Saint Paul, Minn. – April 7, 2008 – Nearly 40 Minnesota financial advisors, accountants and insurance agents have formed the first chapter of Pheasants Forever (PF) constituted specifically for financial professionals. Based out of the Twin Cites metro area, the new chapter will be known as the MN Financial Advisor Chapter of PF.
The chapter is led by Anthony Kosobud, a native North Dakotan, lifelong hunter and a current Regional Sales Manager for a large insurance company based in the United States, who hails from a family of bankers from the Dakotas. “Whether it’s taking clients hunting or discussing legacy planning, financial advisors have a vested interest in Pheasants Forever’s mission,” Kosobud said, “This new chapter will be a blending of our craft and conservation.” A father of three, Kosobud said he and the other inaugural chapter members also hope to cultivate outdoor interest in their own children and other youth. “I see too many kids not wanting to get outdoors, and we need to change that,” he said.
The MN Financial Advisor chapter is the second non-traditional PF chapter to form, joining the Twin Cites-based North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters chapter – the first union chapter of PF – that formed last October. The MN Financial Advisor chapter will operate like any PF chapter, but focus on attracting members with similar career backgrounds as opposed to geographic location. PF applies a unique and successful model of empowering chapters with the responsibility to determine how 100% of their locally raised conservation funds will be spent. PF is the only national conservation organization to employ this unique locally-driven chapter model.
“The MN Financial Advisor chapter is a prime example of how groups can find creative ways to benefit habitat and wildlife,” said Eran Sandquist, PF Regional Wildlife Biologist for northern Minnesota, “With conservation and our outdoor heritage facing new challenges every day, there’s never been a greater need for people to align themselves with Pheasants Forever’s mission. Hopefully, other groups, associations and companies will follow the MN Financial Advisor chapter’s lead in taking unique approaches to conservation.”
The MN Financial Advisor Chapter of PF will hold its next meeting on Friday, May 2nd at Mancini’s in Saint Paul. Meeting time is 7 PM. The public and media are invited to attend. For more information about the chapter and the upcoming meeting, contact Anthony Kosobud, who resides in Maple Grove, MN, at (952)270-4900 or via email at akosobud@aol.com.
For more information on PF in Minnesota, to start a chapter or join an existing chapter, contact Eran Sandquist (northern Minnesota) at (320)236-7755 or via email at esandquist@pheasantsforever.org; or contact Scott Roemhildt (southern Minnesota) at (507)327-9785 or via email at SRoemhildt@pheasantsforever.org.
Since its first project in 1984, Minnesota’s 74 PF chapters and one Quail Forever (QF) chapter (PF’s quail division) and 23,000 PF/QF members have completed over 21,500 projects affecting more than 184,000 acres of wildlife habitat. In fact, Minnesota PF chapters have spent more than $33.7 million on habitat and conservation education in the state.
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. PF/QF has more than 120,000 members in 700 local chapters across the continent.
