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Elk Country Chapter holds annual banquet |
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Written by Publisher
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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
 During the banquet, Rawley Cogan gave a presentation detailing the proposed Pennsylvania Wilds Elk Country Visitors Center.
By Becky Polaski
The Elk Country Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation held its annual banquet on Saturday, Mar. 1 at the Royal Inn in Ridgway. Approximately 180 individuals attended the banquet.
“Every banquet is successful because it brings out all of these people that have a strong passion for wildlife conservation and supporting the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation,” added Lana Cogan. “Any time we can bring a group together like that is a wonderful thing.”
Doors opened at 1 p.m. for the event and a buffet dinner was served starting at 5 p.m.
During the evening program, Rawley Cogan recognized all of the Habitat Partners involved with the Foundation and then gave a presentation about the proposed Pennsylvania Wilds Elk Country Visitors Center. The 245 acre property where the Center will be located is the former site of the Betta Christmas Tree Farm.
Cogan explained that while agriculture is the number one industry in the state, ecotourism is the state’s fastest growing industry.
“We are well positioned to take advantage of the ecotourism dollars coming into our area,” said Cogan. “There are 46 million people that live within a six hour drive of Benezette. We can’t have all 46 million people show up, but we’d like to have a subset of those people show up so we can share with them what we’ve got here in this state.”
Cogan also stated that following last year’s banquet a series of workshops were held with a variety of area individuals to gather information about what people wanted to see at the new Visitors Center. All of the input provided will be used to help make the new Center an exciting area attraction where individuals can go to learn about not only the elk but other animals and their habitats as well.
According to Cogan, the Visitors Center will also contain a strong conservation message.
“We want to have a good conservation message in the Visitors Center so that if people don’t see an elk, they’re still getting that message,” explained Cogan. “We went them to be excited, even though they did not see a live elk, that they have a reason to come back here.”
Students from the Helping Hands for Habitat Club were also on hand assisting at the banquet.
Also on display was Pennsylvania’s Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s $1 Million Award Trophy, which is passed among Pennsylvania Chapters as they reach the $1 million mark.
“Since the founding of our Chapter sixteen years ago, as much money and revenue brought in at the banquets has totaled to $1 million,” explained Cody Cogan. “Last year we broke the $1 million mark and there are only four Chapters in Pennsylvania that have done that.”
In addition to the Elk Country Chapter, other Pennsylvania Chapters that have raised over $1 million include the Three Rivers Chapter, which has raised over $2 million, Delaware Valley Chapter, and Northwest PA Chapter.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 March 2008 )
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