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	<title>July 2011 Archives - Outdoor Writers Association of America</title>
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	<title>July 2011 Archives - Outdoor Writers Association of America</title>
	<link>https://owaa.org/category/outdoors-unlimited/july-2011/</link>
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		<title>Product Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/product-review-panasonic-lumix-dmc-fh25/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:43:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Product reviews]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15523</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The Panasonic DMC-FH25 is latest release to the popular Panasonic FH camera line...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/product-review-panasonic-lumix-dmc-fh25/">Product Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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<strong>BY JOHN LAWTON</strong><br />
The Panasonic DMC-FH25 is latest release to the popular Panasonic FH camera line. Panasonic FH series cameras place an emphasis on sleek and compact dimensions while also featuring quick performance and better-than-average zoom capabilities.<br />
The 3.9-by-2.2-by-1.1 inch DMCFH25 has a 16.1 megapixel CCD sensor behind a Leica 8X optical zoom lens. The effective zoom range is 28mm-224mm, which in a camera this small is rather impressive.<br />
The lens is also image-stabilized to give you sharp photos when hand holding the camera, even at long shutter speeds.<br />
The auto-focus system has been improved and now has 11 focus points that can be individually selected by the user. The rear of the camera features a 2.7-inch LCD screen to aid in image composition and review.<br />
The most notable upgrade is that the DMC-FH25 now is equipped with the Venus Engine VI processor. This is the same image processor that is found on the higher-end ZS5 and ZS7 super zoom cameras. The new processor reduces shutter lag, helps reduce digital noise when shooting at high ISOs, increases auto-focus speed, and allows the user to shoot full resolution images at 1.5 frames per second. The ISO sensitivity ranges from 100-1600 ISO.<br />
In addition to capturing still images, the DMC-FH25 is also capable of shooting 720p HD video at 24 frames per second with sound. The DMC-FH25 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack and stores images to an SD memory card or its 70MB of internal memory.<br />
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25 is currently selling for $159.99 and includes the camera, battery pack, charger, AV cable, USB cable, wrist strap, software CD-ROM and one-year Panasonic manufacture warranty.<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>— If you have any questions about this Panasonic Lumix camera or any other photo-related topic, please contact Jon Lawton at jlawton@wbhunt.com.</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/product-review-panasonic-lumix-dmc-fh25/">Product Review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>Wild River Press Bookshelf</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/wild-river-press-bookshelf/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:39:53 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Bookshelf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15522</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Wild River Press, the Seattle, Wash.-based publisher of high-end sporting books, has released two new books about Atlantic salmon flies and fishing...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/wild-river-press-bookshelf/">Wild River Press Bookshelf</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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Wild River Press, the Seattle, Wash.-based publisher of high-end sporting books, has released two new books about Atlantic salmon flies and fishing. Thomas R. Pero is Wild River Press’s publisher.<br />
“Atlantic Salmon Magic,” and a smaller companion volume called “100 Best Flies for Atlantic Salmon,” are by Topher Browne of Portland, Maine, a lifelong salmon devotee and acclaimed spey caster. The writing and graphics are extraordinary.<br />
The new titles are part of the award-winning “Masters on the Fly” series by Wild River Press, featuring virtuoso anglers sharing their enthusiasm for, experience with, and hard-won expertise in pursuit of their favorite game fish.<br />
The two salmon books come fresh in the wake of national recognition for “A Passion for Tarpon,” by Andy Mill, which Wild River published one year ago. At BookExpo America in New York in May 2011, Mill’s tarpon book received four awards for excellence, including gold medal Benjamin Franklin Book of the Year awards in two categories — recreation/sports and regional — from the Independent Book Publishers Association, the country’s largest organization of 3,200 independent publishers. Previously, no fishing book had ever achieved this distinction.<br />
Nearly 500 pages with hundreds of stunning color photos and original illustrations, “Atlantic Salmon Magic” is destined to become a classic. The book is an invaluable guide to everything about Salmo salar, the legendary leaper, celebrated since the time of the Romans. A rich literary and visual feast, this impressive new title from Wild River Press is an absolute must for the avid salmon angler. Order online at www.wildriverpress.com or call 425-486-3638.<br />
-Atlantic Salmon Magic by Topher Browne 455 pp., Wild River Press, $100 Special Foreword by Orri Vigfússon Introduction by Simon Gawesworth ISBN 9780984227174<br />
-100 Best Flies for Atlantic Salmon by Topher Browne 238 pp., Wild River Press, $25 Photography by Ted Fauceglia ISBN 978098422718<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/wild-river-press-bookshelf/">Wild River Press Bookshelf</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>Summer skiing at Snowbird</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/summer-skiing-snowbird/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:34:46 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Conference '11: Utah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15518</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Skiing was not supposed to be an option when OWAA picked Utah’s Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort as the site of the 2011 annual conference...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/summer-skiing-snowbird/">Summer skiing at Snowbird</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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<strong>BY BRETT PRETTYMAN</strong><br />
Skiing was not supposed to be an option when OWAA picked Utah’s Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort as the site of the 2011 annual conference. And, in a normal year, skiing would not be something resort officials could offer in July. But this year is anything but normal and when Snowbird announced it would be staying open to the public on weekends through July 4, it suddenly seemed possible that OWAA members could be skiing during their 84th conference.<br />
So in addition to packing hiking boots, fishing rods, cameras and families into planes, trains and automobiles to get to Snowbird for the July 9-11 conference, some attendees may be bringing along their skis. Well actually, they won’t need to worry about drawing crazy stares while driving through Arches National Park with skis on their car rack in July — Snowbird will get them outfitted.<br />
There are a couple caveats required to participate in the skiing. Snowbird, as of June 9, received 776 inches of snow since last October. The count was going up as I talked to Snowbird representative Emily Moench about this event. That is more than 64 feet of snow! Of course, there won’t be that much around when conference starts, but there may be enough to run from the top of Hidden Peak, at 11,000 feet, to the base of mountain. As of this writing there was still a snow base of more than 160 inches at the ‘Bird. Conditions permitting, skiing or snowboarding will be available for up to 20 OWAA conference attendees.<br />
There should be enough snow, conditions pending, but it won’t be the usual fluffy stuff that earned Utah “The Greatest Snow on Earth” moniker. You will have to come back in the 2011-12 winter to experience why our snow is considered the best on the planet.<br />
The plan now is to make at least, and maybe only, one run on July 8. Those 20 skiers, and I’m planning to be one of them, will be the last of a record-breaking 2010-11 season for Snowbird and Utah. This is the third time in resort history that the ski season has made it to July 4th, matching records set in 1995 and 2005. It is unclear if allowing OWAA members to ski will be considered part of the 2010-11 season. But even by going to July 4, Snowbird surpassed, by one day, its longest season of 201 ski days set in 2005.<br />
OWAA officials picked Snowbird for several reasons, including a reduced room rate for its “off season,” never expecting to be able to use the “Ski” in Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, but the opportunity is there and the folks at the resort are excited to give conference attendees the opportunity to ski in July.<br />
Crazy, but true. Hope to see you on the slopes.<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>— Brett Prettyman is the 2011 OWAA Conference Local Committee Chair. A member since 1992, he is also a member of the OWAA Board of Directors. Prettyman is also an outdoor/recreation writer for The Salt Lake Tribune and author of “Fishing Utah,” second edition. Contact him at brettp@sltrib.com.</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/summer-skiing-snowbird/">Summer skiing at Snowbird</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>Internships: Opportunity or Headache</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/internships-opportunity-headache/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:32:44 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15515</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Internship programs offer a great way to mentor young writers and communicators, while providing vital assistance in your work...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/internships-opportunity-headache/">Internships: Opportunity or Headache</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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<strong>BY MATT MILLER</strong><br />
<em>Internship programs offer a great way to mentor young writers and communicators, while providing vital assistance in your work. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience for all involved. </em><br />
<em>Internships require an inordinate amount of time to manage. Interns are often unreliable and require you to work more, not less. You’ll end up wishing you had never signed up.</em><br />
Which is it? Quite simply: It depends.<br />
As with many writers, my career began with an internship. Twenty years ago, a fellow Penn State English major told me about a summer internship posting for, strangely enough, OWAA (then headquartered in Pennsylvania).<br />
I knew about OWAA and felt this would be a golden opportunity. Alas, my association with OWAA would have to wait, as the staff decided not to take on summer interns that year. However, Penn State’s internship coordinator offered me a writing and editing internship with Penn State’s Center for the Performing Arts.<br />
I knew practically nothing about the arts, but I signed on anyhow. As it turns out, the arts center produced a substantial amount of printed material each year — 50 performance programs, press releases, brochures and newsletters. It proved the perfect learning environment: tight deadlines, tough editors and lots of copy that needed to be written.<br />
I stayed on for two more semesters, often skipping class to write and edit one more symphony story. In the meantime, my internship supervisor introduced me to an acquaintance, legendary outdoor writer Jim Bashline, who helped me publish my first outdoor stories.<br />
The performing arts center hired me as a full-time writer the day after I graduated. I’ve been working as a professional communicator ever since. The habits I formed as an intern still serve me well today.<br />
As such, I recognize the value of internship programs. I have long had this idea that I could mentor an aspiring young writer or public relations student, much as the staff at the performing arts center assisted me.<br />
And yet. Anyone who has worked with many interns knows that this story doesn’t always have a happy ending. Interns don’t want to write “uncreative” copy like press releases. They need constant supervision. They produce work that requires so much editing it would have taken much less time to do it yourself.<br />
A local university requires internships: the kind of well-meaning protocol that sounds good but ensures a steady stream of unmotivated students merely ticking off another graduation requirement.<br />
I ended my internship program with this institution after a string of lackluster interns. The final one showed up on the first day and we discussed his first assignment. He then disappeared for a month, my emails and phone calls unreturned. He showed up and announced that he had not had a chance to start my assignment. When I said this was unacceptable, he left and didn’t return until the final week of the semester, when he asked me what his grade was going to be.<br />
Extreme instances aside, there are ways to help ensure a productive internship, for you and for the student. Here are some guidelines I’d suggest following.<br />
<strong>Be honest with yourself.</strong> You imagine yourself the wise sage, passing on advice while mentoring an aspiring writer. And then you are faced with travel, deadlines, meetings and the long list of responsibilities you face. The intern is relegated to some “busy work” and sits around wondering where you are. Internships take time. If you don’t have the time or a clear sense of what an intern’s duties would be, maybe it’s better to not start an internship program.<br />
<strong>Set clear expectations.</strong> It’s common knowledge on college campuses that internships lead to jobs. This may very well be true, but it also gives certain students the mistaken impression that all they have to do is show up a few days a week and they will be rewarded with a guaranteed job. It may be your job to explain the more subtle benefits of internships. Be clear about what will be expected as far as deadlines and time commitment. Creating internship objectives—clear, achievable steps — leaves no doubt as to what you expect, and what success looks like.<br />
<strong>Prepare students for unglamorous tasks.</strong> Many students — particularly English students — have spent their lives as “creative writers.” Many internships force them to confront the far less intriguing world occupied by press releases, promotional copy, photo archives and filing cabinets. Some students want to write the Great American Novel or exercise their “artistic license.” They probably won’t make great interns. But it’s your fault if you promise exciting feature stories and then assign press releases. Giving students a few more interesting assignments to reward their hard work raises morale and builds skills.<br />
<strong>Edit.</strong> Taking the time to edit your intern’s work and then showing her how to improve may be the most valuable tool you can share. Some students react very poorly to having their work edited. They’ve chosen the wrong major. Others will recognize your assistance and improve their work. They’ll begin editing their own work. These lessons will stick throughout their careers.<br />
<strong>Treat your intern as a colleague.</strong> My performing arts center colleagues included me on their softball team and invited me to happy hours. I received free tickets to all events. Those elements made me feel like an employee, not cheap help. If you don’t work in an office, inviting the intern on an outdoor adventure, sharing good books or just sharing some fishing stories can help build a sense of camaraderie — and encourage the intern to work harder.<br />
<strong>Be a career counselor.</strong> Most interns presumably signed on to better their career prospects. Even if they don’t show up, interns probably look up to you and value your advice. Take a few minutes to discuss their short-term and long-term career goals. A very small time commitment can actually change the lives of interns. Twenty years later, I still think about advice given me by Jim Bashline and my internship supervisors at Penn State. It’s a gift I can only repay by helping other young and beginning communicators.<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>— Matt Miller is director of communications for The Nature Conservancy in Idaho and a member of OWAA’s board of directors. Follow him on two blogs, Idaho Nature Notes (www.idahonaturenotes. blogspot.com) and Cool Green Science (blog.nature.org/author/mmiler). Contact him at m_miller@tnc.org.</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/internships-opportunity-headache/">Internships: Opportunity or Headache</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>Before you join your own circus</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/before-you-join-your-own-circus/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:17:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15509</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Are you ready to run away from your mundane 8-to-5 corporate job and become the ringmaster in your very own sensational circus...?</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/before-you-join-your-own-circus/">Before you join your own circus</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[level-non-member]<br />
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<strong>BY COLLEEN MINIUK-SPERRY</strong><br />
<em>This article is the second installment of a three-part series about leaving an office job for a freelance career. The first article, “Are you ready for a personal Independence Day?” appeared in the June issue of OU. In part three, the author will talk about how to thrive in the freelance life and avoid returning to Corporate America.</em><br />
Are you ready to run away from your mundane 8-to-5 corporate job and become the ringmaster in your very own sensational circus after reading last month’s introduction to this three-part series? Before you trade in your corporate badge for the life you have always wanted as a freelancer, here are critical actions to take to ensure you start as the CEO of “You, Incorporated” on the right foot:<br />
<strong>Showcase your talents.</strong> Start building a professional-quality portfolio of work that accurately shows off what you can deliver. Post relevant examples of your photography, writing, tear sheets, video clips and audio clips that demonstrate a recognizable style and focus that potential clients will notice and purchase.<br />
<strong>Expose yourself.</strong> For crap’s sake, put your clothes back on! Although streaking would attract attention, albeit the wrong kind, awareness is the first step to making sales. If customers are not aware of your products and services, they will not buy either. To build your network, provide educational presentations throughout your local community, join professional organizations, and be active in social media outlets. A non-paid opportunity can often generate significant income over time. Never underestimate the value of exposure. (Pun intended for those who use histograms.)<br />
<strong>Get busy on your breaks.</strong> Though it may feel like you are working two full time jobs, you can’t afford to wait to start your new business until you leave the windowless office. Take care of the little nagging tasks like registering for state and city tax licenses, opening bank accounts and ordering business cards now so you gain legitimacy as a business owner as you walk out the corporate door.<br />
<strong>Don’t act like the government.</strong> When it comes to making money as an independent, it’s not rocket science. Income must be greater than expenditures. Track sales and expenses to not only give Uncle Sam his cut later in taxes, but to also make sure you can cover your incoming bills. And no, you still don’t need that expensive new lens.<br />
<strong>Learn to increase your revenue streams.</strong> Take a marketing class. Not next year. Not next week. Right now. Though the thought of using your left brain during lectures may make you break out in hives, at least go rub shoulders with ambitious marketing majors who might be interested in doing the sales work for your business.<br />
<strong>Transform the scribbles on your beer-stained napkin into a Fortune 500-quality roadmap.</strong> Without a clueless manager barking orders at you, it’s time to get “S. M. A. R. T.” with running your circus. When you formalize what you want to accomplish in 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years, test your goals to make certain they are: specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and tangible. The statement, “I will make $1,000 from photography print sales by Sept. 30, 2012,” is S. M. A. R. T. while “I will be rich tomorrow” is not. Once you have set a course, write out the specific steps and resources you need to get there.<br />
<strong>Burn the ships after landing.</strong> In 1546, upon reaching the shores of Mexico, Hernán Cortés did not make failure an option. When you land your new freelancing career, neither should you. Replace the voices hemming and hawing about what will happen if you fail with more productive thoughts about what you can do to succeed. Heed the advice of automotive pioneer Henry Ford who aptly suggested, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you are right.”<br />
<strong>Schedule the fireworks company to perform at your Independence Day.</strong> Whether your sought-after day of freedom is two weeks away or a year off, circle the date on the calendar. Plan your escape to take advantage of your current company’s benefits and remember to use all your allocated vacation time before your leave. Having a light at the end of the tunnel can breathe new life into you until you say “bon voyage” to your stuffy gray cubicles walls.<br />
Once you have completed these action items, you’re ready to enter your very own big top. In the next issue of OU, we’ll explore the best ways to not only stay on the tightrope, but to also give the performance of your life. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>— Residing in Chandler, Ariz., Colleen Miniuk-Sperry is an award winning and internationally published outdoor photographer and writer. As a full-time freelancer, she happily juggles delivering photo-text packages for various editorial outlets, working on three books, teaching photography workshops, and chairing the OWAA Education Committee. Contact her at cms@cms-photo.com.</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/before-you-join-your-own-circus/">Before you join your own circus</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>Get Google-d</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/get-google-d/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:10:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15505</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>"You’ve got to put the hay down where the cows can get it!” so said Jerry Brown, our dean when I was in journalism school...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/get-google-d/">Get Google-d</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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<strong>BY PAUL QUENEAU</strong><br />
&#8220;You’ve got to put the hay down where the cows can get it!” so said Jerry Brown, our dean when I was in journalism school. It’s certainly true for the World Wide Web. The snazziest site in the world will do you no good if no one can find it.<br />
Google makes a point of being mysterious when it comes to the hows and whys of its search results. That’s beautifully democratic in a way; a person or company can’t just buy their way to the top of the search listings. But as powerful as Google is for Web searching, it can make you feel powerless when trying to decipher just how to get your site listed prominently.<br />
Here are a few simple tricks that will do much to improve your standing with the big G:<br />
<strong>1. Preeminent domain</strong>: Your website’s address — aka domain name — can propel it to the top for a particular search query. For instance, search for “elk photography” on Google, and the second listing is www.elkphotography.com. There isn’t a single elk photo on the site — it’s simply the photographer’s last name. Yet it illustrates just how much Google values the words contained in a Web address. If you’ve already chosen a domain name or prefer to stick with something less specific, don’t despair: try setting up some subdomains. These put a term before your domain name, i.e. elkphotography. yourdomain.com. Match your subdomains with the terms folks would use to find you, and Google will view them as golden search tickets.<br />
<strong>2. Content is king</strong>: Google is its pretty good at judging if you have anything useful to say. Stock your site with diverse, interesting information about the subjects you cover and Google will take notice and boost you in its hierarchy. It also seems to place a big value on how-to and where-to articles. For photos and videos, though, it hasn’t a clue to the actual quality, so take time to write descriptive captions, include extensive keywords in actual site text (not just image metadata!), use image file names that match the content (bull-elk-fighting-0342.jpg), and last but not least, descriptive alt text (the text that appears as an image is loading). It should go without saying, but don’t plagiarize information from other sites. Google places a premium on original content anyway. However, posting pertinent press releases related to your site’s main themes is fair game and may boost your valuable-info index.<br />
<strong>3. Map it out</strong>: Create a logical hierarchy to your site, grouping similar pages together in sections and subsections. Place text links to most if not all of the main pages on your site in a tiny font at the bottom of each page. It’s also valuable to have a sitemap page containing all the links on your site laid out like a family tree. Most website software can create this for you, and once you have your sitemap you can submit it to Google using its webmaster tools. (http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/)<br />
<strong>4. Employ sticky words</strong>: What would someone type to find your site? Write it down and make sure those words appear prominently in your content. Pay special attention to the titles of your pages — the text that appears above the buttons on your browser window. Don’t go overboard with 300 keywords as Google will disregard them, but craft concise descriptions into your page titles about the subject of each page.<br />
<strong>5. Get linked</strong>: I didn’t put this first because in my experience it’s not nearly as important as some sites might lead you to believe. Yes, getting other sites to link to yours will help Google find you, and having many other sites linking to yours will boost your ranking. However, your time is better spent on the recommendations above. Start by submitting your site to Google at http://www.google.com/addurl.html. Google will then know you exist, and once it sees you have valuable information to offer, it will take heed.<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>— Paul Queneau grew up in Colorado hunting, fishing and backpacking. He started with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Bugle magazine as an intern and is currently the conservation editor. Contact him at pqueneau@RMEF.org</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/get-google-d/">Get Google-d</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>A year in review</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/a-year-in-review/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:01:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[President's Message]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15500</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>I think it is important for members to know the inner workings of an organization...</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/a-year-in-review/">A year in review</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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<strong>BY TONY DOLLE</strong><br />
I think it is important for members to know the inner workings of an organization, so, along those lines I’m using my President’s Report to the Board of Directors as my last President’s Column.<br />
I hope members will forgive me for the formality of the column and, conversely, hope the board will forgive the familiarity of same.<br />
<strong>SALE OF THE OWAA CONDO</strong><br />
We sold the condo. I say “we” because it was a team effort that started with OWAA Past President <strong>John Beath</strong> and carried over through my term. John set the stage for this sale and credit for it should be split between him and OWAA Executive Director Robin Giner. They did the lion’s share of the work. History will show the condo sold during my term, but Beath and Giner deserve the credit for getting it sold.<br />
If you would like the details of the sale, contact OWAA staff. Just let me say this, Beath and Giner orchestrated the sale so OWAA makes money. They are to be congratulated for making that happen.<br />
After we repay money “loaned” to us from the Endowment Trustees to purchase the condo (we have about $74,000 we need to repay the trustees), the remainder of the money from the sale will go into a fund designed for OWAA to use in the future for purchasing a new headquarters building that is totally ours. That may not happen for a while, and that’s OK. We aren’t losing anything while we rent office space in Missoula. I urge the board and officers not to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire (hopefully, we’ll wait a while before we purchase another building) until we see what our real needs are in the next couple of years.<br />
But any way you look at it, not having the condo around our necks is a welcome relief.<br />
<strong>MEMBERSHIP</strong><br />
Perhaps my biggest disappointment is our membership numbers.<br />
Despite strong efforts by many on our board, by our individual members and our staff, our numbers continue to drop.<br />
While we aren’t alone (the same is happening to our sister organizations throughout the country), it’s tough to watch the numbers fall.<br />
Part of the problem is our age. Our membership is not getting any younger — though it needs to — meaning we need new blood and we need it now.<br />
The economy many thought was on an upward trend, still isn’t playing nice and definitely is hurting groups like OWAA. Our members are being hit hard around every corner as they try to sell their work to magazines, newspapers and websites.<br />
The ad support for all of magazines and newspapers isn’t what it used it used to be and it may never be again.<br />
Add to that the changes in the way we communicate and it is easy to see why folks aren’t lining up to join or renew their memberships in media groups.<br />
But the news isn’t all bad. We are seeing some increases in specific areas of our membership, and, if our new blogger membership category becomes a reality (which it should), we should be able to add many new members (and pick up many renewals from former members).<br />
I urge all of you reading this to work hard to help OWAA – and other media groups — add members to our rolls.<br />
<strong>GOLDENROD WORKSHOP</strong><br />
Our first Goldenrod Workshop, held last August in Missoula on the campus of the University of Montana, was a grand success. Former OWAA President <strong>Joel Vance</strong>’s vision became reality and with his and many, many others’ hard work, it took flight.<br />
However, the economy still isn’t helping and despite our best efforts, round two will not happen this year.<br />
<strong>THANK YOU</strong><br />
The year was 1978 and I was a new reporter at a small weekly newspaper in southeast Missouri when the aforementioned Vance called me (and sent a letter via U.S. Postal Service – aka post office) urging me to join OWAA. I still have that letter somewhere.<br />
He was working for the Missouri Department of Conservation and had seen an outdoor column I was writing for the newspaper and thought I should join. I hesitated for a couple of years but finally bit the bullet, paid the fees and mailed in the application and was accepted. I had moved to a daily newspaper by then.<br />
I’m not sure I ever thanked him for prompting me to join OWAA. If I failed to do that, well, “Thanks, Joel.”<br />
My membership in OWAA has opened a thousand doors for me and allowed me to see and experience events this Southeast Missouri Swamp Rat never knew existed.<br />
A lot of you helped along the way. So, as president, I get to take up some space here and say thanks:<br />
<strong>Mike Walker</strong> and Pete Johnson: They asked me to serve on an outdoor writer’s marine “council” for one of their clients when they were in business together back in the &#8217;70s. The introductions from that group helped me open many of the doors I spoke about earlier.<br />
Mark Thomas: Mark now heads up marketing for National Shooting Sports Foundation, but back when he was shooting video for Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo., he answered my cry for help — as in, “help me find a new job” — and personally took my resume to a magazine and urged them to hire me … which they did.<br />
<strong>Bill Vanderford</strong>: A former Formula II race car driver in Europe, award-winning travel and outdoor writer, “Lake Sidney Lanier’s oldest guide service operator,” longtime OWAA and SEOPA member and genuine all-around good guy, he has been a mentor to me since the day I met him nearly 40 years ago. I doubt there is anyone, anywhere, better to kick around the world with – this I know from experience.<br />
<strong>Thayne Smith</strong>: Pushed me in all the right directions early in my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for his help.<br />
I’ve only listed five persons, but my thank you list is longer than my leg and I know I’m out of room here. So, thanks to all of you who have helped me get to where I am today. You will always be part of my family. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>— Tony Dolle, OWAA President dolle@tds.net</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/a-year-in-review/">A year in review</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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		<title>Thinking inside the box</title>
		<link>https://owaa.org/thinking-inside-box/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[OWAA staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:55:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[From the Executive Director's Desk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[July 2011]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://owaa.org/ou/?p=15496</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Boxes, boxes, boxes … seems like OWAA headquarters has been mired in boxes for months now.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/thinking-inside-box/">Thinking inside the box</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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<strong>BY ROBIN GINER</strong><br />
Boxes, boxes, boxes … seems like OWAA headquarters has been mired in boxes for months now. First, with the moving of the office from the Hickory Trail condo to our new digs on Oak Street. And now, with piles of boxes and materials to be transported to our 84th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, in just a few days.<br />
We’re hoping to send conference attendees home with boxes, or loads anyhow, of useful information to help them better their craft and make even more money for themselves in the coming year. You’ve been reading for months about the agenda and the hands-on sessions, the pre- and post-conference trip opportunities, and the excellent facilities awaiting us at Snowbird. Now it’s time for you to pack your bags and meet us there!<br />
Headquarters staff will be loading boxes into a Suburban and taking an OWAA road trip down to Salt Lake, where we’ll begin a couple days of unpacking and preparing to receive our members and guests for a truly unique summer experience, complete with snow and alpine beauty to help them beat the mid-July heat.<br />
While we’re on site, OWAA’s Executive Committee and Board will meet for their series of annual meetings on July 7, 8 and 11.<br />
Among the items to be discussed are the revisions to the new Excellence in Craft contests and rules. Those revised rules will be printed in the September quarterly issue of Outdoors Unlimited, so start thinking about what work you want to enter for next year’s contests. Thank you to those who have weighed in on the conversation by responding to the proposed revisions as printed in the June issue of OU. And be sure to lend your voice to the discussion by attending the membership meeting on Sunday, July 10, immediately following breakfast.<br />
The Board will also look to adopt an updated strategic plan for the organization to help us steer headquarters’ work and build a better OWAA; elect a new treasurer and say goodbye and thank you to Kris Thoemke for three years of service; and welcome new and returning Board members <strong>Bruce Cochran</strong>, <strong>Randy Zellers</strong> and <strong>Mary Nickum</strong>, as they take their seats for three-year terms. There’s much for the Board to discuss this year, and you can find the entire agenda on page 11. Members are welcome to attend the meetings as silent observers.<br />
As we continue packing boxes, we look forward to seeing our members at Snowbird in just a few days. Be sure to bring a light jacket along – the summer heat will not be following us up the mountain. And for those who are unable to join us this year, you’ll find coverage of the conference in the September issue of OU, along with downloadable videos of select sessions in the coming weeks at www.owaa.org.<br />
Have a safe Fourth of July and a warm and wonderful summer. <img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2666.png" alt="♦" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /><br />
<em>—OWAA Executive Director Robin Giner, rginer@owaa.org</em><br />
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<p>The post <a href="https://owaa.org/thinking-inside-box/">Thinking inside the box</a> appeared first on <a href="https://owaa.org">Outdoor Writers Association of America</a>.</p>
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