel Utah in  Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted by the Utah Pheasant Society. Speakers included K. C. Lint “Breeding Problems with Birds in Captivity” and Dr. Jean Delacour “Pheasants in Mixed Collections.  A tour of Tracy Aviaries and the aviary of Rendell Mebey concluded the convention.  There were 87 registrations from seventeen states. K. C. Lint was elected President, John R. Dick, Vice-President, and Paul R. Harzog, Secretary-Treasurer.  Honorary Directors:  Dr. George A. Allen, Elmer Heft, Dr. D. S. Newill, Walter V. Oakie.  Directors elected were:  Erskine Carter, Alberto Calleja, C. C. Cain, W. F. Fulton, Gilbert Gladish, W. H. Lemburg, H. G. Mack, Clyde Montgomery, Malcom Stone, Ed Smalling, Frank Shymanski, Robert Weese, Oscar Wallace, and Fred Fierke.  During 1957, the Society conducted a membership contest. Prizes included a pair of Mikado Pheasants, a pair of  Impeyans, a set of pheasant lithographed prints, and other pairs of birds.  The winner was Clyde Montgomery who signed up 27 new members. The Oakie Trophy for the best results in breeding Brown Eared Manchurians was awarded to E. M. McFarland.  The Gazette Trophy went to Mr. Stark of the San Antonio Zoo for his work with rare species of birds.  The Directors  recommended that three Master Breeder Awards be made each year – one for pheasants, one for waterfowl, and one for partridge-type birds. The A.P.S. Achievement Award went to Paul Hartzog for building up the membership to 800.  The Master Breeder Award went to Steve Rebello.

1958  The Convention was held September 12-14 at the La Fayette Hotel  in San Diego, California.  There were 87 registrations from twelve states.  Attendees toured the San Diego Zoo and listened to speakers including Werner Heuschle, DVM “Use of Antibiotics with Gallinaceous Birds”.  Dr. Frederick Lorenz demonstrated artificial insemination on Red Jungle Fowl. Kim Lyons demonstrated incubators used with Oscellated Turkeys.   Attendees toured the aviary of Jerome Buteyn. September 14 was designated as George Pollard Day to honor a pioneer aviculturalist and an outstanding society member. John R. Dick was elected President, Clyde Montgomery, Vice-President, Paul R. Hartzog, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were:  H. G. Mack, Robert Weese, Stephen Rebello, Erskine Carter, Frank Shymanski,  Dr. D. A. Crhristensen, Ed Smalling, Robert Grant, C. C. Cain, Cecil Barnett, J. Allen Gardu, Dr. P. M. Pence, Fred Fierke, Dayton O. Hyde, and Jerome J. Pratt.  Master Breeder Award for Waterfowl went to Elmer Heft, Master Breeder Award for Pheasants went to Dr. D. S Newill, Master Breeder for Partridges and Doves went to Jerome Buteyn. Dr. Jean Delacour was awarded the Achievement Award for his outstanding accomplishments in the field of ornithology.  The Oakie Trophy would go for the best breeding of White Eared Pheasants in 1959. The Gazette Award was presented to Alberto H. Calleja.

1959  The Spring Bulletin of the APS was printed in the April, 1959, issue of MGB.  The 1959 Convention was held September 11-13 at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Illinois, with 74 registrations from fourteen states.  It was hosted by the Illinois Game & Pet Breeders Society.  Speakers included Fred W. Davis “Common Sense in Using Additives or Medications for Pheasants” and John M. Cowan, Jr. “Raising Grouse in Captivity”.  Clyde Montgomery was elected President, Walter Fulton, Vice President, and Paul Harzog was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were:  Frank Shymanski, Jerome Pratt, Dr. D. A. Christensen, George Pollard, Ed Smalling, Robert Grant, Oscar Wallace, C.C. Cain, Cecil Barnett, L.T. White (resigned January 1, 1960, because highway encroachments forced him to dispose of his birds), J. Allen Gardy, Chauncy Hyatt, W. H. Lemburg, Hillard Pearson, and Allen Thayer.  Elmer Heft received the Master Breeder for Waterfowl and Walter & Beth Oakie received the Master Breeder Award for Pheasants.  Frank Shymanski was awarded the Master Breeder Award  for Partridge-like birds. The Achievement Award was presented to Clyde M. Montgomery of Utah. No breeder had success with White Eared in 1959 so the Oakie Trophy would again be awarded for the best breeding of White Eared in 1960.   At the conclusion of the convention, a tour was taken to the Illinois State Game Farm.  In 1955, the Society decided that it would publish a Handbook from time to time of educational and educational material.   The 1958-1959 Hand Book contained a Pheasant chart with the following information:  genus, species, habitat, abundance in the wild and in captivity, adult  plumage, breeding age, hens per cock, laying season, eggs per clutch, eggs per year, and incubation period.   It also included a membership list for 1959-1960.

1960   In 1960, the convention, hosted by the Canadian Ornamental and Game Bird Association and the American Pheasant Society,  was held August 26-28 at the Sheraton-Connaught Hotel, Hamilton, Ontario.  Convention attendees toured the aviaries of H. G. Mack and William and George Miller  as well the Royal Botanical Gardens and Dundurn Castle.  Walter Fulton was elected President, Paul Harzog, Vice-President, and Clyde Montgomery, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were:  J. Allen Gardy, Frank Shymanski, George Allen, Jr., Chauncy Hyatt, Cecil Barnett, Ed Smalling, C. C. Cain, Steve Rebello, Dr. D. A. Christensen, Robert Grant, W. H. Lemburg, Malcome Stone, Adolphus Flowers, Col. C. K. Darling, and Hillard Pearson.   Robert Grant, chairman of the Awards Committee, announced these awards:  the Master Breeder Award for:  Pheasants went to Paul Harzog; Waterfowl to Jack and Voilet Kircofe; Grouse-type birds to Cecil Barnett.  The Achievement Award was given to J. Allen Grady for his support of the Society  by reporting Society activities.  The Board voted to mail a  list of all members with the July Quarterly Bulletin.

 

1961 The convention was held August 19-21 at the Taft Hotel, in New Haven, Connecticut.  Paul Harzog was elected President, C. C. Cain, Vice President, and Clyde Montgomery, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors were elected to serve terms lasting either three years, two years, or one-year. This was determined by the number of votes they had received.  Directors elected to 3-year terms:  J. A. Gardy, Stan Downs, Cecil Barnett, Ed Smalling, and Ed Shamanski. Directors elected to 2-year terms: Hillard Pearson, Jack Kiracoffe, Wesley Batterson, and Dr. D. A. Christensen.  Directors elected to 1-year terms:  George Konrad, Col. C. K. Darling, Fred Fierke, Earl R. Holm, and Jerome J. Pratt.  Oscar G. Wallace was made an Honorary Director for 1961-1962.  Samuel Holmgren won the Master Breeder Award for Pheasants, John W. Meyers for Waterfowl, and Elmer Heft for Upland Game Birds.  C. C. Cain received the Achievement Award.  Oscar G. Wallace received the Oakie Award for his success with the Imperial Pheasant in 1960.  At the suggestion of Frank Shymanski, it was decided that an auction would be held at the banquet.  Donations for the auction included:  a pair of Impeyans, a pair of Bleeding Heart Doves, $50.00 worth of feeders, a Modern Game Breeding ad worth $24.00 and two 2-year subscriptions, two $50.00 cash donations, a pair of doves, a pair of Lady Gouldian Finch, 1 pair of Mountain Quail and 1 pair Francolins.

1962  The convention was held September 12-15 at the Sherman House in Chicago, Illinois.  C.C. Cain was elected President, O.G. Wallace, Vice-President, and Thane Earle, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3-year terms were: Charles Arnold, Col. C. K. Darling, Earl Holms, George Korad, and Jerome J. Pratt.  Directors serving 2-year terms were J. A. Gardy, Stan Downs, Cecil Barnett, Ed Smalling, and Frank Shamanski.  Directors serving 1-year terms:  Hillard Pearson, Jack Kiracoffe, Wesley Batterson, Dr. D. A. Christenson, and Don McFarland.  The Modern Game Breeding magazine was recognized as the sole official publication of the Society and again one issue of the Modern Game Breeding Magazine was to be used as the annual yearbook.  The APS membership list was printed in MGB.

1963  The 1963 Convention took place September 18-20 at the Sheraton-Fontenelle Hotel in Omaha, Nebraska.  Oscar Wallace was elected President, Hillard Pearson, Vice President, and Thane Earle, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3-year terms were: Dr. D. A. Christenson,  William Lemburg, Samuel Holmgren, Charles Hume, and William Pugh.  Dr. M. A. Newell was nominated to fill the unexpired term of J. Allen Gardy. The president asked for donations for the annual auction to be held after the banquet.  The Board of Directors adopted the new crest drawn by Percy Rouse with the exception that the Mallard shown on the sample copy be changed to a Wood Duck. Samuel Holmgren won the Master Breeder Award for Pheasants, Kenneth Sather for Waterfowl, and William Lemburg for Partridge-type birds.  Thane Earle received the 1963 Achievement Award.

1964  The Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, was the site of the 1964 Convention August 19-20.  A better bulletin was proposed as a possible replacement for using  Modern Game Breeding magazine as the official publication. Thane Earle, secretary-treasurer, mailed out the APS Bulletin to all members.  The April, 1964, issue contained an article “Rearing Sharp-tailed Grouse by William Lemburg and an article by Jean Delacour  “Wild Pigeons and Doves as Aviary Birds”,  classified ads, and a list of new members. Hillard Pearson was elected President, Dr. D.A. Christensen, Vice-President, and Thane Earle, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected: Dr. M.A. Newell, Ed Smalling, Frank Shymanski, Floyd Jones, and Vernis Mitchell.  Oscar G. Wallace received the Master Breeder Award for Pheasants, William Lemburg for Waterfowl, and Elmer Heft for Partridge-type birds.  Robert Grant was given the Achievement Award for hosting the convention and contributing new ideas to better the Society.

1965  The meeting was held at the Green Meadows Inn in Worthington, Ohio.   Robert Wilson was elected President, Robert Grant, Vice-President (after Dr. Merle A. Newell resigned):  and Thane  Earle, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected to 3-year terms were:  Earl Holmes, Charles Arnold, T. F. Ronson, Jack Kiracofe, and Jerome Pratt.  A committee was appointed to investigate the importation of endangered species of pheasants to obtain badly needed new blood lines.  Awards given:  Pearson Trophy – Carl Strutz, Master Breeder Pheasants – Dr. James Rumbaugh, Master Breeders Partridge – Howard Brookshire, Master Breeder Waterfowl – Eldon Pace and the  Achievement Award – Thane H. Earle.

1966  The Holiday Inn in Janesville, Wisconsin, was the site of the August 17-18, 1966, Convention.  Robert Grant was elected President, Dr. James Rumbaugh, Vice-President, and Thane Earl, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors for 3-year terms were:  Howard Brookshire, Robert Eglas, E. F. Malott, Carl Strutz, and LaVerne Weber.  The Society’s Bulletin continued to be published monthly.  It was decided that the Secretary-Treasurer  be paid one dollar per member, plus expenses incurred in attending the annual convention for his time and work involved in carrying on the Society’s business.  The continuation of the committee investigating the possibility of importing endangered pheasants was approved

1967  The Convention was held August 17-19 at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, hosted by Justin and Clarice Southwick. Election results: Dr. James O. Rumbaugh, President, Edward  Fitzsimmons, Vice-President; Thane Earle, Secretary-Treasurer who resigned during the year and was replaced by Ron Johnson. Directors elected for 3-year terms were: Marvin Cecil, Charles Hume, Floyd Jones, Ed Smallings, and LeRoy Youngs R. D. Buckingham was elected Director for 1 year.  When a Bulletin editor was selected, the Secretary-Treasurer was relieved of also doing that job.  Thane Earle became Bulletin editor and received one dollar per member for his time and effort. It was moved that the Secretary-Treasurer be paid his convention expenses each year.

1968  In 1968, the Convention was hosted August 22-24 by Ed Fitzsimmons at the Willow Lane County Club in Oakland, California.  250 members joined the Society during the year.  13 Malayan Crested Firebacks were imported into the country by the Society.  Edward Fitzismmons was elected President, Bob Landon, Vice-President, and Ron Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors  elected for three years were: Clement Solano, Dr. M. Newell, Jack Kiracofe, Justin Southwick, and Charles Utterback. George Searles agreed to serve as Bulletin editor.  The Board approved a motion that APS members be given three free 50-word ads per year.

1969   The Convention was held August 21-24 at the Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, and was hosted by Oscar Wallace.  Some actions taken by the Board:  The Bulletin editor was to be paid $1.00 per member.  The name of the American  Pheasant Society was changed to the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society (APWS).  The Society would become a non-profit corporation.  A committee was appointed to rewrite the constitution and by-laws. Thane Earle was elected President, Charles Hume, Vice-President; Mrs. Irene Jones, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3-year terms were: R.D. Buckingham, Robert Landon, George Searles, Frank Shymanski, and George Williams. George Searles was reappointed Bulletin editor.  Robert Grant gave a report on the International Game Bird Registration sponsored by APWS.  Membership Drive trophies were awarded to Frank Shymanski, Dr. James Rumbaugh, C.C. Cain, and E.C. Bridges.

1970  The 1970 Convention was held August 27-29 and was hosted by the Long Island Avicultural Society at King’s Grant Motor Inn of Plainview in Long Island, New York.  Even though there were some concerns about the filing of incorporation papers, the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society had been formed.  Thane Earle was re-elected President as was Mrs. Irene Jones, Secretary-Treasurer; Robert Grant was elected Vice-President. Floyd Jones, Farold Mallot, Charles Sivelle, Ed Smalling, and LeRoy Youngs were elected Directors. The amended Articles and By-Laws were adopted.  Speakers at the convention included Dr. Michael Dam, Robin Clifford, Mike Lubbock, and Dr. James Rumbaugh.  Those attending the convention toured the Bronx Zoo, the Winston Guest Collection, and the aviaries of A. Seelig, Charles Sivelle, George Searles, F. Barsch, and W. Macy. Justin Southwick was auctioneer at the annual auction. George Searles continued as editor of the bi-monthly Bulletin.  Membership dues were $5.00.

1971  The Ramada Inn in St. Louis, Missouri, was the site of the 1971 Convention which was held August 19-21.  Thane Earle was re-elected President as was Mrs. Irene Jones, Secretary-Treasure; Richard Burger was elected Vice-President. George Searles, Frank Shymanski, Robert Landon, Donna Ollsen, and Alton Garner were elected Directors. The Board voted to raise the price of classified ads instead of raising dues.  Convention attendees toured the St. Louis Zoo, the Purina Research Farm at Grey Summit, MO, and Grants’ Farm.  Speakers from Ralston Purina talked about “Common Game Bird Problems” and “Nutrition of Exotic Avian Species”.  The annual auction was held after the banquet and presentation of awards.

1972  The Convention began on September 22, at the Contemporary Hotel Disneyworld, Florida.  It was a combined meeting of the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society and the American Game Breeders Federation.  Frank Shymanski was elected President; Mel Royal, Vice-President; Richard  Burger, Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected to 3-year terms were:  Elmer Heft, Floyd Jones, James Rumbaugh, Oscar Wallace, and Robert (Sim) Wilson.  The membership  chairman position was dropped and that responsibility was to be assumed by the Secretary-Treasurer who would be paid $1.00 per member  plus his/her convention registration fee.   W. Munstenteiger was appointed Bulletin Editor and Marie Lint, Circulation Manager.  The bulletin continued to be printed as bi-monthly.

1973 The Convention which was held August 23-25 was hosted by Carolyn and Frank Shymanski and Ruth and Quesnal Gross at the Mead Inn in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. Tours included  Skyland Pheasanty, Gross Game Birds, and the aviaries of Elmer Heft and Dr. George Arichibald’s Crane Foundation.  Speakers were K. C. Lint, Dr. Archibald, and J. L. Skinner. Mel Royal was elected President; Irene Jones, Vice-President, and Oscar Wallace, Secretary-Treasurer. Richard Burger, Robert Grant, Bob Landon, Charles Sivelle, and George Searles were elected Directors. K. C. Lint was elected to a 1-year term vacated by Oscar Wallace. Mel Royal was appointed auctioneer for the annual auction.    Richard Burger was appointed APWS Historian.

1974  The convention was held August 22-24 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Hotel Leamington.  It was hosted by the Minnesota Pheasant and Waterfowl Society. Convention hosts were Denise & Ron Johnson and Verna and Irv Johnson. Mel Royal was elected President; Irene Jones, Vice-President, and Oscar Wallace, Secretary-Treasurer.  Tours included the collections of Wayne Burdick, Stanley Fredin, Willard Henson, John Beurie, and Verna and Irv Johnson.  Speakers at the convention included Agent Richard Parsons, Department of Interior who spoke on new wildlife laws and regulations.

1975  The convention was held August 21-23 at the Host Inn in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Convention hosts were Pat and Jim Rumbaugh and Grace and Ralph Britt.  Mel Royal was re-elected President; Irene Jones, Vice-President, and Lloyd Ure was elected Secretary-Treasurer through 1977.  George Britt, Richard Burger, George Searles, Charles Sivelle, and Oscar Wallace were elected Directors for 1975-1977.  The Breeder Award Program was revamped. Master Breeder Awards could be given for Pheasants, Quail and Partridge, Waterfowl, and Mixed Collection.  Novice Breeder Awards could be awarded for Pheasants, Waterfowl, and Quail and Partridge. The collections of Charles Nagys, Pat and James Rumbaugh, and Wilburt Duff were toured. Dave Bender spoke on “Captive Wildlife: An Ethical Defense”.  Earl Baysinger, Chief of Endangered Species, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service spoke on “Threatened and Endangered Species”.  Don Bruning spoke on “Waterfowl Propagation Programs at the New York Zoological Park”. Other speakers included, Dr. Owen Keene, Guy A. Greenwell, Jack Kiracofe, and Rufus Brubaker. Helen Sivelle conducted a ladies’ workshop on egg decorating.  On August 23, a special meeting of the Directors was held in Harrisburg, PA.  It was decided  to discontinue the Bulletin and to begin publishing the APWS Magazine.  George Searles agreed to serve as Editor.  The first issue was published October, 1975, and featured a congratulatory message from Dr. Jean Delacour, President Emeritus of the Society.  The November issue  contained an article “Federal Rules and Regulations” which soon developed into a major problem for game bird propagators.  Membership dues of $8.00 included the APWS Magazine.

1976  The Convention was held September 16-19 at the Hanalei Hotel in San Diego, California, and was hosted by Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. Tours were taken to both facilities.  Speakers during the convention included Mrs. Didy Grahame, Mike Lubbock, Glen Smart, and Mickey Ollson. Charles Sivelle was elected President and Mary Dam, Vice-President.  Both officers were to serve for two years.  Lloyd Ure continued to serve as Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected: Vance Grannis, Ronald Johnson, Mickey Ollson, James Rumbaugh, and Mrs. Lee Thompson.  At a special meeting of the Directors held September, Mark Wright replaced Charles Sivelle on the Board. Thane Earl received the Honor Award. The dues were raised to $10.00.  The membership roster was printed in an issue of the magazine.

1977  The 1977 APWS Convention was held October 12-15 at the  Wagon Wheel in Rockton, Illinois, in conjunction with the Illinois Game Bird and Poultry Show at Pecatonica. Charles Seville again served as President and Mary Dam continued as Vice-President.  Lloyd Ure was re-elected Secretary.  George Searles, Dr. Mike Dam, Oscar Wallace, Thane Earl, and Vern Denton were elected Directors. The printing of a membership directory was approved at the general meeting.  Speakers included Dr. Don Bruning “Peacock Pheasants”, Mike Lubbock “Waterfowl Incubation”, Ron Saucey “International Crane Society”, and Dr. Jesus Estudillo Lopez “Newcasle Disease”.  Guest speaker at the banquet was  Dr. Jean Delacour, pictured right with Charles Seville. A joint auction to benefit both societies followed the speaker. Tours were made to the aviaries of Bill Vokoun and Bill Cochrane and to the Brookfield Zoo and the Illinois Game Bird Show.   Norm Arthur, Mickey Olson, Charles Sivelle, and George Searles showed slides of birds and animals. Frank M. Shymanski received the Honor Award.  The By-Laws and the membership roster was printed in the  January issue of the A. P. & W. S. Magazine.

1978  The October 4-7 convention was a combined meeting  with the I.W.W.A. at the Americana Hotel in New York City.  Bruce Bergbom, George Searles, and Charles Sivelle were convention hosts. Election results:  President – Charles Sivelle; Vice-President – Ron Johnson; Lloyd Ure – Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors:  Frank Todd, Frank Shymanski, Steve Wylie, Mike Lubbock, and Vance Grannis. Other directors were:  Vern Denton, Thane Earle, Oscar Wallace, Geroge Searles, and Dr. Mike Dam. Mary Dam was named an Honorary Director by the President.  The collections of Charles Sivelle, Charles Webster, Bill Macy, G. DeCampoli, and George Searles and the Bronx Zoo were toured.  Speakers at the convention were Frank Todd, Mike Lubbock, Steve Wylie, Keith Howman, Dr. Jesus Lopez, Fred Bolwahnn, Major Iain Grahame, and Ed Schmidt. The dues were raised from $10.00 to $12.00.  The Magazine was reduced to 10 issues with a budget of $22,000.00.  A combine APWS-IWWA auction was held with Frank Todd, Steve Wylie, and Phil Stanton serving as auctioneers.

1979  The convention was held September 20-23 at the Atlanta Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.  It was hosted by Al Cuming.  Tours were taken to the avaries of Al Cuming and Andy Durr.  A post-convention tour went to Doug Goode and Callaway Gardens. Those attending the convention also toured the largest poultry hatchery in the U. S. and Sheraton History Village.  Speakers at the convention were Ron Johnson, Dr. Estudillo Lopez, and Dr. Thomas Eleazer.  Charles Sivelle, president, explained the new federal regulations.  A directory was published and distributed to all members of the Society by Bruce Bergbom.  The dues were raised $3.00  to cover inflation and to fight federal regulations.   All officers were re-elected.  George Searles, Bruce Bergbom, Oscar Wallace, Guy Grenwell, and Dr. Michael Dam were elected Directors. Also serving on the Board: Stephen Wylie, Frank Shymanski, Frank Todd, Vance Grannis, and Mike Lubbock.  Honorary Voting Directors: Mel Royal and Mary Dam.  Frank Todd was head auctioneer at the auction. Oscar Wallace received the Honor Award.

1980  The  convention, hosted by Mickey Ollson, was held November 13-15 at the Safari Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Election results:  Bruce Bergbom, President; Mickey Ollson, Vice-President; Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors:  Frank Todd, Mike Lubbock, Doug Goode, Jr., Vance Grannis, and Steve Wylie.  Ron Johnson was appointed to complete the term of Bruce Bergbom.  Tours included: the Phoenix Zoo and the collections of Mickey Ollson and Bernard Roer. Optional tour – Sonora Desert.   Speakers included Dr. Don Bruning, Doug Goode, Ed Asper, S. David McKelvey, Steve  Wylie, and Dr. Jesus Estudillo Lopez.  James Rumbaugh received the Honor Award. Nick Luty served as the official APWS photographer during the year.

1981  The annual meeting was held September 23-26 in the Twin Cities in Minnesota.  The Minnesota Gamebird and Waterfowl Society hosted the convention again combined with the IWWA and in conjunction with the opening of the new Minnesota Zoo.   Tours were made to the aviaries of Dennis Albert, Willard Henson, John Gabbert, and  Bernette Fredin Muchow;  Ken Oelker, Steve Puchtel, Don Berry, and Vance Grannis. Members also took a cruise down the St. Croix River on a riverboat.  Speakers included: Frank McKinney, Bill Tietze, Vance Grannis, Larry Gillette, Didy Grahame, Pat Redig, Kerry Muller, Mike Lubbock, and Jerry McRoberts.  Bruce Bergbom continued as President; Vance Grannis, Vice-President; and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected:  Dr. Michael Dam, Guy Greenwell, Ron Johnson, George Searles, and Arlan Vaughn. The Directors moved that the Society apply for a tax exempt status.

1982  Seattle, Washington, was the site of the 1982 Convention which was held September 15-19.  The convention was hosted by Paul Dye at the Seattle Hyatt. Bruce Bergbom continued as President; Vance Grannis, Vice-President; and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer.   George Cavanaugh, Dennis Meisenger, Steve Wylie, Beverly Ure, and Joyce Flynn were elected Directors. Elmer Heft was made an Honorary Member.  Tours included the collections of Chick and Minnie Driscoll, Charles Pilling, Paul Dye, and Axelson Game Farm & Dairy;  the Woodland Park Zoo and Mount St. Helen’s Interpretive Center. An optional Sunday tour was made to Mick Zevart’s collection and Joe and Marge Longo’s Psittacine and Currasow collection. Speakers during the convention were Bob Eglas, Charles Seville, Guy Greenwell, Wes Batterson, and Mike Lubbock.  The combined APWS-IWWA event was well attended and those attending the convention were treated to exquisite northwest hospitality  which included a fabulous salmon dinner on the Tilicot Indian Reservation.  The Society purchased 100 copies of Pheasants of the World by Jean Delacour.  Half of the signed books would be sold to cover the purchase costs and the other half would be used for awards.

1983  A combined  APWS-IWWA conference was held October 12-15 at the Sheraton World in Orlando, Florida.  It was hosted by Ed Asper and Dr. and Mrs. Michael Dam. The society was incorporated and a Board of Directors, consisting of 15 members (5 being elected each year), would choose the officers from members of the Board or the Society at large.  Directors elected for 1983:  Bruce Bergbom, Al Cumming, Charles Sivelle, Bill Tietze, Lloyd Ure;  1984:  Ed Asper, Donald Bruning, Thane Earle, Ray Gwynes, Mel Royal;  1985:  Joyce Flynn, Bill Bueltman, Nick Luty, George Searles, Beverly Ure.  Bruce Bergbom was elected President for three years; Vance Grannis, Vice-President for two years; Al Cuming to follow and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer for three years.  Speakers at the convention were Dr. William A. Sumner, Stephen Wylie, Carol Emerick, Robert Wagner, Mary Healy, Kerry Muller, Dr. Nathan Gale, Dr. Don Brunning, William Hancock, C. Eugene Knoder, Glenn and Keith Howe, and Mike Lubbock.  Tours were made to Busch Gardens and Sea World.

1984  The convention was held at the Sheraton Mansfield Conference Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, September 5-7.  It was again combined with IWW. Bruce Bergbom continued as President; Al Cuming was elected  Vice-President and Lloyd Ure continued as Secretary-Treasurer. Directors elected were Thane Earle, Mel Royal, Don Bruning, Ed Asper, and Ray Gwynes.   Joyce Flynn undertook the job of sending out biographical sheets to all award recipients so  that articles could be written for the APWS Magazine.  Tours  included: the aviaries of  Gus & Karen Hebb, Vito Bucco, Roger Thibault, Herman Corriera, and Phil & Margaret Stanton; the Notyon Bird Gardens, New England Aquarium, Battleship Cove, and Roger Williams Zoo. Speakers included:  Walt Sturgeon, Sr. Al DeCoteau, Melissa Miller, Gus Ben David, Denise Braundardt, Jack Swedberg, and Don Meisner pictured  with Gus Hebb and Don Bruning.

1985  On March 30, a spring meeting of the Board of Directors was held in Hauppauge, Long Island, New York, at which time it was decided to raise the dues to $20.00.  Mel Royal’s resignation from the Board was accepted. George Cavanagh was chosen to replace him on the Board. A decision was made to offer Life Memberships for $500.00. Al Cuming, the auction chairman, agreed to write an article for the magazine encouraging people to donate items.  The convention which began October 22 was hosted by the San Antonio Zoo at the El Tropicana Hotel in San Antonio, Texas.  Tours included:  San Antonio Zoo, Lone Star Brewery, Hall of Horns Museum, Mission San Jose, and the Alamo.  The Board decided to print a Breeders’ Directory.  The Board also passed a motion limiting the President’s term to five years and adopted the corporate regulations.   Bruce Bergbom continued to serve as President; Al Cuming as Vice-President and Lloyd Ure as Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors:  Ed Asper, Bruce Bergbom, Don Bruning, George Cavanaugh, Al Cuming, Thane H. Earl, Joyce Flynn, Bill Bueltman, Ray Gwynes, Nick Luty, George Searles, Charles Seville, Bill Tietze, and Bev Ure.  Nick Luty was the APWS official photographer.  George Searles resigned as editor of the APWS Magazine, completing a ten year span that was most productive and responsible for the growth of the society.  Membership had increased five-fold over this period of time, primarily because of the great effort of the magazine’s editor.  Beverly and Lloyd Ure were appointed editors, aligning publication of the magazine more closely with the duties of the Secretary.

1986  The Convention, held from October 22-25, at the Sheraton University City Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was hosted by Doris and Nick Luty, Pat and Bill Bueltman, and Linley Boyer.  A decision was made to rewrite the stated goal of the Society and to print it in the APWS Magazine.  Tours included the aviaries of Nick & Doris Luty, Joseph Ball, and Lindley C. Boyer. Speakers included Giuseppe DeCampoli, Don Bruning, Tal Bartlett, Walt Sturgeon, Jr., Charles Sivelle, and Mike Lubbock.  An optional Sunday tour was planned to Longwood Gardens. This was the 50^th Anniversity of the Society, and it was a special event.  Officers elected were:  Al Cuming, President; Joyce Flynn, Vice-President; Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer.  Bev and Lloyd Ure continued as magazine editors.  Directors re-elected were Bruce Bergbom, Al Cuming, Charles Sivelle, and Lloyd Ure.  They were joined by newly elected Keith Howe.  Charles Sivelle was awarded the Golden Pheasant Award at the banquet for his many contributions to the Society.  Phil Stanton served as the auctioneer.

1987 The convention, a joint convention of the APWS, IWWA, and the Canadian Ornamental Pheasant and Game Bird Association, was held in Toronto, Canada, from September 29 to October 3 at the Toronto Airport Marriott Hotel. It was hosted by COPGBA.  Convention speakers were Bill Mason, Pete Swiderik, Dr. Bruce Hunter, Tony Gaston, and Ken Rivard. Tours included the aviaries of Glen Howe, Ron Brown, Bill Ming, Ben Muys, and Lloyd Fair;  the Toronto Zoo and the  Kortright Waterfowl Park.  The Board decided that first breeding awards would continue for members only and the young must be raised to 12 weeks of age. An Associate Director Program was set up. Criteria for Associates:   Membership required, would be non-voting, elected by the Board.  Marc McKay, Wendell Wright, and Bill Goldstone were appointed as Associate Directors. The Board approved full color covers for the APWS Magazine.  The video tape rental program was started as an educational service to the members.  The officers were re-elected for another year.  Mike Lubbock, Ed Asper, Don Bruning, Bob Ilardi, & Ray Gwyne were elected to the Board.  Larry Clawson, the alternate, was appointed to complete the term of George Searles.

1988  The Gulf South Bird Club hosted the convention which was held October12-16 at the Clarion Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.   Speakers were Peter Shannon, Garrie Landry, Gregory Rich, Lloyd Poissenot, and James Bland. Tours included Audubon Park Zoo, a Mississippi riverboat jazz cruise, a cypress swamp tour, and the beach.  A post-convention tour was taken to Ronnie Bankston’s collection.  The Board approved the purchase of a computer for the Secretary-Treasurer.  Bruce Bergbom proposed a scholarship program and  agreed to work up a proposal to present to the Board in 1989.  Bruce  also proposed that APWS sponsor a Photo Contest.  He agreed to chair the committee. It was approved that five members of the Board would constitute a quorum for conducting the Society’s business. Ken Rivard and Roger Brooks were appointed as Associate Directors.  Joyce Flynn was elected President.  She was the first woman  elected to lead the Society. Bruce Bergbom was elected Vice-President, and Lloyd Ure was elected Secretary-Treasurer.  Nick Luty was the official photographer of APWS.

1989  The Convention was held October 18-21 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  It was hosted by Roger and Janice Brooks. Action taken by the Board:  Zoological Collections were removed from the Breeders Award Program.  Mixed Collection of the Galliform order was added to the Breeder Award Program.  Officers elected: Joyce Flynn,  President; Bruce Bergbom, Vice-President; and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer.  Tours were taken to the Miami Metrozoo, Brooks Aviary and Nursery, and the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge. No action was taken on the proposed APWS Scholarship Program.  Al Cuming discussed the new   postal regulations for mailing birds Express Mail.    The first Photo Contest entries were displayed at the convention.  Winning color photos were printed on the covers of the APWS Magazine during 1990.

1990  The Registry Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota, was the site of the annual convention which was held September 26-29.  It was sponsored by the Minnesota Pheasant and Waterfowl Society.  Those attending the convention toured the collections of Dennis Albert, Dave Curtis, Gary Konsor, Mark Hemkeit, Dave Lindblom, Leonard and Joan Lewis, Scott Salonek, and Steve Oehlenschlager.  One of the speakers was Gordon Ekberg, wrote a monthly column for the magazine.  Joyce Flynn, President, Bruce Bergbom, Vice-President, and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer were all re-elected to another term. Directors:  Don Bruning, Bruce Bergbom, Bill Bueltman, Bill Carpluk, Joyce Flynn, Al Cuming, Judi Rivard, Ray Gwynes, Bob Ilardi, Mike Lubbock, Mel Nunnally, Charles Sivelle, Lloyd Ure, Nick Luty, and Bev Ure. Ed Asper, Keith Howe, and Larry Clawson asked to be removed from the Board and were made Associate Directors.  $500.00 from the raffle was set aside for the scholarship program.

1991  The Convention was hosted by Bill and Edna Goldstone October 9-12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  Joyce Flynn, President, Bruce Bergbom, Vice-President, and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer were all re-elected to another term.  Joyce Flynn, Nick Luty, Bill Carpluk, Bill Bueltman, Bob Streich and Bev Ure were elected to the Board of Directors. Other Board members were Don Bruning, Ray Gwynes, Bob Ilardi, Mike Lubbock, Mel Nunnally, Bruce Bergbom, Al Cuming, Judi Rivard, Charles Sivelle, and Lloyd Ure.  Judi Rivard was appointed chairman of the Breeders Awards Committee and worked to revise the program.  Bev Ure was appointed chairman of the Service Awards.  Speakers were: Harry Hardy, Don Bruning David Hancock, Fred Laub, Ed Benhardt, and Al Sweet. Convention attendees toured the aviaries of Fred Laub, Al Sweet, Bill Goldstone, Fred Rump, and David Hancock.

1992 The Convention was held at the Omni Hotel  in Richmond, Virginia, from September 30 to October 3.  It was hosted by the Carolinas/Virginia Pheasant  and Waterfowl Society.  Speakers were Ken Rivard, Charles Sivelle, and Dr. Mel Levine. Tours included the aviaries of Mel and Jackie Nunnally, Mint & Dean Schlief, Bill and Frances Winall, Ron and Mary Chilcoat, Sylvan Heights, and Ben Keys’ and Bruce Price’s Greenview Plantation and waterfowl collection.  Friday began with a cruise down the James River on a river boat and a visit to three early American plantations and ended with the annual auction. The Scholarship Program was a reality at last and four scholarships were awarded. Joyce Flynn, President, Bruce Bergbom, Vice-President, and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer were re-elected.  Elected to 3-year terms on the Board were Lloyd Ure, Bruce Bergbom, Judi Rivard, Charles Sivelle, and John Nuccitelli.  Bernie Jager was appointed to complete Bill Bueltman’s term  when he resigned.   A fax machine with a separate line was installed so Bev and Lloyd could better serve the members.  John Nuccitelli was appointed to plan future conventions.

1993  The Inn at the Falls in Niagara Falls, New York, was the site of the 1993 convention which was held September 22-25.  Tours included  the aviaries of Jeff Hale, John Nuccitelli, Steve La Croix, Rosemary Miner; and Niagara Falls.  Speakers during the convention were Dr. Carl  Tomaschke, Karen Wright, Mike Lubbock, David Handcock, and Dr. Karrie Rose.  Al Cuming, Don Bruning, and  Keith Howman of the World Pheasant Association participated in a Pheasant Workshop.  Dues remained $20.00 a year, but there would be an additional charge of $8.00 for first class mailing.  Joyce Flynn, President, Bruce Bergbom, Vice-President, and Lloyd Ure, Secretary-Treasurer were all re-elected.  Directors elected for 3-year terms were:  Don Bruning, Bernie Jager, Bob Ilardi, Steve Olson, and Mel Nunnally.  The Breeder Awards’ Committee adopted a policy requiring an article and pictures with the Breeder Award Application.

1994  The annual convention was held October 4-8 at the Holiday Inn, Capital Plaza in Sacramento, California.  There was a pre-convention trip to Reno, Nevada.  Tours included Kunde Estate Winery and Aviary in Sonoma Valley, Sandy and Isolee Smith’s Aviary and the Lodi Zoo in Stockton, California.  Workshops  on pheasants and waterfowl with speakers were held.  Officers elected were:  Bob Steich, President; Joyce Flynn, Vice-President, and Lloyd-Ure, Secretary-Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3-year terms were:  Joyce Flynn, Bob Streich,  E T Trader, Jim Gollnick, and Bev Ure.  Jan Trader was introduced at the convention as the new APWS photographer.  The APWS Scholarship Program was renamed the Charles Sivelle Scholarship/Grant.

1995  The Convention, hosted by the Michigan Bird and Game Breeders’ Association, was held October 11-14 at the Holiday Inn in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tours included the John Ball Park Zoo, the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Todd Farms, and the Aviaries of Bruce and Carol Hop, Bernie and Carolyn Jager,  and Carl and Bev Kemme.  Speakers were:  Keith Johnson, Ray Gustafson, Dr. Dwight S. Schwartz, Mike Lubbock, and Glen Howe.  A Pheasant Standards Workshop was also held. The Alaska Game Breeders disbanded and the money remaining in their treasury was donated to the  Charles Sivelle Scholarship/Grant fund.  Don Bruning indicated that he had 14 people ready to start working on stud books.  Bob Streich was re-elected President and Bernie Jager was elected Vice-President.  Judy Rivard’s proposal for  separating the offices of Secretary and Treasurer passed.  Bev Ure was elected Secretary and Lloyd Ure was elected Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3 year terms were:  Lloyd Ure, Bruce Bergbom, John Nuccitelli, Judi Rivard, and Kem Appell.  John Schmidt was appointed to complete the term of Bob Ilardi who requested that he  be moved to an Associate Director.  Also serving on the Board were:   Don Bruning, Joyce Flynn, Jim Gollnick, Bernie Jager, Mike Lubbock, Chris Olson, Bob Streich, ET Trader, and Bev & Loyd Ure.

1996  The Georgia Game Breeders hosted the 1996 APWS Convention October 2-5 in Athens, Georgia.  Tours included the collections of Al Cuming, Tere Lopez, and Billy Todd, the Atlanta Zoo and the Chattanooga Aquarium.  Speakers were: Dr. Stanley Vezey, Dr. Bill Brown, Dr. Raul Otalara, Dr. William Sadler, Dr. Branson W. Ritchie, and Dr. Donald Bruning. Officers elected were John Nuccitelli, President; Bernie Jager, Vice-President; Bev Ure, Secretary and Lloyd Ure,  Treasurer.  Directors elected were:  Don Bruning, Bernie Jager, Chris Olson, John Schmidt, and LaDonna Lickteig who took over writing the “Questions and Answers” column.  APWS continued to be involved in working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service so that some pheasant species could be exempt from CBWP regulation.  Jim Gollnick served as auctioneer at the auction to raise funds for the Society.

1997 The annual convention was held October 22-25 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in Ontario, California.  The pre-convention tour was to Universal Studios.  Tours were made to the San Diego Zoo and the aviaries of Paul Kao  and Lynn Hall.  The Executive Committee had a conference phone call on January 19, 1997, to discuss a dues increase and to discuss a By-Law change regarding a procedure for dealing with the ballots.  A conference call for the entire Board was held on April 13, 1997.  On January 1, 1998, dues  were raised to $25.00 a year or $45.00 for two  years.  Members wishing to have their magazines sent first class mail would pay an additional $10.00 per year.  A new tri-fold information folder with information about the Society and an application form was created to give to prospective members.  The cost of classified ads in the APWS Magazine was 20¢ per word with a minimum of $7.50 per ad.  The Magazine was published 10 times a year, with one of the issues being the Membership Directory.  Election results, John Nuccitelli, President; Bernie Jager, Vice-President; Bev Ure, Secretary; and Lloyd Ure, Treasurer.  Elected to Board of Directors: ET Trader, Michael Muse, Bob Streich, Jim Goolnick, and Bev Ure.  Also serving on the Board were Joyce Flynn, Don Bruning, Bruce Bergbom, Kem Appel, John Schmit, LaDonna Lickteig, Chris Olson, & Judi Rivard.

1998  The convention  was held October 7-10. It  was hosted by the Midway Pheasant and Waterfowl Society at the Holiday Inn in Kansas City, Missouri.   Tours were made to the aviaries of Victor and LaDonna Lickteig and Monte and Suzy Jacobs and to Waters Edge Garden Center.  Two scholarships were awarded.  Officers elected were: ET Trader, President; Bernie Jager, Vice-President, Bev Ure, Secretary; and Lloyd Ure, Treasurer.  Directors re-elected were Lloyd Ure, John Nuccitelli, Bruce Bergbom, and Kem Appell.  Janet Trader was elected as a new director and Terry Smith was appointed to complete the term of Chris Olson.  Don Bruning gave a brief report on the revised CBW regulations.  Bird breeders owe Don Butler and his senator from North Carolina a big thank you for their work in making the revised CBW regulations a reality instead of just a dream.  10 pheasants and 2 ducks were removed from the list of birds  requiring a CBW permit.  The APWS web site was set up by Michael Muse.  Bernie Jager proposed a Sunshine Committee to send cards to APWS members who were ill or  who had had a death in their immediate family.  Bernie was appointed chairman of the committee. John Nuccitelli retired as Convention Chair after this Convention and Janet Trader was appointed.

1999  The Wisconsin Bird and Game Breeders Association hosted the convention at the Regency Suites in Green Bay, Wisconsin October 6-9.  The House on the Rock was the site for a pre-convention tour. Speakers were:  Mike Reed, Greg Martinelli, Stan Lukasik, and Ted Norris. Tours included Willie’s Wildlife Zoo, Simon’s Cheese Factory, the Packer Hall of Fame, the EAA Museum and the collections of Jim and Gwen Bleuer, Paul Grunska, and Louie Bougie. One scholarship was awarded and three service awards were presented. First Breeding Award change – Birds should be raised to 1 year of age. There was a clarification as to when officers and directors take office – they do so at the end of the convention.   Don Bruning spoke about the encephalitis outbreak (West Nile) in New York.   ET Trader was elected President; Bernie Jager, Vice-President; Bev Ure, Secretary and Lloyd Ure,  Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3-year terms were:  Don Bruning, Bernie Jager, Terry Smith, LaDonna Lickteig, and Chris Newton.

2000 The Convention which was held in Ocean City, Maryland, was hosted by the Carolinas and Virginia Pheasant and Waterfowl Society (Wayne and Jeanne Hawkins, Mint and Dean Schlif and Jan and ET Trader). A pre-convention trip to Washington, DC, was offered. The Convention was held November 6-11  so attendees could spend a day at the Easton Waterfowl Festival in Salisbury, Maryland, and tour the Ward Museum of Wildlife Art.  Those attending the convention also toured Assateague Island and Chincoteauge Island.  We had 3 large Charter Buses for this Convention. They toured the aviaries of Jan and E. T. Trader, Donald and Wanda Thornton, Lewis Long, and Norman Schuyler.  Those attending the convention were treated to some great seafood.  Normann Schuyler and his family put on a great BBQ for the Group.   The Leslie E. Tassell fund was established with a large donation from Mr. Tassell.  The money was invested and the interest will be used to fund special projects.  Bernie Jager, Don Bruning, Lloyd and Bev Ure were appointed to serve on the Leslie E. Tassell Foundation committee. A unanimous ballot was cast for the officers to continue for another year.  Directors elected were Bev Ure, ET Trader, Jim Gollnick,  Michael Muse, and Al Novosad.  Wayne Hawkins was appointed to complete the term of Michael Muse who continued to serve as an Associate Director.   Two scholarships were awarded and three Service Awards were presented. Wayne Hawkins and Jan Trader raised over $5000.00 which enabled them to provide the attendess very special momentoes. Souther States was a Sponsor. Mitzi Perdue (wife f Frank Perdue – President and CEO of Perdue Farms) attended and spoke about her Egg Decoraing. “Her egg decorating hobby began in1993 when a back injury kept her housebound and unable to walk for almost a year. She was looking for a hobby to make the time pass, and it occurred to her that since people called Frank “the Chicken Man,” it would be fun to be “The Egg Lady.” Today a typical EggScape™ sells for $2500.” Dr Mel Levine was out Guest Speaker for Banquet Night. Many thanks to Wayne and Jeanne Hawkins, Mint and Dead Schlief and Jan and ET Trader who worked hard to make this Convention a great success.

2001  Al and Pat Novosad hosted the annual convention October 10-13 at the Holiday Inn International in Houston, Texas.  The pre-convention tour included Moody Gardens in Galveston.  Tours included the collections of Al and Pat Novosad and Jay and Suzanne Faske, Blue Bell Creameries, the Antique Rose Emporium, the San Jacinto Battleground in Washington on the Brazos State Park, and the Houston Zoo.  Three service Awards were presented.  Three breeder awards were presented.  APWS donated $5,000.00 to Bird Shippers of America in hopes that shipping problems could be resolved. It was decided to go to a post-convention format for the 2002 convention.  The Lifetime Achievement Award program was initiated in 2001 by the APWS President, E. T. Trader. This award is given to members who have many years of dedication and service to aviculture.  ET Trader was elected President; Bernie Jager, Vice-President; Bev Ure, Secretary and Lloyd Ure,  Treasurer.  Directors elected to 3-year terms: Kem Appell, Jan Trader, Bruce Bergbom, Ned Newton, and Lloyd Ure.

2002  Ray and Melodye Sexton hosted the annual convention October 2-5 at the Chaparral Suites Hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona.   Tours included the collections of Sven Eberson and Ray Sexton, Mickey Ollson’s  Wildlife World Zoo,  and the Natural Bridge State Park.  On the way back to the hotel, the brakes went out on one bus so everyone on that bus had to board the other bus to return to the hotel.  It was a bit crowded, but we made it back safely to the hotel for the southwestern theme banquet.  The post-tour was to the Grand Canyon.  All officers were elected for another year.  Board members elected were:  Bernie Jager, Terry Smith, Don Bruning, LaDonna Lickteig, and Michael Barrett.  Jim Bleuer was appointed to fill an un-expired term.  At the awards banquet, two couples received Service Awards, five Breeder Awards were announced, and three students were awarded scholarships.

2003  Kem and Julia Appell hosted the Convention October 6-12 at the Sheraton Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut.  Tours included, Heublein Tower, Mystic Seaport, the Nautilus Submarine Force Museum, Burlington Trout Hatchery, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Trust, and the Connecticut Waterfowl Trust at the home of Kim & Julia Appell.  Post tours included the Bronx Zoo, and Old Sturbridge Village.  The Tassell Foundation made one grant during 2003.  Attendees were treated to a traditional New England Thanksgiving dinner at the banquet. Two scholarships were awarded, five Breeder Awards were announced and   three Service Awards were given. Outstanding Avicultural Awards for Lifetime Achievement  were presented to Don Steuer, Mick Zervet, Barnie Lewis, and Karin Hebb in honor of her late husband Gus Hebb.  The following directors were re-elected:  Jim Gollnick, Wayne Hawkins, Al Novosad, ET Trader, and Bev Ure.  Al Novosad was elected President; officers re-elected were Bernie Jager Vice-President, Bev Ure, Secretary, Lloyd Ure, Treasurer.

2004  The annual APWS Convention was held October 4-8 at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg, Ohio.  The convention was hosted by Kurt Landig and Janis and Jeff Clark.  Tours included: Simply Smuckers, Heini Cheese, Schrock’s Amish Farm,  the Fort Wayne Zoo, The Toledo Zoo, Sun Seed Plant, and the collections of Kurt Landig, Janis and Jeff Clark, Hartly Boss, and Mel and Bonnie Royal.   The post-convention tour included Mazuri Feeds Diet Plant and the collection of Mark and Carolyn Wright.  Awards given at the annual banquet included:  one Breeder Award, one Scholarship grant, and one Service Award.  After years of serving on the Board, Ned Newton and Kem Appell asked not to be placed on the ballot.  Both continued to serve Associate Directors.  New members elected to the Board were Gene Leffelman and Doug Edwards.  Jim Bleuer, Jan Trader, and Lloyd Ure were re-elected.  All officers were unanimously re-elected.  Bev and Lloyd Ure were recognized for their service to APWS and were given a standing ovation when they were announced as the recipients of the Outstanding Avicultural Award for Lifetime Achievement..

2005  The Embassy Suites in Seattle, Washington, was the location for the annual convention which was held October 6-8.  It was hosted by Lynn Dye, Arnold and Debbie Schouten, and Harry  Hardy.  Tours included the collections of the late Paul Dye and Lynn Dye, Steve and Debbie Emge, and Maynard Axelson.  Post–convention tours included the collections of Willie Slusarski and Arnold and Debbie Schouten in Washington and the collections of Harry Hardy, Clayton Botkin, Nick and Patricia Ranzoni, Jim Ferguson, and Fred and Gloria Laub near Vancouver, British Coulmbia, Canada.  Stops were also made to Pike’s Market, the George Reigel Migratory Birds Sanctuary, and Butchart Gardens.   Two grants from the Leslie Tassell Foundation were made to the Sylvan Height Eco-Center and their Internship Program.  Awards announced at the annual banquet included one Breeder Award and one Service Award.   Mel Royal, Harry Hardy, Walter Dunst, Paul Dye (deceased), Wayne P. Hawkins (deceased), and Bill Goldstone (deceased)  were awarded the Outstanding Avicultural Award for Lifetime Achievement.  After serving on the Board of Directors, as editors of the APWS Magazine, and as secretary and treasurer for many, many years Bev and Lloyd Ure announced that they were retiring as the editors and secretary and treasurer.  Finding Board members who would be willing to assume their responsibilities was not an easy task for Al Novosad who was re-elected AWPS President.  Bernie Jager was re-elected Vice-president.  ET Trader was elected Treasurer, and Terry Smith was elected Secretary.  Jan & E T Trader were appointed editors of the APWS Magazine.  LaDonna Lickteig, Bernie Jager, Michael Barrett, Don Bruning, and Terry Smith were re-elected to the Board. Jeanne Hawkins was appointed to complete the term of her late husband.

2006  The convention was held in Paducah, Kentucky, from October 10-12 at the Executive Inn Riverfront near the Ohio River. 63 people attended the convention which was hosted by Maurice and Carla Fields and Don and Linda Steurer.  Many convention attendees came early for an October 9th trip to Reelfoot Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Tiptonville, Tennessee.  Dr. Wintfred Smith spoke and showed slides on the legend, history, trials, tribulations and people of Reelfoot Lake.  The Board Meeting was held on October 10.  The following directors were re-elected to three-year terms:  Jim Gollnick, Al Novosad, ET Trader,  and Bev Ure. Don Steurer was elected to his first term.  The following officers were re-elected:  Al Novosad, President, Bernie Jager, Vice-president, ET Trader, Treasurer, and Terry Smith, Secretary.   Following the general meeting, Mike Lubbock showed slides and spoke about the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center at Scotland Neck, NC.  Buses departed the hotel early on October 11 for a  full day of tours to the waterfowl collections of Larry and Linda Roberts, Karl Zimmerman, and Maurice and Carla Fields.  As he has done since 1996, Jim Gollnick again served as auctioneer at the annual auction.   On October 12, the group toured the John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky, before traveling on to Evansville, Indiana, to tour the aviary of Don and Linda Steurer. The annual awards banquet was held in the evening.  APWS Service Awards were given to Ann and Don Butler, Doug and Joy Edwards, and Jim Peery.  Breeder awards were given to Arnold Schouten – Master Breeder – Ducks;  Bill Branch – Intermediate Breeder – Ducks; and Richard Wills – Beginner Breeder –  Ducks.  Al Novosad announced that the APWS Outstanding Aviculture Award for Lifetime Achievement  would go to Tony DiPaola and John and Terry Smith.  Frank Todd showed slides and spoke on the topic “The High Artic and the Impact of Global Warming”.

A two-day post convention tour on October 13-14 included a trip to Beachaven Vineyards and Winery in Clarksville, Tennessee, and Tri-Star Vineyard in Shelbyville, Tennessee, a live show at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, tours to the Nashville Zoo and the collections of Rickey Jones in Old Hickory, Tennessee, and Don Shadow in Winchester, Tennessee, where the group viewed many species of Cranes and an extensive exotic animal collection.

2007   The Utah Pheasant Society and Roy and Joyce Bouck hosted the 2007 APWS Convention at the Embassy Suites in Salt Lake City, Utah. The convention, which was  held from September 26-29, was attended by 67 members including four members from Belgium. The Board of Directors convened early Wednesday  morning to conduct business of the Society. Doug Edwards, Gene Leffelman, Jan Trader and Lloyd Ure were re-elected to the Board. Nat Mizzoni was elected to the Board for the first time.  Al Novosad was re-elected President, Bernie Jager will serve as Vice-President, ET Trader was re-elected Treasurer and Terry Smith was re-elected Secretary. Wednesday evening Merrill Webb spoke and showed slides of the flora and fauna of Utah.

Thursday we toured the Monte Bean Science Museum, Cabelas and Kennecott Copper Mines. We saw the collections of Steve and Lori Eyre and Roy and Joyce Bouck.   We returned to downtown Salt Lake City to attend a performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Friday’s tours included stops at Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary, the Western Nut, the State Capitol, and Ensign Peak which overlooks the city. Following a group dinner, Jim Gollnick and his committee conducted the auction..

Saturday we toured Willow Park Zoo, the James V. Hansen Wildlife education Center and Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and the collection of Douglas Eames. The last stop of the day took us across part of the Great Salt Lake in order to reach Antelope Island, a 20,000 acre refuge, where we saw mule deer, big horn sheep, pronghorn antelope, buffalo, chukars, and some scaled quail. The annual Awards Banquet was held in the evening. A list of the awards are listed in this booklet. Bernie Jager and LaDonna Lickteig set up a table with place settings and candles in memory of APWS members who had died during the year. At the end of the ceremony, the coffee cups were turned over and the candles were extinguished.

2008     The 2008 APWS Convention, which was  held September 30 to October 3 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Providence/Warwick, Rhode Island, was hosted by Nat and Cathy Mizzoni, Ned and Elizabeth Newton,  and the Northeastern Avicultural Society.  74 people from many parts of the United States, the Bahamas, Canada, and Poland attended the convention.

The Board of Directors held a morning meeting September 30 to conduct business for the Society.  Several changes were approved by the Board – raising membership fees to $35.00 would result in first class mailing of all magazines, the Photo Contest was disbanded as was the Youth Art & Photo Contest.   Michael Barrett, Don Bruning, Bernie Jager, LaDonna Lickteig, and Terry Smith were re-elected to the Board.  Due to the resignation of Bev and Lloyd Ure from the Board because of their not being able to attend the Board Meetings there were two openings on the Board. Mary Popple was appointed to a two-year term and Dan Drost was appointed to a one-year term.  Officers elected were: President – Terry Smith, Vice-President – Bernie Jager, Secretary – LaDonna Lickteig, and Treasurer – ET Trader. In the evening, members attended a dinner and membership meeting in the hotel.  Don Bruning spoke on “Endangered Species How do they get designated?”

We toured many collections in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Aviaries included those of Nat and Cathy Mizzoni, Ned and Elizabeth Newton, Bob Corrigan Jr., Bill Brenner, Peter Nardi, Peter Sadeck, Tim Rennei, Al Wilkins, Tony Dipaolo and  Vitto Butcco. Area sights of interest we visited were: Confreda Greenhouses & Farms, the Parrot Rescue in Hope Valley, Little Italy in Providence, the Atlantic shore, and we got to take a look at an old New England farm house which was being renovated.  The Saturday post-convention was to Martha’s Vineyard.  A 90 minute ferry ride, a tour of the island and a stop at Gus Ben David’s aviary and reptile and snake collection made for a full day.

2009  The Carolinas Virginia Pheasant and Waterfowl Society hosted the Convention, September 29 to October 2 at the Embassy Suites Raleigh Crabtree in  Raleigh, North Carolina. 78 people from many parts of the United States, Belgium and Canada attended the convention.

The Board of Directors held a morning meeting September 29 to conduct business for the Society. Bernie Jager reported that the Tassell Foundation funded two $500.00 grants to the Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Trust. They funded two interns and the sea duck facility.  APWS will  continue its support of the Crown Pigeon Cooperative and the Touraco Cooperative Breeding Program. Jim Gollnick, who has served as APWS auctioneer since 1996, auctioned his last auction. Doug Edwards will chair the auction committee assisted by his wife Joy.  The Board began planning a 75th year anniversary in 2011. Al Novosad, E Trader, Jim Gollnick, Jim Bleurer, and Don Steurer were re-elected to the Board.  Officers elected were: President – Terry Smith, Vice-President – Bernie Jager, Secretary – LaDonna Lickteig, and Treasurer – ET Trader.

We viewed many collections including those of Dr. Pam Whitley and Dr. John Ward, Richard Schock, Bo and Sylvia McLamb, Don and Ann Butler, Walt and Gay Sturgeon,  There were many interesting sights including the NC Zoological Society in Asheboro, Duplin Winery,  Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park and Eco-Center hosted by Mike and Ali Lubbock. The guest speaker at the banquet was Dr. Mel Levine who entertained us with a talk ”How to Breed Pheasants with Bilateral Crooked Toes”.

The post-convention showed us more of North Carolina: Emerald Village in Spruce Pine, Linville Caverns, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Grandfather Mountain and Blowing Rock. We also visited the extensive collection of animals, metal and real, of Dr. Mel Levine and his wife Bambi at Sanctuary Farm and the aviary of Ken and Lisa Regenthal.

The APWS Magazine has undergone a few changes since the first magazine was printed in October, 1975.  Color pictures on the front and back covers of the magazine were implemented in 1987.  The Executive Board voted to add a color centerfold to the APWS Magazine.  The December, 2009, issue featured four pages of  Nene photos.

2010  Dann Dunst, Bill Morrison, and the California Gamebird Breeders Association hosted the 2010 AWPS Convention which was held in Sacramento, California, at the Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade from September 29 to October 2.   49 people attended the convention.  Directors elected were: Doug Edwards, Mary Popple, Nat Mizzoni, Jan Trader, and Gene Leffelman.  The following officers were elected:  Terry Smith, President; Bernie Jager, Vice-President; ET Trader, Treasurer; LaDonna Lickteig, Secretary.

Touring we viewed birds in nature and in aviaries. Locations included Cosumnes River Preserve and Woodbridge Sandhill Crane Preserve. Collections included those of Isolee Smith, John York, Dave Rabo and Bill Morrison. We had an array of speakers. The first following a tour at UC Davis.  Then a speaker forum at Drexel University. Kurt Landig showed slides and talked about pheasant skins he viewed in various museums in New York, England, and China.  Don Bruning spoke about Malaysian Pheasants and waterfowl of Africa.  Roland Criston spoke about aviary construction and maintenance and the care and breeding of Lories.  At the annual awards banquet Nat Mizzoni, Breeder Award chairperson, announced the following breeder awards:  Master Breeder Pheasants – Don Butler, Master Breeder  Mixed Collection – Bo McLamb,  Master Breeder -Pheasants Kurt Landing, and  Zoological Collection Swans – Bramble Park Zoo in South Dakota. LaDonna Lickteig, Outstand Service Awards chairperson, presented awards to: Dann Dunst and  Bill Morrison.  Al Novosad announced the recipients of the Charles Sivelle Scholarship/Grant Program:  Edward Hanlon, Rebucca Saucerman, and Holly Herdman.   Bernie Jager,  Joe and Judy Passantino, and ET and Jan Trader received the 2010 APWS  Outstanding Avicultural Award for Lifetime Achievement .

It was then on to the post-convention. It started with a trip to Alcatraz then a tour of Sausalito and on to Muir Woods. Our last stop of the day was Jack Long’s waterfowl in Point Reyes Station. Saturday, the tours began at the California Science Academy then it was off to San Francisco Golden, Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.

2011  The 2011 Convention, held November 2 – 5 at the Embassy Suites in West Palm Beach, Florida, was hosted by Stuart and Sylvia Denton.  There were 75 registered attendees.  Directors elected were:  Bernie Jager, LaDonna Lickteig, Don Bruning, Dann Dunst, and Terry Smith.  The following officers were elected:  Terry Smith, President; Al Novosad, Vice-President; ET Trader, Treasurer; LaDonna Lickteig, Secretary.  Tours began on Thursday.  The first stop in Palm City at the aviary of Stuart and Sylvia Denton.  They have a mixed collection of pheasants, cranes, waterfowl, jungle fowl, Java Green Peafowl, and aviary birds.   Following lunch, we drove to the Palm Beach Zoo.  Our zoo visit also  included a tour of the veterinary care facility; a Wings Over Water Show, and encounters with some of the animals and zoo keepers. Mike Lubbock spoke on his work with mergansers in South America

The next day we drove to Fort Pierce to tour Odom’s Birds and Orchids.  John and Louis Odom made everyone feel welcome as we looked at the waterfowl and cranes, and admired the many varieties of orchids.  We then headed for the historic town of Stuart.  We had lunch at a seafood café then boarded a boat to travel in the St. Lucie Inlet.

On Saturday, we motored to South Miami to visit Father Kubala and the St. Francis Gardens at the St. Thomas the Apostle Church.  Students from the school entertained us with a dramatic reading and interpretive dance about endangered animals and birds.  Following our tour, we enjoyed a lunch featuring Caribbean foods. We traveled on to Delray Beach where we toured The Girls Strawberry Patch and Bird Sanctuary.  Returning to the hotel, everyone hurried to get ready for the 75th Anniversary Awards Banquet. This was a special event – a champagne toast and a decorated cake. The Banquet speaker was Dr. Susan Clubb, DVM.   Nat Mizzoni, chairman of the Breeder Awards Committee announced six awards. LaDonna Lickteig, chairman of the Outstanding Service Awards announced one award. The Lifetime Achievement  award was presented to two members.  Jim Bleuer announced the results of the photo contest, and Al Novosad announced that one Charles Seville Scholarship/grant was made to Edward Hanlon.

Post-convention was to Key West. On the way, we stopped at Gator Park for an airboat tour through the Everglades. The next morning we boarded the Old Town Trolley for a tour of Key West. Stops included the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, the Southernmost Point, a tour of the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum, and the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square. On Tuesday, part of the group went on an optional tour to the Dry Tortugas National Park for a tour  of Fort Jefferson, bird watching, and snorkeling. On Wednesday we boarded the bus for our trip back to West Palm Beach.  Along the way we stopped at Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center. On Thursday, we said our good-byes and made our way to the airport for our flights back home.

2012 The Wisconsin Bird and Game Breeders Association hosted the 2012 APWS Convention held in Wausau, Wisconsin, September 25-28. For full article see APWS Magazine Volume 9, 2013, page 33 “APWS 2012 History”. 50 plus members attended. Much was accomplished at the board meeting. Ian Gereg is the new Web Master for the APWS website, updating it regularly. PayPal is now available for payment of dues. Directors elected for a 3-year term were Don Steurer, Al Novosad, ET Trader, Don Butler and Ian Gereg. Officers elected were: President– Terry Smith, Vice-President– Don Steurer, Secretary– LaDonna Lickteig and Treasurer– ET Trader. Bernie Jager and Al Novosad were elected to complete the Executive Committee.  Touring we were treated to many regional sights: Willow Spring Farm with a restored round barn, Leigh Yawkley Woodson Museum-Birds in Art Exhibit, Wildwood Wildlife Park, Wisconsin Ginseng and Herb Cooperative, Highground Veterans Park and Jurustic Park which has imaginative welded scuptures.  We viewed the collections of Lenny and Ruthie Pliska, Robert and Mary Popple, and Clifford Johnson.

The award banquet was on the final night and began with a memorial service for members who died in 2012. APWS Breeder Awards were presented to Stuart Denton– Master Breeder-Mixed Collection and Pinola Preserve, Paul Dickson owner; Jacob Kraemer-curator—Mixed Collection. Outstanding Service Awards went to Jim Bleuer and Ian Gereg. The post-convention tour began the next day. It included visits to the Cranberry Festival, the International Crane Foundation, the Circus World Museum and a boat tour of the Upper Dells at Wisconsin Dells.

2013 The Convention was held in Shreveport and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 11-15. It was hosted by Paul Dickson, Jacob Kraimer and Kelly McMullen. 52 people attended. We viewed the collections at Kelly McMullen’s Bayou Bird Farm, Pinola Preserve LLC, Paul Dickson and Jacob Kreamer, and Johnny Wise’s Kiptopeke Aviaries in Summerdale, AL. As we traveled the area, other adventures were Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino, a tour of New Orleans including the French Quarter and the St Louis Cemetery, Audubon Zoo and Aquarium and the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Wildlife Refuge.

Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Nat Mizzoni. Intermediate Breeder Award Mixed Collection was given to Rob Laubner.

2014  Philadelphia, PA was the destination for the Convention in 2014. 37 people attended. It was held October 1-4 and hosted by the Pennsylvania Aviculture Society, Dave Kolpak, Rich Barcewski and John Belier. We visited the Wagner Free Institute of Science which houses an amazing variety of mounted bird specimens, among other things. On a walking tour of Philadelphia, we visited many historical sites. At Hershey Chocolate World we created our own chocolate bar.  We visited Rich Barcewski’s collection, Lake Tobias Wildlife Park and Safari, Bombay Hook Wildlife Refuge Center and toured Longwood Gardens.

At the Awards Banquet, Service awards were presented to Linda Wilkins and Paul and Anchi Kao. Charles Sivelle Scholarships granted to Samantha Bucco and Thomas Martin. Youth program: a pair of Mandarins supplied by Don Steurer. Officers elected were: President– Jim Bleuer, Vice-president– Don Steure, Secretary– Joy Edwards and Treasurer– ET Trader. Al Novosad and Terry Smith were elected to serve on the Executive Committee.

2015 APWS went International and had our first European Convention. It was held in Belgium hosted by Aviornis International VZW and Eugene De Witt. There were 27 attendees. Historic cities of Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp were visited as well as private tour at the Belgian Parliament, Flanders Field, Planckendael Zoo and Pairi Daiza Wildlife Park. Private collections visited were Guido and Ann Boon, Noel, Patricia and Tanja Hendrikx, Arsene Van de Walle, Filip Geimaert and Dirk Callebout. At the final dinner a Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Eugene De Witt and  Intermediate Breeder Award- Mixed Collection to Blake Rossow. This trip was one of our best conventions and will be long remembered. APWS got a new editor, Ian Gereg.

2016 We went west for the convention which was hosted by John, Irene and Kathy Redmon in Boise, Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. There were 31 attendees for the event from September 26 – October 3. Monday began with Boise adventures. We viewed some great bird facilities:  Ken Mortensen’s Pheasants, Dan Snyder – Snyder’s Grouse Farm and John Redmon- Redmon Aviary and Gamefarm. The Redmon’s hosted a wonderful BBQ banquet which included a special presentation by James Pfarr on Pheasants and Pheasant Breeding. We also visited The World’s Center for Birds of Prey and toured of the Archives of Falconry as well as a local winery.  Thursday we departed for Yellowstone. We made a stop at the Idaho Potato Museum. It was great not just for stretching our legs! We were treated to two days of wonder at Yellowstone. We had a private walk on guide for our bus who was exceptionally knowledgeable and personable.  We saw amazing wildlife as well as the geological wonders of geysers , hot springs, steam vents and mud pots.

Charles Sivelle Scholarships were awarded to Logan Connor of Torrington, CT and Rachel Johnson, Spencer, WI.

2017 No Convention was planned this year but members were able to attend the IWWA convention to Connecticut, October 18-22. Many did attend and enjoyed the many sights including visits to Livingston Ripley Conservancy and Michael and Judy Steinhardt’s Estate. There was a great speaker session with Kelly Kubik, Ian Gereg, Rob Bierregaard and Michele Goodman. The APWS board meeting was held later telephonically.

2018 Montreal and Quebec Canada was the convention destination for 2018, September 30 – October 5. We were hosted by Clement Page and Jean Bourassa. 27 people attended. It was a full, fantastic visit and the full account is in APWS magazine Issue 1 2020. We visited the Ecomuseum Urban Zoological Park, the Montreal Botanical Gardens, the Parc Safari,  L’Orpailleur Vineyard, Old Quebec City, Montmorency Falls, Chouette-a-Voir (bird of prey rehabilitation facility) and Ferme Cariphael, Educational Farm.  We visited the collections of Clement Page, Yanick Bolduc, Alain Dubois and Jean Bourassa. At the farewell dinner Outstanding Service Service Awards to Aviculture were presented to Clement Page and Jean Bourassa. Jim Bleuer was presented with an Appreciation Award for his five years as APWS President. Lisa Tate began as editor of the magazine. Offficers elected were: President– Eugene Goss, Vice-President-Janet Trader, Treasurer– ET Trader and Secretary– Gloria Rossow. Jim Bleuer and Bernie Jager were elected to the Executive Board. Another great Convention that will be long remembered.

2019 The year began with a surprise donation by Dr Jim Shapiro of the University of Manitoba. He was retiring and donated his Avian Behavior Laboratory equipment to APWS. Funds raised from the auction of equipment went to APWS. This year’s Convention was held in Florida November 6-12, later than usual to minimize the hurricane threat. It was hosted by Gene and Cathy Goss. An article is in APWS magazine Issue 3 2020. Among the sights were Gatorland, Giraffe Ranch, Brevard Zoo and Miami Zoo. We viewed the collections of Gene and Cathy Goss, Jason Shane and Stuart and Sylvia Denton. We also had a day with 6 speakers on a variety of topics. At the Awards Banquet, Janet Trader was awarded a plaque for her 20 years of service organizing our conventions. Offficers elected were: President– Eugene Goss, Vice-President-Janet Trader, Treasurer– ET Trader and Secretary– Gloria Rossow. Jim Bleuer and Bernie Jager were elected to the Executive Board.

2020 Sadly, the Convention planned for Minnesota was cancelled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The board utilized Zoom for meetings. A survey of member preferences for future conventions was performed using Survey Monkey and telephone contact. A remote auction of books was done using the APWS magazine with bidding done by email or phone. The photo contest was held. Charles Sivelle Scholarship was awarded to Joseph Nikko Curti.