From the Executive Director's Desk Archives - Outdoor Writers Association of America

Outdoor places reflect national values

OWAA Developer — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:25:07 +0000

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Sometimes you hear a presentation from someone who just “gets it.” In this case it was National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis who gave the keynote speech at OWAA’s annual conference held this year in June in Knoxville, Tennessee.
What was so special about Jarvis’ speech was how he linked our public lands to American values. Jarvis quoted Ken Burns; “the National Parks are a Declaration of Independence applied to the land.”
“We save what we value. If you think about what you retain in your own personal lives; those things that are important to you. Well, as a nation we have set aside 407 places that really represent our national character and define the American experience,” said Jarvis.
Here are some of the values and places Jarvis mentioned in what he referred to as his “Field Guide to American Values:”
Freedom: Places like Independence Hall and Manassas Battlefield.
Equality: Places like the Selma to Montgomery Historic Trail and Women’s Rights Historical Park in Seneca, New York.
Democracy: Places like Federal Hall National Memorial and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Fun: Places like the Grand Canyon and Denali National Park. Courage: Places like Flight 93 National Memorial and military cemeteries, like Antietam.
Honesty: Places like Manzanar and Mesa Verde.
Leadership: Places like Mount Rushmore and the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial.
Conservation: Places like Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park and Yellowstone National Park.
“America’s 407 National Parks are a collective expression of who we are as a people,” Jarvis said. “They are a mosaic of the things that we value most about ourselves. While they define the values they also unite us as a nation.”
OWAA members serve as the voice of the outdoors. Every word we write or speak and every image we capture helps others see and hear what we value most. You can see all of Jarvis’ keynote address at https://owaa.org/blog/2015/08/a-field-guide-to-american-values/.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org

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Looking ahead to another great year

OWAA Developer — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 04:16:55 +0000

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My third conference as your executive director is in the history books. Every year I’m amazed at how much news, information and fun gets packed into three days.
Among that news is an OWAA status report I give to the membership. I’m recapping the highlights here for those unable to attend the conference.
While we could always be in better financial shape, we are holding our own. At the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year there are no unanticipated or extraordinary expenses. Revenues and expenses are in line with projections.
The key to our financial security rests on the revenue side of our operations. We can’t cut our way to financial security; we need to grow our way there. Which brings me to membership.
Going into conference we had 721 individual members and 162 supporting groups. From April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015, we added 64 new members and 43 supporting groups. Of course we lose members and supporters each year for a variety of reasons but the trend continues to look promising.
And if each member recruited just one new member — just one — we would double the size of the organization. If you believe in OWAA and what we do, I am sure you can help one other person benefit from membership as you do.
One of those benefits is our membership directory, which as I announced at conference is moving online. Hopefully by the time you read this, it is up and running. This searchable online directory will replace the printed version. We’ll update it twice a month to keep it current.
Much of the content in the current printed directory, other than member and supporter information is already on the website in members area and where appropriate on the main website.
We also are working on the continuing issue of filming on federal public lands.
We hosted a panel on the subject at conference and used that discussion to move the federal agencies to recognize the importance of this issue to our members. President Lisa Ballard created an ad hoc committee to monitor and engage on this issue. Mark Freeman will chair that committee and he and I will continue to use the website to keep our members informed on actions on this issue.
Earlier this year, the American Sportfishing Association instituted a fee for media credentials for ICAST. Responding to some concerns raised by our members I worked with the association and they agreed to waive the fee for all OWAA members in good standing.
Even with these efforts, we are always looking at ways to improve. The membership will receive a survey from the Member Services Committee, chaired by Colleen Miniuck-Sperry, asking how we can improve conference. Your response will help shape future conferences.
The fact that OWAA’s reputation and general “buzz” has improved this past year is a direct result of the terrific effort the headquarters team puts into the organization. Jessica Seitz and Kelsey Dayton are essential parts of a small team managing a demanding workload. They are often the first contact for members and supporters and it is their efforts that keep the members and supporters happy. They both are constantly working to improve communications and service delivery for both members and supporters.
In addition to the headquarters team we have seen some exceptional volunteer efforts from the board. Many of the committees toiled quietly in the background discharging their duties and helping the organization. You’ll see the fruits of these labors as OWAA heads into what I’m confident will be another great year.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org

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88 years of OWAA

OWAA Developer — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 02:56:10 +0000

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OWAA turned 88 on April 9 and in celebration I took some time to reflect on the organization’s origins, what it looks like today and where it’s headed. From the beginning OWAA had four objectives:
1. Acquaintanceship and communication between writers in the outdoor field, with exchange of ideas, experiences and information.
2. Promotional and educational work to expand outdoor coverage in the nation’s media.
3. Focusing public attention on the field of conservation.
4. Craft improvement of its individual members. Reading those objectives online in the article “The Story of an Organization a Profession,” owaa.org/story organization-profession, I thought particularly about the second one.
The work of our members and supporters is as important today as it was 88 years ago — perhaps that is why the organization has lasted so long. But are we doing enough to “to expand outdoor coverage in the nation’s media.”
Should we be looking for new and better ways to get more outdoor coverage in the media? If so, how?
I’d love to hear from you about how you are expanding coverage and what we at OWAA can do to support you.
The way we deliver information is changing, but OWAA’s mission in supporting outdoor communication remains steadfast, as does its dedication to conservation.
An early version of the article “The Story of an Organization and a Profession,” reads, “Concern over the environment has projected the outdoor writer into the forefront as one qualified to create an awareness on the part of the public of the need for the wise use of the outdoors.
Conservation, hunting, fishing and camping remain basic, along with their allied skills and studies dealing with the enjoyment and conservation of the resources making up the vast outdoors.” Those words are still in the updated-version of the article and hold true to our organization today. Birthdays and anniversaries are a great time to reflect on the past, but they also offer a chance to look forward.
Colleen Miniuk-Sperry’s article on page 5 is a must read in this issue. She covers our recent member benefit survey, highlighting the value of OWAA, but also outlining how it will grow and change to ensure another 88 years of success.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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Growing our way to financial health

OWAA Developer — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 18:57:51 +0000

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In January, when the Board met for the annual midwinter board meeting, I presented a report on the financial and operational status of the organization. Like previous reports, it focused primarily on the financial and membership aspects of OWAA operations.
It is my pleasure to share that with you as well.
Even though 2014 saw some cash flow challenges, we are able to present a balanced budget for 2015. The key to our financial security continues to rest on the revenue side of our operations. We can’t “cut” our way to financial security; we need to “grow” our way there. As you will see below, we are making good progress.
Membership is up 10 percent as of December 2014 compared to May 2014 and Supporting Group affiliations are up 18 percent.
Since the last board meeting the team at headquarters has been busy on a number of fronts, and here are some highlights of our efforts.
While the presentations were excellent, the attendance at Conference in McAllen, Texas, was a disappointment. There was a big lesson learned: No more conferences close to holidays. When the U.S. Forest Service initiated a rulemaking on filming and commercial photography in wilderness areas we responded with press statements, columns in Outdoors Unlimited and blog posts. President Mark Freeman and I had telephone conversations and meetings with Forest Service leadership. We submitted written comments viewable at https://owaa.org/blog/2015/02/owaa-position-filmingphotography-public-lands/ for the record.
OWAA’ s efforts were acknowledged in USFS Chief Tidwell’s letter to the field clarifying the policy https://owaa.org/file/20141104CommercialFilming&PhotographyPermits.pdf.
In order to help increase awareness of OWAA we sponsored the Press Room at the American Fly Fishing Trade Association’s International Fly Tackle Dealer show which is co-located with the American Sportfishing Association’s International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show.
I joined the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) and had the pleasure of attending their 50th anniversary conference. It was a great opportunity to visit with past and present OWAA notables. Board member Tim Mead very graciously made my “green ribbon” experience quite enjoyable. Thank you,Tim.
We added the Ocean Conservancy as a new EIC Fishing Category Co-Sponsor thanks to the good works of Brandon Shuler.
Working with the Strategic Planning committee we implemented a revised Strategic Plan (https://owaa.org/about/strategic-plan/ See Strategic Plan 2014 Update 2).
Finally, as we move into 2015 we will be focusing on having a successful conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, and looking at ways to improve member and supporter communications.
As always, your comments and suggestions are most welcome. Call me directly at 406-552-4049 or email me.
OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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Today’s outdoor media

OWAA Developer — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 00:24:47 +0000

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The outdoor communication industry has a rich history of helping the American people see the outdoors even if they couldn’t get outside themselves.
Kids curled up with flashlights and sporting magazines under their bed covers. Adults read newspapers in leather chairs while smoking a pipe and enjoying a single malt.
Magazine articles, TV shows and outdoor columns in newspapers transported Americans into the great outdoors.
Today, OWAA members keep that tradition alive while we, as our missions says, “set the highest ethical and communications standards.”
We bring adventure, great storytelling and entertainment into the homes of the public, but even more importantly, outdoor journalists continue to play a critical role in helping the American people see the value in the great outdoors while also calling attention to what threatens it.
The history of outdoor writers calling attention to bad land or wildlife management actions is legendary. Journalist can point out how, without public vigilance, their elected officials will sell that heritage to the highest bidder.
One of the more significant mission tenets of OWAA is “encourage public enjoyment and conservation of natural resources.”
Outdoor journalists show a simple equation; healthy habitat creates recreation opportunities. And recreation drives significant economic activity. That is a message that resonates in the halls of power and is strong medicine in fighting for the protection of our natural resources.
Our members are the voices that show the world the grandeur of America’s outdoor resources. We are the voices that share the stories — good and bad — of our waters and woods.
Land, fish and wildlife don’t have human voices, so we must be the voice to reach the American people. My job is making sure our members have the tools and opportunities to be a loud and effective voice.
OWAA is comprised of more than 800 individual outdoor communicators covering a broad spectrum of outdoor beats, from shooting to camping, fishing to kayaking and wildlife watching to backpacking. From these diverse backgrounds and disciplines, members gather beneath the OWAA banner to hone skills, share philosophies, develop profitable business strategies and network with peers, conservation policymakers and industry trendsetters.
Eighty-seven years ago the men who started OWAA thought the work they were doing as chroniclers of the great outdoors was important enough to found an organization to perpetuate the craft.
Today, access to public lands is shrinking, habitat loss is increasing and environmental issues are complex. The work we do today as outdoor journalists is as important, perhaps even more so, than it was back then.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org

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The importance of outdoor communication

OWAA Developer — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:56:33 +0000

And what OWAA is doing to protect it

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It’s no secret that as outdoor communicators we have a great job. How often has someone expressed incredulity that you go hunting, or fishing or hiking — for work?
As fun as our job is, it’s also incredibly important.
We report on the health of our wildlife populations and their habitat and how our public land is managed. Historically it has been the words and images of journalists that showed the public the majesty and importance of protecting wild places. But we can’t perform that duty of informing the public without access.
Having met many of our members I sense an incredible, lifelong, visceral passion to be the voice of the outdoors; to help others see, hear, smell and taste the outdoors; to be the champion of the fish, wildlife and habitat that make up the outdoors.
That’s why when a proposed rule by the U.S. Forest Service threatened the access to designated wilderness areas for outdoor communicators, OWAA sprang into action.
As you will read in Mark Freeman’s President’s Message on page 4, OWAA stepped into the ring and came out swinging when we felt our First Amendment rights were threatened by a poorly worded directive from the U.S. Forest Service regarding access to wilderness areas.
OWAA immediately issued a statement criticizing the directive and the impact it would have on news gathering.
We encouraged our members to provide comments to the Forest Service during the public commenting period.
Our statement was noticed and a week later, Freeman and I were on the phone with Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.
To his credit, Tidwell listened carefully and asked for our help in making the directive work. He recognized OWAA represented the “voice of the outdoors” and that our members were essential partners in helping the American people enjoy their public lands.
OWAA continues to work with the Forest Service and other public land agencies to insure that our members have access to our public lands so others can share in their wonder and beauty.
OWAA would be an important group if only to provide a networking opportunity for like-minded people to gather and share stories — but it is so much more than that.
When you go out to do your work and share the great outdoors with the public, OWAA goes with you. As Kris Millgate wrote in an email to Freeman and me, “Freelancers fight solo so often, that I forget others will step up and back you when needed, especially if the fight impacts all of us.”
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org

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See you in Knoxville in 2015

OWAA staff — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 18:12:05 +0000

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When I ask members what the single best thing about OWAA is, they usually answer “conference.” When I ask them why, most say “the networking.”
Conference really is a signature benefit of OWAA. It offers so much, in a short time, at a fun location. And if you plan it right you can make some money by going.
Networking is an important part of conference. There are also great education opportunities provided by your colleagues and outside speakers. You also get access to industry and policy leaders discussing current events and emerging issues.
In many ways conferences defines OWAA and our conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, will follow that tradition, reflecting the evolution of our field and the organization.
OWAA is evolving as we diversify our membership and supporters and change how we do business. Our conference is also evolving to reflect the different interests of our growing membership. In Knoxville there will be chances to fish and test firearms, but there will also be hiking and stand-up paddleboarding opportunities.
Attendees rated our most recent conference in McAllen, Texas, in May as one of the most content rich programs in recent memory. This year we’ll run fewer sessions simultaneously so you don’t miss out on the speakers, discussions and
presentations most important to your work.
We tweaked conference staples, like creating a celebration around the announcement of our Excellence in Craft Contest winners and returning to a more traditional format for our Honorary Awards dinner.
For 2015 we will continue to change the conference format. Brett Prettyman, conference chair, has brought his committee together and is already hard at work with Jessica Seitz, OWAA’s membership and conference director, planning for
Knoxville.
We are planning on running Demo Day and Shooting Day together at one venue. In addition to this Breakout Day we’re working on ways to get you on the water with our Supporting Groups so you can get wet, wet a line or just take in Knoxville’s waterfront scene.
As you will see, there is more information about conference in this issue so take a look and plan to join us.
I hope to see you there.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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What I told them in Texas: OWAA headed into a strong year

OWAA staff — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:49:34 +0000

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BY TOM SADLER
One of the best parts of my job is spending time at our conferences. And one of the best parts of going to conference is having the chance to update the membership on what is happening with OWAA.
I know not everyone makes it to conference, so here’s a recap of what I shared in Texas.
The budget and revenue
The board approved a balanced budget for 2014. This reflects the financial stability of the organization due to increased membership and support. While attendance at conference was low due to a variety of factors, the impact to
the budget should be manageable.
As of May 15 we are in line or slightly ahead of budgeted dues revenue. Supporting groups continue to provide the bulk — 60 percent — of this revenue.
Excellence in Craft Contest revenues were up 36 percent compared to what we projected, thanks to a $4,400 sponsorship from the National Rifle Association along with returning sponsors from 2013.
Expenses are in line with projections — and that’s a good thing.
The key to our financial security rests predominantly in the revenue side of our operations. We can’t “cut” our way to financial security; we need to “grow” our way there and we are beginning to see that happen.
Membership
Each year at the end of April we purge our rolls of members and supporting groups that did not renew.
A May-to-May comparison of our membership numbers shows a small growth in individual membership and a 10 percent growth in supporting groups.
Retaining members is vitally important. To that end I personally contacted all the members and supporting groups who did not renew this year. Of those I contacted, 24 percent of the individual members and 14 percent of the supporting groups renewed.
The list of those who did not renew is available and anyone interested in seeing it should contact me. If you have a relationship with anyone who opted out this year, please contact them and ask them to renew their membership and support. If someone has a problem with something the headquarters team or I have done, please let me know so I may try and address it.
Marketing and exposure
OWAA is the sponsor of the press room at the International Fly Tackle Dealer show. This opportunity will expose the leading fly-fishing manufacturers to OWAA and provides us a unique opportunity to market OWAA.
This is a barter arrangement with the association where we exchanged promotional opportunities between the two organizations — for example you might have seen the American Fly Fishing Trade Association logo on the room keys at the Embassy Suites.
Thanks to the excellent efforts of Micheal Furtman, OWAA received wonderful exposure in Outdoor America, the Izaak Walton League of America’s magazine. Furtman’s article, “Conservation Cohorts,” chronicles the formation of OWAA by Izaak Walton league members in 1927 and how the conservation ties of the two organizations remains strong today. If you would like a copy, let me know.
Headquarters
The focus for the headquarters team continues to be recruiting new members and supporters. We continue to look for innovative ways to recruit both individual members and supporters.
We will also improve member and supporter communications. This is an important retention tool. We will be looking at how we can increase website and social media engagement, increase appeal and engagement via OU, put publications online and develop and launch an online membership database.
The future
The work you do is as important, if not more important, than when OWAA was started 87 years ago. The challenges to our outdoor recreation heritage continues, our elected representatives are at odds and the work of our members is truly the Voice of Outdoors and needs to be heard loud and clear, now more than ever.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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Staying relevant in the digital age

OWAA staff — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 22:57:46 +0000

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One of the challenges of writing a column for Outdoors Unlimited is the lag time between writing it and getting it to you. I am writing this in April for the June/July issue. Makes it tough to be timely or respond to events that happen between those months.
As OWAA’s executive director I feel strongly about staying in touch with our members and supporters. Hearing from you helps make OWAA stronger. But it is a two-way street. You need to hear from us.
We at headquarters work hard to keep you informed about the many things that are going on at OWAA; we use mail, our website OWAA.org, email, Outdoor Unlimited and OU Online. We also use social networking platforms like Facebook (OWAAOnline), Twitter (@OWAAonline and @OWAATom) and LinkedIn (Outdoor Writers Association of America).
At the end of March we started a new communications outlet called the Executive Director’s Blog. Its purpose is to share things about OWAA that will promote more interaction with OWAA’s members and supporters. It is intended to serve as a sounding board, billboard and forum for ideas. It will be a place to share observations and news in a timelier manner. It is intentionally not password protected so those who are interested in OWAA have a chance to learn
more about us.
Your team at headquarters is committing more time to our social network platforms and is looking at ways to make them more informative, engaging and useful. Social networks, while sometimes insipid and occasionally off-putting, are sources of good information, interesting ideas and opportunities to share in a community of thought. If you use Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn please let us know so we can add you into the OWAA network.
Our conference in May showed us how outdoor communicators, the outdoor industry and conservation organizations play an essential role in the well-being of our country. Our outdoor recreation heritage lead to a vibrant outdoor recreation industry, an appreciation for responsible management of our fish, game and the places they live and prosper, and for conserving those places we go to just be outside.
As communicators we have the opportunity to share that story with the American people. To help them see, hear, smell, taste and appreciate what the outdoors is about. We are at the nexus of content and craftsmanship. OWAA is committed to connecting both with all the tools at our disposal. Thank you for being a part of that work.
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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One year later: Reflecting back and looking forward

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 23:03:28 +0000

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By the time you read this I will have passed the one-year mark as OWAA’s executive director. It has been an exciting year for OWAA — and for me personally. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful organization.
When I was hired, the board asked me to focus on growing OWAA, both its individual members and supporting groups. The best part of my job has been introducing — and in some case reintroducing — people to OWAA as the voice of the outdoors.
In 2013 we added 94 new members and reinstated 18, bringing our total individual membership to 843 people. We welcomed 37 new supporting groups and reinstated an additional 17 for a total of 188.
As I have said before, the key to our financial security rests predominantly in the revenue side of our operations. We can’t “cut” our way to financial security; we need to “grow” our way there. Your membership recruitment efforts and referrals are essential to our continued growth and are very much appreciated.
Beyond membership growth there were a number of exciting highlights in 2013. Our conference in Lake Placid was well attended and the sessions and events were well received.
We have a new editor at Outdoors Unlimited, Kelsey Dayton, who is producing a great magazine. In 2014 we will be doing more to make OU even better and more useful for members and supporters.
Two new ad-hoc committees have been added, Membership Services chaired by board member Colleen Miniuk-Sperry and Supporter Relations chaired by second vice president Lisa Densmore. Former board member Katie McKalip was appointed by the board to serve as supporter liaison. Both committees have been active and engaged.
In order to help spread the word about OWAA, I traveled to the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades and the International Fly Tackle Dealer show, better known by its acronym of ICAST/IFTD. I also attended the
American Sportfishing Association’s Saltwater Summit and the opening of the Great American Outdoor Show, and was interviewed by Outdoor Magazine which resulted in an excellent piece about OWAA (if you would like a copy just let me know).
Looking ahead is even more exciting.
Plans are well underway for our conference in McAllen, Texas. Densmore and OWAA’s Membership and Conference Services Director Jessica Pollett have been hard at work lining up exciting and informative sessions and working with the local committee on pre- and post- conference adventures.
Demo and shooting days are at wonderful venues sure to highlight Supporter demos and boosters.
The Excellence In Craft awards will be a celebration unto itself and Densmore has plans to make it especially entertaining. (You’ll have to come and see it for yourself). The honorary awards dinner will be a time to reflect on the accomplishments of the organization and our peers in a more traditional manner.
In 2016, the conference will be in OWAA’s home state in Billings, Mont. Pollett and I visited the city in November and are excited about the opportunities before, during and after conference.
While conference will always be OWAA’s premier networking and educational opportunity, we plan to increase member and supporter communications as well.
This summer we plan to revamp the OWAA website and OU Online — not a major overhaul just some updating and improved user performance.
We will be offering more webinars this year. Starting after conference we plan to have monthly sessions to include supporter spotlights, newsmakers and conservation issues.
We will be putting the directory online so it is always up-to-date and easily searchable. We are also looking at our in-house publications and will be moving them to a digital format as well.
Yes, 2013 was an exciting year and with your help 2014 will be even better!
— OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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