#Throwback
- graysfeist
- Jul 13, 2020
- 2 min read
For a couple years between 2011-2013 I worked for Safari Club International Foundation as the Coordinator of Science-Based Conservation Programs. I was one of two biologists that provided administrative and scientific oversight for 60 concurrent projects in 24 countries. Managing the grant program, I would provide the initial review for applications and present proposals to the Conservation Committee made up of SCI members - an organization at the time of 50,000 in 190 Chapters. I wrote monthly Conserve Now! articles for the Safari Times newspaper distributed to the membership and attended international wildlife management symposia. I regularly interacted with PI's implementing research and management projects globally. During my tenure, we began the First For Wildlife blog where the article below appeared. I published numerous posts on it, both under my own name and as the organization highlighting work we supported financially and fundraising opportunities. One major revenue source I oversaw was the Conservation Auction Tag sales which generated over $200,000 annually for the mission. I was part of the team that raised $1.3 million in one night for African Lion research. We had projects with every large mammal you can think of worldwide which provided interesting and fulfilling activities at national level conferences like the Association of Fish & Wildlife (AFWA) and others.
For nearly 5 years I served as the Chair of both the Conservation & Communications Committees for the Venator Foundation as it transitioned to become a Chapter of Dallas Safari Club, DSC Northeast. Our Call2Adventure! banquet raised $100,000 annually and supported moose research, anti-poaching and more.
In 2017, I gave a guest lecture to the Rutgers University Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society about that experience. Other such speaking engagements have taken place at Hampden-Sydney and Unity College covering unconventional career options for natural resources students.
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