A periodic information source for members of the American Sportfishing
Association and partners on issues of interest to the future of fishing.
November 10, 2004
Advancing an Angling Agenda at the 2004 Sportfishing
Summit
Based
on the evaluations, by all accounts, the 2004 Sportfishing
Summit held October 27–29 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, was
the most successful membership meeting held by ASA. Approximately 30
percent of our attendees provided evaluations and of those 30 percent,
67 percent rated the overall Summit as “excellent.” According
to ASA Board Chairman, Dave Pfeiffer (Shimano American Corporation)
a significant number of people made comments to him emphasizing how
well the event was organized and that the topics and speakers provided
information that was both intriguing and relevant to their business
interests. Scores of representatives from every sector of the sportfishing
community came together for thought-provoking sessions and spirited
debate on topics ranging from the state of manufacturing to marketing
and brand identity to examining the elements of establishing a new
community-wide advocacy campaign to protect and promote recreational
angling. Look for a full reporting on special speakers, sessions and
committee activities in the next issue of American Sportfishing which
will arrive in December. Our final tally shows we had more than 155
representatives from 95 different companies and organizations, including
73 member companies. With speakers and ASA staff, over 170 people attended
the meeting. The 2005 Sportfishing Summit is scheduled for October
5-7 at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. For more information,
contact Communications and Marketing Director Mary
Jane Williamson, 703.519.9691 x227.
ICAST-ing in 2005
As of November 5, 185 exhibitors
have reserved 882 booths for ICAST 2005. This translates into 76 percent
of the total number of booths available are sold, 77 more than the
same time in 2004. In 2004, ICAST sold out for the third year in a
row. With more than 76 percent of the floor already reserved, ICAST
is on track for another record breaking year. The New Product Showcase,
the show’s flagship feature, attracts attention from exhibitors,
buyers and media alike. Entering products in the competition for Best
of Show can significantly boost sales and publicity year-round. ICAST
sponsorships offering additional opportunities for special visibility
during the show are available. For the next three years, ICAST will
be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the dates coinciding
with the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Marine After
Market and Accessories Trade Show (MAATS). ICAST is scheduled for July 20-22, 2005; July 19-21, 2006;
and July 18-20, 2007. For more information, contact ICAST Director Maria
del Valle, 703.519.9691 x240.
Don’t Blame the Recreational Angler—Responding
to Science
Magazine
In August, a synopsis and printing of the study, “The
Impact of United States Recreational Fishers on Marine Fish Populations,” first
appeared in Science magazine and its online version Science Express.
This study blames the current state of fisheries solely on the recreational
angler. ASA spearheaded a response to the study and article with
a letter to the editor that was signed by 18 organizations in addition
to ASA. As of November 5, the letter is still under consideration.
According to Science, it can take up to six months for letters
to the editor to appear in print. For more information, contact
Mary
Jane Williamson, 703.519.9691, x227.
Policy Watch—Government Affairs Update
During
early fall, ASA Government Affairs continued to advance the interests
of the recreational sportfishing industry through meetings with local,
state and federal representatives. During September, along with ten
other hunting and fishing organization’s representatives, ASA
attended a meeting at the Council on Environmental Quality with the
Deputy Chief of Staff for President Bush. The purpose of the meeting
was to discuss current issues concerning hunters and anglers. Also
in September, a meeting was convened with Interior officials, National
Park Service representatives and 27 members of the angling business
community at Cape Hatteras National Seashore to address angler access
to the beach areas. In October, Geoff Ratte, Water Gremlin Company,
provided the key note address at the Southeastern Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies focusing on building a stronger relationship
between state fish & wildlife agencies and the tackle industry.
Gordon Robertson, ASA VP, met with state directors regarding excise
tax compliance concerns. For more information, contact Gordon
Robertson, 703.519.9691, x237.
Serving our Members
Member Services has added five
new benefits for ASA members–accounts receivable insurance
(factoring); liability insurance; free credit check service until 12/31/04;
professional discount for legal services; and resume builder services.
All member benefits are now listed on the ASA Website with explanations
and contact information. Click here for the complete list.
For more information about member services, contact Membership Director
Ric Ice, 703.519.9691, x234.
Looking at the Numbers
The FY 2004 year-end financials are complete
and the FY 2005 budget is approved. In FY 2004, the number of new members
rose by 15 percent over 2003. As an indicator of programmatic success,
ASA is expanding its office space in its current location. Staff is
expected to move into the new space sometime in November.
Updated Market Indicators Online
Check
the ASA Website for the latest quarterly reports on fishing tackle
imports and rainfall trends. These reports cover the second quarter
of 2004 and are part of our efforts to expand our fishing statistics
program with more current and relevant information for sportfishing
businesses. For
the latest trends, click here. ASA has a new Data and Statistics Committee which met for the first
time during the 2004 Sportfishing Summit. Committee Chair John DeVries,
Kreha Corporation of America, and committee members pledged to provide
guidance to ensure more, and more relevant, information for ASA members.
Questions? Contact Gordon
Robertson, 703.519.9691, x237.
Tell ‘Em Again, Sam
On September 8, Mary
Jane Williamson joined the ASA team as Communications and Marketing
director. Mary Jane has close to 20 years experience in nonprofit and
association corporate communications including the American Red Cross,
the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National
Industries for the Severely Handicapped and American Association for
the Advancement of Science.
HOFNOD to Debut on Military Bases
Through the efforts
of ASA Government Affairs, the Future Fisherman Foundation has secured
funding in the FY 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill to expand the Hooked
on Fishing–Not on Drugs® program to include military
bases. This is an opportunity for the Foundation to expand the
program and bring in a new audience. The Foundation will have a full
time staff member working on this program. Regarding HOFNOD, in September,
the Foundation launched the program at the National Guard Association
convention as part of the Guard Mentorship Program. For more information,
contact Laura Jerome, HOFNOD National Coordinator, 703.519.9691, x254.
FishAmerica Offers Many Routes for Giving Back
Over the past year,
the FishAmerica Foundation has received more than $140,000 in donations
directly from 39 ASA member companies, FishAmerica-licensed product
sales, membership renewal donations, direct solicitations and tournament
and corporate foundations. Companies such as Grady-White Boats, Mercury
Marine, and Zebco are also providing long term support through our
endowment campaign. FishAmerica gives the industry plenty of ways to
contribute to fisheries conservation—even to specific fish species
and geographic locations. If you’d like to find out more
about these opportunities, please contact FishAmerica Managing Director Johanna Laderman, 703-519-9691 x245.
Physical Education and “Phishing”
Through a grant from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation,
the Future Fisherman Foundation awarded over $200,000 in grants to
physical education teachers in 43 schools in 22 states. For more information,
contact Grants Administrator Jeff
Bloem, 703.519.9691, x247.
Thank you, Foundation Donors
In
FY 2004, 56 ASA members made financial contributions to the FishAmerica
and Future Fisherman Foundations in order to ensure that people of
all ages have safe and enjoyable fishing experiences that foster conservation
ethics and provide an investment in fish and habitat conservation and
research across the country. Thank you for your support! For more information,
contact Philanthropy Officer John Bryan, 703.519.9691, x246.
Message from Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO
The
amazing success of the 2004 Sportfishing Summit reinforced to
me the energy and power that we have as an industry. Our members
came to the Summit believing it would be a success and it was. We, as ASA
staff, worked together with you and with our Board to create an opportunity
to gain information on the most relevant issues facing the sportfishing
industry as well as practical knowledge to help you develop and manage
your business. According to the evaluations, I believe we hit the
mark. Dave Pfeiffer, of Shimano American Corporation and our Board chair,
sent a message to me just days after the Summit’s end thanking
me and the staff for our hard work. I agree: the ASA staff did a
great job and I want to acknowledge their efforts.
I also want to thank the ASA Board members for the considerable time
and effort they put into the strategic planning process held just prior
to the Summit. We presented a new strategic plan to the Board and,
collectively, they gave us feedback regarding ASA’s business
goals and objectives up through FY 2006. We expect this to pay dividends
over the next two years.
As a staff, we do our best to provide a good venue, line up relevant
speakers and seminars, and handle all the Summit logistics to make
things run as smoothly as possible, but everyone who came contributed
to the event’s success, and I want to thank you for that. Where
we do we go from here? We’re already thinking about the 2005
Sportfishing Summit scheduled for next October in Ocean Reef, Florida.
Please send us your thoughts and suggestions. This is your meeting
and we want to develop an agenda that is relevant to you and your business
needs. Once again, my thanks to everyone for making this a great event.
