TBF State Conservation Directors Meeting
Ponca City, Ok - April 28, 2007
TBF State Conservation Directors from across the nation
convened in North Carolina April 17th – 21st at the TBF Federation National
Championship, Presented by the National Guard. Workshops were set up daily to
share with one another, various subjects of interest in each of our six
divisions, as well as what issues were common across the divisions that affect
anglers and anglers rights on a national scope.
The TBF State Conservation Directors discussed and worked on a variety of topics
led by guest speakers Joe Starinchak – Outreach Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wild
Life Services, Fisheries and Habitat and Branch of Invasive Species, Dave Selvey,
President Arkansas River Right Committee, Dick Smith – How to Influence
Legislation, Mark Gintert TBF National Youth Director– How Conservation Works in
the new TBF “In School Program”, and Anatomy of a Tournament From Start to
Finish, presented by Tim Porter, Tournament Operations Director for FLW
Outdoors.
Then they spent some quality time forging TBF’s conservation mission statement
and TBF’s conservation slogan that will guide our conservation program well into
the future.
TBF’s Conservation Mission Statement
“The Bass Federation Conservation Department is dedicated to the
enhancement, restoration, preservation and public access to our water
resources through conservation awareness, education and political
action utilizing best management practices”.
Slogan: “TBF – Saving Our Fisheries Together”
TBF State Conservation Directors also were a key part of the fish care for each
day of the weigh-in during the Championship and worked hand in hand with FLW
staff and the state of the art in water weigh-in system.
According to Chuck Rolfsmeyer, TBF Conservation Coordinator, “This group of
conservation directors and or guest speakers were very interactive and openly
shared their successes and their challenges in their states. In reviewing the
week of meetings and the Championship as a whole, as one of the directors stated
in an email a sentiment that was echoed by most, “They had a blast”!
The future is now, and with our partners in FLW and The National Guard, TBF hits
the ground running.
Together we will make a difference.
“TBF – Saving Our Fisheries Together” Hoo Rah!
