WILLIAM SCHWERD CHOSEN FOR THE NYSOWA M. PAUL KEESLER CITIZEN 2010 AWARD

Schwerd is Executive Director Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County / 4H NYS Shooting Sports Coordinator
For almost four decades Bill has dedicated his life, both professionally and private, to the promotion and education of all aspects of the outdoors; and in this position he has to be considered as one of the founding fathers and driving forces
in all aspects of the state’s sportsman and conservation education programs. In
addition to these skills and initiatives he continues to be very active in any issues, regulations and legislation that will affect the shooting sports and/or outdoors. Under his direction he hosts the annual Sportsman Educator Workshop which
attracts instructors from all corners of New York State. And as a Master Instructor himself, he directs and oversees hunter safety programs and issued over 1000 hunter safety certificates in Saratoga County alone last year. And considering he has been issuing these certificates for 35 years his shooting and conservation instructions has touched the lives of many who are enjoying the outdoor and shooting sports today . In fact, a number of those whom he instructed, are now instructors and carrying on the tradition themselves
Bill’s leadership has also touched and aided other professional conservation
organizations as well. These include being a member of the board of directors for the Friends of Fish and Wildlife that raised funds for the Division of Fish and
Wildlife’s centennial year celebration. And he was also a driving force in the development of the Becoming an Outdoor Family Program in both NYS and Vermont. Other leadership roles Bill has voluntarily undertaken in the past include the American Wildlife Conservation Foundation where during his tenure he presented conservation seminars on chronic wasting disease in whitetail deer and also on invasive species concerning Oneida Lake.
Always willing to volunteer to help in any conservation effort, Bill has also been on the Saratoga County Cooperative Extension steering committee for the development of the Capital/Mohawk Partnership in Regional Invasive Species Management that promoted invasive species management.
Perhaps the best way to show Bill’s eligibility and worthiness of this prestigious award is to list SOME of his previous recognitions.
1. 2009 induction into the NYS Outdoorsman Hall of Fame
2. Outstanding Conservationist of the Year - NY Chapter of Wildlife Society

NEW YORK STATE OUTDOOR WRITERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WRITING, PHOTO AWARDS

Webster, N.Y.—Professional communicators from across New York State, ranging from veteran pros to a high-school student, took honors in the annual Excellence in Craft Writing Awards and the Janice M. Keesler Memorial Photo Competition, announced at the annual conference of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association (NYSOWA), held in Webster, N.Y.
Panels of judges from outside the organization scored the entries, which were presented to the judges anonymously.
“The judges of the writing competition ranged from a teacher to a writer to an avid reader,” said Leon Archer of Fulton, N.Y., who chaired the Excellence in Craft Competition Committee. “Despite the different disciplines they represented, their scores for the winners were quite consistent.”
The cream, it seems, rose to the top. Perhaps the most surprising winner was Richard Demarte of White Plains, N.Y. His article, “Giving Back: Investing in the present and the future,” in Nor’east Saltwater Magazine, July 2009,” took first place in the Magazine Feature category. The surprise is in the fact that Demarte is a student at White Plains High School.
Other first place prize winners in the writing competition were Angelo Peluso of Port Jefferson, N.Y., for his Magazine Column, “The Salmon of Knowledge,” in Fish Alaska Magazine; Glenn Sapir of Putnam Valley, N.Y., for his Newspaper Column, “Big Game Hunt in Newfoundland Yields a Wiser Perspective,” in The Journal News; Mike Lynch of Saranac, N.Y., for his Newspaper Feature, “Fran, the White House Is on the Phone,” in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise; and Leo Maloney of Sherrill, N.Y., for his Online Entry, “Lessons Learned on a Small Trout Stream,” at Fish NY.com.
Three highly respected New York photographers from outside NYSOWA judged anonymously presented photographs in five categories. Two members shone as first-place winners in two categories. Dan Ladd of West Fort Ann, N.Y., finished on top in the Hunting & Fishing and Outdoor Recreation categories; Zeno Hromin of Westbury, N.Y., took first in both the Outdoor Scenic and Published Photography categories. Leo Maloney of Sherrill, N.Y., took first place in the Wildlife category.
First-place winners in both competitions received handsome duck decoy awards. Second- and third-place finishers received cash awards.