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Local teen appointed to Governor’s Youth Council

PHOTO PROVIDED Emery Gunsallus, 14, son of Dave and Lori Gunsallus of Rote, was recently sworn in as a member of the Governor’s Youth Council by Clinton County Judges Craig Miller, right, and Mike Salisbury.

ROTE — A local young man is taking his place on a board providing Gov. Tom Wolf with innovative ideas about how best to engage today’s youth and future generations in the conservation of natural resources and the enhancement of our outdoor heritage.

Emery Gunsallus, 14, son of Dave and Lori Gunsallus of Rote, was appointed to the Governor’s Youth Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation on August 2.

A ninth grade student at Central Mountain High School, Emery took an Oath of Office to assume his position on the Governor’s Youth Council in front of Clinton County Judges Craig Miller and Judge Michael Salisbury on Sept. 5, at the Clinton County Courthouse.

The youngest member of the youth council, Emery is a member of the Southern Clinton Country YHEC (Youth Hunter Education Challenge) and also shoots on the Liberty Township Rifle League. He is a Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop 54 and is beginning to work on his Eagle Scout project.

He was approached at a YHEC Regional competition in April by Charlie Fox, chairman of the PA State Youth Hunter Education Challenge, who encouraged him to apply. Fox said he felt that Emery had a lot of the qualities and passions that would make a good Youth Council member.

Emery had to submit a resume, cover letter and provide three letters of recommendation. Those letters of recommendation came from his Scout Master Don Foster, the Southern Clinton Country Sportsmens Club and Fox.

The Youth Council is modeled after its counterpart, the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation.

Citing the importance of outdoor recreation to the civic and cultural life of Pennsylvania, and his intent to give outdoor enthusiasts a voice in shaping his administration’s policies and priorities, the governor officially established the advisory and youth councils in 2015.

The Advisory Council is comprised of 20 Pennsylvania residents who offer recommendations and advice on a range of outdoor-related issues, including pending legislation. Among the council’s specific duties is to recruit, screen, and recommend nominees for the boards of the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Game Commission.

The Youth Council is comprised of up to 20 high school students from around the Commonwealth, ages 14-18, and will be asked to provide the governor with innovative ideas about how best to engage today’s youth, and future generations, in the conservation of our natural resources and the enhancement of our outdoor heritage.

The Youth Council will meet throughout the year to brainstorm ways to protect Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Heritage. Each meeting will be two-day events that include education discussions, business meetings, field trips and outdoor recreational activities.

In August, Emery and the Youth Council met in Hershey, where they discussed Sunday hunting and then polled the council. They also discussed proposed legislation that would benefit conservation. That legislation included Chronic Wasting Disease Management Act (H.R. 4454), Chronic Wasting Disease Support for States Act (S. 2252), Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647), The Land and Water Conservation Fund, and The Endangered Species Act.

Emery will be one of 10 other youth council members attending a trip to Washington D.C. this month to advise US Senators and Representatives about two of these bills in particular — Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647) and Chronic Wasting Disease Support for States Act (S. 2252).

Emery already had an early start to his discussions when he met Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson at Congressmen GT’s Top Shot day on Sept.8, at the Liberty Township Sportsman’s Club. GT Thompson sat down and talked to Emery about some of these topics.

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