October/November 2013 Archives - Outdoor Writers Association of America

Bookshelf

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:52:25 +0000

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Travel Wild Wisconsin

By Candice Gaukel Andrews
University of Wisconsin Press, 1930 Monroe St., Madison, WI 53711-2059; 608-263-0734, CandyAndrews@uwalumni.com, www.candiceandrews.com; paperback, 260 pp., 42 photos, seven maps; $24.95.
Spy on the spring courtship dance of the greater prairie chicken, watch ancient sturgeon roil the waters of one of the largest inland lakes in the United States, and thrill to the sound of thousands of tundra swans as they migrate through the Mississippi Flyway just before the first snow falls. Travel Wild Wisconsin is your seasonal guide to genuine wildlife encounters in Wisconsin’s most beautiful natural settings. Candice Andrews shares natural history and lore, personal experiences, and insights from biologists, environmental educators, and citizen scientists, so that you can seek a wildlife encounter of your own.

What the Dogs Taught Me: Observations and Suggestions That Will Make You a Better Hunter, Shooter, and Dog Owner

By Scott Linden
Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018; contact Oleg Lyubner, 212-643-6816, ext. 229, olyubner@skyhorsepublishing.com, www.skyhorsepublishing.com; hardcover and e-book, 188 pp.; $22.95.
If you hunt for pheasants, grouse or other upland birds, forming a partnership with your dog can be a daunting challenge. A thorough guide to maximizing your hunt and minimizing the challenges, What the Dogs Taught Me shares tips on dog training, bird behavior, hunting strategies, dog care and hunt preparation. Scott Linden’s style is both insightful and funny in helping you to advance your bird hunting skills with more creativity and less stress.

Backtrack

By V. Paul Reynolds
Islandport Press, P.O. Box 10, Yarmouth, ME 04096; 207-846-3344, info@islandportpress.com, www.islandportpress.com; softcover and e-book, 264 pp.; $16.95.
An avid outdoorsman and award-winning journalist, V. Paul Reynolds began a lifelong love affair with the outdoors alongside his father, Harvard Reynolds, beginning in the late 1940s. Backtrack takes readers down the decades-long path of Reynolds’ outdoor adventures, from remote Maine trout ponds to Rocky Mountain elk hunts. Throughout these experiences, the eloquent Reynolds conveys just how the outdoors can bestow both a love of nature and the joy of friendship.

Today’s Deer Hunting Handbook: The Complete Illustrated Guide for New and Experienced Hunters

By Robert Amendola
Acclaim Press, P.O. Box 238, Morley, MO 63767; 573-472-9800, www.acclaimpress.com, www.bobamendola.com; softcover, 288 pp., 10 photos; $19.95.
Raised in the South Bronx, Bob Amendola developed his interest in outdoor pursuits through his father. He spent years honing his hunting knowledge and skills, eventually sharing that knowledge through hunting seminars and archery exhibitions. This book is carefully designed to read straight through or skip directly to a subject of interest. Within its pages, you will discover how to consistently locate white-tailed deer, track their feeding, bedding and traveling routes, and understand what it really takes to become a superior hunter.

Ramblin’ Outdoors: A Favorite Selection of Wildlife Stories from the Woods and Waters

By Robert A. Fala
McClain Printing Company, www.mcclainprinting.com; paperback, 186 pp., 100 photos; $19.95.
Bob Fala presents a collection of 39 varying accounts from the wilds of “almost heaven” West Virginia, Pennsylvania and beyond. With 100 full-color photographs, outdoors enthusiasts will all enjoy its easy reading, coffee-table style. The diversity of unique stories included ranges from amusing black bear encounters to gruesome horn-locking deer battles, with tales of wild turkeys, smallmouth bass, grouse and an albino porcupine thrown in for good measure.

Book 6 of Great Michigan Deer Tales

By Richard P. Smith
Smith Publications, www.richardpsmith.com; softcover, 122 pp., (also available as e-book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble); $16.50.
The latest book in this series is another collection of true short stories about the largest bucks bagged by Michigan hunters. Each story is based on interviews with the hunters, who share the how, where and when behind their special
whitetail hunts. Deer hunters will enjoy this book and others in the series for their entertainment value as well as for the hunting lessons they convey.
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Outdoor writing community loses great editor and friend

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:39:09 +0000

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BY JAY MICHAEL STRANGIS
I opened my 2013-2014 OWAA Directory recently and checked my listing. I noticed something missing. It was the name of my compatriot and friend, Mike Strandlund. Reading down: Strandlund, Strangis … the alphabetical listing so often paired us over the 20 years that Mike was a member of OWAA.
Mike’s not there because he died unexpectedly on a vacation last spring at just 56 years old. He drowned, a long way from home. That’s somewhat ironic considering Mike was a true outdoor guy — excellent hunter, avid fisherman, loved the water and a good swimmer. Just a freak accident was about all that could be learned.
Mike served as the long-time editor of Bowhunting World magazine. We had a serendipitous 23-year friendship, formed in the strangest manner.
In 1990, I had just left an editor’s position at Bowhunting World magazine to take a managing editor’s position with the North American Hunting Club. At that time, I had a sweet 20-acre plot of private bowhunting-only land with some really good deer on the edge of the Twin Cities. Of course, I posted my hunting area with “No Hunting” signs to keep it undisturbed. I decided to scout the area from the outside-in one evening just before bow opener. As I glassed from a nearby church parking lot, I couldn’t believe my eyes. A guy was walking through the area, accompanied by a dog that was obviously hunting up and flushing pheasants. Since he was coming my way, I hustled out to meet him and to ask if he could read and why he was trespassing. He played dumb: “Uh, oh,” he said. “I was just working my dog. New here. Just moved from Virginia.” Then, after apologizing, he began asking me about my deer hunting. He seemed more than casually interested in the bowhunting aspect and said he had just taken a job as an editor of a bowhunting magazine with Ehlert Publishing. I about fell over. Here was the guy who had taken the job I had just left! What are the odds?
And that was the start of our friendship. A couple of years later, I ended up as an editor at Petersen’s Bowhunting and would stay with that publication for the next 15 years. Mike and I were competitors, but only on paper. We lived worlds away, but stayed in touch, shared hunting stories, compared industry tales, talked about our dreams, our relationships and most anything else friends talk about. Since I had moved to California to take the job with Petersen’s, Mike inherited some of my good deer and pheasant hunting spots in the west metro area of the Twin Cities, as well as the copiously hard-earned details about how and when to access and hunt them. Mike always made a point of sharing tales of adventure about those memorable spots when we got together.
Mike and I seemed bound together by so many odd events. One year we were both asked to have our heads publicly shaved bald as a fundraiser to benefit cancer research. I well remember sitting on stage at the Archery Trade Association Trade Show with Mike next to me, enjoying the crowd’s laughs and catcalls as our hair dropped to the floor. Whoever cut Mike’s hair left a crest at the top that made him look like some strange breed of chicken, a view that had everyone around him in stitches. Two weeks later we rendezvoused to compare heads at the SHOT Show.
I last enjoyed quality time with Mike at a recent SHOT Show media day. We spent most of the day together knocking around the event, lingering over lunch, comparing notes on our jobs and industry politics, and sharing very personal stories about our relationships and our families. I’m not even sure how much we really saw of the event, because we were so embroiled in really deep conversations. That’s what was possible with Mike. He offered a real level of trust and honesty that I’ve found in few others. I think a lot of people valued that in him.
Mike was a savvy hunter, excellent writer and editor, and exemplary representative of American outdoor writers. He also was a longtime OWAA member, whose place in the annual directory and friendship I will sorely miss.
Jay Michael Strangis, a member since 1990, currently serves as editor of American Waterfowler Magazine. He is also a book author and published writer. Contact him at jmsoutside@q.com.
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Promote yourself with a one-sheet

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:28:02 +0000

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BY PETER WOOD
As an eager first-time attendee during the 2007 OWAA conference in Roanoke, Va., a seminar on launching a blog got my attention. My outdoor blog was in its fourth year, and it reinforced the fact that, for writers to get noticed via the
web, this was an awesome tool. I learned early to invest in myself through training with experts who knew what I wanted to learn.
Fast forward to 2013. How do you properly promote yourself as an expert in your field — perhaps as an author, a speaker, trainer or simply a source of valuable information? I’d like to introduce you to the one-sheet. This swift tool answers questions your target audience needs to know about you and your company. And just who is your target market? Media, producers, event managers, trade show organizers, potential sponsors, seminar event planners and Web visitors.
A one-sheet is a necessary tool with two objectives. The first goal in packaging yourself as an expert speaker is to help the reader care about your message. The second is to help you get speaking gigs. To get booked by the media and event producers, a one-sheet has to quickly communicate your value at a glance, all on one single page.
The five W’s may be considered old-school reporting style, but it’s still relevant in the one-sheet. It’s up to you as a writer to make it outdoorsy and stand out from your competition.
The following elements make up a strong one-sheet.
TITLE
A hypnotic headline will capture interest using two words to describe the topic. Hypnotic copywriting is not about injecting false hype in your promotional material; it is about creating curiosity and driving your reader to dig deeper, past your headline and into your content. The ultimate goal is to create enough curiosity that your target audience wants to review your other marketing materials, visit your website, or phone and ask questions. How to, how I, what if, and I have are all good ways to start. Hopefully this will capture the reader’s interest and attention. It also informs your target audience they are in the right place, whether on a website or a trade show pamphlet.
LOGO
Your company logo is part of marketing your brand. Text and graphics or a photo all work fine. A professionally made logo will pay off over the years. Consider this a cost of doing business.
SUB-HEADLINE
WIIFM — What’s in it for me? Share a promised benefit that you can actually deliver; never promise more than you can fulfill.
OPENING VOLLEY
Demonstrate problems solved and how as an expert you earned the right to speak about the topic.
KEYNOTE TOPICS
List four to six seminar topics that you can cover as an expert.
BOOK INFORMATION
Include a book cover photo if you have one.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Provide a complete list including contact name, office phone, address, email, website, Twitter handle, LinkedIn page, etc.
PHOTO
Insert a high-resolution photo of you on a white background.
Is a one-sheet really an effective marketing tool? Let’s just say it helped my business mentor Paul Tobey earn his first million bucks as a speaker. Speaking at trade shows, outdoor clubs and local events helps me to solidify corporate contacts. Today’s outdoor writer should be repurposing content for all available markets. As I said earlier, I learned early to invest in myself through training with experts who already knew what I wanted to learn. It works — just Google “outdoor podcasts.” Once your one-sheet is finished, how do you distribute it? Apart from publishing on your website, you can email it. People don’t necessarily open attachments if they don’t know the source of the email due to fear of viruses and spyware. I would therefore suggest setting up the insert as a downloadable PDF link in your emails. Snail mail is also very effective. People don’t get much mail anymore, so they may give it fresh attention. Make certain that your one-sheet stays crisp in the delivery process and that it’s packaged well. Your cover letter should be short, sweet and to the point. Make sure it’s personalized and that your package has a strong call to action.

[box] To view Peter’s one-sheet, visit Ripple Outdoors at http://www.rippleoutdoors.com/peter-recommends/. You will also find a link to Paul’s one-sheet there under the “one-sheet promo offer.”[/box]

-A member since 2003, Peter Wood is the CEO of Ripple Outdoors and an award-winning outdoor communicator and speaker. He hosts “Hunt Talk” on Ripple Outdoors and is a writer and editor for Ontario Out of Doors. Contact him at peter.wood@rippleoutdoors.com.
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Capturing the moment

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:19:51 +0000

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BY STEVE MAANUM
I think all of us have witnessed an event in nature that left us saying, “If I only had a camera.” Several years ago, I was taking our two kids to school, and, as we passed over the river that flows through town, a bald
eagle flared up in front of my truck. It had just grabbed a hen mallard for breakfast. The mallard was still alive, and, from the vice-like grip of the eagle’s talons, the panicked duck stared at me as if to say, HELP!
There was no help for that mallard. Predator and prey, life and death … the scene is repeated in nature every day. I did not have a camera with me that day, which is probably a good thing because I would have undoubtedly caused a car accident while trying to photograph that scene. My mind recorded the event and it’s been played back hundreds of times since that day.
By spending time in nature, I get to see many of the usual daily occurrences, but once in awhile I’m privileged to witness something rare. I have always loved photographing loons, and I spend countless hours each spring and summer documenting their habits. Their welfare is important to me and I strive to photograph them in stress-free ways.
Wildlife photography, when properly used, can help uncover facts that lead to new and better management techniques. As a loon volunteer, I help collect data on the loon activities — number of adult loons on the lake, number of nesting pairs, number of eggs laid, number of eggs hatched, and number of chicks survived. All of this is documented and compared to previous years’ statistics so we can adjust our management plan, which includes placing as many as 19 loon nesting rafts around the lake as alternatives to natural nesting sites that are more prone to predation.
In the spring of 2012 while we were conducting our annual egg count, we happened to slide quietly up to a natural nest just as the female was preparing to lay an egg. As a photographer and a lifelong student of nature, I am trained to recognize signs of stress on my photo subjects and to back off before causing any problems. This loon, however, was not demonstrating any uneasiness at all. She had a job to do and she was going to do it, whether we were there or not.
-Steve Maanum joined OWAA’s ranks in 2011. In his home state of Minnesota, he teaches digital photography workshops through the public library system and gives school presentations to engage kids with nature through writing and photography. He also coordinates Minnesota’s Digital Photography Bridge to Nature project. Contact him at steve.maanum@gmail.com.
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Learning to adapt to changing technologies

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:04:42 +0000

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BY CAROL LYNDE
There is nothing permanent, except change, according to Greek philosopher Heraclitus, which should give you an idea of how long man has been struggling with the idea that, no matter how hard we want things to stay the same, they don’t.
When I began my career as a photojournalist at a Phoenix television station, we recorded our stories on what was then state-of-the-art 16 mm magnetic stripe sound film. We edited all that film using hand-cranked reels, Moviolas and a very odorous glue, which may explain why all the editors seemed a little lightheaded and giggly, but then maybe not: it was, after all, the 70s. Other than film breaks or ripped sprockets, the most technical thing we had to worry about was that, for the picture and the sound to be in sync, the audio had to precede the picture by 28 frames due to the distance between the projector’s lens for the picture and the soundtrack heads for the audio.
Whether you started out in TV, like I did, or at a newspaper or magazine, I bet the way you put a story together and the technical tools you use have changed since your first day on the job. Mine sure have. The capturing and editing of moving images have progressed more than a little since then, and I think almost everyone would agree the changes have been for the better.
While it is fun to wax nostalgic about the good old days, that’s not what this article is about. It’s about adapting in a technological age where new systems seem to be outdated before they are out of the box. It’s about being an old fart trying not to get left behind in the cosmic dust.
After spending almost 30 years in the TV news business and surviving all the technological advances in that arena, I have spent the last nine years as a video producer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. We have a variety of cameras in our stable, and our edit system previously consisted of two PC-based Avid Media Composers. A few years ago we moved to high definition and upgraded to Avid Nitris — a fancier Avid, but still an Avid and the only non-linear edit system I’ve ever used. Until now.
“To improve is to change, to be perfect is to change often.” — Winston Churchill
This latest change came about because of a domino effect of other changes within our agency. For many years the department only had two video producers. When my fellow producer retired, I was promoted to video production supervisor and two new producers were hired. While they are tech-savvy and skilled producers, they come from the age of Apple’s Final Cut Pro, so neither of them had much experience, if any, with Avid.
Though Avid is a great product, our old warhorse of an edit system had been plagued with problems for years. Likely the issues were more Windows PC based than Avid based, but it crashed regularly. Sometimes it would let us export in HD and sometimes it wouldn’t. It even seemed moody, a scarily human characteristic for a computer program. So we scrapped the 32-bit PCs for 64-bit Macs and ordered Adobe Premier Pro software. We could have gone with the Mac version of Avid, but it seemed silly to make the two new producers, who already “spoke Adobe,” try to master Avid and, besides, Adobe software costs about half of what Avid does. So rather than ask them to tackle Avid, I prayed I had it in me to learn one more edit system.
Since we were on a strict budget with a seemingly impossible mandate to build three edit suites that also included shared storage capability, we hired a consultant to design the system for us. This was money very well spent. He not only configured an edit system that met our budget limitations, he worked with our information technology folks to sort out the technical details, installed everything and provided training on the Adobe software. He also configured our system as an independent island, separate from the department’s main server, which not only increased our data stream speed, but keeps their bugs out of our system.
Now that it’s all done, I have to admit, the transition hasn’t been as bad as I feared. I love some of Premiere’s features, especially the warp stabilizer effect, which gives your handheld video a smooth Steadicam look. Still, I was amazed at how much muscle memory I had developed on the Avid system, so relearning all those instinctive key strokes has been the biggest challenge for me. It’s difficult to keep a creative flow going with your project when you are constantly Googling questions like, how do I create stereo audio from a mono track, or how do I add a keyframe? With the Avid I didn’t have to think, I just had to edit.
The same applies to graphics. On our Avid system, with a Boris Red graphics package, the templates for all of our titles were only a click away. Now I’m staring into the depths of Adobe After Effects trying to figure out how to make a simple lower third font. Forget anything fancy like importing the Arizona Game and Fish logo. But I am getting through it. Before our new system was installed, I downloaded a free 30-day trial of Premiere on my home computer, so I could play around with it on my own. The book “An Editor’s Guide to Adobe Premier Pro” has become my bible. The other two video producers are flying on the system like they have been using it all their lives, but they are younger and
more flexible than I am (both mentally and emotionally, I would imagine). I have also swallowed my pride and embraced the notion that there are no dumb questions, so I ask plenty.
“Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed.” — Irene Peter
The bottom line is that good editing has more to do with what’s inside your soul than in your head. Whatever editing system you use, it is merely a tool to advance your storytelling, and with the new tools now available, you can make those stories as simple or complex as your imagination will allow.

[box]Our System Specs
In case you’re curious about our upgraded technology, here is the editing system we built. We have three edit suites. Each has a 27-inch iMac with Mountain Lion OSX, a Promise Pegasus 6TB external drive, Dell 24-inch monitor and Adobe Creative Suite 6 software. The suites are connected to a Mac Mini via a xMac Mini server and two 20TB LaCie drives for shared storage. Since the iMac doesn’t have a DVD burner, we ordered external Blu-ray writers and third-party Toast software.[/box]

-A member since 2005, Carol Lynde is a longtime video producer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. She also owns Tall Paul Productions Inc. Contact her at clynde16@aol.com.
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Nurturing outdoor explorers: Lydia Lohrer

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:51:12 +0000

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BY PETER VAN HORN
In 1994 an editor for The Voice newspapers of Michigan told Lydia Lohrer that no one would read her column. She wanted to write about hunting and fishing, but her editor insisted readers weren’t interested in a woman’s perspective
on the outdoors. Yet he took a chance and gave her a green light. The column “Backwoods” was a resounding success.
Since third grade Lohrer had dreamed of being an outdoor writer, but had no idea it could be a career. After college she worked as a copyright, patent and trademark proofreader. Then a copy editing job opened at a local newspaper and Lohrer wanted it. After applying several times, she offered to work two weeks for free. Her solid editing skills and the trial period got her the job, the experience from which she later used to get her column.
Bruce Matthews was at a Michigan Outdoor Writers Association annual meeting in the late 1990s when a young woman with a baby stepped up and introduced herself. She was Lydia Lohrer and she was just starting out in journalism. He describes her as a positive, ambitious, encouraging woman.
“She has such a heart for getting people involved with whatever she is doing,” he said.
Television was the next medium for Lohrer. “Huntress” aired for the first time in 1999 with Lohrer as a co-host. The show, which ran on the Outdoor Channel, featured her outdoor bowhunting skills and was the first hunting show to feature a woman as the host. “Huntress” provided her with a chance to start making a difference; Lohrer felt that outdoors enthusiasts were wrongly viewed as people who only took from nature and had nothing to give.
“I could portray hunters and anglers as conservationists,” Lohrer said.
After a few years of the show, Lohrer had two children, and another on the way. Hosting a television show became more difficult as her family grew. She gave up the travelling and the cameras to focus on writing and spending time with her kids.
“American Family Outdoors” gave her a chance to do just that. The 90-second segment focused on tips to get families outside, airing between other Outdoor Channel programs every day. Lohrer also wrote columns for various magazines, and in 2012 she took a job writing an outdoor column for the Detroit Free Press.
Fourteen years before landing the Detroit column, Lohrer met Tom Huggler, OWAA life member and former president. Back then, Lohrer was a sharp journalist looking for experienced writers to show her the ropes. Her curiosity and passion intrigued Huggler, and they became friends.
“When you see someone with a keen, genuine interest in things, you want to help them,” Huggler said.
An early interaction with Lohrer has stuck with Huggler for years. On a woodcock and grouse hunting trip at a northern Michigan lodge, he couldn’t give her enough information about the birds to feed her interest. He was impressed by her hunger for knowledge and her quality work.
“She is really doing a nice job,” he said. “I want to read what she writes because of her research and passion.”
To Huggler, Lohrer exemplifies a positive trend for women in the outdoors. At one time women were only asked about things like outdoor cooking and never consulted on questions of hunting or fishing.
“Women have more authority in outdoor writing than they did 30 years ago,” Huggler said. “Now a lot of women have a lot more to say about the outdoors and they offer a new perspective.”
Lohrer re-joined OWAA in 2010 after a long absence. The standard of professionalism associated with the organization got her attention. She was looking for an organization with consistent integrity.
“They offered a value system that was right in line with my own values,” Lohrer said.
Sharing her passion for the outdoors was always important to Lohrer. She home-schooled her two sons before putting them in public school so she could teach them in an outdoor setting. One day her boys brought a cricket in to show their class. The cricket escaped, and Lohrer realized something was wrong.
“There were boys standing on their chairs shrieking because of a loose cricket,” she said.
So Lohrer and her husband Patrick Bevier started an organization, Outdoor Explorers, as a way to connect kids to nature. Most nature education programs focused on exotic wildlife and she wanted to do something different. The couple wanted to educate kids about the wildlife and plants in their own backyards and give them an opportunity to interact with nature. Their program focuses on conservation and appreciation of wilderness.
Lohrer still lives in Michigan with her husband and four children. Her column appears every week in the Detroit Free Press, and she visits schools with the Outdoor Explorers. Matthews keeps in contact with her as well, and he is glad to share a profession with her.
“She made a career in outdoor journalism when most people wouldn’t, with her positive attitude and ability to buck up in the face of great adversity,” Matthews said.
-Peter Van Horn is a student at the University of Montana. He believes that outdoor journalism is an essential tool to address real environmental issues. Van Horn is also interested in feature writing and wilderness photography. He joined OWAA as a journalism intern for the summer of 2013.
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Building community on behalf of the outdoors

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:37:39 +0000

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BY BILL GRAHAM
Communicate and community: words that represent OWAA’s 86-year history and future. We need each other and the world needs what we do.
Many members of the Outdoor Writers Association of America in the 20th century laid cornerstones for the conservation and outdoor recreation movements that enrich our nation. Most of us arrived in this field thanks to inspiration from those who came before. The outdoors would exist without OWAA, but the quality, quantity and future possibilities would not be the same.
My father taught me how to twitch a Lucky 13 plug on top of the water to entice a largemouth bass into a splashy strike. He showed me a smooth swing with a shotgun as bobwhite quail flushed in front of a bird dog. But beyond our own personal mentors, many writers, photographers and television show hosts broadened our outdoor world over the decades. Most of them were OWAA members.
As a Depression-era farm boy, my father never saw a game warden and he hunted rabbits when he pleased. But his generation changed as communicators helped biologists promote outdoor ethics and scientifically-based wildlife and fisheries management. Missouri Conservationist and Outdoor Life magazines carrying those messages arrived in our mailbox. Outdoor writers also lured me to new adventures. My itch to hunt wild turkeys and catch rainbow trout came from reading the stories by OWAA legend Ray Heady on the outdoor page of The Kansas City Star newspaper.
Heady’s words in the 1960s and 1970s told me what, where, why and how I could do the same. He also made it clear that conservation progress is what made it possible to get a spine chill from a tom turkey gobbling at sunrise. Once almost extinct in my state, turkeys are now a top game bird.
Similar changes affected millions of Americans over the decades. In the 21st century, millions or even billions more people the world over await our words, photos, videos, blogs, websites and tweets. We hold the power of fact and inspiration.
Anyone with a digital device can be an outdoor communicator these days. But not everyone can prove that they have a loyal audience thanks to their ability to provide stories, information and images in an accurate and entertaining manner. If you are a raging financial and critical success in this business without much effort, congratulations, you’re rare.
Most OWAA members build careers a piece at a time. Many borrow tips and skills from each other. We share ways to sharpen old skills and learn the new. Mentoring young people is our tradition.
It’s a beautiful thing to shoot the breeze with folks at an OWAA conference and listen in as a writer wanting better photo support asks a world-class nature photographer about cameras and lenses. Horizons on my photos got level after being humbled during the reviews as conference photo scavenger hunt winners (and mistake makers) were evaluated. When digital technology ushered in new video possibilities, members on the cutting edge shared their expertise.
A job change required me to suddenly switch from pen and pad reporter to being able to answer tough questions about sensitive issues on camera for big-city television reporters. You’d be surprised how many think archery died with Robin Hood. Thanks to a PDF tip sheet provided by an Emmy Award-winning OWAA member, I was able to face the cameras and I now look forward to them.
The phone rings and the emails ping often, too, at OWAA headquarters as staff assist members with various problems or help them make new connections. There’s always room to make the community larger. Please help staff reel in new members and supporters.
Privileged to work in the sacred and beloved outdoors, professional outdoor communicators are rare compared to other occupations in society. My benefits from OWAA are many over the years, but topping my list is time spent with kindred spirits.
OWAA is “The Voice of the Outdoors,” and helping each other keeps that voice clear and powerful.
—OWAA President Bill Graham, plattefalls@centurylink.net
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Letters to the Editor

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:25:12 +0000

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“Catfight” Writer Helps Share The Facts

The June/July Outdoors Unlimited was excellent … again. Ted Williams’ “Catfight” [Outdoors Unlimited, June/July 2013, p. 11] was a classic. It showed how important a knowledgeable outdoor writer can be in heading off silly, sappy, sentimental laws and regulations. I joined OWAA in 1960 sponsored by our former president and outdoor editor of the Des Moines Register. Our annual conference was at the posh Jackson Lake Lodge in Wyoming. We paid a whopping $6 a day for our rooms. CB Colby and Grits Gresham attended. I put together the team that hosted our 62nd conference in Des Moines in 1989, the Ding Darling conference. Like Ted Williams we have a feral cat problem — who hasn’t. As
usual, “the facts be damned.” To quote a thesis: “Recent studies in Iowa have found little or no evidence of population level effects; higher rates of mortality for bats.” But birds have a better lobby. Keep up the good work at our OWAA.
— Jim Boyt, DesMoines, Iowa

Outdoor Writing Should Respect All Creatures

I have been an OWAA member for years, and I frequently wonder why I hang on. When I read Al Cambronne’s “What I learned writing an op-ed for a major newspaper” [Outdoors Unlimited, June/July 2013, p. 7], I really questioned my membership. The organization seems to treat fish as toys for people to play with, put on this planet for our enjoyment. Mr. Cambronne’s comment, “If you’re writing anything controversial, especially if it involves the death of an animal (even just a fish) … ” [emphasis mine] was an excellent example of the self-centered attitude of many OWAA members. Why are fishes’ lives any less important than the lives of other animals? Why did that phrase need to be in the article? If OWAA is more about catching fish for fun than respecting fish as living animals, count me out for renewing my membership.
— Susan Jewell, wildlife biologist & environmental writer, Springfield, Va.

Feedback guidelines

Members are encouraged to write about issues and topics. The executive director and editor will decide whether opinions are appropriate for debate or if the comments promote a personal cause; if the “cause” is unrelated to OWAA’s mission and potentially damaging to the membership, the letter might not be printed. Word limit: 400. Longer letters will be returned for revision. Send letters to editor@owaa.org.
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Who is OWAA?

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 21:11:14 +0000

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BY TOM SADLER
Recently, a former member asked an interesting question about OWAA’s membership. He wanted to know what the breakdown was by subject matter. I was curious about that as well, so I asked our membership coordinator, Jessica Pollett, to run the numbers for me. I thought you might like to see how the top 10 subjects rank.

Freshwater Fishing 56%
Hunting 55%
Outdoor Travel 41%
Natural Resources 40%
Nature 39%
Firearms and Shooting 31%
Environmental Affairs 31%
Camping & Backpacking 31%
Saltwater Fishing 29%
Archery & Bowhunting 26%

That exercise got me thinking about our membership. As a 59-year-old white guy, I suspect I am typical of many of our members — older, white and male. While there is nothing inherently wrong with that, I do believe we may be missing out when it comes to the outdoor communications pool. To that end, when I started my tenure as executive director I made a special effort to recruit someone other than guys like me. Here is a look at three new members I am especially excited to introduce. I have the good fortune to know them, greatly admire what they have accomplished, and take pride in having a role in recruiting them.
JANET LEBSON
Janet Lebson used to be a member — she was Janet Tennyson then — and I am delighted she agreed to return to OWAA. Janet and I have worked on many projects together over the years, and she brings a wealth of experience from her time in the government and with the fishing industry. Janet shares my interest in diversity, and we can expect her to engage the leadership on the way to nurturing a more diverse membership. You can read her bio in the July Association Update online at https://owaa.org/ou/2013/07/association-update-july-2013/ and learn more about her at http://www.glintcommunications.com.
JESSICA MCGLOTHLIN
I learned about Jessica McGlothlin via the Chi Wulff blog. She is the talent behind the camera at Fire Girl Photography. Like a little sister pursuing all those things I wish I could still do, Jess has an infectious sense of adventure and for doing her own thing. Her aspiration to be a foreign correspondent means we can look forward to exciting dispatches from her. Board member Katie McKalip also put the “join OWAA” bug in Jess’ ear. You can read her bio in the July Association Update online at https://owaa.org/ou/2013/07/association-update-july-2013/ and learn more about her at http://www.firegirlphotography.com.
SARAH GRIGG
When you meet Sarah Grigg, wolverines and fight club don’t immediately spring to mind. At least they didn’t for me. But Sarah’s byline has appeared on those story subjects and many more. To say she has a storyteller’s curiosity sells her short. I am always excited when Sarah calls to tell me she has a new article in the works because I know it will be both interesting and unique. You can read her bio in the September Association Update online at https://owaa.org/ou/2013/09/association-update-september-2013/ and learn more about her at http://anatomyofawolverinetrap.wordpress.com/.
As OWAA continues to evolve as an organization, a diverse membership, be it age, race, gender or subject, means our members and supporters benefit. We learn more from each other, find more opportunities to ply our craft and are given the chance to mentor the next generation of outdoor communicators. I think you will agree that these ladies are wonderful additions to our ranks and share with me the excitement of having them as part of OWAA.
—OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler, tsadler@owaa.org
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Youth writing contest aims to inspire next generation

OWAA staff — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 17:02:19 +0000

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If we don’t encourage young writers and outdoors enthusiasts, the outdoor writer could soon become an endangered species. Kenneth Kieser, a former member of the OWAA Board of Directors, developed a new youth fishing story contest for three reasons: so kids will fish, so kids will write about fishing and so kids will simply be inspired to write.
An OWAA Supporting Group, the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame has been kind enough to launch the program. Kids from junior and senior high school are encouraged to write a fishing story and send it to the Hall of Fame with the appropriate form from their website. A panel of judges will read the stories, grading each one on a 40-point system that evaluates originality, style, quality and readability. To start, the program is offering one $500 scholarship for each of two age groups. Program organizers hope to be able to offer larger prizes and add second- and third-place awards in future years.
The first winners will be announced late in 2014. With a goal to expand the program’s impacts, the organizers are reaching out to outdoor writers to request their help in spreading the word. There are no catches (pardon the pun) to helping out, and the contest falls under the umbrella of an established nonprofit organization with an important mission. Based in Hayward, Wisc., the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame is dedicated to education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sport fishing, and recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the sport.
“I remember the constant interest shown by veteran outdoor writers wanting the next generations to continue our work,” Kieser said. “This program may be the start of a new batch of outdoor writers or at least, it may make kids want to go fishing.”
Interested young writers can locate the application form link on the lower left side of the Hall of Fame’s home page at www.freshwater-fishing.org. For more information, please contact Kenneth Kieser at 913-254-7050 or kkieser@comcast.net.
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