Chapter member spotlight:

Three years ago, Don Lieberman (66) of Ashtabula Ohio, donated a Youth Spring Turkey hunt at his cabin in southern Ohio to the Northern Ohio Chapter of SCI for their annual fundraising banquet. Don is a longtime member of SCI and a proud retired Firefighter with a huge heart for kids and the outdoors. Little did any of us know that not only would we have a fun weekend, but, we would make a great lifetime friend? We purchased the first hunt for our son, Tommy, then, 10 years old, for his birthday present. He is an avid hunter and a member of SCI. We had a great weekend that first year. They did not harvest a bird, but we did harvest lots of fun memories and began a great new friendship. The next year, our family along with Tommy’s Grandparents, who started the hunting obsession in him, had another awesome weekend at Don’s. It was Tommy’s birthday again and we celebrated by sharing hunting stories, fishing and turtle catching. Unfortunately we did not harvest a turkey again that year. It wasn’t for the lack of trying though. He did shoot one, but when his Dad walked up to get the bird it sprung back up and took
off. Well, for us that was just more of a reason to go back to Don’s! Finally, this year for Tommy’s 12th birthday he got the present he had been waiting for. A big Tom with a 9 1/2” beard! It was a very cold April Ohio morning. The three boys had not been out long enough to get cold before a nice tom walked into his fate. “I was so happy and relieved to finally get one at Don’s”, Tommy said. We are
not sure who was more excited Don or Tommy!

For Don, hunting is about relationships and good friends, and most importantly teaching our youth about the importance and enjoyment of hunting. We like to call Don, Tommy’s “Extra Grandpa”, he has become like family to us. Our 7 year old daughter cannot wait to go turkey hunting with him someday soon. It takes people like Don who will take the time and energy to invest in our youth to keep the hunting tradition alive and well. This year Tommy, at 11 years old, became a lifetime member of SCI. Hopefully, when he is Don's age he will be taking the time with children to pass the hunting tradition on as well. He'll have lots of great stories to tell about his hunting experiences!“Don is really nice, kind, funny and has really, really good stories to tell! I cannot wait to go back every year!" Tommy says. We look forward to spending more time with Don, comparing stories, sharing laughs and making new memories. Thank you to Safari Club International for being there to protect our freedoms to pass this great tradition on from generation to generation!

Tommy and is family live in Magnolia Ohio and Don and wife, Dorene, reside in Ashtabula, Ohio.

By: Miranda Sancic