A periodic information source for members of the American Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of importance to the future of fishing.
May 19, 2004
Coach Jimmy Johnson Lines Up for Fishing and Boating
As an important element of the 2004 Water Works Wonders Campaign, former
NFL Coach Jimmy Johnson has agreed to serve as the first-ever honorary
chairperson for National Fishing and Boating Week, to be celebrated
nationwide June 5-13, helping to broadly promote fishing and boating,
hundreds of community fishing events, and free fishing days offered
by states. On June 3 and 4, Coach Johnson will be making television
appearances on the morning talk show and national news circuit to generate
media support for the hundreds of events taking place across the country
during the observance. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation
is also organizing a National Fishing and Boating Week kickoff event
on June 5 in New York’s Central Park, where Coach Johnson will
conduct the honorary first cast and teach fishing basics to local youth
(footage from the event will be packaged for national news distribution
via satellite). There’s still time to be a part of the biggest
National Fishing and Boating Week promotions ever by registering National
Fishing and Boating Week events on www.watersworkswonders.org.
For more information, contact RBFF Communications and Public Relations
Director Kirk Gillis, 703-519-0013
x109, or ASA Communications Director Janet
Tennyson, 703-519-9691 x227.
ASA Events
for National Fishing & Boating Week
Please
let us know if you’re planning to take part in ASA-sponsored
activities (June 7-9) during National Fishing and Boating Week. During
our Congressional Reception June 8, we’ll celebrate with partners
and Members of Congress and honor sportfishing champions with our annual
Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement Award and the Future of Fishing
Award. On June 9, we’re co-sponsoring a Congressional Sportsmen’s
Caucus Breakfast with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.
FishNet will host a special luncheon on June 8, and we’ve also
scheduled ASA committee meetings and visits with Members of Congress.
The Discover Boating and Fishing Mobile Marketing Tour also will take
place near Capitol Hill on June 8. For more information, contact Vice
President Gordon
Robertson, 703-519-9691 x237, or Policy
Fellow Deanna Wood, 703-519-9691 x228.
ICAST
Update
For the latest information on ICAST
2004, July 14-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, check out our
website, (and
click on the ICAST logo)—we’re updating this information
as it develops so that exhibitors and attendees can find out about
pre-registration, travel and lodging arrangements, the schedule of
events and seminars, companies offering show specials and New Product
Showcase entries, and much more. June 18 is the deadline
for pre-registration and several other aspects of ICAST, such as sponsorships,
meeting room reservations, and getting information to us on show specials
so we can support your promotions. With our show floor expanded by
more than 100 booths over last year, we now have 356 companies signed
up for 1085 booths. In addition to our show promotions this year, especially
encouraging independent dealers to attend ICAST, we’ve had tremendous support
for dealer outreach from ASA distributor members, such as American Rod & Gun,
Big Rock Sports, and Maurice, as well as several rep groups and individual
reps. For more information, contact ICAST Director Maria
del Valle,
703-519-9691 x240.
Radio
Tag Changes Forthcoming
By January 2005,
the Department of Defense and top retailers like Wal-Mart, Target,
Albertson’s,
and others are requiring vendors to place passive radio frequency identification
(RFID) tags on inventory at the case and pallet level. ASA is working
with the National Association of Manufacturers and others to offer
an exclusive $300 discount for ASA members to attend an upcoming “RFID2004: New
Rules of the Game Conference” scheduled for June 9-11 in Washington,
DC. The conference will introduce manufacturers to the costs and benefits
of RFID and help companies determine how quickly they might be affected
and how to formulate the best RFID strategies. We’re also scheduling
an expert who helped Wal-Mart set up their RFID to attend ICAST to
provide information and offer advice to other ASA members. For more
information, visit www.rfid2004.com or
contact Membership Director Ric
Ice, 703-519-9691
x234.
New
Market Indicators On-Line
Our website now offers quarterly reports on fishing tackle imports and
rainfall trends, part of our efforts to expand our fishing statistics
program with more current and relevant information for sportfishing
businesses. Find out more by visiting www.asafishing.org under
“Membership,” and click on “Market Indicators.”
For more information, contact Special Projects Director Forbes
Darby, 703-519-9691 x222.
New
Member Benefits
A new partnership with John Hancock
Insurance offers special long term care plans that can save ASA members
more than 30 percent (eblackburn@ssnonline.com or 703-287-7172). Through
another new partnership with Lincoln Financial, ASA members can take
advantage of 20 percent savings for retirement and estate planning
(sdeaton@LNC.com; 800-903-3265). For more information on all of ASA’s
member benefits, visit http://www.asafishing.org under “Membership” or
contact Membership Director Ric
Ice, 703-519-9691
x234.
In
Memoriam
We are saddened to report the passing
of Jack F. Reichert, former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Brunswick
Corporation, on May 9. Reichert was instrumental in the growth of Brunswick’s
recreation companies and was a tremendous supporter of the FishAmerica
Foundation since its inception more than 20 years ago. FishAmerica’s
conservation endowment is named in honor of Jack Reichert and the late
John Charvat, both of whom retired from the Brunswick Corporation in
1995. Memorial donations can be made to the Reichert Foundation, 580
Douglas Drive, Lake Forest, Illinois, 60045.
Briefly
Noted
Special thanks to the American
Fly Fishing Trade Association for visiting with ASA during their recent
Board meeting, and to the National Marine Manufacturers Association
for hosting us for a visit in their Chicago headquarters……Don’t
forget to cast your votes for the six seats opening this fall on the
Board of Directors; ballots were distributed to all ASA members two
weeks ago……We received more than 70 applications for this
year’s
$200,000 available in grants for Physical Education teachers who incorporate
fishing and boating into their classroom or after-school activities,
boding well for the future growth of this program…..The deadline
for applications for coastal fisheries and habitat restoration grants
from the FishAmerica Foundation is May 28, 2004; visit www.fishamerica.org for
more information.
President’s
Corner
With National Fishing and Boating Week just around the corner,
and having just had a terrific visit with the National Marine Manufacturers
Association last week, it’s a good time to share some positive
things happening because of joint efforts by the fishing and boating
communities. We’ve always
had a number of marine companies as part of our membership because of our
common interests, such as National Fishing and Boating Week, the Water Works
Wonders Campaign, and access issues that bring us together for the benefit
of both industries.
As the fishing and boating industries’ trade associations, both ASA and
NMMA support the day-to-day business success of our membership at the same
time we’re keeping an eye out on the horizon to protect the long-term
interests of our member companies. The Water Works Wonders Campaign is one
such effort, Discover Boating is another, and for ASA, our non-profit foundations—the
FishAmerica Foundation and Future Fisherman Foundation—give the industry
a unified role in making fishing better and more popular.
One exciting new effort for the fishing and boating industries is the Discover
Boating and Fishing Mobile Marketing Tour. Using themes from the Water Works
Wonders Campaign, this grassroots effort takes place at 20 event locations
in 14 states from May through November, using a 78-foot rig that sets up
like a miniature marina and includes all kinds of enticing features, like fishing
simulators and immersion theaters. Last year’s effort reached more than
300,000 people, showing what the fishing and boating experience has to offer
and providing all kinds of resources for new anglers and boaters. Several ASA
members already help sponsor the mobile marketing tour, but there’s plenty
of room for more. I encourage all ASA members to get on board!
