10th Annual Rally Wrap

The 10th Annual Rally was a huge success!

We had 35 bikes and 45 people show up for the rally.  Over $2,800 was raised for the museum and has brought our running total to over $23,000 raised in the past ten years.
Friday night we met at the Dockside and enjoyed a good meal.  There was some socializing that took place back at the campground and I'm sure the same took place at the hotel.
A big thanks to Lynn McClamroch and his Mizzurah crew for designing and delivering the 10th Annual rally t-shirts!  These are very nice shirts and I know I will treasure mine.  50 had been ordered and we were able to sell all of them.
Saturday we met at the museum for our meeting.  A big thank you to Museum manager, Zarah.  There were signs out front welcoming us, a special Wardens on Wheels cake, coffee and she also donated the cigars that we raffled off.

Paul Hopkins and myself were each given a plaque of appreciation for our years of dedication to the rally.  We were both surprised and honored by the plaques.  Our thanks to our fellow riders for this thoughtfulness!

We were able to complete a loop through ND for the Heather Nadolski Memorial poker run and wind up back at the cook shelter, where the Game Warden Museum executive provided us with supper. Thank you!
I had forgotten to bring the banner to the museum but we did get the new officers attending to sign it at the picnic shelter.  However, we did not get a group photo done with the banner so everyone will have to attend again next year and get their picture taken!
We raffled off two customs knives, a couple Scheels gift cards and the cigars.
There were some very nice poker prizes up for grabs and everyone got to claim at least two items from the table.  I plan to make use of my new turkey call and I did wear my Wisconsin toque one night on my extended trip out west after the rally.

We had secured some additional Scheels gift cards that were awarded to the oldest and youngest riders, the person having ridden the farthest to get to the rally and the person riding the oldest bike.(which came down to a coin toss)

Last year's rally has come to be known as the Moons over Metigoshe rally.  This year, it's known as the Coons of Metigoshe rally.  Ask Doug Olson about his encounter if you haven't heard the story!

We had riders from SK, MB, ND, MN, WI, KS, MO, TX and GA that attended.

I'm hopeful that even though next year won't be a milestone year for the rally, that people enjoyed themselves and will plan to attend again.

Thank you to everyone that helped out with the rally, from adding up the funds, dealing cards, selling raffle cards, reserving the campground and picnic shelter and planning the poker run.

The attached video was produced by the ND Fish and Game Department.

See you in 2017

Rob Grainger




 

Update for 10th Annual

Fellow Riders.

We're about three weeks away from the 10th Annual rally and it's shaping up to be our largest ever!
Event t-shirts have been picked up and will be available for $15 US at the rally.

Those that are planning to join the campers at Lake Metigoshe State park should contact Susan Tratebas at 701-263-4651 and grab one of the reserved sites in North Hill tent area.  If the sites are all gone, North Star tent area is right next to North Hill.

Those that are looking for a hotel should contact the Quilt Inn.  (701) 263-6500.  A block of rooms were reserved for Wardens on Wheels.
Alternate hotels in Bottineau are:

Norway House Motel & Restaurant      701-228-3737

Super 8    701-228-2125

Cobblestone Inn & Suites  701-534-2121

On Friday evening we will be meeting for supper at the Dockside restaurant at 7:00 PM CST.  There is a buffet available or folks can order off the menu.  They will do their best to seat us in a group but we may have to spread out as needed.  There is motorcycle parking available on the concrete at the front of the building.

Attached map:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=1-9ufR9adQB3NfJl1DZewGFqWFJc 

On Saturday morning we will be meeting at The North American Game Warden Museum located in the International Peace Gardens at 10:30 AM CST.  If you have never been to the Peace Gardens before, it would be worth your while to pay admission and take in the gardens.  If you are just coming for the meeting, come early to check the museum and buy your souvenirs.

We will not be crossing into Canada but we will have to clear US Customs when we leave the Peace Gardens.  Passports would be useful but I don't think would be a necessity for US residents.

Our Poker run will take us to the Skydancer Casino for lunch.  Eat quick, gamble hard and maybe you can win enough to pay for your trip.

As in past years, we ask for riders to bring a prize for the poker run.  Best hand gets first pick and we work our way through the hands until all the prizes are claimed.

A friend of mine has made the knife pictured at the start of this post and we are going to sell 1/2 a playing card for $5.00 to get you a chance to win the knife.  No limit on the number of cards you wish to buy.

When we get back to the State Park we have supper provided by the Game Warden Museum executive.  Riders will have to pay the entry fee for the park.  This is where we will award the poker prizes and draw for the knife.  Bring your refreshment of choice and we will get a fire going to sit around.

Over the last 9 years we have raised over $20,000 for the Game Warden Museum and we'd like to continue to add to this total.  Please try to gather a few, tax deductible, donations for the rally.  I think if you copy and paste the attached pledge form into Word it should print off for you.

10^th  Annual

WARDENS ON WHEELS

AUGUST 13, 2016

 The North American Game Warden Museum

 International Peace Gardens

On this date, Wildlife, Fisheries and Environmental Officers from across North America will be collecting pledges in support of The Game Warden Museum and riding their motorcycles to the Game Warden Museum site located at the International Peace Gardens located on the Manitoba and North Dakota border.

All proceeds from this event will be donated to the Game Warden Museum in order to support final phase construction at the site.

Full Name of Supporter	Mailing Address (needed if receipt requested)	Amount Pledged	Receipt? (Y/N)

Your donation is considered tax-deductible as defined by Canadian and US charitable contribution guidelines

Pledge Sheet

Full Name of Supporter	Mailing Address (needed if receipt requested)	Amount Pledged	Receipt (Y/N)?

Your donation is considered tax-deductable as defined by Canadian and US charitable contribution guidelines

That's all I can think of for now.  If you have questions please contact me at:

rob.grainger@gov.sk.ca

or 306-825-6430 W or 306-825-2893 H

Just a quick update.
Reservations can now be made for the camping at Lake Metigoshe.




**** Doug Olson has provided additional info on reserving a site in North Hill campground.

I just spoke with Susan Tratebas from Lake Metigoshe State Park.  She stated they will be holding all the tent sites on North Hill Tenting area for the nights of August 12 & 13.  If you would like to reserve one contact her directly at (701) 263-4651.

Doug Olson

Region III Warden Supervisor

406 Dakota Ave.

Riverdale, ND 58565

(701) 654-7475  Fax (701) 654-7503

http://www.parkrec.nd.gov/information/parks/reservations.html


I've gotten a head count of about 30 riders so far.  Once a t-shirt order is ready to be placed I will provide direction on how to send payment and size requests.

Hi Guys and Gals

          The geese are back and the snow is melting fast.  Thoughts are shifting to the bikes that have sat dormant for six months.
           This year is going to be the 10th Annual Wardens on Wheels rally and I'm hoping it will be our biggest and best ever.  I need some help from the riders.  We have a few things in the planning stages and I need to determine the number of riders that will be attending.  There is a good chance that we can have the Saturday supper taken care for us and the Missouri crew are working on a 10th Annual t-shirt order.
            Could you please let me know if you are planning to attend the rally.  If there will be a group of riders coming together, could one of you let me know the numbers and let the others in your group know that you have responded?  How many people would be interested in purchasing a t-shirt?  We are hoping to get costs down to the $20 range or lower.  As was discussed and passed last year, we have $300 CDN that will be used to keep the price down.
             Once we get some numbers I can let you know a price for the shirts and can arrange the meals for Friday and Saturday nights.

              I know that things will change between now and rally time, but if you have plans to attend please let me know.

Thanks,
Rob

rob.grainger@gov.sk.ca