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Starting a New QDMA Branch
The initial step in organizing a new QDMA Branch is to contact your respective QDMA Regional Director. He will discuss the simply, straight-forward, no-cost process that begins with inviting potentially interested people in your community to a centralized facility (such as restaurant’s backroom, community center, fire hall, etc.) to discuss the issues of deer management in your area and what a QDMA Branch could do to address these and other needs.
Questions that typically arise at this meeting may include:
- What is the general belief about QDM in the local area?
Discuss with those in attendance.
- What can a local Branch do to help educate our fellow hunters and land managers?
Discuss this as well.
- What unfulfilled conservation needs exist in our community that a new Branch could help meet?
These could include supporting local Hunter Education classes, paying for venison processing for underprivileged families, purchasing special equipment for local conservation officers to curb poaching, awarding educational scholarships for graduating high school seniors, planting wildlife food plots on public hunting areas, and others.
- What is required of the new Branch by QDMA?
A Branch must annually hold at least one educational event and one major fundraiser. Most Branches hold several small and large educational events and a large fundraising event, which is usually a banquet.
- After a successful fundraising event, where does the money go?
The Branch itself retains 30-40 %, depending on the overall amount netted from the fundraiser, with the reminder being utilized to carry out QDMA’s national REACH programs, State Chapter needs, and regional services. The Branch wholly controls the spending of their percentage, addressing local conservation needs they deem appropriate.
- What should our new Branch be named?
This is usually a geographic-specific name.
- Who will step up and assume the leadership positions within the new Branch?
A Board of Directors is needed, with the primary positions being that of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
- How often does a Branch need to meet?
As a general rule, quarterly. However your Branch may have a desire and/or a need to meet more often, which is fine.
- What guidelines must a Branch operate under?
After the submission of a signed Branch charter that is provided by the attending Regional Director, the Branch will be sent a QDMA Branch Manual from the QDMA National Office. This Manual covers essentially all of the operational, educational, and fundraising guidelines for a Branch. Your QDMA Regional Director is always available to help answer your questions as well.
If you are interested in forming a new QDMA Branch in your area, please contact your respective QDMA Regional Director:
QDMA Regional Directors
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Quality Deer
Management Association
PO Box 160
Bogart, GA 30622
1-800-209-DEER (3337)
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