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BY ROBIN GINER
Southern hospitality greeted us with a snowstorm. OWAA’s Board of Directors met in early January for its annual winter meeting in Memphis, Tenn., at the headquarters of Ducks Unlimited. Our arrival on Jan. 9 coincided with the biggest snow of the season, with about three inches of snow putting a halt to just about everything in the city. Luckily, all expected Board members arrived without incident, and a smooth and productive meeting took place at an otherwise quiet DU headquarters.
A couple of the more exciting Board actions included approval to continue the Goldenrod Writing Workshop for another year and plans to form a student chapter of OWAA at the University of Missouri. Also, the location of OWAA’s 2013 conference was announced.
GOLDENROD WRITING WORKSHOP
After the strong showing and positive feedback from our inaugural Goldenrod Writing Workshop this past summer, the Board agreed that a second year of the program was in order. The second annual Goldenrod Writing Workshop, slated for July 31-Aug. 6, 2011, will again be held at the University of Montana in Missoula.
Open to novice communicators and published professionals, the week-long workshop is designed to improve skills in outdoor, nature and environmental writing. Goldenrod strives to impart a casual setting with hands-on learning from peer groups and veteran instructors. The curriculum includes assignments, discussions, readings and shared critiques along with time for writing and socializing with others who share a passion for outdoor writing.
Enrollment is limited to 30 students, and it’s on a first come, first served basis. Registrations must be received by June 1, 2011. You can find more information about the 2011 workshop at https://owaa.org.
STUDENT CHAPTERS OF OWAA
Board member Jason Jenkins approached the Board with a proposal to start OWAA student chapters at universities with journalism and communications programs. Faculty and students of the University of Missouri expressed interest in establishing a chapter in conjunction with their journalism school, and Jenkins will be visiting the university to work with them to establish a presence on their campus. The hope is that an active and successful pilot program will open the doors to more student chapters around the country. This will help facilitate OWAA’s goal of mentoring the next generation of outdoor communicators.
2013 CONFERENCE
The meeting concluded with Membership and Conference Services Coordinator Jessica Pollett announcing that a location for our 2013 annual conference had been chosen. Exact dates are still being finalized, but in September 2013 OWAA members and supporters will gather in Lake Placid, N.Y., for three days of workshops, newsmakers, gear evaluation and camaraderie. We know it’s still a couple years off, but we hope you’ll join us in the Adirondacks for an agenda full of trips and craft improvement opportunities.
These were just a few of the items discussed during the meeting. The complete Board meeting minutes will be available in March OU, which will arrive as a printed quarterly in your mailboxes in addition to being published online.♦
— Robin Giner, OWAA Executive Director rginer@owaa.org
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Productive Board meeting sets mood for 2011
