November
2008 American Sportfishing Association Member Update
Member
Updates are e-mailed monthly to members of the American Sportfishing
Association and our partners on issues of interest to the future
of fishing. For more information, contact ASA
Communications, 703.519.9691.
BELOW
IS A LIST OF TOPICS IN THIS UPDATE. Please scroll down for the
complete document. Previous ASA Member Updates are available in
the ASA
Newsroom.
Each
month ASA e-mails an update on its Government Affairs activities
called Policy Watch.
These documents can be found in the Government Affairs section of ASA’s
Web site.
Take Advantage of ICAST 2009 and Orlando, Florida
2008 Sportfishing Summit Recap on the Web
Watch Your E-mail for the ASA Communications Survey
World’s Largest Dam Removal Agreement Reached
October/November Issue of American Sportfishing Available
ASA Consumer Shows Approaching Fast
Welcome New Members
Take an Active Role in New Member Recruitment
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
Take Advantage of ICAST 2009 and Orlando, Florida
ICAST 2009 , the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, will be held July 15 – 17, in Orlando, Fla. More than 40 percent of the nation’s sportfishing retail sales are realized in the southeastern United States. With more than 70 percent of the show floor already sold out, now is the time to make plans to exhibit at ICAST 2009. A current list of exhibitors and the ICAST 2009 floor plan are available on ASA’s Web site . For more questions about exhibiting at ICAST 2009, please visit the ICAST Web site or contact Kenneth Andres , ICAST Associate, x231.
2008 Sportfishing Summit Recap on the Web
A recap of the 2008 Sportfishing Summit, including the ASA Board of Directors action report , is now available on ASA’s Web site . Mark your calendars now for the 2009 Sportfishing Summit scheduled for October 27 – 29, at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego. For more information, contact Mary Jane Williamson , x227, or Ryan Colaianni , x222.
Watch Your E-mail for the ASA Communications Survey
Please be on the lookout for the 2008 ASA Member Communications Survey which will land in your e-mail inbox the week of December 8. We want to hear from ASA members regarding how effective we are in keeping you up-to-date about ASA’s programs and activities and the broader issues that have an impact on the sportfishing industry. It will only take 5 - 10 minutes of your time to help us do a better job of keeping you informed. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Jane Williamson , x227.
World’s Largest Dam Removal Agreement Reached
On November 13, PacifiCorp, an energy provider in the northwestern United States, agreed to remove four dams on California’s Klamath River opening up more than 300 miles of habitat for the Klamath’s salmon and steelhead populations and eliminate water quality problems caused by the dams’ reservoirs. The Agreement in Principle, released on November 13, is intended to guide the development of a final settlement agreement in June 2009, which includes provisions to remove PacifiCorp’s four main dams in 2020, a century after the first dam was constructed. In August 2006, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and 11 other conservation groups requested that PacifiCorp remove the dams. This initiative was sparked by the application filed by PacifiCorp for renewal of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permits for the dams. The last time the permits were renewed occurred long before most environmental laws were enacted.
October/November Issue of American Sportfishing Available on Web
The October/November issue of American Sportfishing, ASA’s newsletter, is available in PDF format on ASA’s Web site along with issues dating back to 2002.
ASA Consumer Shows Approaching Fast
The ASA/Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Exposition and Fred Hall’s Fishing Tackle and Boat Shows consumer shows are fast approaching. Now is the time to reserve your exhibit space. Take advantage of three of the largest northeastern markets by exhibiting at: The Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo , Worcester, Mass., Feb. 5-8, The Toyota World Fishing & Outdoor Expo , Suffern, N.Y., Mar. 5-8, and The Toyota Saltwater Fishing Expo , Somerset, N.J., Mar. 20-22. For more information contact Jonathan Sauers , 603-431-4315. Take advantage of the west coast’s largest consumer shows by exhibiting at the Long Beach Convention Center, March 4-8, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds show, March 25-29. For more information, contact Bart Hall or Mike Lum , 805-389-3339.
Welcome New Members!
ASA welcomes these new members or members who reinstated their membership in November: American Fly Fishing Trade Association, Louisville, CO; Big Bass Tour, Plano, TX; Center for Coastal Conservation, Baton Rouge, LA; Davidson, Davidson & Kappel, LLC, New York, NY; Denali Rods, Mountain Home, AR; E-BASSLURES, Kalahed, HI; Great Lake Planers, Three Mice Bay, NY; Hardware Merchandisers, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL; THFS, Inc. dba Fetha Styx, Redmond, WA; NAV-GO, Newport, NC; Recycled Fish, A Non-Profit Corporation, Council Bluffs, IA and Sunsational Distributing, Inc., Tequesta, FL.
Take an Active Role in New Member Recruitment
ASA launched two new recruitment tactics that makes it easier for current members to refer new members for ASA membership. ASA created a prospect page to answer prospective members’ questions and mail sample publications to those who inquire about ASA. If you would like to help ASA recruit new members, please include http://www.asafishing.org/tellmemore/ in your e-mail signature line, your e-mails to business colleagues or include the link on your Web site. ASA has also produced a new membership brochure and is asking its members to help distribute these in company mailings, at tradeshows and during presentations. Please contact Jill Calabria for more information or to obtain copies of this brochure.
Membership Dues – Renew Your Commitment
ASA mailed its annual membership dues renewal invoices in late October with a due date of November 15 for full or first installment payment. If you wish to renew your membership using a credit card or have questions about membership, please call Membership Director Jill Calabria, x234. If you have already made your payment, thank you for your renewed commitment to ASA.
FishAmerica Foundation Updates
To help FishAmerica keep our nation’s fish and waters healthy, visit FishAmerica online at www.fishamerica.org or contact Executive Director Johanna Laderman, x245, or Grants Manager Erica George, x247.
FishAmerica and NOAA Restoration Center Awards $435,000 for Habitat Restoration
The FishAmerica Foundation, through its partnership with the NOAA Restoration Center, has awarded $435,000 to community-based organizations to restore critical habitat for marine and anadromous fish in states along the coastal United States. The local groups will provide nearly $1 million in matching funds through cash and in-kind donations. These upcoming projects will improve water quality and restore habitat in areas in Oregon, California, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts and Maine. Since 1998, the partnership has invested more than $5 million in fisheries habitat restoration in 25 states – leveraging an additional $6.4 million from local communities for a total of more than $11 million invested in restoring habitat that is critical for marine and anadromous sportfish.
Future Fisherman Foundation Updates
For more information on Future Fisherman activities, contact Executive Director Anne Danielski, x254, or Manager of Education Teresa Rodriguez, x224.
Future Fisherman Board Votes to Seek Alternative Funding to Keep Foundation Running
The Future Fisherman Foundation’s board of directors is currently seeking alternative funding and donations to avoid suspending foundation operations. The foundation’s board met on November 18 to discuss funding concerns after learning a grant which provides significant funding for the foundation was no longer available in 2009. If substantive and sustaining funding sources for its programs cannot be found by January 31, the foundation board will vote to suspend the foundations operations effective March 31. In a separate action, due to the current state of the economy and the loss of funding, during its October meeting the American Sportfishing Association’s (ASA) board of directors passed a motion to suspend its core support for the foundation effective March 31, 2009. For more information on the Foundation’s initiatives or to make a charitable donation to help ensure the future of fishing, visit the foundation’s Web site at www.futurefisherman.orgor contact either Anne Danielski or Teresa Rodriguez.
Message from ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman
Like many of you; I look to the holiday season as a time to focus on family and friends. During Thanksgiving, when I looked around the table, I was reminded of how truly grateful I for that I have. While it is often hard in these difficult economic times to look past the morning’s headlines, I do find it useful to remind myself that this too will pass. As 2008 is coming to a close, I want to thank all of you - our members - for your unwavering support of the American Sportfishing Association. From ICAST to the Sportfishing Summit to your support in our fight to maintain access to fishing, it’s you who have helped ASA maintain its unified voice for the sportfishing industry.
We know there is plenty of work to be done to get our economy on track. However, please be assured that your business interests are at the forefront of our efforts. We have begun discussions on your behalf with President-elect Obama’s transition team to ensure that his administration understands the crucial role that sportsmen and women play in this country’s conservation efforts. Our initial meeting with the transition team went well and we look forward to representing your best interests throughout the Obama administration.
While President-elect Obama is not (yet) an angler, I am encouraged by the comments he made in support of fishing and the shooting sports during his campaign, including the need to be “good stewards of the land.” President-elect Obama also talked about the need for a science-based approach in terms of our managing our natural resources. I could not agree with more, particularly as we continue to fight against no-take zones in the central Pacific Ocean and anywhere in the United States where access is in jeopardy.
Your membership dues are what enable ASA to fight for your best interest, and I assure you that your voice will continue to be heard in this new administration.
As I look forward to 2009, I want to thank you in advance for your help and support. Thanks to your support, ASA will continue to look out for your best interests in 2009 and beyond.
