I am so very thankful and humbled every time I walk into the new National Headquarters office of Quail Unlimited in Albany, Georgia. Every member owes Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and the Phoebe Foundation a huge "Thank you." I hope everyone will take the opportunity to view the pictures of our new office on the QU website. (click here to see photos.) We have been given this building to use for two years while we are raising the funds necessary to build the permanent headquarters building on the eight-acre site donated by Phoebe at the Potter's Community Center location in Albany. However, the words "Thank you" do not come even close to expressing how I feel about Phoebe, and I am certain that I speak for all the members of QU. It is a privilege to this office and work for QU every day. I will continue to give all that I possibly can to this organization and its membership while carrying forth the mission of QU.

As most of you are aware, QU has been struggling financially for quite some time. We are still very financially challenged, but we should all be proud of the recovery efforts and our accomplishments over the last year. We have reduced the vendor debt that was incurred by others by over half. We will continue to pay back and support our great network of chapters as well. We have already reduced our chapter pay back by two-thirds.

We held a successful Conservation Hunt Event in Albany again this year. We have partnered with SCI Foundation to host the first ever annual EPIC Game Fair event. It will be held outside of Atlanta, Georgia, at the incredibly beautiful Fox Hall Resort the last weekend of September 2011.

QU is alive; however, we need the support of every member at this time, more than ever. We will be successful in our recovery with the support of the QU membership and our chapters, as well as the Phoebe Foundation and the Albany leadership. QU has a real opportunity to achieve goals that otherwise may not have been attainable.

Our youth deserve to be left with a strong and stable organization. I strongly suspect they will be the ones to help us reach our quail habitat goals and even exceed what we hope to accomplish. What a great legacy this could be. Please join with me and other QU members as we strive to reach these goals. When you support Quail Unlimited, you are supporting our youth, the future of hunting. I encourage everyone to be a part of what is happening through QU. Don't just talk about it; get involved. Let's share the great outdoors with the next generation through education and experience.

The great QU staff is working very hard, as we are all dedicated to restoring QU to the level of respect it so deserves. Again, I ask you to please join us in our efforts as we promote habitat practices that benefit quail as well as programs that support our membership and youth. We are here to help in every way, and we would like to hear your voice. We would also appreciate your time and service on habitat projects and youth events. Remember, I am here and available to promote the mission of QU, serve our membership, and insure a hunting legacy for the youth of our country.

Jon B. Calhoun,
jcalhoun@qu.org
CELL (423) 303-0640

Wes Coltrane,
wcoltrane@qu.org
CELL (252) 241-8377 • PH/FAX (252) 430-1224

Tommy Dean,
tdean@qu.org
CELL (803) 640-9976

Dick Haldeman,
dhaldeman@qu.org
(951) 767-3435 • FAX (951) 767-2716 CELL (951) 218-8818

David Howell,
dhowell@qu.org
(812) 536-2272 • FAX (812) 536-3159 CELL (812) 455-5256

I want to thank you for your past support of Quail Unlimited. It is going to take all of us working together as we reorganize and reshape Quail Unlimited for the future; and let me say, I grow more optimistic about our future with each passing day. Remember, you can contact me at bbowles@qu.org or by phone at
(229) 347-0698 at any time.We're in this together!

Sincerest regards,

Bill Bowles
President

Quail Unlimited's, previous newsletters and letters from the President listed below.

An Amazing Summer:
Changes at Quail Unlimited Headquarters:
Spring 2010 Newsletter
2010 February Letter from the President