OWAC News: Our Monthly Newsletter

OWAC News is published in the Member Area of this site at the beginning of each month except January. All Regular and Supporting Members are sent an email notification.

Regular or Supporting Members may submit material to Editor Yvonne Graham at owac.director@gmail.com.

A sample issue follows.

 

OWAC News

June 2010

President's Message

The big news for this month is the Conference and awards banquet hosted by the Municipality of La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico. For those who were able to attend I need not say anything except a huge thanks to our hosts.

For those not able to attend suffice it to say the whole conference was "way north of expected." The people of the Municipality of La Paz are very proud of where they live and were able to show us why. We were given hospitality fit for royalty.

If anyone would still like to make the trip, we have been invited to visit, as small groups or individually. All transportation and meals may not be easy to provide, but if anyone is interested in exploring La Paz, Ricardo Garcia will be able to help with accommodations and activities.

Now, let's give payback to our hosts by spreading the good news about La Paz.

The awards program had a lot excitement. We have a lot of new talented members gaining recognition in different fields. For example, the Writer of the Year, Paul Lebowitz, is an angler, but his specialty is kayaking, and Chris Collard begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting won numerous awards for stories and photos related to off-roading.

"Hook and bullet" is still our mainstay, but our National Parks, wildlands, lakes, streams and oceans are the real focus now of sharing with our audience. Any way to encourage people to get off the couch and experience the outdoors firsthand, instead on a "nature channel," should be our goal.

To continue to expand our influence we must continue to bring in new talent. Non-consumptive outdoor pursuits are growing more popular, and conservation is a greater concern than ever for  anglers and hunters. This will give OWAC more opportunity for subject material. Let us stay at the front by sharing true stewardship of nature.

The Board has a few changes. We welcomed Chris Collard begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting as a new board member and elected Mike McKenna begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting as vice president and myself as president. Also, Zack Thomas will passing the baton to a new Executive Director within the next few weeks. His time constraints are interfering with his ability to devote the required time. We have some excellent OWAC members who are willing to step up to the challenge.

Zack has brought OWAC to a new level of professionalism. We owe him for more than he has received for his dedication. We assume Zack that you will remain a member and will be seen at future conferences.

Planning for the Visalia conference, September 11-13, is well underway, and we are hoping to have another exciting Spring 2011 conference and are reviewing some great locations. Of course any suggestions are always welcome.

 --John Henigin, President, (805) 207-3522 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (805) 207-3522      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, john@fishtalkradio.com

All the images in this newsletter are from the recent La Paz conference. We'll have a complete slideshow up on the site soon, but in the meantime, these are a very few highlights. Carina Port begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting shot this one of a curious sea lion at Los Islotes.

Executive Director's Update

President Henigin
At its recent meeting in La Paz, the board of directors elected John Henigin begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting, last year's vice president, to serve as president through the spring 2011 board meeting. Mike McKenna begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting was elected vice president.

Fall '10 Conference
The Fall 2010 Conference is set for Sept. 11-13 in Visalia. Yep, that is indeed a Saturday through a Monday, instead of the usual Sunday through Tuesday schedule. We're hopeful that will make it more convenient for members tied to those pesky 40-hour jobs to attend. Keep in mind that we'll be raffling at least one 4-day, 3-night Baja trip at that conference.

Stepping Down
In case you missed my email last week, July 11 is my last day as executive director. The board hopes to name a replacement within the nex couple of weeks.

Viva Facebook
If you haven't visited OWAC's Facebook page recently (and I don't blame you, I'm a Facebook curmudgeon myself), you really should. It's becoming remarkably active, and there are loads of La Paz pics posted.

--Zack Thomas, Executive Director, (775) 562-4585 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (775) 562-4585      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Mariachis. Holly Heyser photo

Letters, etc.

Lasting Impressions
The incredible La Paz conference is now history and in many ways it will go down as our finest hour. My personal sense was of a group of like-minded individuals bent on getting to the heart of the La Paz and Baja California Sur in every experience offered.
        Those opting to snorkel the warm, clear waters along the shore found tranquility, even while swimming alongside behemoth whale sharks.
        Skills and physical strength were tested as fisher-folk wrestled with everything from pesky needlefish to 400-pound swordfish.
        And the culture, through dance, food, and the ubiquitous Mariachi Band, in the form of Mariachi Baja Sur, was lavished upon each of us in turn.
        I, for one, will take away a sense of warmth, security and beauty. La Paz displayed a blending of the traditional view of Mexico and a new progressive land filled with opportunities for exciting adventure as well as a bit of the old “manana” feeling.
--Bob Semerau, OWAC Membership Outreach and Publicity Chairman

Fish of a lifetime—Harry Morse fought his 380-lb. swordfish for 3-1/2 hours.

Hello from the Rookie on the BOD
I wanted to take a minute to thank you for your vote of confidence in electing me to the OWAC Board of Directors. After sitting in on the BOD meeting in La Paz, and at the previous conference at Lake Almanor, it is clear that the current state of our association is due to countless hours of hard work, dedication, and the behind-the-scenes organizational skills of the past and present Boards of Directors, and the executive director.Collard
        In La Paz I was asked to take over OWAC’s Outdoor Outreach Program. Outreach’s focus is to provide small grants to California non-profit groups who “protect, support and/or improve the atmosphere and enjoyment for the people of the state.” At first glance, this definition is painted with a fairly broad brush, and it is. Outreach has provided grants for photography programs for at-risk inner-city kids, the purchase of camping cots for the disabled, and for fishing gear to teach our next generation how to do…what many of us do…Fish!!
        As you may know, Outreach is funded primarily by our conference raffles and other fundraisers. In other words, your support in the OWAC raffles really does make a different.
        I also wanted to say how honored I was to receive not one, but four awards at the La Paz conference (and Best Freelance Journalism to boot). Though the beautiful wood plaques did push my check bag over the weight limit, I’ll be proud to display them in my office.
        BTW, if you didn’t make it to La Paz…bummer!! John Henigin begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting, his committee, and the City of La Paz did an amazing job. Scuba diving and snorkeling, fishing, scenic flights, swimming with whale sharks, walks on white-sand beaches, good food and friends… and the list goes on! A big thanks to everyone involved!!
        I’m looking forward to working with the BOD this year and will be reaching out to the membership for suggestions for possible Outreach beneficiaries. I can be contacted at: chris@adventurearchitects.com or chris@chriscollard.com.

--Chris Collard

No One Will Use an Outreach Grant Better
This year’s Wheelchair Fishing Derby, held on May 14 in Monterey, featured 17 boats and 340 anglers. The fact that salmon season was open again after three years added to the excitement.John Spurr and Dennis Bott
        This is not your typical fishing derby. Of the 18 anglers who fished aboard the Star of Monterey, 10 were wheelchair bound. Obviously, the chair was not a requirement for entry; disability was.
        Volunteers helped the anglers as necessary, but many of the men have taken this trip for years and can do much of the baiting, the pulling and the winding themselves. On an overcast day with moderate swell, they tied their chairs to the rail and away they sailed.
        John Spurr, an Air Force Vietnam Veteran, emerged the winner of the first day’s contest with a sleek 18-pounder. An avid angler for many varieties of southern California’s fresh- and saltwater fish, Spurr had never fished for salmon. Fishing in the bow of the 65-foot party boat Star of Monterey, Spurr had his bait at 20 pulls when he saw a nice fish swimming on the surface. So he wound up to where the fish could see his bait.
        “No!” you’re tempted to shout, and before you can say “That won’t work,” the fish had taken the bait and the fight was on. more

Local flavor. Barbara Steinberg begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting photo

New Members and Member News

Got news you'd like to share with other OWAC members? Send material to Executive Director Zack Thomas at owac.director@gmail.com or 8 Amberwood Ct., Fort Smith, AR 72903.

  • OWAC welcomes new member JR Johnson of Lakewood, a freelance cartoonist, illustrator and writer. Johnson's column, "JR's Journeys," appears regularly in RV Journal, and his cartoons appear in RV Journal and The Log. To see Johnson's work, visit www.jrillustration.com. Johnson can be reached at jr@jrillustration.com.
  • Stacy Corless has been named Executive Director of the nonprofit conservation organization Friends of the Inyo, which, among other things, coordinates a Volunteer Vacations program in the high Sierra. Discounts are available for OWAC members. more
  • An interview with Rebecca K. O'Connor recently appeared in Coachella Review, here.
  • Kathie Morgan begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting (right) caught a 6-pound, 15-ounce largemouth while fishing the Dry Creek arm of Lake Sonoma under overcast skies on May 16. "She jumped shortly after taking the bait," Kathie wrote, "and jumped a second time at the boat, giving my old heart a real workout." Kathie was fishing with her husband, David. The big largemouth plus nine keeper smallmouth all came on Shad Raps.
  • The Fish & Fly "media empire," for which Paul Sharman serves as editor, was recently profiled in the UK's leading fishing industry magazine, Angling International. more
  • The inaugural issue of Bell Tower, the university magazine Zack Thomas edits, mailed in early May. Thomas started from scratch last November. The online edition launched several weeks later. (The second spread of the "flipbook" loads slowly.)

Members' Recent Work

Links to selected pieces recently published by OWAC members. Send some of yours!

  • John Burk's story about the effect of a lawsuit blocking trout stocking in the Santa Ynez River on two Santa Barbara-area youth programs appeared in the May 20-27 Montecito Journal. page 1 - page 2
  • Janet Fullwood's story about learning to snow-camp appears in the June-July 2010 issue of the Pacific Crest Trail Communicator, the magazine of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. Fullwood also edits the Communicator.
  • Bill Karr's story about a pack-in hunting/fishing/camping trip out of Kennedy Meadows last fall will appear on the Western Outdoor News website. more
  • Meade Fischer begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting wrote about hiking Fort Ord in the May/June 2010 issue of California Explorer. page 1 - page 2

Contrast study. JJ Mays photo

Supporting Member Notes

Supporting Members: Got a new product, upcoming event or anything else you'd like to share news of with OWAC's writers, photographers and broadcasters? Send materials to Executive Director Zack Thomas at owac.director@gmail.com or 8 Amberwood Ct., Fort Smith, AR 72903.

  • OWAC welcomes new supporting member Chrysler Group LLC. Formed in 2009 in a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, Chrysler Group LLC produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck, Mopar and Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) brand vehicles and products. Its product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Jeep Wrangler and Ram Truck. Press fleet vehicles are available for use by OWAC members on assignment. OWAC's primary contact is Scott Brown, Manager, West Region Communications. Brown can be reached at scott.brown@chrysler.com or (877) 433-9378 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (877) 433-9378      end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Learn more at www.media.chrysler.com.
  • Frabill's Hiber-Net, a seriously capable landing net that stows entirely inside its own handle, is now available. Check out the video and contact Leslie Vick at Traditions Media (leslie@traditionsmedia.com or (763) 444-4036 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (763) 444-4036      end_of_the_skype_highlighting) for more details.The beach at Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort
  • The Hotel Buena Vista Beach Resort on Baja's East Cape donated not one but two 4-day, 3-night stays. Stacy Corless won the first in the "remote raffle" at this fall's conference; the second will be up for grabs at the fall conference. Visit www.hotelbuenavista.com to see what you can expect.
  • United Anglers of Southern California and PSO Partners file suit against Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. more
  • Bishop Creek Canyon Summer Trout Derby runs through June 30, with over $3,000 in prozes for tagged fish. more
  • Hobie staffer Morgan Promitz lands 47-lb. white seabass while fishing for calico bass from a stealthy Hobie kayak. more
  • National Shooting Sports Foundation asks gun owners to practice firearm safety every day. more
  • Anglers put a new spin on conservation with "Toss Back Tuesday" fishing trips (release from The Sportfishing Conservancy). more
  • Sportsman Channel invites OWAC members to help feed those less fortunate by volunteering during the "Hunt. Fish. Feed." event in San Diego August 4. Visit www.huntfishfeed.org for details or RSVP as a volunteer to Kim Hawkins at khawkins@thesportsmanchannel.com.
  • California Waterfowl Association fundrising events for June, July and August. more

Jack Holder con un perro bravo. Ken Jones begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting photo

Committee Updates

Membership Outreach (Bob Semerau begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting) — Efforts on behalf of our membership continue to build results as we have seen several new members join our organization this past year.
        While the stringent qualifications preclude membership for some, your friends and acquaintances that do qualify will be forever grateful to you for recommending the organization to them for membership.
Send any referrals you may have to your Membership Outreach Chairman, Bob Semerau begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting by e-mail: VisualBob@cox.net
        Also, as of this issue we will be posting the new Membership Brochure on the website in PDF format. You can find it for download or forwarding to prospective members by clicking on "Downloads" in the left sidebar and then on "Brochure" -- of following this link.
        As directed by the board at the recent La Paz meeting we will be starting a new initiative to build our supporting membership, and Kathie Morgan begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting and I will be spearheading the effort. Look for more info coming up in the next issue of the OWAC newsletter. --BS

Californian of the Year (Kathie Morgan begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting) — Nomination statements and ballots will arrive in mailboxes soon. Voting deadline is July 12.

Outdoor Outreach (Chris Collard begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting) —  See Chris's letter above. Also, we now have a printable application form available on the OWAC website.

Site Selection (Zack Thomas) — The Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau will host the fall 2010 conference September 11-13. Lake County has expressed serious interest in hosting the spring 2011 conference. --ZT

Heading out. Sheila Frauenholz photo

Additional Leads, Opportunities, Announcements

  • Check out the new issue of The Pines Review, which bills itself as a "journal of the art and literature of the outdoor sports for outdoor communicators."
  • Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest to be held in the west--at the David Brower Center Berkeley--for the first time in its 61-year history. more
  • Fall 2010 nonfiction and creative writing courses from UC Davis Extension include "One Month, One Book: Writing Your Novel," "Reading Contemporary Creative Nonfiction as a Writer," others. more

Sunset on the city waterfront. Ken Jones begin_of_the_skype_highlighting     end_of_the_skype_highlighting photo