The Middle River Group, LLC

fly fishing, conservation and politics.

U.S. Forest Service

Midwinter Board Update

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From OWAA Newsowaa-active-member

In January, when the Board met for the annual midwinter board meeting, I presented a report on the financial and operational status of the organization. Like previous reports, it focused primarily on the financial and membership aspects of OWAA operations. It is my pleasure to share that with you as well.

Even though 2014 saw some cash flow challenges, we are able to present a balanced budget for 2015. The key to our financial security continues to rest on the revenue side of our operations. We can’t “cut” our way to financial security; we need to “grow” our way there. As you will see below, we are making good progress.

Membership is up 10 percent as of December 2014 compared to May 2014 and Supporting Group affiliations are up 18 percent

Since the last board meeting the team at headquarters has been busy on a number of fronts, and here are some highlights of our efforts.

While the presentations were excellent, the attendance at Conference in McAllen, Texas, was a disappointment. There was a big lesson learned: No more conferences close to holidays.

When the U.S. Forest Service initiated a rulemaking on filming and commercial photography in wilderness areas we responded with press statements, columns in Outdoors Unlimited and blog posts. President Mark Freeman and I had telephone conversations and meetings with Forest Service leadership. We submitted written comments for the record. OWAA’ s efforts were acknowledged in USFS Chief Tidwell’s letter to the field clarifying the policy.

In order to help increase awareness of OWAA we sponsored the Press Room at the American Fly Fishing Trade Association’s International Fly Tackle Dealer show which is co-located with the American Sportfishing Association’s International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades show.

I joined the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) and had the pleasure of attending their 50th anniversary conference. It was a great opportunity to visit with past and present OWAA notables. Board member Tim Mead very graciously made my “green ribbon” experience quite enjoyable. Thank you,Tim.

We added the Ocean Conservancy as a new EIC Fishing Category Co-Sponsor thanks to the good works of Brandon Shuler.

Working with the Strategic Planning committee we implemented a revised Strategic Plan -See Strategic Plan 2014 Update 2.

Finally, as we move into 2015 we will be focusing on having a successful conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, and looking at ways to improve member and supporter communications.

As always, your comments and suggestions are most welcome. Call me directly at 406-552-4049 or email me.

OWAA submits comments on the U.S. Forest Service proposed directive for commercial filming in wilderness

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From OWAA News

November 21, 2014

MISSOULA, Mont. – The Outdoor Writers Association of America has submitted comments to the U.S. Forest Service on the proposed directive for commercial filming in wilderness.

OWAA’s comments recommend that the directive specifically exempt professional journalists, either working on media staff, working on an assignment for a media outlet or gathering information, images or footage with the intent to publish or air them in a media outlet.

“OWAA members appreciate and value the Forest Service, and specifically Chief Tidwell, reaching out and requesting our input in codifying rules that restrict the improper commercialization of federally designated wilderness areas without restraining the reporting dynamics of outdoor communicators,” said OWAA President Mark Freeman, outdoors columnist for the Mail Tribune in Medford, Oregon. “Our work brings real wilderness to life for Americans, our readers and viewers and owners of these spectacular lands.”

OWAA also recommended adding two definitions to the language, one defining “constitutionally protected activity of journalists” and one defining “journalist.” The first definition incorporates some of the language Chief Tidwell spelled out in his Nov. 4 letter stating his intentions for the rule. The second definition acknowledges the various kinds of journalists currently working in federally designated wilderness areas.

Contact:
OWAA President Mark Freeman: 541-840-9477
OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler: 406-552-4049

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OWAA encourages our members to read the proposed directive and provide comments before the Dec. 3, 2014, deadline. (https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21093).

Download a PDF of OWAA’s comments (http://owaa.org/file/usfs-filming-comments-by-owaa-11202014.pdf).

Download a PDF copy of Chief Tidwell’s letter (http://owaa.org/file/20141104CommercialFilming&PhotographyPermits.pdf).

OWAA Statement on the U.S. Forest Service Chief’s memo about the proposed directive for commercial filming in wilderness

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From OWAA News

November 11, 2014
MISSOULA, Mont. – Leadership of the Outdoor Writers Association of America has commented on U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas L. Tidwell’s Nov. 4, 2014, letter of intent regarding the proposed directive for commercial filming in wilderness.

Chief Tidwell’s letter responded to concerns raised by OWAA and others that the proposed directive could require media outlets to pay for special-use permits before they film or take photos in federally designated wilderness areas, thereby severely hampering researching and reporting abilities by the media.

“The Outdoor Writers Association of America is pleased that Chief Tidwell has taken this action to clarify his intent regarding the proposed directive,” said OWAA President Mark Freeman, outdoors columnist for the Mail Tribune in Medford, Oregon.

“His recognition that journalists ‘provide a critical public service’ and that ‘journalism is not to be considered a commercial activity’ is clear guidance to the field and we are encouraging our members to rely upon it to continue to do their work on National Forest System lands.”

“OWAA will be submitting comments and attending public meetings to make our views known,” said OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler.

“In the meantime we appreciate the Chief’s ongoing involvement and this recent action.”

The Chief’s letter notes “Journalism includes, but is not limited to: breaking news, b-roll, feature news, news documentaries, long-form pieces, background, blogs, and any other act that could be considered related to news-gathering.”

Contact:
OWAA President Mark Freeman: 541-840-9477
OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler: 406-552-4049

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Download a PDF copy of Chief Tidwell’s letter (http://owaa.org/file/20141104CommercialFilming&PhotographyPermits.pdf)

OWAA encourages our members to read the proposed directive and provide comments before the Dec. 3, 2014, deadline. (https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21093)

Your Voice of the Outdoors

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From OWAA News

OWAA President Mark Freeman joins me for a joint post about how OWAA works for you.

An important part of any outdoor communicator’s job is to inform the public about the health of our forests, the status of our wildlife populations and the way public lands are managed. For OWAA and its members it is a duty we take seriously and a service upon which the public relies.

That’s why when a proposed directive by the U.S. Forest Service threatened access for outdoor communicators to designated wilderness areas, OWAA sprang into action, advocating on behalf of our membership and all outdoor journalists. We saw it as a threat to our members, and an attack on our First Amendment rights.

We spoke directly to U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell weighing in on the importance of access and the service our members and other journalists provide to the public.

To his credit, Tidwell recognized OWAA and its membership as the “voice of the outdoors,” asking for suggestions for better wording for the directive and continued involvement as the agency works to protect America’s wild places, while recognizing the importance and rights of journalists.

You can read more about our conversation with Tidwell in the upcoming December/January issue of Outdoors Unlimited.

In the meantime, we encourage members to read the proposed directive and provide comments before the Dec. 3, 2014, deadline. You can email comments directly to reply_lands@fs.fed.us.

(Read and comment via this link: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21093)

OWAA’s Statement on the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed directive for commercial filming in wilderness

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From OWAA News
September 25, 2014
MISSOULA, Mont. – The Outdoor Writers Association of America today strongly criticized a U.S. Forest Service proposal that would require media outlets to pay for special-use permits before they film or take photos in federally designated wilderness areas, thereby severely hampering researching and reporting abilities by the media.“The Outdoor Writers Association of America is concerned and disturbed that the U.S. Forest Service would use the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act to ratchet up its attempts to control what information is reported about wilderness areas and by whom,” said OWAA President Mark Freeman, outdoors columnist for the Mail Tribune in Medford, Oregon.“Allowing forest supervisors to decide which journalists get to report in wilderness areas and what stories they can or can’t tell smacks of censorship and prior restraint. Restraining journalists and their reports was not intended to be part of the act’s restriction of commercialization of wilderness areas.”“Five decades ago, outdoor journalists’ articles chronicling what was left of the country’s wild areas were precisely what created the groundswell of public support for the Wilderness Act to pass in 1964,” said OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler. “It would be a major step backward for the Forest Service to make it harder for the public to have virtual access to these wilderness areas that are, after all, public.”

Contact:

OWAA President Mark Freeman: 541-840-9477
OWAA Executive Director Tom Sadler: 406-552-4049
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OWAA encourages our members to read the proposed directive and provide comments before the Dec. 3, 2014, deadline. (Read and comment via this link: https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-21093)

US Forest Service Public Affairs Conference

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A very nice thank you note!

Last month, my friend Steve Bekkrus asked me to come to Atlanta and give a presentation to the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Region Public Affairs conference. He asked me to give a presentation on the impact of the recent election and also on how to more effectively educate and engage Congress. I was delighted to have the opportunity and really enjoyed the conference.

It was a great opportunity to talk with public affairs professionals who work hard to make our public lands a national treasure. These are sharp professionals and it was a lively discussion.

As a follow up I sent them this list of ‘Take Aways.” [Read more…] about US Forest Service Public Affairs Conference