The New York Conservation Officers Association has a long tradition of supporting the work and mission of our State's Conservation Police Officers.
Since 1986 our Association has strived to advance the core ideas of natural resource protection through education. Over the last 20 years, our Association has raised thousands of dollars to support this mission. Each year we support dozens of local fishing derbies throughout the state. On Long Island, the Association has partnered with local hunting clubs to sponsor a youth waterfowl education class. Through our efforts, hundreds of young hunters have been introduced to the tradition of waterfowl hunting on Long Island's salt marshes.
The Association, in partnership with the New York State DEC and Shikar Safari International, has developed and supported our "EAGLES" environmental education program. This program offers a comprehensive environmental education curriculum, presented by a Conservation Police Officer, to 4th and 5th grade school children.
Our association was instrumental in establishing the "Turn in Poachers and Polluters" (TIPP) hotline. The 1-800- TIPP DEC hotline maintains an anonymous call line where individuals can safely report environmental or wildlife crimes. Dozens of children have been able to attend DEC summer camps as a result of our Association's financial sponsorship. In addition to these valuable programs, our Association has established and funds five college scholarships for students pursuing a natural resource curriculum at various universities. These are just a few examples of your Association's efforts. Through your support we can continue this beneficial work.
Along with all these worthy programs, the Association is also committed to promoting New York's outdoor heritage. As Conservation Officers, we will have many opportunities in our careers to talk with a family on their first boating trip or to help a young girl bait her first fishing hook. I urge each and every one of you to seek out these opportunities. We will have the honor of meeting fathers with their sons and grandsons on their annual hunting trip. I would like to remind you to treat these people with care and kindness, for our hunting tradition is as fragile as our wildlife. As Conservation Officers, you can provide a positive influence on those that utilize the State's bountiful natural resources by attending the meetings of your County federations and local hunting clubs.
I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our families. When we choose this profession, we also committed our families to living this career along side us. Take the opportunity to thank them everyday for allowing us this privilege.
Along with the support of our families, the one thing that will remain constant throughout our careers is the support of our fellow Conservation officers and retired members. That support and camaraderie is at the heart of our Conservation Officers Association. Our annual convention gives you an opportunity to renew old Academy friendships or catch up with past patrol partners and retired Conservation Officers. Our annual raffle and auction raises money for our use at fishing derbies, pays to send kids to the DEC summer camps and sponsors our college scholarships. In times of trouble, our Association Relief Fund is there to help members in need.
John James Audubon said of the Passenger Pigeon: "When a [Passenger] Pigeon is seen gliding through the woods and close to the observer, it passes like a thought, and on trying to see it again, the eye searches in vain; the bird is gone."
NYCOA is there to help ensure that the State's wildlife and natural places do not "pass like a thought" from existence, but are conserved for our children. The Association is there to support you in these efforts.
