KAMO – February, 2026 Newsletter – pages –
For comments related to this document, contact Mike

President?s message – This is KAMO President Mark Walters with my monthly portion of the Newsletter.
Please take a kid turkey hunting during this year’s Youth Turkey Hunt if you can. I do it every year and I have to admit I have as much fun as the young hunter that I take.
On Saturday, March 28th we will be having our annual state meeting at Stevens Point from 9 to about 3.I know that I always say this, but this year we really need members from every chapter present.We have to figure out how to find a new president as after
extending my resignation from February 1st to May 1st that will be it for Mark Walters as Kids And Mentors Outdoors President. Being President or should I say “Ambassador” of KAMO has been a positive and rewarding way of life for me since February of 2007.
There is not a day that KAMO is not a part of my thought pattern, in any multichapter organization there is good and not so good, that is just a part of life. The good makes me feel like a quarterback on a winning football team, the not so good costs me a lot
of sleep.
We have put an excellent management team together and the Presidents task, at least in my thoughts is positive delegation, making sure the finances are good, getting to know your members, replying to and creating communication ect. ect.
I have every intention of remaining an active mentor as I was long before I came up with the idea to start KAMO and I am willing to be on the BOD or just take a break and let the new management find their own legs.
I split my time between the Baraboo River Chapter and Meadow Valley with most going to Baraboo River and I look at KAMO as one of the top accomplishments for myself as a person in my life.
In closing, this year there is a pretty darn close vote for the annual “Presidents Award” which is given out each year at the state meeting. That vote will be concluded on March 14th so the folks that make the plaque have time to do it. Send me a text, call or send an email, the recipient always has a huge smile when they get it.
As always, thank you for all that you do for KAMO.

Mark

State Convention – The Schmeeklee Reserve meeting room (Stevens Point) has been reserved for our use on Saturday, March 28th. The meeting begins at 9. Potential topics of that day: State President replacement, Yellow River Chapter dissolution, Facebook progress, summer camp, President?s award, need for someone to periodically talk to our insurance agent, CWD testing – MacKenzie hunt, fund raising for 2026. If you wish to see a copy of the agenda, I can forward it to you electronically.Do you have anything to add?
No KAMO apparel will be brought in unless requested.Brad Allen has offered to bring in the two kayaks, 3 totes filled with miscellaneous gear, a collection of ice fishing poles, and a box of t-shirts, all from Marshfield?s inventory. If your chapter is interested in these items, please contact Mike, so he can let Brad know to deliver the materials. A chapter wishing to take the Marshfield equipment would need to bring a trailer or pickup with an empty bed to the convention to haul them to your area. One chapter has expressed possible interest. Before the convention, we need to figure this out.

KAMO Directory –

Tax Exempt Certificate – Our Tax Exempt number was changed to a 15 digit code in 2021. Each chapter should have a copy of the letter we received from the IRS, dated 2021. We recently applied for a copy with a current date. The exempt number will remain the same. I?ll bring some copies of this updated document to the state convention. Dodge County needs the new copy sooner and will get it sent in the mail when it comes in.

StateTreasurer Requests
We need to know who the treasurer for each chapter is (directory)
We need your chapter?s financial records for 2025. These can be sent to kamocoulee@gmail.com

Mentor Recruitment – One of the most effective strategies for getting new mentors/ volunteers is to have a spring campfire meeting. Mentors would invite friends and/ or acquaintances to this informal informational meeting in which food and drink can be served while discussing what KAMO does, how rewarding it is, and that there is a need for some new people.

Tomah Warrens Sportsman’s Alliance Fishing Derby – Chapter Reports

Baraboo – The Baraboo River Chapter held our monthly meeting Monday February 9th at Rivers Edge in WI Dells. We had guests Chad R. and Greg P. from the Dodge County Chapter in attendance. Our group reported over 310 hours spent since our last meeting of getting Kids Outdoors. This included the Joe Hunt, Ice Fishing and Skiing. KAMO is needing some updated paperwork on our Non-Profit Status for Grants & Donations and Mike B. and Mark W. are in the process of getting this from the IRS. Dwaine handed out Thank You cards from the Joe Hunt with the Deer Pole pictured and all of the kids signing the back.

A lot of discussion was on upcoming changes to our Chapter. Kevin Seymour has agreed to become our Chapter Treasurer with Rick Miotke?s upcoming retirement on April 1st. AJ is also going to re-sign as V.P. but will continue to help as a Mentor when available. We reviewed ideas on how to attract more Mentors to join us and activities/promotions on getting the word out about KAMO. We talked about combining a couple Chapters in this area and will continue to include other Mentors in activities/events.

Our annual campout is set for June 26th?28th at Castle Rock County Park. Plans are underway, but we are looking for a boat to pull the kids on a tube. It has been the highlight on past campouts. Jon reported that Pheasants Forever is holding their banquet March 19th at Glacier Canyon and we are planning to park the KAMO trailer out front for some exposure during the event. Upham Woods Outdoor Center is hosting an ATV Safety course April 17th & 18th. You can sign up on the Go Wild website.

Our next meeting will be the Mentor Appreciation Meal on Monday March 9th at 7pm at Rivers Edge.

Thanks,

Coulee – Our group met on the evening of February 23rd at the Brice Prairie Conservation cabin. Much discussion and planning. One mentor took some kids to the Genoa Fish Hatchery for their kids day early in the month. Some mentors have been going ice fishing together because we have ice for now, it might not last long, and it is a good bonding experience.
We have heard from a couple in Minnesota about using their trout pond this year and a couple of us are going to go to the area, which is between Hokah and Brownsville, to see its potential.
We have been hearing from new parents every week asking to be added to our activity mailing list.

Dodge – Hello All. DCC K.A.M.O. had a slow month. The group was part of winterfest at Marsh Haven on the North end of Horicon Marsh. A Bon fire and some hiking took place and we met a few new people that sparked interest in KAMO. Our Ice fishing experts took 13 kids ice fishing and let me tell you these kids had a ball. ( see our Facebook page for pictures.) The smiles and fun on the ice made our trip a success . A new month is coming up. Hunter’s safety class is scheduled and our annual Kamo bowling event along with Get to know KAMO will be at the end of the Month. The Milwaukee sport show and Open season expo will be attended by some of our Mentors and Kids as well. State Board meeting coming up as well .

Get a Kid outside and see what happens.

Jim B.

Lake Wisconsin – This chapter reported that they had a slow month.

Meadow Valley ? This chapter will meet again in May.

Northwoods – Hello From the Northwoods!
We had a very busy last few weeks, our winter fishing outing set a record with 53 kids all catching fish on a beautiful day. The auger raffle went very well also. Mentors sold the 50/50 tickets Saturday for the 7th Keyes Peak truck drags for a $500 donation.
We are invited to set up a table for an upcoming Sportsman’s dinner in Iron Mountain, Mi on the 21st.. Judy Waite, our life long secretary, is retiring next month, she is 81 and her family started the original Hooked On Fishing group here in the 1990’s, she will definitely be missed.
I plan on attending the state meeting coming up so please send me your sponsorship plaque information with the Name of your chapter how you want it to show and how many you would like. I will bring them and invoices you can send for payment. See you all soon.

Johnny Johnson from Florence Wisconsin