New Leadership Elected at World’s Premier Hunting Organization 

SCI Press Release
June 6, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Safari Club International, leader in protecting the freedom to hunt, has elected Dennis Anderson of Anaheim, California as its new president. His one-year term as head of the 50,000-member organization runs from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

Anderson was previously an SCI Vice-President serving on the Executive Committee for three years. He has been the SCI California Chapters Legislative Coordinator since 1996 and was instrumental in originating the California Youth Outdoor Safari Day in 1999.

Anderson has hunted in Asia, Africa, Europe, the South Pacific and throughout North America, completing the North American 29 in 2003.

Anderson is founder and owner of a successful seafood processing and distribution business in Southern California that he operates with his wife, Leean.

Merle Shepard, from Allen Park, Michigan was elected as President-Elect and will begin his term on July 1, 2008.

Shepard has been Chairman of SCI’s Governmental Affairs Committee for five years. Shepard learned to hunt with his grandfather in Michigan and has enjoyed hunting big game with a bow ever since.

Shepard is a founding member of the Michigan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, the American Wildlife Conservation Partners and the Ballot Issues Coalition.

Outgoing SCI President Ralph Cunningham, of Houston, Texas said “the future of SCI is in brilliant hands. I am more than confident that Dennis and Merle will take SCI to new heights and I wish them nothing but the best in their efforts.”

The other newly elected members of SCI’s Executive Committee include:

  • Treasurer, Ron Arendt resides in the Sacramento Valley, California, and hunts with his children and grandchildren as the seasons permit.
  • Secretary, Kevin Anderson is an attorney engaged in private practice in Harrisonville, Missouri for 26 years. He has hunted big game on five continents.
  • Vice President, Bruce Eavenson has been an SCI member for 31 years. He works in the insurance industry and currently resides in Ortonville, Michigan.
  • Vice President, Joe Hosmer enters his fourth term on the Executive Committee and has pursued big game and upland birds on a worldwide level. Joe is a successful business leader and entrepreneur, who divides his residence between Maine's coast and the Texas Hill Country.
  • Vice President, Sven Lindquist is an avid international hunter and currently resides in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota
  • Vice President, John W. Nelson recently retired as a successful attorney, judge and volunteer Deputy Sheriff in Phoenix, Arizona. He currently resides in the hills outside of Montrose, Colorado.
  • Vice President, Larry Rudolph will be starting his third year on SCI's executive committee. Dr. Rudolph owns a large dental services company in Pittsburgh, is an avid hunter and is a Weatherby Award nominee.
  • Vice President,Mary Lynn West is the Sables representative for the Orange County Chapter, California and has hunted with her rifle and shotgun on four continents.
  • Vice President,John Whipple is President of the Orange County Chapter, Life member of SCI, Sables and SCI-PAC, and lives in Orange County, California.
  • Alternate Vice President, Cheri Eby has degrees in business and cost accounting and has worked in the mining/construction industries. She has enjoyed hunting on several continents and currently lives in Gunnison, Colorado.
  • SCIF Director, Lance Norris is a Past President of SCI and has served on the board since 1986. Lance has hunted Africa 15 times, three times with his grandkids, and currently resides in Nunica, Michigan.

Contact:

Ken Schwartz
Governmental Affairs and
Communications Manager
kschwartz@sci-dc.org
(202) 543-8733

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SCI-First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s 179 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 13 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit www.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

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