Nominees sought for Jackie Pfeiffer Award
Nominations for the 2009 Jackie Pfeiffer Memorial Award are now being accepted. Nominees must exemplify Pfeiffer’s genuine warmth, good will, helpfulness, generosity and kindness to others, especially at OWAA’s annual conference. OWAA members and spouses are eligible. Nominations should be sent to Sue Hansen at hesja@juno.com. Deadline is April 30. The award will be presented at OWAA’s annual conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., in June. ◊
Schroeder promoted at headquarters
Ashley Schroeder, OWAA’s journalism intern for the autumn 2008 semester, was hired Jan. 2 as OWAA’s executive assistant. Her duties include bookkeeping, bill pay, assistance with annual conferences and various clerical tasks including solicitation of Outdoor Market listings. Other responsibilities include coordination of OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Contest program and development and implementation of Outdoors Unlimited Online. Last December Schroeder graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in print journalism and a minor in media arts. During her internship she helped with Outdoors Unlimited, compiling submissions for Bookshelf, Brieflies, Supporter Group News Tips and Character Sketches. She hails from Gillette, Wyo., where her outdoors experience included summer backpacking trips and surviving windy winter blizzards. Schroeder enjoys her relocation to Missoula and gets her fill of fresh air by snowboarding and soaking in hot springs. ◊
SEOPA searches for new logo
The Southeastern Outdoor Press Association is urging graphic artists and others with design skills to participate in a competition to develop a new organization logo. Entries will be accepted through April 13. The artist or designer submitting the winning work-for-hire entry will receive a $750 cash award. “Our present logo has served our membership well for more than a decade,” said Lisa Snuggs, SEOPA’s executive director. “However, we think it’s time to consider a fresh, modern emblem with clean lines that will reproduce easily.” Artists may view the current SEOPA logo at www.SEOPA.org. Snuggs said the new logo should represent the core reason for SEOPA’s existence – to bring together outdoor communicators and corporate business partners in the furtherance of traditional outdoor sports like fishing, hunting, camping and boating. SEOPA is the largest regional outdoor writer’s group in the United States. Artists who submit entries are asked to do electronically by sending a high-resolution color .jpg, .tif, .gif or .bmp file to lisa@seopa.org. All entries must be received by close of business on Monday, April 13. Please request e-mail confirmation that your entry is received, and call 704-984-4700 if you do receive a reply. ◊
New group aims to protect access to public lands
The Western Legacy Alliance, a newly formed coalition, kicked off a campaign last month to bring together like-minded organizations from various backgrounds to advocate for responsible and sustainable access to public lands. As the nation finds itself becoming more urban and losing the history of the West, WLA believes it’s important to stand up for the rural and agricultural industries that shape the American West. “The land use issues that we deal with aren’t new, but they do call for new strategies. The WLA is bringing together voices from diverse backgrounds to advocate for successful and sustainable use of public lands,” said Jeremy Drew, a Nevada sportsman. With the recent appointments of Ken Salazar as secretary of the Interior Department and Tom Vilsack as secretary of Agriculture, “the climate is right for finding middle ground,” said Jennifer Ellis, WLA chair and Idaho rancher. Individuals or organizations that would like to become a part of the Western Legacy Alliance may call 208-206-7309 or e-mail westernlegacyalliance@gmail.com . ◊
Word lovers have something to celebrate
Mark your calendar (and your dictionary) – March 4 is National Grammar Day. Read all about it at www.nationalgrammarday.com. Check out the top 10 grammar tips, the identity of the worst grammar offenders of 2008 and, or course, the recipe for a celebratory Grammartini. The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar and MSN Encarta are behind the day’s designation. Also, read this entry (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/mcintyre/blog/2009/02/hide_national_grammar_day_looms.html) about National Grammar Day from “You Don’t Say,” the blog by legendary Baltimore Sun copy editor and “veteran drudge” (his words) John E. McIntyre. ◊
What you need to know about taxes
Tick, tick, tick. April 15 is right around the corner. Have you done your taxes yet? If not, be sure you’re clear on all the changes to 2008 tax laws. What if you lost your job – or your home to foreclosure – how does that affect your taxes? And what about that rebate check you received last year; where does it fit in on your tax forms? (The Internal Revenue Service reports that confusion about how to list the rebate check on tax forms is holding up many a refund this year.) The IRS Web site, www.irs.gov, offers easy-to-find answers to those questions and more. ◊
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