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OWAA conferences and events include: 

  • An annual, in-person conference (between May-September but historically in the June/July time frame)
  • A series of ‘WOW’ (Women Outdoor Writers) virtual gatherings
  • As needs dictate and as we’re able, there are occasional webinars and virtual conferences as well (although none are currently scheduled)

Non-members that attend OWAA conferences and events and then decide to join OWAA later can have the registration fee for the event attended subtracted from the price of their annual dues.

An OWAA 'Off the Record' event in Missoula, Montana.
An OWAA ‘Off the Record’ event in Missoula, Montana. Photo by Chez Chesak.
Off the Record - Shed the Shed Shindig

8/9/2021 to 8/14/2021 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET

An event to clean out a storage unit? Well, some of OWAA's current leadership started talking about the storage unit that we still have in Missoula, Montana and how silly it is that we continue to pay rent on it each month. It's filled with some furniture from our old office space in Missoula, at least one antler chandelier (there's debate over whether it's real or plastic), lots of back issues of OU, various files and who knows what historical artifacts. On their own, people decided that they'd travel to Missoula (at the height of fly fishing season) to finally sort through it all. They they started talking with local members about getting together and perhaps having a BBQ, cookout or party (or three). So it seemed to make sense to just put it out there (as one of OWAA's 'Off the Record' local networking events) in case any other OWAA members either in the area or passing through might also want to pop by for a bit. So stay tuned here. We'll have more details to come!

  • Two past presidents and their spouses will stay at a local campground, roughly Aug. 9-14
  • The goal is to plow through the storage unit
  • Other locals, including another past president, have said they'll join the effort
  • Any OWAA member who’d like to be part of the “event” is welcome - just know that this is a volunteer effort
Phil Bloom notes:

The long-range goal is to digitize documents such as membership records so they can be easily accessed from anywhere. Right now, it requires someone physically going to the storage unit and sorting through the unorganized files.

The storage unit contains file cabinets and banker boxes filled with documents, furniture, artwork, memorabilia, and, well, probably some stuff we don’t know about until the door is opened and the exploring begins. The idea is to organize and save what’s important and get rid of the rest so that we can end our financial commitment to that storage facility.

I and my wife, Jessie, will arrive in Missoula on Aug. 8. Pat and Debbie Wray will join us from Aug. 9-13. Chez is aiming to be there, too, and others have said they want to help.

Everyone in OWAA is welcome to participate. No amount of time is too little.

It’s important for everyone to know this is strictly a volunteer undertaking. You are on your own for any travel, lodging, or food expenses.

If you can help, email me at philbloom.owaa@frontier.com or register [here] on the OWAA website.

As the registration form indicates, we’re planning an “Off the Record” event at a local establishment to meet and greet local OWAA members and supporters, as well as prospective members. Details to come.

There’s also a chance of a cookout to celebrate completing the storage cleanout if we can find an appropriate location. Details to come.

Here’s what we’re up against.

OWAA used to fill two storage units with stuff – an older one close to downtown Missoula that had been used for awhile and a newer one where assets were stored after our office was closed in December 2018. OWAA was paying about $175/month rent for the two storage units.

In April 2019, the older unit was cleaned out. Some items in the old unit were donated to charity and about a ton of outdated paperwork (bank statements and EIC entries from as far back as the 1980s) was shredded. The rest (including a fake elk antler chandelier) was moved to the new unit.

Other items include a conference table with matching chairs, display cabinets, one or more office desks, etc. And, of course, that elk antler chandelier.

It would be nice to find a buyer or buyers for the furnishings. The question of what to do with memorabilia (such as the whooping crane statuette Lady Bird Johnson presented to OWAA at the 1966 National Wildlife Federation convention) is for someone other than me to decide.

Registration for this event is closed.

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