It has been said that "the only thing constant is change." We at the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) are experiencing that truism firsthand. As reported in last month's "Outdoor News Bulletin," WMI is entering a new era. Although it has undergone a number of name changes since its inception in 1911, its mission has remained consistent. The biggest differences between the previous WMI and its new status are the source of funding for operation and administrative affairs and the composition of the Board of Directors. In the past, major sporting firearms and ammunition manufacturers provided the primary source of funds for WMI. This fiscal year, WMI is generating its own funding through contracts, grants and donations. As we operate within this new and, for WMI, unique business model, the Institute will retain its independent, nonprofit, corporate status.

WMI officers are working to assemble a new Board of Directors, which will represent major contributors to the conservation profession. The new Board members will include representatives from state and/or federal resource agencies, academia, conservation organizations, business and industry, and private individuals, all of whom are dedicated to science-based, professional, wildlife resource management. Three members of the former Board will remain, and we welcome their continued involvement. The new and more diverse Board of Directors will provide oversight and guidance for WMI.

Due to fiscal constraints, WMI must streamline administrative staff and headquarters operations. We will continue to maintain an active presence in Washington, DC, primarily through efforts of the President and Executive Vice President, as well as WMI's regional field representatives with expertise in particular resource policy issues. WMI staff will continue to remain engaged and visible in the continent's most pressing natural resource policy issues. Due to advances in communication and computer technology, WMI staff will maintain interaction with conservation partners across the continent. Field representatives will work closely with federal and state agencies, Cooperative Research Units, conservation organizations and universities within their respective regions.

Currently, much of the officers' activities is associated with creating the administrative infrastructure of an independent, nonprofit organization. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, with which WMI has long been associated, is assisting with the transition. Once separate banking, accounting and other administrative components are established, we will return our full focus on resource policy issues, science, conservation projects and administration of the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

WMI's current program portfolio includes energy development and wildlife management, climate change impacts to fish and wildlife resources, woodcock research and management, northern bobwhite quail research and management, the Conservation Leaders for Tomorrow program, the Hunting Heritage Action Plan, game bird planning, reviews of the use of science in agencies, this monthly newsletter, the North American Conference, and other partnership efforts with conservation agencies and organizations. We will continue to look for opportunities to advance the profession of resource management across the North American continent.

In order to attain firm financially footing, WMI will actively pursue donations and competitive grants from foundations and agencies in order to finance the operations and administration of the organization. We truly thank those individuals and organizations who have made financial commitments to support the work and future of WMI, and we look forward to increasing our support base in the future.

To be very sure, WMI's core values remain those of the past. We value science-based wildlife management and policy decisions, conservation leadership, partnership and consensus building, North America's hunting heritage, sustainable wildlife populations and the habitats on which they depend, and restoration of balance to conservation efforts. Most of all, we value the many partners-agencies, organizations, industry, academicians, and others-who assume the responsibility for conserving the continent's fish and wildlife resources and for enabling professional management in the best interest of those resources, the landscape and society.

Although the organization's transition is complicated, time consuming and somewhat distracting from pressing resource issues, the long-term benefits of the investment will outweigh the short-term costs. WMI will continue its dedication to the restoration and enhancement of wildlife populations and their habitats and, through science, to promote conservation and professional management of wildlife resources. In time and as resources permit, we plan to rebuild our staffing levels to work most effectively with our conservation partners to meet the challenges associated with managing wildlife in an ever-changing world. For now, we are focused on effecting WMI's transition and on new or renewed strategies to address prevailing conservation issues.

We sincerely thank everyone who has expressed support for the WMI mission, staff and organization. Finally, we look forward to productive and continuing partnerships with all members of the conservation community. (saw)