Welcome to SCI Tampa

Hello All,

October marks the opening of many bird seasons up north. It's hard to believe, but in south Florida archery season is now in full season, and hunting up north is just about in full swing. Before you know it, many of us will be seriously planning our hunts here in Florida or making final arrangements for our fall hunts in other states.

It has been a busy summer for me regarding the chapter. On June 29th all seven of the Florida Chapters got together in Orlando, Florida for a training and meeting. Our Chapter Services Specialist, Bill Burton, conducted the training and afterwards we all agreed to form a coalition of the Florida chapters. Our goals are to give Safari Club International and the Florida chapters a greater voice with the Florida Wildlife Commission with regard to hunting issues facing the state. Many of the chapter presidents, including myself, again met in August in Nashville, Tennessee at the final board meeting of this year. We will meet again at the convention in Reno, Nevada in February of next year. As the coalition moves forward I'll keep you informed as to what we are doing.

Also,in September I met with an organization here in West Central Florida. My wife is personal friends with one of the founding doctors - Dr. Vilma Vega, MD. We are working on a proposal for next year for a couple of Blue Bags for a new hospital they are opening in Africa.

Here is link to the facebook page about the meeting - https://m.facebook.com/heartsafire.us/photos/a.10151843295398889/10157049723628889/?type=3&source=48. 

One of the missions of the chapter is our humanitarian work and Hearts Afire and the Blue Bag program fits into the mission perfectly.

I am hoping as this moves forward to involve the Chapter in some of their charity work, and have Dr. Vega give a presentation on the foundation at one of our monthly dinners.

For Michele and I - our travels for SCI for the year are over. Now we turn our attention to the chapter's October dinner at Bass Pro Shops - Thursday October 17, and December annual Christmas dinner, which this year is hosted by Tom and Diane Peterson December 12.

Please mark your calendars, as next year's "Night of the Hunter" Banquet which will return to Banquet Masters in Clearwater, but at a new date - February 22, 2020. Once again we are going to hold our banquet earlier next year so as to not interfere with spring hunting and the beginning of safari season. And, next year our banquet will be just after convention. 

For those that haven't heard, Safari Club International changed the date of the 2020 convention to better serve the attendees and vendors. The new dates are February 5-8 2020 in Reno Nevada

Why Safari Club International

 "No matter what your pursuit, or where your travels take you to hunt, Safari Club International is there fighting for your right to hunt. Come joins us and help support Safari Club International and your local chapter."

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Thanks for your support, see you at our events

SCI, First for Hunting. 

Jimmy Moreland, 

Chapter President

 Frank Ball
​Kent Dils
Brian Dorion
Chuck Elzer
Clark Hunt
Gerald Keller
Jimmy Moreland
Michele Moreland
​Mary Lynn West

The Safari Club International (SCI) Mission Statement is to Protect and Preserve our hunting heritage through wildlife conservation, education, legislative, and humanitarian efforts.  The SCI uses the following programs to achieve this end:

• Teacher Education
  
• Youth Hunter Education
  
• Sportsmen Against Hunger - Feeding the Less Fortunate
  
• Sensory Safari for the Blind
  
• Wounded Warrior Programs
  
• Safari Care - Meeting Humanitarian Needs through books, medical supplies, and personal items

• To conduct myself in the field so as to make a positive contribution to wildlife and ecosystems
  
• To improve my skills as a woodsman and marksman to ensure humane harvesting of wildlife
  
• To comply with all game laws, in the spirit of fair chase, and to influence my companions accordingly
  
• To accept my responsibility to provide all assistance to game law enforcement officers
  
• To waste no opportunity to teach young people the full meaning of this code of ethics.
  
• To reflect in word and deed only credit upon the fraternity of sportsmen
  
• To demonstrate abiding respect for game and property, where I am privileged to hunt