When Drs Tom Gillespie and David Reeves purchased the “Iowa pheasant hunt for four” offered by Fast Genetics in the 2016 AASV Foundation Auction, their intention was to enjoy a good hunting trip and support the foundation at the same time.
Five years later, they – and the other half of their hunting foursome, Drs Bob Evelsizer and John Waddell – are still enjoying some good pheasant hunting, and they are still supporting the foundation, but they are doing so in an entirely new way.
The four men – Leman Fellows, all – enjoyed that first hunting trip so much that they made it an annual tradition to get together for a fall hunt. This past November, they took advantage of an offer from fellow (and younger) AASV member Dr Shamus Brown to guide and host their 2020 hunt on his family’s farm. If you have attended the AASV Annual Meeting lately, you know that Shamus has donated his auctioneer talents to call the AASV Foundation’s live fundraising auction for the past several years.
When the four senior hunting buddies tried to compensate Shamus for the excellent guided hunting and hospitality they enjoyed, he refused to accept their payment. So they changed their approach and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse: they would make him a Leman Fellow by contributing to the AASV Foundation.
The Leman Fellow designation is awarded for a contribution of $1000 to the AASV Foundation endowment.
True to their word, each hunter sent a check for $250 to the AASV Foundation. As a result, the foundation is pleased to welcome its newest Leman Fellow, Dr W. Shamus Brown, to this distinguished group of donors, recognized at aasv.org/foundation/leman.htm.
Think about it: is there a young (or not-so-young) colleague you can thank or recognize by making a contribution to the foundation in their honor? For more information about the foundation and its giving programs, see aasv.org/foundation.