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2008 Sportfishing Summit

2008 Sportfishing Summit Brings Industry Leaders Together 

Despite some last minute changes in the 2008 Sportfishing Summit’s venue and agenda brought about by Hurricane Ike which pummeled Galveston, Texas, this year’s Summit accomplished what the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) set out to do: conduct the association’s business and provide an opportunity for networking among its members.

2008 Summit
Randy Lemcke, left, vice president, Plano Molding Company and immediate past chairman of ASA’s board of directors, is presented with a copy of Executive Order 13449 by ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman, center. Former ASA board Chairman Bill Miller (1995 – 1997), retired from Wright & McGill, Denver, Colo., is on the right. The 2007 order established striped bass and red drum as federal gamefish.

Despite the unstable economy and the change of venue, more than 100 sportfishing industry leaders representing 66 companies and organizations from the United States and Canada gathered Oct. 28 – 30, at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver to focus their efforts on the issues facing the sportfishing industry.

ASA Thanks Randy Lemcke for His Service
During the Summit, ASA presented Randy Lemcke, vice president, Plano Molding Company and immediate past chairman of ASA’s board of directors with a framed copy of  Executive Order 12962 in recognition of his service as ASA’s chairman for from 2006 – 2008.

Executive Order 13449, signed by President George W. Bush in 2007, established striped bass and red drum as federal gamefish.

Executive Committee Appointed
A new Executive Committee also was appointed during the Summit. The association’s officers, who will serve two-year terms, are: Chairman of the Board Jeff Pontius, president, ZEBCO Brands; Immediate Past Chairman Randy Lemcke, vice president, Plano Molding Co.; Vice Chairman Jeff Marble, CEO, Frabill, Inc.; Secretary Gregg Wollner, executive vice president, Rapala; Treasurer Peter Foley, president, Boone Bait Company; and At-Large Gary Zurn, senior vice president, Big Rock Sports. 

General Membership Meeting Report
ASA’s board of directors made took action on a number of motions. These actions were reported during the General Membership meeting held Thursday, Oct. 30. With the exception of one motion which was put forward during the Oct. 28 board meeting, the other motions for board action came through ASA’s committees which met on Wednesday, October 29.

2008 Sportfishing Summit Sponsors
ASA would like to thank its sponsors the FishAmerica Foundation, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and ZEBCO Brands for helping to make this year’s membership meeting a great success.


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