Featured Member

 

Our winter Featured Member is John Loo. John joined OWAC in 2006 and spends his days worrying about the Internet, social networking, and what it means to outdoor journalism.

He conquers writer's block by

  1. Typing out spontaneous thoughts on the topic
  2. Doing something else for a while (could be writing about something else, but usually involves something visual)
  3. Coming back, reviewing/reorganizing (1), then trying again
  4. Repeating 1-3 as needed.

John's favorite words? arcane, visceral

"I often fish offshore by myself in my 18’ skiff, usually launching at night. When people tell me I’m foolish, I tell them this story:

When I was 8, my Dad took a year’s leave of absence from corporate America to work with the UN. We were stationed in Iraq, in a little agricultural town call Abu Ghraib. There was no prison back in 1963, but we did manage to witness the coup d’etat that put the Baath party in power. Who knew they had so many guns at a US Embassy?

At the end of the year, Dad decided it would be fun to drive from Baghdad to Paris before we came home. Dad packed Mom, my sister (11), me (8), and my brother (6) into our ’62 Corvair (see Ralph Nader’s book “Unsafe at Any Speed”), and we took off for the City of Lights.

We passed through Jordan (where Dad was nearly shot for taking pictures of the Israeli side of the Jerusalem Wall), Lebanon, Turkey (where border guards took Mom and Dad away at gunpoint for questioning), and Greece (where the car broke down in the backcountry). We took a ferry from Athens to Rome (where we nearly had a head-on collision near the Forum); then made our way up the Italian peninsula through Switzerland and into France.

Foolish? Maybe, but it’s not my fault - I get it from my Dad."


You can find his work at: 

Beyond The Breakwater

Ocean Skiff Journal

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 Zack Thomas at owac.director@gmail.com.

A sample issue follows.

 

June 2009 OWAC News


President's Message:

Summertime In The Country

Although it’s been a cool June, I have a feeling that the sun’s going to be a more frequent visitor very soon. As such, it’s a perfect time to get out and enjoy our favorite state.  It’s also the time to start thinking about and planning for the 2009 Fall Conference that will be held at Lake Almanor Sunday, Sept. 20 through Tuesday, Sept. 22. If you’ve never been to that beautiful and amazing area you should make sure you’re able to attend. If you’ve been there before you’re probably already counting the days for your return. Your only problem may be deciding which activity is best for you.

In the meantime get outdoors, write some articles, take some pictures, and make some money.

As for the happenings at OWAC, Zack and the Board are busy on a number of projects:

  • Carina Port is working hard on the new OWAC website with a completion date scheduled for the end of June or beginning of July.
  • An update (sprucing up) of the OWAC logo is in the works and should be available soon for those who would like to add it to their publications.
  • A number of people are working hard trying to secure a site for the Spring 2010 conference. There has been a good bit of interest in hosting the Fall 2010 Conference, particularly from Ventura and Trinity County, but to date we’ve been unable to secure a spring site.
  • Our membership chairman Bob Semerau is working hard on increasing the number of new members, especially some younger, up and coming writers. New voices, new ideas and new blood: a good mix.
  • As for your crusty president, I’m trying to figure out how to get some of our old members back. There are a number of really excellent writers out there that have been around for years and who may have once been members of OWAC. Who are they and how do we get them back? Send me your ideas and suggestions.           

That’s all for now folks but let me once again thank Zack, Yvonne and everyone on the Board for their excellent contributions and hard work. Let me also thank the entire membership for the dedication and drive spent in painting the magic of our California outdoors in words and pictures. Awakening the souls of even just a few people may help us preserve the outdoors for future generations. Good job all!

—Ken Jones, President

The June issue features more member photos from the Spring 2009 OWAC conference in Fairfield. This shot of Cal Waterfowl biologist Kelly Rathburn "candling" a wood duck egg is by Don Vachini.

Executive Director's Update

 

 

Updated OWAC Logo

Thom Salisbury of Nebulous Creative (a former colleague and the designer of my book) recently updated the old typewriter-and-flag OWAC logo. We're deciding whether to stick with this new version of the existing logo or engage Salisbury to design a completely or mostly new logo. Your input is welcome. Email me, and I'll forward your comments to the board. In the meantime, the updated logo will soon be available for download in the member area of the website. If you require a copy immediately (for a business card, letterhead, or whatever) email me.

Big Changes Ahead for the OWAC Web Site

The new OWAC website remains under construction. You're surrounded by the preliminary work right now. We hope to have it completed by the end of June or early July. Our new hosting service allows super-easy updates.

Mid-year Directory Update

The summer directory update may be a little late. I had planned to complete it in early July, but it looks as if my family and I will be in the process of relocating during the first two weeks of the month. Watch for an emailed request for corrections to your listing sometime in late July and a completed revision in early to mid-August.

OWAC on Facebook

OWAC now has a Facebook page, created by Carina Port. Click here to visit and sign up as a "fan." Send Carina any news you'd like posted on the page — new books, stories, photos, broadcasts, gigs, etc.

—Zack Thomas, Executive Director

Kayaking the Suisun Marsh. Jim Jones photo 

Watch for CotY Ballots

Please watch your mailboxes over the next 7-10 days for the ballots for Californian of the Year 2009. These are bulky envelopes, containing 1) four pages of nominations, plus 2) a ballot and 3) an unstamped return envelope.

IF your COY packet does not contain all three items (I’m only human) please call me or email and I’ll make amends.

Your task: open your packet asap and read all six nominations. Then, while the material is still fresh in your mind (or a little while later when you’ve taken time to make a thoughtful decision), mark your ballot, put it into the return envelope and apply 44 cents in postage, then drop it into the mail. The postmark deadline is July 10.

We have six fine candidates. Exercise your right to vote for your choice. The Californian of the Year 2009 will be introduced at the fall 2009 conference.

—Kathie Morgan, Californian of the Year Chair

Wagon ride at Rush Ranch. Bill Becher photo

News from Almanor: The Hex Has Been Seen!

As the host of your Fall 2009 conference, the Lake Almanor Basin is excited to share news from two of the fishing guides that will host activities this September.  Tom Maumoynier of the Lake Almanor Fly Fishing Company  reports that “the hex has been seen!”   Doug Neal of Almanor Fishing Adventures reports they “have been aggressively trolling the morning and are off the water by 12:00 with limits every day this week.”

Nice Almanor brown. Photo courtesy Doug Neal.

The 2009 Fall conference will be hosted in Lake Almanor by the members of the Chester-Lake Almanor Chamber of Commerce who are partnering with Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Plumas County Visitors Bureau.  Conference dates are set for Sunday, Sept. 20 through Tuesday, Sept. 22.

We all look forward to showing you around. 

For additional information about Lake Almanor’s upcoming events and activities visit our Events Page.

 —Susan Bryner, Executive Director, Chester-Lake Almanor Chamber of Commerce

 

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 1420 McKinley Dr., Reno, NV 89509.

  • OWAC welcomes new member Jim Farber of Los Angeles. Now a freelancer associated with Creators Syndicate and TravelRoads.com, Farber worked as a staff feature writer for Copley Newspapers and Copley News Service for 16 years and is a five-time Los Angeles Press Club award winner. To see some of Farber's work, visit XXXXX. Farber's work phone is XXXX; his email is XXXX.
  • Diana Lindsay's new website devoted to poet, artist and author Marshal South — who from 1930 to 1947 lived a primitive lifestyle with his family on Ghost Mountain in present-day Anza-Borrego Desert State Park — was recently launched. Visit www.marshalsouth.com.
  • Bob Gaines scored a remarkable 26.5 lb. carp on the fly May 30 at Lake Perris. click hereStienstra vs. sturgeon. John L. Beath photo
  • And in other remarkable catch news, Tom Stienstra recently released a 9-foot sturgeon with a 48-inch girth (estimated weight: 400 lbs.) while fishing on the Willamette River near Portland. Click here for the story in the Chronicle.

 

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 1420 McKinley Dr., Reno, NV 89509.

  • OWAC welcomes as a new supporting member the Solano Land Trust, which played a big and generous role in OWAC's recent Fairfield conference, hosting several Monday activities and providing lots of logistical support. SLT Assistant Executive Director Nicole Byrd also served on the six-member local organizing committee. SLT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is the preservation of agricultural lands, open space and resources through the acquisition of land and conservation easements, education and land management. Since its founding in 1986, SLT has permanently protected 19,403 acres of land — including historic Rush Ranch, Jepson Prairie Preserve, Lynch Canyon and the King-Swett Ranches — for the current and future residents of Solano County. To learn more, visit www.solanolandtrust.org. Contact Byrd at (707) 432-0150 or nicole@solanolandtrust.org.
  • Coleman moves its generous outdoor media discount program online. more
  • Sailing adventures The Bill of Rights under sail.along the Ventura County coast now available through Island Packers on the 129-foot double-masted schooner Bill of Rights (release from Janis Flippen Public Relations). more
  • Yosemite's waterfalls are at full roar; National Park Service to offer free admission to more than 100 parks, including Yosemite, June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16 (release from Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau).  For more current Tuolumne County travel news, click here, for details on free National Park admission, here.
  • Free kid's fishing trip on the Long Beach-based sportfisher Eldorado set for July 4 (release from United Anglers of Southern California). more
  • Bishop Canyon Fishing Derby runs through end of June; $3,500 in prizes up for grabs (release from Bishop Area Chamber and Visitors Bureau). more
  • IronClads super-tough plastic lures earn coveted 2009 Invention Award from Popular Science. more
  • Mono County plants $100,000 worth of Alpers trout in 17 Eastern Sierra lakes and streams. more
  • California Waterfowl Association fundriasing events span state in June and July. more

 Harry Morse at Birds Landing. Zack Thomas photo

Committee Updates

Need to get in touch with a board member or committee chair? click here

  • Californian of the Year (Kathie Morgan) — See "Watch for CotY Ballots" above.
  • Website (Carina Port) — OWAC is currently working on a website overhaul, and we need your ideas and pictures to make it work. Please send suggestions and useful pictures (examples include: writers and photographers in the field, supporting members, and conference sites and activities) to Carina at carina.port@gmail.com or 1531 T Street, Sacramento, CA 95811. Sending pictures implies permission to use them on the website. —CP
  • Tear Sheets (Ken Jones) — Remember to send me information regarding the articles you write about our various host sites. To date I’ve only received four articles in regards to the Fairfield area (Carl, Zieralski, Erskine and Morgan) but I know there must be many more.  If you have had an article printed but haven’t sent it in, please send me a hard copy of the article (that I can post at the next conference) or send a link to the digital copy. Send hard copies to: Ken Jones, 3317 E. Richert Ave., Fresno, CA 93726. Email material to kenjones@pierfishing.com. —KJ
  • Outdoor Outreach (Ken Jones) — Each year OWAC provides funds for non-profit California groups that are outdoor-oriented, especially those involved with youth. This is done by mini-grants ranging from $250 to $500. To date we have received three applications for the Outreach awards; typically we receive 4-6. If you know of a deserving organization, contact me personally or give them my contact information and I will steer them through the process. —KJ
  • Site Selection (Zack Thomas) — We're starting to feel the pressure to find a Spring '10 site. With so many CVB budgets deeply cut, it's tough out there. Leads and suggestions are welcome and vigorously pursued. —ZT

 Guide Larry Hemphill with a nice Berryessa spotted bass. Kathie Morgan photo

Additional Opportunities, Leads, Announcements

 

  • California Lawyers for the Arts to present book-publishing workshop June 23 in Sacramento; OWAC members pay CLA member admission fee. more
  • Get out, give back: Friends of the Inyo, a non-profit conservation group in Bishop, invites outdoor writers and photographers to go into the High Sierra wilds for work and play this summer. more