DNR hunter education award goes to Gainesville man

SOCIAL CIRCLE - The Georgia Department of Natural Resources<br> (DNR), Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) recently selected Eric Massey of<br> Gainesville as the 2003 Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor of the Year. WRD<br> presents the award annually in recognition of an instructor who displays<br> outstanding volunteer efforts in educating sportsmen and women on wildlife<br> conservation and the importance of safety while hunting. <br> <br> &#34;Each year, countless hours are spent in an effort to select one Hunter Education<br> Instructor that stands out above the rest - Eric Massey possesses these high<br> standards and is well-deserved of this prestigious award,&#34; says WRD Capt. James<br> Bell, State Hunter Education Coordinator. &#34;His willingness to go beyond the<br> classroom and promote hunter education in other arenas, such as his outdoor ministry<br> and volunteer efforts bring a positive light to the program.&#34;<br> <br> Bell said Massey met and exceeded all expectations for his area this past year - he<br> instructed over 74 hours of hunter education classes and certified 295 students. <br> His involvement with his local church opened up some opportunities for Eric&#39;s<br> classes, including his recruitment of church members to assist with classes and even<br> sometimes prepare meals for his students. Massey is dedicated to his job and is<br> willing to reach into his own pocket when he thinks it will benefit his students,<br> for example he purchased a laminating machine to laminate the students hunter<br> education cards. <br> <br> Bell added Massey is especially involved with youth events (such as the National Wild Turkey<br> Federation JAKES Day) and often sets up a B.B. gun booth to help get youth<br> interested in outdoor sports. He constantly talks to other hunter education<br> instructors across the state to share new ideas on teaching courses and incorporates<br> new things into his classes to make them more effective. For example, this past<br> year Massey had a guest speaker share a hunting incident (through which the hunter<br> lost a leg) with his class to emphasize safety.<br> <br> &#34;I get more out of doing this for kids than they get from me,&#34; Massey said in accepting the awawrd. &#34;I love to promote hunting because<br> I think if this tradition was ever lost it would be a tragedy.&#34;<br> <br> The selection of the Hunter Education Instructor of the Year begins at the region<br> level. Each of the seven WRD Law Enforcement Regions picks the outstanding<br> instructor in their area and sends them to Capt. Bell. The applications are then<br> submitted to the Hunter Safety Committee. This committee is made up of WRD<br> personnel from Game Management, Fisheries Management and Law Enforcement who are<br> knowledgeable in working with volunteers and about hunter safety education. The<br> committee then makes the final selection.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/6/157167