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When you make a gift through your estate plan to The Wildlife Society, you enjoy the profound sense of gratification that comes with knowing you are making a lasting difference. And you will also be welcomed to our Legacy Society, a unique group of people who have made a special commitment to helping ensure that our profession stays strong for future generations. The Legacy Society was created to recognize those who have elevated us to “member of the family” by making a legacy gift.

Members of the Legacy Society have shown extraordinary foresight and generosity, and we to show our appreciation with membership in this exclusive group.

That’s why we encourage you to let us know if you have included us in your estate plan. Notification of such gifts is often tinged with sadness, particularly when we have had no opportunity to say thank you. If we are in your plans, we would like to express our appreciation and welcome you to the Legacy Society. You can let us know by emaling Darryl Walter, Director of Membership Marketing and Conferences, dwalter@wildlife.org or call (301) 897-9770 ext 314.

We are pleased to profile here just a few Legacy Society members.

Daniel Decker

“As early as I can remember, I went hunting and fishing with my father and uncle,” says Daniel Decker, speaking about the beginnings of his lifelong commitment to wildlife and the humans who interact with them.

Decker grew up in ”the country” on the southern edge of the Catskill Region of New York where wildlife was ever present — with the Shawangunk Mountains on one side, a farm on the other, and the Neversink and Delaware Rivers within walking distance of his childhood home. At the age of 17 Decker was elected to represent a local rod and gun club at the Sullivan County Federation of Sportsmen (a county affiliate of the NY State Conservation Council) where he had to be driven to meetings because he was still too young to drive at night.

That youthful love of wildlife was further strengthened when, as a teenager, Decker’s high school physics teacher, who moonlighted as a writer of the environmental column for the regional newspaper, invited Decker to accompany him as he covered stories. Decker was struck then by the ineffectiveness of the public communication process on wildlife and other conservation issues. That realization made an impression — one that would inform his life’s work as one of the foremost scholars in the field of “human dimensions” of wildlife management and policy.

Decker’s path to a career of accomplishment in and on behalf of the wildlife profession was helped each step of the way by The Wildlife Society. His first connection to TWS came in the early 1970s when he sought certification as a wildlife biologist. “I started publishing in TWS journals over 30 years ago, and have continued to do so as an applied academic ever since. About 10 years ago TWS gave my colleagues and I a grant to publish the first textbook on human dimensions of wildlife management,” says Decker.

The revision of that text is currently underway. Over the years, Decker deepened his involvement with TWS, first as an officer in the Northeast Section, then as Northeast Section representative to TWS Council, and later as President of TWS.

“It’s important for me to give back to the profession that has given me so much,” says Decker, speaking of the decision he and his wife have made to make a bequest through their will to The Wildlife Society.

“I want to create opportunities for the next generation of professionals to develop effective leadership skills. The Wildlife Society will face challenges in the years ahead as the impacts of land use and energy development continue to impact wildlife and habitat. Leadership will be the necessary constant. That’s why I’ve made a bequest to TWS—because it’s important to build the leadership capacity for our profession to respond to the challenges of tomorrow and I think TWS is the best organization to do this.”

Len Carpenter

Growing up as the son of a cattle rancher in Southern Colorado, Len Carpenter always felt a connection to the land and to animals, especially the deer, coyotes, rabbits and waterfowl in the area.

“My father wanted me to become a veterinarian but I wasn’t so sure. My connection had always been with wild, rather than domestic animals," says Carpenter. At Colorado State University, Carpenter made the decision to study wildlife biology that would lead him to a distinguished career as a wildlife biologist.

It was also at CSU that Carpenter began his decades-long association with The Wildlife Society as a member of the Student Chapter. From there, Carpenter volunteered with the Colorado Chapter and the Central Mountains and Plains Section.

Carpenter became presidents of both and after serving as Section President he was elected to TWS Council and, finally after six years on Council he was elected TWS President.

“I always knew there was life beyond Colorado, beyond the 8-5 job," says Carpenter. “There is a professional calling that goes beyond what you do on a daily basis. The Wildlife Society gave me the opportunity to experience it. Through TWS, doors were opened to me that never would have been otherwise. I met mentors and colleagues who enhanced my work as a wildlife biologist."

Carpenter credits his efforts with The Wildlife Society in helping him be more effective in his role developing wildlife policy in Colorado and other western states. During his years at the Wildlife Management Institute, Carpenter was a part of a group of conservationists working to ensure that energy developers and livestock grazers on western public lands would take into consideration the impact of their industries on wildlife.

“I think that my presence as a wildlife biologist in those discussions brought attention to issues that might not have been considered otherwise," Carpenter modestly puts it.

As much as The Wildlife Society has influenced Carpenter’s career, he has given back by leaving an indelible mark on TWS. During his tenure on Council and as President, he worked hard to help create an endowed fund to support policy development. Interest generated on the endowment will help fund TWS’ policy work in perpetuity. And, not content to simply enact the fund, Carpenter and his wife have shown personal leadership by designating a bequest in their will to the endowment.

“TWS is dedicated to improving, enhancing and advancing each individual and the profession as a whole. Giving back to your profession is what TWS stands for. We couldn’t think of a more lasting way to give back than through a bequest."