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A periodic information source for members of the American Sportfishing Association and partners on issues of interest to the future of fishing.

May 2005 Member Update

Final Notice—Board of Directors Election
Ballots for the Board of Directors election were mailed on April 29, 2005. 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. 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. For more information, contact Board Liaison Joyce Anderson-Logan, x233. For more information about membership status, contact Membership Services Director Ric Ice, x234.

ASA Informs Members About Excise Tax Issues
In response to the IRS’s stepped-up compliance activities related to payment of the manufacturers’ excise tax on sportfishing equipment, on May 16, ASA sent a memo to potentially affected members outlining both ASA and IRS activities. During its March meeting, ASA’s Board of Directors created an Excise Tax Committee to respond to member concerns. The Excise Tax Committee met at ASA and discussed current issues concerning the IRS and excise taxes in preparation for its May 3 meeting with IRS officials. The meeting with the IRS yielded three results: an agreement by the IRS to produce an excise tax guidance document of its revised essential terms; an invitation for a subgroup (Excise Tax Committee) to provide comment to the IRS on essential terms such as “who is the manufacturer” and “who is importer;” and an agreement from the IRS to hold a meeting in which the agency will explain the concept of closing agreements to potentially affected industry members. This meeting, tentatively scheduled for June 9 in Washington, D.C. is being rescheduled for sometime in the next few weeks. ASA will inform potentially affected members when a date and time are confirmed. Please contact Gordon Robertson or Mike Nussman for more information.

ASA Hosts Conference Call About Excise Tax Issues
On Friday, May 20, ASA held a moderated conference call for ASA’s manufacturing and importing members to discuss the excise tax issues outlined in the May 16 memo. Approximately 25 members joined Mike Nussman, Gordon Robertson, Rod DeArment, ASA’s tax attorney, Dave Pfeiffer, ASA Board chairman, and Geoff Ratte, Trade and Commerce Committee and Excise Tax Committee chair. The panel made brief comments before answering participants’ questions which focused primarily on IRS actions and ASA’s role in managing the issue. For more information, contact Mike Nussman or Gordon Robertson.

ASA Events for National Fishing & Boating Week
ASA is still taking reservations for ASA-sponsored activities (June 6-8) during National Fishing and Boating Week. ASA committees meeting during that time frame are: Government Affairs; Freshwater Subcommittee; Saltwater Subcommittee; Data and Statistics; Excise Tax; and Finance. James Connaughton, chairman of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality, is the featured lunch speaker on Tuesday, June 7. Bill Hogarth, assistant administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, is the speaker for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s breakfast, Wednesday, June 8. ASA’s Congressional Reception is scheduled for Tuesday evening, June 7, in Dirkson 106 (Senate side). Available on ASA’s Web site is registration information, housing info and the full schedule of events. ASA will be holding many of its events at the Sheraton Suites in Alexandria (Old Town), Virginia. Although the ASA room block is no longer available, please call the hotel directly at 800.325.3535 to inquire about reservations. For more information, contact Policy Fellow Patrick O’Rouke, x230, or Brad Fisher, assistant director, Communications, x222.

ICAST—Industry Breakfast
The sportfishing community gathers together on Wednesday morning, July 20, at the Industry Breakfast to officially kick-off ICAST 2005. During this event, ASA President and CEO, Mike Nussman, presents his state of the industry address. Cindy Garrison, outdoor TV host and international professional angler and guide, is this year's keynote speaker. Cindy will speak about her experiences and her view of sportfishing’s future. Tickets are required. For more information, contact Communications Director, Mary Jane Williamson, x227.

Avoiding “Nature Deficit Disorder”
The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation produced a video news release (VNR) that will be released in time to take advantage of the Memorial Day holiday and National Fishing and Boating Week. The VNR features Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods,” who describes how modern technology and other pressures are keeping children from the out-of-doors. It also features Cindy Garrison, TV host, international professional angler and guide and ICAST Industry Breakfast speaker, who provides tips on how to plan a successful family fishing trip. The key message is that fishing is an excellent way to introduce children to the out-of-doors. For more information, contact Kirk Gillis, Communications director, RBFF, 703.519.0013.

ICAST Registration
ICAST 2005 is shaping up to be an outstanding show! As of May 20, 386 exhibitors have reserved 1,178 booths for ICAST 2005. The mailing of badges and ICAST information for registered exhibitors and attendees will start in early June. Badge holders and ICAST Buyers’ Guides will be available at the Las Vegas Convention Center’s main registration area. Register now and avoid the long lines on-site. Registration is quick and easy. Visit our online registration today to get started. ICAST host hotels are accepting housing reservations. 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 or Kelly Camirand, x231.

ICAST Co-locating with MAATS in 2005/2006
In 2005 and 2006, ICAST coincides with the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show (MAATS), which targets the special requirements of marine distributors, national retailers and accessory buyers from marine dealerships.  The co-location of the trade shows increases business opportunities for attendees of both shows. Attendees of ICAST can take advantage of free admission to MAATS all-day, Friday, July 22, with a valid ICAST badge. For more information on MAATS, visit NMMA.

ICAST Seminars
ICAST 2005 will feature three seminar topics covering radio frequency tags, paying the federal excise tax and conducting an effective press event. The radio frequency tag seminar, a two-part session given by Dave Stewart, AMT Systems and Jeff Benton, IBM Business Consulting Services, will demonstrate and assist companies in dealing with the effects of the recently implemented requirements on passive radio frequency identification tags. Paying the federal excise tax is offered in two parts: basic and advanced. Jack Brown, IRS Sport Fishing and Archery Excise Tax Specialist, will offer information on paying the tax and provide updates on tax code changes. Henry Hammonds, owner of SeaStar Marketing, will share his winning strategies and thoughts on creating and conducting events that garner press coverage. For more information on the ICAST seminars contact Ric Ice, x234.

ICAST—Reaching Out to Retailers
During May, ASA mailed an information packet to 80 selected retailers personally inviting them to ICAST 2005.  ASA’s outreach effort, followed up by personal calls, seeks to increase attendance at the show and open up the ICAST experience to new attendees and potential members. For more information, please contact Maria del Valle, x240 or Ric Ice, x234.

Updated Sportfishing Data Available on the Web
The latest indices regarding rainfall, fishing license sales and tackle imports are now available on the ASA Web site. The information is current as of the first quarter of 2005. Also available are 2004 year-end comparisons with 2003. The business outlook indices, which cover optimism and sales and inventory outlook up through June 2005, are also available. ASA’s Data and Statistics Committee is meeting in June to discuss industry information needs. If you have questions, please contact Communications Director, Mary Jane Williamson, x227.

Congressional Casting Call
In late April, ASA staff members participated in the 6th Annual Congressional Casting Call in Washington, D.C.  The event, hosted by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) and American Sportfishing Association (ASA), provided elected officials; their staff and members of the administration the chance to experience a day of fishing on the Potomac River in order to better understand how the decisions they make impact the nation’s 44 million anglers. Approximately 15 members of Congress and numerous staff and executive branch staff were on hand for the event. For more information, contact Patrick O’Rouke, Policy Fellow, x230.

ASA Welcomes New Show Staff Member
Kelly Camirand joins ASA as the new ICAST Coordinator. Kelly comes to ASA with a background in tourism and event planning having worked in the industry in Hawaii and most recently for the Hawaii Convention Center's Washington, D.C. office. Welcome, Kelly! Her contact information is kcamirand@asafishing.org, x231.

April/May Edition of American Sportfishing
The April/May edition of ASA’s newsletter, American Sportfishing is now available. Copies were mailed in early May. This edition features ICAST and the National Fishing and Boating Week preview and much more. For an electronic copy please visit the ASA Web site under the Newsroom – Newsletters.

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.

NOAA Seeks to Inform Sportfishing Community
In April, Mike Nussman and ASA GA staff attended a NOAA-sponsored meeting in Florida to discuss saltwater sportfishing issues. Approximately 120 individuals attended the meeting where NOAA briefed the participants on its activities related to recreational fishing as well as solicited input. Major topics of discussion were the upcoming reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, various ocean policy legislation and marine protected areas.

ASA Active in Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Activities
Gordon Robertson, ASA VP and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Board member, attended the spring Board meeting where the Foundation discussed its plans to continue building a state caucus system of sportsmen legislators to compliment the 330 member Congressional Sportsmen Caucus. There are now 23 state legislatures with state sportsmen caucuses.

Ocean Policy Issues
ASA met with staff of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) responsible for oceans policy to discuss several issues relating to ocean policy and the administration’s view and position. ASA also met with CEQ staff regarding the re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.

ASA met with NOAA’s new Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce to discuss a variety of ocean issues and the administration’s view and position on them. Topics included reauthorization of Magnuson-Stevens Act; striped bass as potential game fish; the President’s response to the Oceans Commission report; and various ocean policy bills.

The Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization position statements from the San Francisco January 2005 meeting have been circulated to all participants with several organizations submitting approval. ASA has met with staff from the Senate, the House of Representatives and the President's Council on Environmental Quality to voice the issues of interest to ASA.

ASA has been tracking bills filed in state legislatures that proposed to establish state ocean commissions similar to the federal ocean commission. While five bills have been filed in four states, none have passed. Florida and Washington legislatures adjourned without voting on their bills. The bills in Massachusetts and Oregon have not shown any movement.

Rise to the Future in Fisheries
The U.S. Forest Service fishery program “Rise to the Future” implementation team met in Denver to discuss progress and determine how to implement two key recommendations: dealing with budgets and the advisory council to the Chief of the Forest Service. ASA played a key role in the development and work of the Rise to the Future Task Force 2003 which submitted its final report to the USFS in April 2004.

Robertson Briefs BASS Directors
Gordon Robertson met with and spoke to BASS state Conservation Directors during their national meeting to discuss current fishery issues and how to more effectively communicate with legislators.

Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members who joined ASA in April: Albino Lures; Boyd's Seafood, Inc.; Caretakers 2, LLC; Flitz International Ltd.; Herb Wolk Associates; Import Merchandiser's Inc.; International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies; Let's Talk Hook-up, Inc.; The Men's Channel; RMR Industries; and Sunset Line & Twine. Baker Manufacturing Company reinstated its membership in April. Welcome to ASA!

Membership Services Still 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.

FishAmerica Benefits From FLW Support
FLW Outdoors, the Wal-Mart Open Tournament organizer, is a six-year partner of FishAmerica, providing more than $235,000 in donations for grassroots fisheries restoration projects. During April, FishAmerica attended the annual Sponsors Dinner and participated in the Family Fishing Zone held in conjunction with the four-day, Wal-Mart Open in Arkansas. In the “Zone,” FishAmerica distributed wristbands, sponsored by BP, as a thank you to those who donated $1.00 or more to FishAmerica, raising $1,700 dedicated to restoring fish habitat in Beaver Lake, Arkansas. More information is available in the April/May issue of ASA’s newsletter. For more information, contact FishAmerica Managing Director Johanna Laderman, x245.

FishAmerica Project Supports Striped Bass
FishAmerica staff attended the unveiling of the Millsboro Pond Eel Passage in Millsboro, Delaware. The project, which came in under budget, improved American eel passage to the Millsboro Pond. Eel is a favorite forage food of striped bass. Millsboro Pond is a popular fishing and boating recreation area for residents and visitors to southern Delaware. For more information, contact FishAmerica Managing Director Johanna Laderman, x245.

Grants Awarded to Restore Chesapeake Bay Habitat
FishAmerica and the Chesapeake Bay Trust awarded three grants totaling $57,000 to local conservation organizations to stabilize shoreline and renew vegetation in riparian areas along selected areas of Maryland tributaries that flow into the Chesapeake Bay. For more information, contact FishAmerica Coordinator Jeff Bloem, x247.

2005 FishAmerica Endowment Pledges Fulfilled
Grady-White Boats, Mercury Marine, the Porthouse Foundation, and Zebco have fulfilled their five-year pledge to the FishAmerica Foundation. Collectively, the endowment campaign raised more than $300,000 for long-term support for FishAmerica’s fisheries conservation and research efforts. For more information, contact FishAmerica Managing Director Johanna Laderman, x245.

FishAmerica Contributors
As of April 30, 37 members of the American Sportfishing Association have donated more than $107,000 to FishAmerica through direct donations, licensed-product sales, tournament partnerships and endowment donations. Names in bold have donated since the April 2005 Member Update. The members are: Angler's Choice/Suncoast of America, LLC; Aqua-Scent; Boone Bait ; Captain Hook Enterprises, LLC; Castaic Soft Bait, Inc.; 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.; Lil' Hustler; Lipper Tools, Inc.; Lucky Craft, Inc.; Ludwikoski and Associates, Inc.; Mercury Marine; NETGRA; O. Mustad & Son (USA) Inc.; Outdoor Cap ; Outdoor Pro Shop; Persuader American Angling; Pro Line Manufacturing; Reel E Good Products; Shimano American Corporation; Sphere Group Inc./Pro Baiter; Sportco Marketing, Inc.; Team Nu-Mark; The Redfish Nation/J.M. Associates; Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc.; Water Gremlin Company; Wright and McGill Company; and Yakima Bait Company.

2005/2006 National Fishing and Boating Grants Awarded
Recipients of the 2005/2006 National Fishing and Boating grants school year have been awarded with 35 schools in 20 states to receive funding to include fishing and/or boating units in their physical education classes. The grant recipients will attend a workshop Louisiana in July. The purpose of this workshop is to assist each grant recipient in developing effective fishing and/or boating curriculum. For more information, contact PE Grants Coordinator Jesse Graytock, x224.

Alliance for Fly Fishing Education (AFFE)
In May, the new Alliance Board of Directors met to discuss governance and procedures. Anne Glick, Future Fisherman Foundation’s executive director, is a member of the Board. Membership in the AFFE is available to any national, regional or local educational outreach organization that directly provides fly fishing education services incorporating stewardship and ethical angling behavior. For more information, contact Anne Glick, x238.

HOFNOD Instructor Training Workshops
In April, 182 new Hooked On Fishing—Not On Drugs® (HOFNOD) instructors were trained during three regional workshops held in Kentucky. The workshops were sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Kentucky-based non-profit, anti-drug abuse organization Operation UNITE. Operation UNITE is supplying mini-grants to each new HOFNOD program for the purchase of fishing equipment and instructional materials. A fourth HOFNOD instructor training workshop, sponsored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, was held near Augusta, Maine. For more information, contact Future Fisherman Foundation Assistant Director Laura Jerome, x254.

Future Fisherman Presents at AAPHERD Convention
The foundation conducted a workshop on submitting grant applications during the American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAPHERD) Convention held in Chicago reaching approximately 500 prospective applicants. For more information, contact PE Grants Coordinator Jesse Graytock, x224.

Heritage Society Member Supports Foundations
A June 2–30 exhibition of furniture handcrafted by Richmond, Virginia, ASA Heritage Society member, Sam Forrest, will benefit ASA foundations. For more information, contact Philanthropy Officer John Bryan, x246.

International Corporation Supports FishAmerica
BP Lubricants included the FishAmerica Foundation in an event held at its headquarters in Wayne, New Jersey. BP will spotlight the foundation during its Environmental Awareness Week, June 6-12, 2005 (National Fishing and Boating Week) with sales of wristbands at all BP's U.S. locations. BP employees will also volunteer with grassroots fisheries projects supported by the Foundation. For more information, contact Philanthropy Officer John Bryan, x246 or Foundation Managing Director, Johanna Laderman, x245.

Message from the President
As you may have heard, the IRS has stepped-up its compliance activities related to the payment of the manufacturers’ excise tax on sportfishing equipment. In addition, it appears the agency has revised its interpretations of essential terms such as “who is the manufacturer” and “who is the importer.” Although the IRS stepped-up its current activities, it’s clear the agency hasn’t invested the training in its agents to ensure consistent information is provided to the industry regarding excise tax compliance. The result is uneven application of the tax law with the industry paying the excise tax in a variety of ways.

Frankly, this is unacceptable. I can tell you that ASA’s concern over IRS treatment of the sportfishing industry is not new and it’s an issue that’s been a top priority on my agenda for several years. Just recently, we have had several meetings with IRS officials where we have stressed the importance of fair and consistent application of the tax law. In March, ASA’s Board of Directors established an Excise Tax Committee which met with the IRS on May 3. As a result, the IRS agreed to three things: produce an excise tax document of its essential terms; meet with a subgroup of the Excise Tax Committee to review the document; and hold a meeting in Washington, D.C. where the IRS will explain what it may propose as a way to come to terms with its uneven interpretation of the excise tax law as it relates to penalties.

So, where is the bright line in all this? That remains to be seen. There is some indication of what the IRS will do, but I have no definitive answers. However, I assure you that ASA’s primary goal is to protect the industry’s interests and ensure the fair and consistent application of the federal manufacturers’ excise tax law. We will keep you informed as we progress through this process. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

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