A periodic information source for members of the American
Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of interest to the future
of fishing.
April 2005
Board of Directors Election
Ballots for the Board of Directors election will be mailed on April
29, 2005. Members will be electing six members to ASA's Board of Directors,
with terms beginning in October. Elections are open for three regional
and three at-large seats. Regional seats cover the West, South Central
and Southeast regions. Ballots are due on or before June 1, 2005. According
to the bylaws, only members with Regular membership status may vote.
Associate members are not eligible to vote. For more information about
the ballots, contact Board Liaison Joyce
Anderson-Logan, x233. For more information about membership status,
contact Membership Services Director Ric
Ice, x234.
Membership Dues for Voting and ICAST
In order to receive a ballot for the current ASA’s Board
of Directors election, your ASA annual membership dues must be paid
by Monday, April 25, 2005. In addition, ICAST exhibitors must
be an ASA member in good standing with the current year’s dues
paid in order to receive an Exhibitor Service Manual. If you have questions
or need assistance, please contact Membership assistant Ann
Sweeney, x241.
ASA Events for National Fishing & Boating Week
ASA is now taking reservations for ASA-sponsored activities (June
6-8) during National
Fishing and Boating Week. An information packet was mailed to ASA
members and partners the week of April 11 and all the information is
available on ASA’s Web site. As a member of the planning committee,
the Future Fisherman Foundation is participating in the annual kids’ fishing
event held at Constitution Gardens on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Now
available on ASA’s Web site is registration information, housing
info, the schedule of events, including ASA Committee meetings, and the
nomination form for the ASA awards. A block of rooms is reserved at the
Sheraton
Suites in Alexandria (Old Town), Virginia. Please call the hotel
directly at 1-800-325-3535 to make your reservations before May 12 and
ask for the “Sportfishing” room block. For more information,
contact Policy Fellow Patrick
O’Rouke, x230, or Brad
Fisher, assistant director, Communications, x222.
Nussman Provides Input to National Academy of Science
In March, Mike Nussman, ASA president and CEO, appeared
before the National Academy of Science’s National Research
Council (NRC) to present the fishing tackle industry’s ideas
on improving saltwater recreational fisheries management. For more
information, contact Mike
Nussman, x 252.
ASA Award Nominations Due on May 2
Nominations for the Norville Prosser Lifetime Achievement and
Future of Fishing Awards are due on May 2, 2005. The criteria for the awards
and the nomination form are located on ASA’s Web site under National
Fishing and Boating Week 2005. Additional information about the awards is
also in the February/March 2005 issue of ASA’s newsletter, American
Sportfishing.
ICAST 2005: SOLD OUT!
As of April 14, 373 exhibitors have reserved 1,171 booths for
ICAST 2005. Attendee registration materials were mailed in late March and online
registration for exhibitors and attendees is open. ICAST host hotels are
accepting housing reservations.
Exhibitors should have received their ICAST
Promo Paks and Exhibitor Service Kits. ICAST is scheduled for July 20-22
at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Visit www.asafishing.org to
find the latest information about ICAST or contact Maria
del Valle, x240.
ICAST Exhibitor Conference Call
The first of two exhibitor conference calls is scheduled for Monday,
April 18, at 2:00 p.m., EDT. If you have any questions or want to participate,
please contact Maria del Valle.
ICAST Sponsorships—Just Ask!
Interest in ICAST sponsorships is up over previous years. Many
of last year’s sponsors have renewed their contracts and a number of opportunities
are now sold. For a full list of remaining ICAST sponsorship opportunities, go
to the ASA
Web site and click on the Sponsorship Opportunities icon. Contact Maria
del Valle, x240 for more information.
Getting the Word Out About ICAST
ICAST 2005 is being widely promoted throughout the industry
through editorial content and ads in Fishing Tackle Retailer, Tackle Trade World,
Big Rock Sports and American Rod & Gun publications and a Web banner ad on
Maurice’s Web page. Our thanks go to our industry members for all their
support!
ICAST on the Web
ICAST exhibitors and attendees can find a wealth of information
about ICAST on ASA’s
Web site. Everything from registration, to the list of exhibitors, to the
show schedule and much, much more is located there. We’ve completely revamped
the navigation to make information easier to find. We update the site regularly,
so, please check back often for all the latest information about ICAST 2005.
ASA and Foundation Staff Attend North American Meeting
ASA’s Vice President, Director for Ocean Resource
Policy, Communications Director, GA Policy Fellow and the Executive
Director and Assistant Director of the Future Fisherman Foundation
attended the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference
in northern Virginia where they participated in a myriad of committee
meetings of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies,
made presentations and met with numerous state and federal fish and
wildlife administrators.
Policy Watch—Government Affairs Update
For more information on ASA Government Affairs activities, contact Gordon
Robertson, VP and Government Affairs, x237 or Carol
Forthman, director, Ocean Resource Policy, x244.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
In March, ASA made a presentation on MPAs at the Managing Fisheries
II Conference in Washington, D.C. ASA also sent comments to the California
Blue Ribbon Panel on the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), and will
continue to partner with the local angling groups, such as United Anglers
of Southern California and the Coastside Fishing Club, who are active
in the MLPA process.
IRS and Excise Tax
Communication continues with the IRS about industry concerns regarding
fairness and consistency in the application of the federal excise tax. During
its March 2005 meeting, ASA’s Board of Directors established
a special committee to advise staff on the excise tax issue. A meeting
between the IRS, ASA staff and advisory committee members is planned
for May 2005.
Forest Service Fisheries Program
ASA continues to take a leadership role in the effort to implement
recommendations provided for the U.S. Forest Service’s fisheries
program that would benefit the fishery resource and anglers. The
recommendations are the result of a 2004 evaluation and report in which
ASA participated. The Forest Service offers the most extensive fishing
opportunities of all federal land agencies and ensuring a successful
Forest Service fishery program is vital to anglers and the industry.
National Fisheries Habitat Initiative
ASA is a member of the group directing the National Fisheries
Habitat Initiative. ASA attended the third national meeting of this
group composed of federal, state, industry, NGOs and other organizations
and agencies. The initiative’s purpose is to coordinate all state
and federal agency fish habitat efforts in order to be better stewards
of the nation’s fishery resources. The next meeting is in Grand
Rapids, Michigan, in May.
OMB Evaluation of USFWS Continues
ASA continues to participate in the Office of Management and Budget’s
evaluation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s fisheries
program. This effort, in which ASA participated in the design
of the evaluation instrument, will be completed before the end of September
2005.
Magnuson-Stevens Update
ASA continues to take the lead in establishing a position on Magnuson-Stevens
Policy development. ASA invited approximately 30 members of the saltwater
angling community to a strategy meeting in San Francisco in January
where various proposals and comments were put forward. The comments
were combined into a series of position statements that is now being
circulated to all the meeting participants.
Angler Advocacy
As an outcome of the March Board of Directors meeting, Government
Affairs has begun staffing a comprehensive ASA committee effort to
examine how an angler advocacy organization would operate. Chaired
by Board Vice Chairman, Randy Lemke, the committee will meet in May
to begin charting a course for angler advocacy between ASA other leading
organizations.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members and former members who have reinstated
their memberships in March: Aim Marine; American Tackle Company; Anglers Marine;
Aqua Logic, Inc.; Aylmer Lake Lodge Ltd.; B & P Innovations; Bag-Em Products;
Big 5 Sporting Goods; Bison Sportslights, Inc.; Blue Water Tackle/San Diego Fly
Shop; Bongos Sportfishing Products; Captain P'Bods Fishing Tackle; Comal Tackle
Company; Creative Sales Company; Davis Boats; DB Marine; Manufacturing; Dongjin
Sports Company; Fish Stix Inc.; Fisherman Landing Tackle Shop; Fisherman's Access;
Fisherman's Hardware HB Inc.; Folbe Products LLC; Gambler Lures; Grand View Media
Group; Green Tackle; Kalex Enterprises Corporation; Ken's Custom Reel Service & Repair;
Kipper Enterprises; Legendary Northwoods, LLC; LX Polarized Optics; M & M
Custom Fishing Rods & Repair; Malone Paddle Gear, LLC; Mounting Systems of
America, LLC; Nanco Fishing Tackle; Pro Power Winder; Reel Expressions; Spectra
Print Corporation; Spin Master Ltd.; Sunset Line & Twine; Team Marine USA;
TGT Tackle, LLC; The Longfin—Tony Reyes Tours; Turners Outdoorsman; United
Cutlery; and Wicked Strike Inc.
Membership Services Needs Your Help
In order to have the most current contact information,
we’re asking ASA members to please update your company’s
listing for our Member Directory. Please go to the Member
Directory on ASA’s Web site to check your listing and e-mail
any changes to Ann Sweeney,
Membership assistant, x241. Thank you for assistance in helping us
to maintain this important resource.
Member Benefits Update
ASA has a variety of benefits which members can
use to help defray business costs. Please go to the ASA Web site
to check out this extensive list of insurance
packages and services. In addition, ASA is in the final steps
of developing a plan that would remove fishing tackle from the high
risk category of sporting good liability for insurance purposes to
its own low risk category saving members money on their liability
insurance premiums. For more information, contact Ric Ice, Membership director, x234.
National Fishing and Boating Education Grants Initiative
Physical education teachers from 21 states sent
41 applications for grants of up to $5,000 to include fishing and/or
boating in their classes during the 2005/2006 school year. These
grant applications are in the process of being reviewed and will
be returned to the Future Fisherman Foundation in early April for
grant recipient announcements. The 2005 National Fishing and Boating
Education Grants Initiative grant recipients will attend a teacher
training workshop in mid-July at Bayou Segnette State Park, Louisiana.
For more information, contact PE Grants Coordinator Jesse
Graytock, x224.
FishAmerica Contributors
As of March 31, 34 ASA members have donated more than $73,500
to FishAmerica through direct donations, licensed product sales, tournament
partnerships and endowment donations. New contributors are listed in
bold type. They are: Angler's Choice/Suncoast of America, LLC; Aqua-Scent;
Boone Bait; Captain Hook Enterprises, LLC; Creek Company; Do-It Corporation;
Emmrod Fishing Gear; Folbe Products, LLC; Frank & Fran's Fisherman's
Friend, Inc.; Gudebrod, Inc.; HMT Marketing, Inc.; JBS Fishing Line;
Kanji International Inc.; Kreha Corporation of America; Lamiglas, Inc.;
Lucky Craft, Inc.; Ludwikoski and Associates, Inc.; Mercury Marine;
NETGRA; O. Mustad & Son (USA) Inc.; Outdoor Cap ; Outdoor Pro Shop;
Pro Line Manufacturing; Pro Line Manufacturing; Reel E Good Products;
Shimano American Corporation; Sphere Group Inc./Pro Baiter; Sportco
Marketing, Inc.; The Redfish Nation/J.M. Associates; Thomas Spinning
Lures, Inc.; Water Gremlin Company; Wright and McGill.
FishAmerica Raises Funds
FishAmerica, in partnership with FLW Outdoors and BP Castrol,
raised nearly $1,100 at the Wal-Mart FLW Tournament in Louisiana, distributing “It’s
Your World” wristbands as a thank you to people who donated $1 or more
to the foundation. The wristbands were funded by BP Castrol and will be available
at the four remaining Wal-Mart FLW Tournaments and other events. For more
information, contact Managing Director, Johanna
Laderman, x245.
FishAmerica and NOAA Agreements Provide Outstanding Habitat Support
In March, FishAmerica closed-out the first of three current
cooperative agreements with NOAA Restoration Center. The 2000 agreement provided
more than $575,000 grassroots groups to restore habitat for marine and anadromous
fish. Matched with sportfishing and boating industry funds, local dollars
and community volunteers, the partnership provided a three-to-one match for the
federal dollars. The partnership helped restore 285 acres of wetland and
reef habitat; and opened 83 river miles and 1,240 acres of spawning and rearing
habitat for fish. Volunteers donated more than 37,500 hours to re-vegetate
miles of stream banks and plant more than 347,800 native plants. For more
information, contact Managing Director, Johanna
Laderman, x245.
Message from the President
I am proud to report that ICAST is, for the third year in a
row, a sell-out show. This is a tremendous achievement for ASA and
the sportfishing community. Because, despite all the advantages that
current technology provides for us, e-mail, fax and the Internet, business
still revolves around face-to-face meetings and ICAST offers the best
opportunity to network with industry representatives. It’s only
at ICAST that you’ll see the best in new product innovations
featured at the New Product Showcase and all the manufacturers’ major
product lines.
Producing a successful trade show takes the effort and talent of many
people. I would sound like an Academy Award winner if I were to list
everyone and every organization that deserves my thanks; however, there
are people who deserve to be recognized for their efforts.
First, I want to thank all the members of the sportfishing industry
for their support and participation, and, in particular, our members
for their dedication and energy in helping to ensure a successful show.
I also want to thank ASA’s Board of Directors and the ICAST Show
Committee for helping guide our efforts to ensure that we consistently
produce the best possible trade show. Long-time former Show Chairman
Burt Steinberg and current Chairman John Jilling deserve special recognition
for their unwavering support of this association and ICAST.
Despite the ongoing issues that take our attention and time, I believe
that we, as an industry, have a passion for our business that helps
us transcend our differences and work together to safeguard and promote
the enduring values of fishing.
I’m looking forward to a great ICAST 2005.
