Post-Summit Web Page Takes Shape

Idaho Fish and Game has begun to add video segments of the recent Idaho Wildlife Summit to its website. The Summit, August 24-26, was truly a watershed event for wildlife conservation and public participation in Idaho. Several hundred people participated directly, and 3,000 people from across the country and around the world watched and participated on-line. The entire event was recorded, and videos of guest speakers will be posted on the Fish and Game website as they become available at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/about/?getPage=320. The first is a presentation by Shane Mahoney of Newfoundland, Canada. Mahoney is a biologist and writer and is widely known internationally as a lecturer on environmental and resource conservation issues. In this video he speaks about the importance of people working together for wildlife conservation. It will be followed soon by Jim Posewitz's presentation of the lessons from the history of the conservation movement. Posewitz, of Montana, is the founder of Orion, The Hunters Institute and a nationally known speaker. The entire three-day event was recorded. Over the next few days and weeks, staff members will be poring over more than 20 hours of video recordings, reading reams of poster paper and combing through hundreds of poll responses. Additional video will be available on the Fish and Game website as soon as they are transferred into an online format and arranged into sections by presentations and activities, such as individual speakers and the "Idaho CafŽ" group discussion session. Staff members are sorting and summarizing comments received during the Idaho CafŽ session, various "Trading Posts" and the results from the "Fishing Polls." Stay tuned for more of what Fish and Game learned about Idahoans' attitudes about wildlife, and about Fish and Game. And perhaps more important, what Fish and Game plans to do next. Results will be made available on the Fish and Game website and through media outlets.