The Balance Wheel: Fall 2003
SPECIAL SECTION
Annual Updates from Related and Partnering Organizations
OWAA
| IAFWA
OUTDOOR WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
(OWAA)
By Kay Morton Ellerhoff, chair and liaison for ACI
OWAA News
New Online Directory! - OWAA's new online directory was
launched in April of this year. So far, 45% of the members are registered
and e-mail addresses are listed for 85% of the members. It's a searchable
database and represents a huge step forward in membership service.
New OWAA Logo - After a successful contest that attracted
many entries, OWAA has a new logo. A committee pared the number to six,
members voted for their favorite, and the board made the final choice
with that input. The new logo was highlighted at this year's conference
in Columbia, Missouri.
New Tech-E-Letter - A bimonthly electronic Tech-E-Letter
now goes to members. Highlights appear in Outdoors Unlimited quarterly.
Past articles are also archived. Basically, it's a compilation of technology-related
information that should help OWAA members with all aspects of their
businesses. Lots of folks believe this is the best new member service
in years. Some recent articles have included the differences between
TIFFs, JPEGs, GIFs, and EPS files, electronic tear sheets, and lots
more.
OWAA Membership Slightly Down - OWAA has 1,726 individual
members and 400 supporting members, for a total of 2,126 (down a bit
from last year’s total of 2,134). Conference attendance was also down—from
831 in Charleston, West Virginia, to 791 in Columbia, Missouri.
2004 OWAA Conference - Next year's conference is in Spokane.
They went after it at least twice, so it's bound to be excellent. Dates:
June 19-23, 2004.
International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
(IAFWA) and
North American Conferences Annual Update
By Chris Chaffin
The Outreach Working Group of the Education, Outreach
and Diversity Committee (EO&D Committee)
The Outreach Working Group of the EO&D Committee has
the following charge: To identify our shared outreach issues and what
we can do to address them. We seek to find what we can do to improve
the delivery of, content of, strategic nature of, and funding for communication/outreach
in the IAFWA and our agencies/organizations.
Reports were given by:
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)
Nuisance Species Task Force, USFWS
IAFWA Furbearer Outreach
Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer Program
WOW Magazine Update
Multi-State Grants Rating Criteria
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program,
New Initiatives For This Working Group To Develop Or Promote
Mark Duda’s Presentation on Responsive Management’s Research for RBFF
Other EO&D Business
Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) Update—Stephanie
Hussey, phone (703) 519-0013; email shussey@rbff.org. Stephanie reported
on the following. Handouts are available from her on most topics.
The positive results of the Water Works Wonders campaign
with a summary of its impacts, a poster, the Ohio DOW’s success story,
upcoming marketing workshops in conjunction with MAT, and the addition
of Texas as a new pilot state w/ two new ads targeting Hispanics.
RBFF’s minority group research—A summary of what RBFF
learned includes: minority groups enjoy being with others while they
fish, aren’t familiar with where to fish and boat, will likely fish
throughout their lives if they fish as teenagers, want to fish as young
adults but don’t know where or how to fish and may not be able to afford
it, appear to have a gender gap in fishing and boating participation,
may increase participation if offered some incentives, and if they are
active participants, they are also concerned about environmental issues.
Educational efforts—Stephanie indicated that the RBFF
Board has recently increased its interest in education. Along with this,
RBFF is sponsoring a National Aquatic Education Leadership Summit in
Texas in May to identify fishing, boating and related stewardship educational
needs and to develop a national plan to meet these needs. More information
about this effort is available on their web site (www.rbff.org).
National Boating and Fishing Week & Wal-Mart—Wal-Mart is sponsoring
“Take a Kid Fishing Day” on June 1 & 8 at many of their stores across
the nation. A particularly nice booklet for kids about fishing has been
developed for this effort. Contact Stephanie for more information about
these Wal-Mart events and associated materials.
National Wild Turkey Federation - Partner for Positive PR: How Wildlife
Agencies and Conservation Groups Can Work Together—Tammy Bristow, ,
(803) 637-3106; email tbristow@nwtf.org
Tammy encouraged agencies and others to partner with NWTF,
citing that NWTF has a healthy membership of about 390,000, has a network
of active chapters across the country, and has several high profile
corporate partners (Cabella’s, Bass Pro, Mossy Oak, etc.), as well as,
several successful publications, a website and two TV programs. Additionally,
NWTF’s media relations team is very willing to help others tell their
stories. She distributed a handout re: 16 Tips for Successful PR, and
encouraged agencies to get involved with NWTF to plan media events together,
suggesting as an example the possibility of doing wild turkey transplant
releases at Thanksgiving. Contact Tammy if you’d like more information
on how to link up with NMTF on some of these efforts.
National Shooting Sports Foundation - Step Outside Update—Jodi
DiCamillo, , (203) 426-1320; email jdicamillo@nssf.org.
Jodi reported on the latest research efforts via Responsive
Management on “Hunters, Shooters, and Anglers—Encouraging them to Recruit
Others into Their Sport.” The Working Group attended Mark Duda’s presentation
on the research results (see below). Additionally, Jodi reviewed the
Step Outside workshop schedule planned so far for this year, explained
the implementation of a new “Start At Home Program” for agency employees,
and discussed a new video aimed at recruiting clubs to join the effort
and host/hold Step Outside events. She also discussed a new PR/WB federal
aid grant under which they will be conducting six to ten “ model” Step
Outside events around the country. RFPs for these grant dollars will
be going out soon. They’ll be looking for the state agencies best able
to partner with Step Outside to develop “recipes for success.” Contact
Jodi if you’d like to follow-up on any of the Step Outside initiatives.
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, USFWS - Stop Aquatic
Hitchhikers!—Joe Starinchak, (703) 358-2018; email joe_starinchak@fws.gov.
Joe passed out promotional information on the ANS campaign,
including a brand logo and theme. These generic materials, and the overall
effort, are directed at two audiences—the general public and state policy
makers. In preparation for the re-authorization of legislation in Congress
this year, the ANS Task Force had Responsive Management do a survey
to determine the status of ANS programs at the state level. Contact
Joe if you need more information about this effort.
IAFWA Furbearer Outreach—A Plan to Assist State Agencies
with Information Dissemination—Samara (Sam) Trusso, (202) 624-7890;
email strusso@sso.org.
Sam described progress made contacting states to distribute
educational materials and to conduct trapper education workshops. After
visiting with the executive board of the North American Wildlife Enforcement
Officers Association (NAWEOA), Sam will be sending her education kit
to all state agency law enforcement chiefs to inform them of the program,
and she will be getting a statement of support from NAWEOA, as well.
Quantities of an updated version on “Trapping and Furbearer Management
in North American Wildlife Conservation” were sent to all state, and
more are available for cost by contacting her. Also, several case studies
are being prepared on furbearer issues, including one on Oregon’s successful
effort to defeat a ballot initiative against trapping. Sam will also
be working on development of a standardized trapper education module
that will eventually be made available nationwide. Contact Sam if you
have trapper education materials to share in the development of these
standardized materials.
Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer Program—John Herron,
Chief Wildlife Diversity, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, (512)
389-4300.
John explained the successful birth and development of
this program in Texas that grew out of their urban biologists program.
They now have 18 chapters with approximately 1200 volunteers providing
about 48,000 hours of volunteer service annually. He has one statewide
coordinator running this program and she stays very busy. It is a partnership
with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. They are very clear about
the message these volunteers initially receive—this program is about
naturalists who promote conservation, not advocates who stump for particular
positions on conservation issues. Volunteers receive initial training
to become Certified Master Naturalist, must contribute service annually,
and must obtain re-training periodically. For the last two years, proposals
to expand this program to other states in the Southeast have been submitted
to the IAFWA for Multi-State Grants, but have been unsuccessful in being
selected for funding. With a better understanding of this program’s
design and success, the Outreach Issues Working Group encouraged John
to have Texas re-submit this grant proposal this year, and agreed to
help sell it via the Education, Outreach and Diversity (EO&D) Committee
Report and other avenues.
WOW Magazine Update—Kay Ellerhoff
Kay let us know that WOW Magazine is alive and well in
Missoula with a new owner. A Chicago businessman is purchasing the magazine
from RMEF and Kay and her staff of 5.7 FTEs will be putting out a March/April
issue soon.
Multi-State Grants Rating Criteria—Sharon Rushton and
Joanna Prukop Lackey
Important information re: the grant process - Sharon and
Joanna presented the group with suggested changes to the Multi-State
Grant Proposal Rating Criteria (adopted recommendation below). These
were discussed and modified and presented to the full EO&D Committee.
Other suggestions were incorporated as a result, and Joanna worked through
Bob Miles and Corky Pugh to get these presented to the National Grants
Committee, on which her director, Larry Bell, also sits. The suggested
changes were successfully adopted by that committee and are attached
below. Joanna and Sharon attended the National Grants Committee Meeting
and also participated in the discussion about NCNs for this year. Of
12 NCNs proposed, several were dropped and others combined to yield
6 NCNs for 2003 grant proposals to address. This list is also attached.
The EO&D Committee’s suggested NCN was combined into #1.
Criteria for Review of 2003 Multistate Conservation Grant
Proposals - - The following criteria are to be used by Nongovernment
Organizations(NGO’s) and IAFWA Committee/Task Force members when evaluating
grant proposals under the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. Proposals
recommended for funding should satisfy all eight criteria. After all
the criteria are addressed during the review, the individual then completes
an NGO or IAFWA Committee/Task Force Member Grant Proposal Review Form
for each grant proposal.
- The proposed project will produce results that will
satisfy a significant or important portion of the National Conservation
Need(s) under which the project falls, in a manner that fits with
state agency programs.
- The proposed project will benefit at least 26 states;
or a majority of the States in a region of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service; or a regional association of State fish and
wildlife departments.
- The proposed project will produce results that provide
significant benefits to state fish and wildlife agencies and/or the
wildlife resources for which they are responsible.
- The proposed project is understandable and follows
sound principles (scientific, educational, marketing, management,
etc.) and procedures.
- As proposed, the project would be expected to produce
the stated results and in a timely manner.
- The objectives of the proposed project can be attained
with the personnel, fiscal, and time resources proposed.
- The output and expected outcome relative to the projected
total cost of the project is clearly favorable and has a high/good
cost benefit ratio.
- The project coordinates appropriately with other programs
of the intended state agency users.
The work group also wanted this question added to the
proposal form: How is the development of this project going to be coordinated
with state agencies and other users?
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program - Diane Lueck, University
of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, phone/fax 715.228.2070; email dlueck@uniontel.net
The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program will hold a Diversity conference
April 12-13, 2002, in Chaska, MN. The conference is titled Breaking
Down Barriers III – No Limits: Reaching Out to Women with Physical Limitations
Through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. “No Limits” will examine
barriers and strategies to participation for outdoor recreation as experienced
by women with physical disabilities.. During “Breaking Down Barriers
III: No Limits”, participants will have an opportunity to share the
barriers faced by themselves or those they work with in outdoor recreation.
The conference includes a mini-BOW of three outdoor activities, featured
speakers, and discussion/brainstorming session.
Because of budget and travel restrictions throughout the
states, registration has been very low. As of April 1, there were only
about 20 participants. However, about one third of the participants
are from the desired target audience, so good input and valuable outcomes
that will increase inclusive programming by the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
program and other agency efforts are expected.
Proceedings will be printed after the conference. They
will be distributed to BOW coordinators and Agency Directors and will
be available from Diane Lueck (dlueck@uniontel.net).
New Initiatives for This Working Group to Develop or Promote
Model State I&E Program--Joanna will work with Judy
Stokes to see what might be done with this effort and regarding communications
efforts within the IAFWA.
Other Items:
Mark Duda’s Presentation on Responsive Management’s Research
for RBFF - “Hunters, Shooters, and Anglers—Encouraging Them to Recruit
Others into Their Sport.” Very briefly, this research had two objectives—to
identify motivations and constraints regarding what people who ask others
to participate in these sports think, and to test marketing messages.
Sample sizes for the four groups surveyed (hunters, anglers, gun sport
shooters, and bow sport shooters) were not particularly large, but results
indicated things like: For those asked if they would go fishing, the
#1 reason they said they would go is if they were asked by a child,
#2 was if invited by a friend. Conversely, the #8 and #9 reasons were:
participating in a fishing clinic or fishing lecture, respectively.
The #1 reason to go hunting was if invited by a friend. There appears
to be a 91-100% acceptance rate regarding such invitations, and 5-6
out of 10 people felt the resulting experiences were excellent. Additionally,
the “recruited” users seem to continue to go out again sometimes or
often. Tradition appears to be more important to hunters than anglers,
however, both groups rate being with family and friends as very important
and prime motivators for pursuing these sports. A take-home message,
for instance, would be to run fishing ads featuring people, not big
fish. Likewise, messages that imply a “goal” have less resonance than
those that imply fun. One of Mark’s messages was that “Good programs
mimic what’s really working out there—How things really happen.” The
final report on this new survey is not yet out. Contact Mark for more
information, (540) 432-1888; email mdduda@rica.net.
Other EO&D Business:
• The Diversity Issues Working Group discussed the need
and potential for another Minority Outreach Conference. Funding was
identified as a significant barrier to the idea. The group will seek
to identify any formal groups that are primarily minorities in an effort
to find funding. For further information contact Sally Guynn (304) 876-7395;
email Sally_guynn@fws.gov.
• The Professional Education Issues Working Group is now
chaired by Judy Stokes (603) 271-3211; email jstokes@wildlife.state.nh.us.
Chris Chaffin is also a member.
• Doug Jeanneret of the newly renamed U.S. Sportsman’s
Alliance (formerly the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America) reported
on the organizations new “Trailblazer Adventure Program” developed and
now being tested with IAFWA, IHEA, state wildlife agencies and the Boy
Scouts of America. The program is designed to teach a youngster to shoot,
hunt and fish—but will do so with a strong family involvement, generating
support at home for the youth’s current and future participation. A
second element of the program is called the Trail Master Program and
it matches interested Scouts and their parents with “Trail Guides” for
an entire year following their initial attendance at the Trailblazer
Adventure Day. Contact Doug for more information.
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