A periodic information source for members of the American Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of importance to the future of fishing
October 10, 2003
Sportfishing Summit Expands Our Horizons
Scores of representatives of every sector of the sportfishing community
came together for thought-provoking sessions and spirited debate on
topics ranging from the future of manufacturing in China to the emerging
‘Generation Y’ market during the Sportfishing Summit at
the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. Look for a full reporting
on special speakers, sessions, and committee activities in the next
issue of American Sportfishing. Our final tally shows we had more than
100 representatives from 80 different companies and organizations, including
about 30 new companies. This represents a 48 percent increase in attendance
over last year and a 137 percent increase over 2001! Today we’re
faxing to all attendees a Sportfishing Summit satisfaction survey, so
please take a few moments to let us know what you think. For more information,
contact Special Projects Director Forbes
Darby, 703.519.9691 x222.
ICAST 2004 Update
In addition to booking ICAST booths for 2004, we’re reviewing the initial findings of the extensive satisfaction survey for ICAST 2003 undertaken by consultant Bob Delfay. Watch for a thorough summary of the feedback we got from exhibitors, buyers, media, and prospective attendees in our next issue of American Sportfishing. We’re also marshaling a list of companies interested in ICAST sponsorships, offering opportunities for special visibility during the show, and reviewing contract proposals for new registration services to make it easier for everyone to sign up next year. For more information, contact ICAST Director Maria del Valle, 703.519.9691 x240.
‘ICASTing’ A Wider Net
Major distributors and rep groups are supporting our efforts to encourage more independent dealers to attend ICAST 2004. We’re focusing on extensive outreach at the major distributor shows this fall, and distributors and reps are helping us with targeted mailing lists and by spreading the word about ICAST’s value as the sportfishing industry’s
largest trade event. For more information, contact Membership Director
Ric Ice, 703.519.9691 x234 or ICAST Director Maria del Valle, 703.519.9691 x240.
New Leadership for FishAmerica
Johanna DeGroff Laderman has officially been named Managing Director of the FishAmerica Foundation, an appointment she earned after stepping up to take on additional responsibilities as acting director over the last year. The FishAmerica Foundation’s conservation committee is reviewing $300,000-worth of project proposals for marine and anadromous fish habitat restoration in 12 states, part of our partnership with the NOAA Restoration Center. The committee also will soon review FLW Outdoors’ conservation project proposals for seven tournament sites. We’ve recently received proposals for the first round of conservation projects under our 4-year partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust to restore fisheries habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Maryland, with $100,000 in grants being awarded in November. For more information, contact Managing Director Johanna Laderman, 703.519.9691 x245.
Lend Your voice For Our W-B Investments
We’ve made some progress over the last few months to push legislation that would recapture $110 million in Sport Fish Restoration Act excise taxes currently being redirected to the general U.S. Treasury. The Sportfishing and Boating Equity Act (H.R. 2839) was introduced by Congressman Clay Shaw, who sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. Five other House Members are currently signed on as co-sponsors, but getting additional committee co-sponsors will help ensure the bill’s passage. ASA members please visit http://waysandmeans.house.gov/members.asp to find committee members from your state and send them an email to urge them to co-sponsor the bill. For more information, contact Vice President Gordon Robertson, 703.519.9691 x237.
Partners Contribute More For New Anglers
The Future Fisherman Foundation just received another grant from the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies totaling $497,000 to continue the Hooked On Fishing—Not On Drugs program over the next 3 years. In other news, the foundation’s
4-H Sportfishing Initiative is now officially off the launch pad after
we led a training workshop for 50 instructors from 11 states last month.
This latest fishing education effort involves youth in long-term and
on-going community-based sportfishing and aquatic resources education
throughout the country. For more information, contact Executive Director
Anne Glick, 703.519.9691 x238.
President's Corner
It's uncanny how many times I've recently heard people use the phrase "make a difference." It's not just during discussions among the staff here at ASA, I'm hearing it more and more often from members, too. It's truly rewarding to know that we all want to make a difference together. The amazing success of our Sportfishing Summit reinforced to me how much we as an industry seem to be evolving in a positive way and becoming more of a cohesive group. John DeVries, President of Mustad and a first-time summit attendee, said he regretted not attending the event years ago. He told us the summit gave him confidence that when we work together we can make a difference and pave the way for a stronger industry future.
We took some big risks in reformatting the Sportfishing Summit these past two years, and we put a tremendous amount of work into it, especially ASA's Special Projects Director Forbes Darby. But we based these changes on feedback we'd gotten from you, and just like our efforts to improve ICAST, it paid off. Forbes would be the first to tell you that the success of the summit is all part of momentum we've all been building on together for quite some time.
We can go all out to provide a good venue, line up relevant speakers and seminars, and handle all the logistics to make things run, but everyone who came ready to contribute made the event a success, and I want to thank you for that. I understand what John DeVries means, because at times like these, I really think we've got what it takes to make a difference for the future of our industry and the future of our sport.
