Illinois Trappers Association Annual Fall Convention
Livingston County Fairgrounds, Pontiac, Illinois
September 29, 30 & October 1

Dear I.T.A. Member:
Our 2006 Convention will be held at the Livingston County Fairgrounds, Pontiac, Illinois on September 29th, 30th, and October 1st. Pontiac is located approximately 30 miles northeast of Bloomington-Normal on Interstate 55 and 60 miles southwest of Joliet. We anticipate a great turnout for this convention and invite all Illinois and area trappers to attend our convention and show their support for trapping and outdoor sports in Illinois! We need volunteers to help make this convention a success. Please contact one of the I.T.A. officers if you can help at the booth or in another capacity.

The Trapper’s Education class will be held on the Fairgrounds on Saturday, September 30th. Please call Paul Kelley, ASAP, at (309) 726-1443 to pre-register for the class so that we can determine the class size and the proper amount of teaching materials required.

A special new event this year will be the Kids’ Day on Sunday. All of the activities on Kids’ Day will be geared toward the younger set of trappers (though adults will be welcome, too!), with the goal of encouraging our youth toward efficient and ethical trapping practices…as well as having a lot of fun along the way!!!

The ITA Auction and 2nd Annual Hall of Fame Banquet will be held at 7:00 PM on Saturday, the 30th. The Hall of Fame meal will be $10/person. Please call ahead to Mike Gragert (217) 456-6121 so we have an idea of how many meals to order. Please bring something to donate to the Auction and remember that all proceeds are deposited in our Legislative Fund, so all your purchases go for a great cause!

Dealer booths will be closed from 1 PM to 3 PM on Saturday the 30th during the General Business Meeting.

Food service will be provided on the grounds and we encourage attendees to support these fine people by patronizing their concessionary. Please find enclosed your booklets of sweepstakes tickets. We have many fine prizes this year and would appreciate all your efforts to get out and sell chances on these items to help support I.T.A. programs. Additional booklets of tickets are available from the I.T.A. President, Paul Kelley (309) 726-1443. Send ticket stubs and money to Tim Kelley, 17458 Tice Rd., Petersburg, IL 62675 or bring them to the I.T.A. convention booth.

A voting ballot is available upon request by writing Paul Kelley, P.O. Box 75, Hudson, IL, 61748, or by calling at (309) 726-1443. Ballots will also be available at the I.T.A. Convention booth. We have several new names on the ballot and encourage members to vote on the ballot...it is the members who decide the makeup of our Board of Directors, so please make sure to vote!

Camping space is available on the fairgrounds for a nominal fee. Numerous motels and hotels are available in Pontiac; a partial list appears on the bottom of this notice. Make sure to reserve your rooms soon, as we expect a great turnout for this year’s convention.

BRING A FRIEND ALL FURTAKERS AND SPORTSMEN WELCOME!!!

MANY GREAT SWEEPSTAKES ITEMS

DEALERS AND TAILGATERS CONTACT NEAL GRAVES AT (309)-912-6843 FOR INFO.

COMFORT INN: (815) 842-2777 SUPER 8: (815) 844-6888 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS: (815) 844-4444

SUPPORT THE SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN OF ILLINOIS…ATTEND THE 2006 ILLINOIS TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION!!!

DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE ON THE BACK OF THIS PAGE!!! →→
Demonstration Schedule (subject to change)

FRIDAY, September 29th
7:30 AM – Noon: Dealer set-up; Building Closed to Public
12:00 Noon: Gates Open — Renew Memberships — Dealer Booths Open
2:00 PM: Doren Miller and Bob Swearingin — Trapping For Your
Financial Future
3:00 PM: Neal Graves — Rat and Coon Trapping
4:00 PM: Carroll Williams — Mink Trapping
6:00 PM: Dealer Building Closed
6:00 PM: Stay on the Fairgrounds and Visit Awhile

SATURDAY, September 30th
7:30 AM Dealer Building Opens & Registration for Trapper Ed. Class
** 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM: TRAPPER ED. CLASS **
8:00 AM: Galen Klisiewicz — Mid-to-Late Season Mink and Coon
8:45 AM: Gary Armstrong — Coon Skinning and Handling
9:30 AM: Tom Larson — Coyote Trapping
10:15 AM: Steve Balagna — Water Trapping
11:00 AM: Richard Thurman — Coyote Trapping
11:45 AM: Doren Miller — Fur Handling
12:30 PM: Lunch Break
1:00 -- 3:00 PM: ITA GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING – Dealer Booths Closed
During Business Meeting
3:00 PM: Tom Olson — Beaver Trapping
3:45 PM: Brian Roberts — Coyote Trapping
4:30 PM Dale Billingsley — River Trapping
6:00 PM: Dealer Building Closed
7:00 PM: 2nd Annual ITA Hall of Fame Banquet Followed By ITA Auction

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1st – Kids’ Day
7:00 AM: Flag Raising
8:00 AM: Church Service
9:00 AM: Mike Gragert — ITA Welcome to Kids’ Day
10:00 AM: Kids’ Trap Setting Contest
11:00 AM: Tom Olson — Muskrat Trapping for Kids
12:00 Noon: Mike Gragert — How to Build Your Own Float Set (You Get to
Keep the Float!)
1:00 PM: Galen Klisiewicz — My First Mink
2:00 PM: Doren Miller — Fur Handling for Kids
3:00 PM: Convention Ends; Clean Fairgrounds (Volunteers welcome!!!)