From ASA:
From October 9-11, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) hosted the 2012 Sportfishing Summit in Hilton Head, S.C., where industry leaders and guests representing more than 100 companies and organizations from the United States and Canada met to discuss the issues impacting recreational fishing during committee meetings, networking events, general sessions and the board of directors meetings.
The 2012 Sportfishing Summit program focused on interpreting the new data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation; our nation’s changing demographics; how the Millennial Generation views the outdoors and uses digital technology to enhance their experiences in the outdoors; an overview of the current state of our economy as we head into the presidential elections; the “why” and “how” of social media; an update from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation regarding new programs and projects they are launching to build on the increase in fishing participation; a status update on marine fisheries from the federal perspective; an overview of the association’s new benefits, exclusive to ASA members; and an update on KeepAmericaFishing™.
“From general sessions to association committee and board meetings, the 2012 Sportfishing Summit provided a wide-range of business, information and networking opportunities for our members,” said Rapala’s Executive Vice President and ASA’s board of directors Chairman Gregg Wollner. “I’m proud to say that the 2012 Summit was one of the well-attended annual meeting’s that ASA has hosted.”
“This is due in large part to a combination of things,” Wollner noted. “The association is on solid financial footing; our trade show continues to grow in both attendance and reputation; recreational fishing is up 11 percent according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s new survey; and the growing popularity and impact of KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign, is getting a lot people to sit up and take notice. These conditions, combined with the efforts of all the association’s members, are helping to ensure our industry’s future and that of the sport that we, and millions of Americans, call our number one pastime.”
During the annual General Membership Meeting, Wollner recognized Frabill’s CEO and ASA’s Immediate Past Chairman, Jeff Marble, for his guidance over the past two years to help bring the association to this point.
“The Sportfishing Summit, our annual membership meeting, is one of the most important events for the industry and the entire sportfishing community,” said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman. “The Summit is where our members set aside their own business interests and, collectively, ‘put their shoulders to the wheel’ to work towards a healthy industry and healthy fisheries resources.”
Nussman further noted, “The new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey results show an 11 percent increase in fishing participation. The industry is proud of the role it’s played in ensuring an enjoyable outdoor experience with advances in fishing technology and products as well as driving the establishment of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation which is having an impact on increasing participation.”
“In addition,” said Nussman, “in 2013, we have an agreement with the American Fly Fishing Trade Association to co-locate their industry trade show, IFTD, with our industry trade show, ICAST, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, scheduled for July 10 -12. We have a lot to celebrate.”
Board of Directors Elects Executive Committee
During the Summit, the board of directors elected a new Executive Committee. The members are: Gregg Wollner, chairman; Jeff Marble, immediate past chairman, CEO, Frabills, Inc.; Dave Bulthuis, vice chairman, Vice President, Sales, Costa; Scott Frnka, secretary, Vice President of Merchandising, General Outdoors Division, Cabela’s; Peter Foley, treasurer, President, Boone Bait Company; and Dave Pfeiffer, president, Shimano American Corporation.
The board also elected John Doerr, president, Pure Fishing; Ken Hammond, CEO, The Hammond Group; and K. C. Walsh, president, Simms Fishing Products, as ex-officio members.
The other members of the Board of Directors are: Thom Dammrich, president, National Marine Manufacturers Association; Kirk Immens, president, Sportco Marketing, Inc.; Martin MacDonald, director of Conservation, Bass Pro Shops; Chris Megan, publisher, On the Water, LLC; Dick Pool, president, Pro-Troll Fishing Products; Donn Schaible, president, Wright & McGill, Company; Paul Schluter, president, St. Croix Rods; Aledia Hunt Tush, president, CB’s Saltwater Outfitters; Nick Wiley, executive director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Gary Zurn, senior vice president, Marketing, Big Rock Sports, LLC.
2012 Sportfishing Summit Sponsors
The American Sportfishing Association would like to thank these companies and organizations for their generous support of the 2012 Sportfishing Summit: Gold: Allcoast Media; Bass Pro Shops; Cabela’s; NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Silver: USDA-Forest Service; Take Me Fishing; and 75 Years of Wildlife and Sportfish Restoration; Bronze: Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Maui Jim; and Southwick Associates.
The 2013 Sportfishing Summit is scheduled for October 16-18, at the Sanibel Harbour Marriot Resort & Spa, just outside Fort Myers, Fla.
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The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry’s trade association, committed to looking out for the interests of the entire sportfishing community. We give the industry a unified voice speaking out when emerging laws and policies could significantly affect sportfishing business or sportfishing itself. We invest in long-term ventures to ensure the industry will remain strong and prosperous as well as safeguard and promote the enduring economic and conservation values of sportfishing in America. ASA also gives America’s 60 million anglers a voice in policy decisions that affect their ability to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways through KeepAmericaFishing™, our angler advocacy campaign. America’s anglers generate over $45 billion in retail sales with a $125 billion impact on the nation’s economy creating employment for over one million people.
