Conference Preview

Transcription

Conference Preview

SEOPA News
Conference Preview
June 2013
Photo by Tom MacKenzie
(courtesy of USFWS)
SEOPA News / June 2013
Page 1
www.monsoursphotography.com
Featured Photographer
Louisiana is widely known as “Sportsman’s Paradise” because of its
abundance of fish, fowl and game that are available to anglers and hunters, but
it’s also a photographer’s paradise. Most of the photos in this issue of SEOPA
News were taken by Victor Monsour and other Louisiana photographers for
the Lake Charles / SWLA CVB. These shots are just a small representation of
the spectacular photographs Monsour and others have captured in recent years.
Scenes like these can be yours, too.
Monsour will join SEOPA Past President Glenn Wheeler to lead two teams
on a photographic safari on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 9, before the Tourism Showcase and Registration Day mixer begin. The results of the hands-on
session on the Creole Nature Trail will be shared with conference attendees in a
workshop Friday morning. To reserve a space on the first leg of this photographic adventure, call or e-mail Lisa Snuggs at 704-984-4700 or lisa@seopa.org.
Last Call for Special Awards Nominations
Nominations for special awards are due by July 31. A detailed description of each of the awards and previous recipients is on page 7 of the
2012-13 Membership Directory.
If you know a member you think should receive special recognition
for his or her dedication to SEOPA and our craft, nominate that person in
writing to Jim Casada, chairman of the Special Awards committee at:
Jim Casada
1250 Yorkdale Drive
Rock Hill, S.C. 29730-7638
(EM) jimcasada@comporium.net
CONTENTS
3 • President’s Message: Thoughts of Louisiana Stir Fond Memories ... by David Rainer
5 • Conference Preview: Warm Welcomes Await in Southwest Louisiana by Shelley Johnson
6 • Conference Preview: The Long and Short of Why You Should Come to Lake Charles
by Rob Simbeck
7 • Conference Preview: Louisiana Eats!
8 • Conference Speaker: Paul Gillin Discusses Seismic Changes in Modern Media by Rob Simbeck
9 • Conference Speaker: Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne Will Share His Love of Louisiana
10 • Craft Improvement: How to Work With CVBs by Kaylen Fletcher
11 • Conference Preview: Press Trips and Lagniappe in Louisiana by Megan Hartman
12 • Conference Preview: Outstanding Media Trips Offered Throughout Louisiana
18 • Special Member News
19 • Craft Improvement: Three Easy Things to Remember by Alan Clemons
20 • Member / Industry News
22 • Conference Agenda
23 • Conference Registration
24 • Executive Director’s Message: Panning for Gold by Lisa M. Snuggs
Page 2
SEOPA News
Vol. 49, No. 4, June 2013
© 2013 Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, Inc.
Lisa M. Snuggs, Editor
PRESIDENT
David Rainer
14624 South Blvd.
Silverhill, AL 36576
(H/O) 251-945-6889
David.Rainer@dcnr.alabama.gov
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Rob Simbeck
926 Lynn Court
Hermitage, TN 37076
(H/O) 615-758-7393
(EM) rob@robsimbeck.com
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Jim Casada
1250 Yorkdale Drive
Rock Hill, S.C. 29730
(H/O) 803-329-4354
(EM) jimcasada@comporium.net
SECRETARY
Gil Lackey
3924 Cambridge Ave.
Nashville, TN 37205
(C) 615-429-5181
(EM) gillackey@bellsouth.net
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Jill Easton
P.O. Box 758
Calico Rock, AR 72519
(EM) jilljeaston@gmail.com
DIRECTORS 2013
Kathy Barker (Fla.)
Gordon Hutchinson (La.)
Alan Clemons (Tenn.)
Brandon Butler (Mo.) - Corporate
DIRECTORS 2014
David Hawkins (Miss.)
Dick Jones (N.C.)
Tes Randle Jolly (Ala.)
Paul Moore (Ky.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Lisa M. Snuggs
P.O. Box 115
Badin, NC 28009
(O) 704-984-4700
(EM) lisa@seopa.org
(WEB) www.seopa.org
ADVISORS
Medical: Bill McKell, Jr., M.D. (Miss.)
SEOPA News is published eight times yearly by
the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, Inc.
Articles and information submitted for issues of
SEOPA News should be sent to SEOPA at P.O. Box
115, Badin, NC 28009, two months prior to the
date of printing, on or before the first of the month.
Publication months are: January/February, March/
April, May, June, July, August, September/
October and November/December. The Southeastern Outdoor Press Association is a professional,
501(c)6 nonprofit organization serving a membership spanning 14 southeastern states. This membership is composed of outdoor communicators
working in radio, television, magazine, the Internet,
outdoor art, wildlife and environmental communications, outdoor public relations, lecturing and a host
of other segments, all concerned with conveying
and preserving the outdoor experience.
President’s Message
Thoughts of Louisiana Stir Fond
Memories to Build Upon
As we look toward the annual SEOPA Conference this
fall in Lake Charles, I can’t help but reflect on the many
outdoors-related memories Louisiana has produced for me.
And, I’ve got one memory that I don’t think any of my
fellow SEOPA members can match. It involved the late,
great Bob Dennie, who not only was recognized for his
prolific writing and radio segments but was unparalleled
in his ability to entertain the crowd and keep the bidding
rolling at the annual SEOPA Conference auction.
How many fellow SEOPA members have ever seen
Bob struck silent?
Raise your hands. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Thought so!
As luck would have it, I happened to be in the same
boat with Bob on a fishing excursion on Lake Charles with
Capt. Sammie Faulk. It was in the fall of the year and we
were catching big speckled trout and redfish.
We decided to pull to the bank to meet up with another
boat of participants and have a little lunch. Of course, Bob
was entertaining the crowd with plenty of stories, embellished as only Bob could do, from his past.
After finishing my sandwich, I happened to look up
in the sky and spotted a group of geese headed south.
The blotched underside of the waterfowl gave them away
as white-fronted geese, better known by all who hunt as
specklebellies.
Photo provided by David Rainer
Specklebellies have a distinctive call and I couldn’t
help but try to get their attention.
Like so many SEOPA members, David Rainer is an avid
With the inflections in just the right places, I started
turkey hunter who enjoyed a productive trip this spring.
yelling, “Bob Dennie, Bob Dennie, Bob Dennie.”
Of course, Bob turned around and said “What? What? What?”
Oh nothing, I’m just calling those geese, I explained.
“Are you crazy?” he asked. “We’re fishing, not goose hunting.”
“I just wanted to see if I could get their attention,” I responded.
There was a group of three specklebellies on its way down the lake when I yelled “Bob Dennie, Bob Dennie, Bob Dennie” again.
Exasperated, Bob, who was engaged in conversation (as always) turned around again and said “What?
What? What?”
I pointed to the sky, and just as I repeated the Bob Dennie call, the group turned and headed straight for us.
“See?” I said.
continued...
Page 3
President’s Message (continued...)
Bob spied the geese headed in our direction,
turned around and looked at me. His mouth was open,
but nothing came out. He then just shook his head,
laughing and went back to the crowd on the other end
of the boat.
The first and only time I ever saw, or heard of,
Bob Dennie speechless.
Of course, there are plenty of other memories of
days spent outdoors in Louisiana. During my days at the
Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., fellow outdoor writer
Bobby Cleveland and I would regularly visit Louisiana
for fishing trips, ranging from Hopedale to the east and
Lake Charles to the west and all points in between.
I’ve caught gator trout and shot teal with Captain
Sammie, loaded the boat with trout in Golden Meadow with Capt. Calvin Dufrene, limited out on redfish
with Capt. Brad Schmidt in Happy Jack and caught
huge yellowfin tuna off the Midnight Lump with
Capt. Peace Marvel.
Speaking of the tuna trip, Peace had his name officially changed so he could be called Captain Marvel.
Yep, Peace is what one would call a free spirit with an
uncanny ability to catch big tuna.
And then there was the time Cleveland and I
were fishing with Capt. Andre Boudreaux for cobia,
aka ling and lemonfish. We were in the bays where
small petroleum abounded. We pulled up to one of the
rigs. Boudreaux shifted the outboard into neutral and
revved it up. Then he grabbed an aluminum baseball
bat and started banging on the rig with fervor.
“What in the world are you doing, Captain?” I
asked.
“Ringin’ the dinner bell,” the burly Boudreaux
answered in his pronounced Cajun accent.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, several cobia
rose to the surface to see what all the commotion was
about. We flipped baits in front of the fish and the
fight was on as Boudreaux backed the boat away from
the rig. We did that several times and finished our
daily limit.
There are so many other memories from Louisiana, and I look forward to making even more when
the annual conference kicks off on Oct. 9 in Lake
Charles. I’m positive Megan, Tico, Anne and the rest
of the crew at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana
Convention and Visitors Bureau will have the house
rocking with Cajun music and piles of great seafood
in the pot by the time we get there. So, if you haven’t
already marked your calendar, do it now and come
make some Louisiana memories of your own.
Now, back to the outdoors!
David Rainer
President
Page 4
Conference Preview
Warm Welcomes Await in
Southwest Louisiana!
Bonjour Mes Amis!
On behalf of the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, we would like to
welcome back our good friends from SEOPA to the
Sportsman’s Paradise this October! This will be our
fourth time to host the SEOPA conference, and we are
planning to tantalize your taste buds, get you dancing to
the rhythm of a Cajun band, and experience some of the
nation’s most beautiful natural habitats and estuaries.
Nestled midway between Houston and New
Orleans on Interstate 10 is Lake Charles. The Lake
Charles Regional Airport is located 15 minutes from
www.monsourphotography.com
downtown Lake Charles with service from United
and American Eagle. Breakout Day will be held at the
This new lakefront promenade borders a grassy
Lake Charles Civic Center and Bord du Lac Marina,
area in front of the Lake Charles Civic Center.
which has been recently improved with a Lakefront
Promenade, amenities for boaters and convenient services. The Lake Charles Gun Club, complete
with skeet shooting, a rifle range and Cowboy Action facility, will host Shooting Day.
This year, we’ll feature celebrity chef Poppy Tooker who’s won the Food Network’s Throwdown
with Bobby Flay, a photo workshop with local photographer Victor Monsour on the Creole Nature Trail
All-American Road, and an unforgettable opening night Cajun fais do do.
Southwest Louisiana is positioned to provide some of the finest fishing and bird watching in
North America. Fishermen have their choice of lakes, bayous, rivers, marshes and the Gulf Coast. The
Creole Nature Trail covers 180 miles of beautiful scenery including vast marshlands, Gulf beaches,
birds, wildflowers and alligators – all in their natural habitat. Story and photo opportunities are as
abundant as the wildlife in Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana.
Your choice to visit Southwest Louisiana is a great honor, and we are excited to make your stay
filled with enticing sights, friendly people and the finest cuisine in the world. Register now for an unforgettable event. For details on press trips, check out www.visitlakecharles.org/seopa.
Sincerely,
Shelley Johnson, CDME, LCTP
Executive Director
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Page 5
Conference Preview
The Long and Short of Why You
Should Come to Lake Charles
By Rob Simbeck
We all know that attending a conference costs real
money. With gas remaining at
near-record prices and inflation
affecting food, hotel bills and
all the rest, we’re talking $1000
or more for many of us. But I
have found since my first outdoor writers’ conference more
than 20 years ago that if I’ll
File Photo
apply myself and take advanRob Simbeck
tage of the sessions, the trips
and, most importantly, the experience and collective
wisdom of the other members--which they have always been happy to share--I will come away with the
kinds of tools, attitudes and story ideas that will make
me a better, more productive, higher-earning communicator. This is an investment. Just as we invest
many thousands of dollars per year in an automobile,
and just as we consider that automobile indispensable
in this day and age, so should SEOPA’s conference
be considered indispensable for any serious outdoor
writer. It’s not a vacation, although it has the great
advantage and attraction of feeling like one. It is a
professional conference bringing together many of the
nation’s best outdoor communicators.
This business is tougher than it’s ever been, but
just as there were great business opportunities and
great fortunes founded during the 1930s, there are
great opportunities in outdoor communication for
those of us who are prepared. And here, preparation
means both polishing our talent and increasing our
knowledge, both of which we can do in abundance in
cooperation with our fellows. We need to work hard
and smart, and there is perhaps no better aggregation
of talent, advice and information than you’ll find at a
SEOPA conference.
Louisiana is a beautiful state. They don’t call it
Sportsman’s Paradise for nothing. And this will be a
wonderful conference. Our theme deals with perhaps
the two most pressing issues for the outdoor communicator these days--changes and challenges when it
comes to the 1st and 2nd Amendments to the
Constitution. Then there are the usual opportunities to improve our writing and photography
skills, to get hands-on experience with the latest in guns, gear, and all the rest, and to meet
the writers and editors, the manufacturers and
tourism pros who make this industry work.
Please don’t shortchange yourself. Come
to Lake Charles this October.
Cindy Johnson of the Lake Charles / SW
Louisiana CVB accompanied some SEOPA
board members on a redfish adventure prior
to the mid-year meeting in March and was
happy to show them how it’s done.
Photo by Jill Easton
Page 6
Conference Preview
Louisiana Eats!
By Megan M. Hartman,
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB
Award-winning author, chef and
radio personality Poppy Tooker will
share her Cajun cooking secrets
with conference attendees on
Saturday evening, Oct. 12. Media
members in attendance will receive
a copy of her new cookbook
courtesy of the Lake Charles/SW
Louisiana CVB. Tooker’s gumbo
will be one of the items featured at
dinner sponsored by Walther Arms.
Louisiana is known for its Cajun and Creole cuisine and food is an
important part of the travel experience in the Bayou State. Dishes like
boudin, jambalaya, crawfish étoufée, shrimp creole, and gumbo are
essential to Louisiana cuisine. Celebrity chef Poppy Tooker, a native
Louisianan, will give SEOPA members and their spouses a cooking
demonstration and tasting. The CVB will also provide writers with an
autographed copy of her latest cookbook, Louisiana Eats, being published this October.
Besides being an award-winning cookbook author and chef, Tooker
produces and hosts “Louisiana Eats,” a weekly radio show on NPR that
takes listeners into the field, waterways, markets and kitchens to hear from the people
who maintain the state’s storied food
traditions and create new culinary
magic inspired by the wealth of
Louisiana’s food culture.
Additionally, Tooker contributes colorful food commentary
on WYES, the New Orleans PBS
affiliate’s weekly arts and entertainment show, “Steppin’ Out.” She has
shared the screen with TV celebrities
such as “Extreme Cuisine’s” Jeff Corwin, “Foodography’s” Mo Rocca and even
Bobby Flay. Her famous seafood gumbo
proved unbeatable on the popular Food Network show! The History Channel enlisted
her point of view for the holiday food episode of “America Eats.”
Sought after as a print journalist, Tooker
served as contributing editor for Hallmark
magazine and is currently contributing editor
for Louisiana Kitchen & Culture magazine.
She has written for Fine Cooking, Chili Pepper and Taste of the South.
Join this classically trained chef and
cooking teacher in Southwest Louisiana at
this year’s SEOPA conference Saturday, Oct.
12 at 4:30 p.m. for a cooking demonstration
and taste of what Louisiana eats!
Page 7
Conference Speaker
Paul Gillin Discusses Seismic
Changes in Modern Media
By Rob Simbeck
Few people are better equipped to outline and explain
the seismic shift in modern communication than Paul
Gillin, keynote speaker for the 2013 SEOPA conference.
One aspect of that shift is clear to all of us in
outdoor communication--newspapers and magazines
continue to fold while broadcast and digital media
explode. It’s part of a process as dramatic as the dawn
of cinema, radio and television early in the 20th century or even the introduction of the printing press in
the 15th. Gillin, with experience in both worlds and a
storyteller’s talent at reporting what he’s seen, is the
perfect choice to help those of us caught in between
to get our bearings.
Paul Gillin is one of the nation’s leading technology journalists, and he’s worked on both sides of the
divide. He spent 15 years as editor-in-chief and executive editor of the technology weekly Computerworld,
and was founding editor-inchief of TechTarget, one of
the first business-to-business
publishers focused on using
the Internet to address focused
markets. Since 1999, he has
worked almost exclusively on
line. He is a highly respected
blogger and speaker and is
an advisor to marketers and
business executives on ways
to optimize their use of social
media and online channels to
reach buyers. He is also the
author of four books about
social media, beginning with
2007’s The New Influencers: A
Marketer’s Guide to the New
Social Media.
Gillin will present twice.
First, he will address us as a
group, talking about where
communication technology
has been, where it’s at and
where it’s going. Then, he
will conduct a session telling
those of us who write about
the outdoors and related subjects how we might flourish
in this new landscape, using
File Photo
our talents and knowledge of
Paul Gillin
the markets to better communicate and make money.
As you anticipate these sessions, you can keep up
with Paul and his latest posts at gillin.com.
Ducks Before Dusk
Page 8
Conference Speaker
Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne
Will Share His Love of Louisiana
Louisiana’s Lieutenant
Governor Jay Dardenne
was reelected to a fouryear term in October 2011.
He previously served one
year in that position, four
years as secretary of state
and fifteen years as a state
senator.
Dardenne is an attorney
and a graduate of Baton
Rouge
High School, LouisiFile Photo
ana State University and the
Lt. Governor
LSU Law Center He is an
Jay Dardenne
active community volunteer,
who has received several honors for his service.
As Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor, Dardenne
heads the Department of Culture, Recreation and
Tourism. He led the state’s bicentennial celebration
throughout 2012 and published a list of the 200 Most
Notable People in Louisiana history. He has chaired
two major initiatives sponsored by America’s Wetland
Foundation.
Earlier this year Governing.com named Dardenne
one of fourteen national “Republicans to Watch.” In
2012, he received the National Public Leadership for
the Arts Award from Americans for the Arts and the
President’s Award from Louisiana Public Broadcasting. In 2011 he was recognized by the Louisiana
Trust for Historic Preservation for his “dedication to
preserving the cultural heritage and historical resources of Louisiana.” He also was honored for his community and public service by the American Association of State Service Commissions with the inaugural
“State Leader Award”.
“According to the results of a Science Magazine
poll, Louisiana is America’s happiest state,” says
Dardenne on the state’s website, “and there’s a reason
for that. We love our land. We love our cuisine. And
we love our rich varieties of music.
“Our unique and authentic culture is celebrated
throughout the world. If you simply want to hunt,
fish, bicycle, camp, hike, sail or watch birds, Louisiana is your destination. We offer experiences for
every taste.”
Lieutenant Governor Dardenne conducts a presentation entitled “Why Louisiana Ain’t Mississippi,” a
lively and colorful look at Louisiana’s culture, history,
music and politics.
Dardenne will address conference attendeees during
lunch on Thursday sponsored by Realtree and Plano.
CONFERENCE LODGING:
The preliminary agenda is on Page 22, and the
following conference speakers/sessions will be
featured in the July issue of SEOPA News:
Isle of Capri
Call 1-888-475-3847 and mention
Group Code: SEOPA13.
The rate is $105 plus tax.
Please retain a confirmation code
and make sure you understand the
cancellation policy.
• Tom and Ryan Gresham to Offer Tips on Ways to Maximize Video
• Radio: Top Notch Panel to Share
Experience and Ideas
• Nuts and Bolts Punctuation and Grammar
From Keith Sutton
Page 9
Craft Improvement
How to Work with Convention
and Visitors Bureaus
By Kaylen Fletcher,
Lake Charles/SW Louisiana CVB
As a convention and visitors
bureau (CVB), we’re often asked by
writers how we solicit journalists and
what amenities are provided to them
when visiting the area to write travel
stories. To help ease the process, most
CVBs have guidelines for writers who
inquire about and attend press trips.
Here are some helpful practices and
tips for any journalist looking to write
about a travel destination.
Research Story Angles
As a first step before reaching
out to a CVB, research the destination you are interested in writing
about to discover your best story
angle. Next, contact the CVB’s communications staff and provide them
with information on typical stoSEOPA members Richard Simms, left, and Glynn Harris display the rewards
ries you cover, current outlets you
of a morning spent in a Southwest Louisiana duck blind during a media trip
hosted by the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana CVB early this year.
write for along with circulation and
demographic information. If you
have a story assignment that is always helpful, as is
writers. Most CVB policies do not include coverproviding current tear sheets.
ing costs for family members or friends. Be sure to
research media guidelines on CVB websites and ask
Itinerary Planning
questions about anything ambiguous. Clarification of
expectations of all parties is crucial to avoiding awkOnce the CVB has qualified you for a press trip,
ward situations, and it helps make the most of your trip.
work with the representative to secure available dates.
While on the press trip, the bureau can provide a
Being flexible and giving advance notice helps in planknowledgeable guide to assist media in maneuvering
ning the best possible trip. The CVB will assist with
around the area. Please be polite and gracious to the
your itinerary planning. Some CVBs are very hands on, guides, and on time for all appointments, excursions
but others can be completely hands off, so make sure
and meals. CVBs appreciate any mentions and tags on
and let the representative know which you prefer.
social media of the destination during the press trip
Most CVBs provide ground transportation, hotel
and afterward.
continued...
accommodations and meals during the press trip for
Page 10
Pre- and Post Trips
Press Trips
and
Lagniappe
in
Louisiana
By Megan M. Hartman
Lake Charles/SW Louisiana CVB
How to Work with CVBs (continued from Page 10)
Follow Up
After the press trip, follow up to fact check your stories
before they are published. It is customary to include the
CVB’s contact information and website for readers to get
more information on the destination in the article. Lastly,
don’t forget to send copies of your published articles to
your CVB contacts so they can share with their partners
and board of directors. The journalist can also be put on
the CVBs press release distribution list if they want to stay
informed with what’s new in the area and continue to keep
that relationship with the destination.
In Louisiana, “lagniappe” is a term
you may hear quite frequently. It means a little
something extra. If attending a Mardi Gras
parade, you’ll catch some lagniappe. If saltwater fishing with a Cajun guide service, you may
reel in lagniappe. And on press trips in Southwest Louisiana, you will surely experience
Louisiana lagniappe and have more story ideas
than we have alligators!
Writers can choose to fish in Southwest
Louisiana’s waters on a one- or two-day trip.
There are fresh, brackish and saltwater charters, as well as fly fishing guides, available for
unmatched variety and challenge. A two-day
Creole Nature Trail tour is available, too, for
those really wanting to explore Louisiana’s
vital coastal wetlands. Birders and nature
lovers can participate in media tours suited
for their particular needs. There is golf, Cajun
food trips and even a visit to Faulk’s Game
Calls in Lake Charles that are possibilities for
press tours as well.
Although we hope all SEOPA members
can attend the October 2013 conference, the
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention
& Visitors Bureau has made some of the trips
available year round. And for journalists wanting to participate in a Southwest Louisiana
duck hunt, that option is available this winter.
By partnering with the Louisiana Office of Tourism and Louisiana Association of
Convention & Visitors Bureaus, media tours
are available statewide prior to and after the
conference. Complimentary Louisiana hunting and fishing press licenses will be provided
by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife &
Fisheries (LDWF) for SEOPA members. Look
for information on a 3-day LDWF fishing/
hunting license waiver in the conference material from SEOPA.
Press trips are listed on the following
pages. Detailed descriptions can be found at:
www.visitlakecharles.org/seopa
continued...
Page 11
Pre- and Post-Conference Trips
Outstanding Media Trips Offered
Throughout Louisiana
The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Louisiana Office of Tourism and the Louisiana Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus are happy to provide local, as well as statewide, press trips for outdoor media.
The following trips are offered on a first-serve, first-come basis to SEOPA media
members who are seeking story material and photographs for publication.
Transportation to Louisiana is your responsibility. Family or friends traveling
with you will not be able to participate in the working press trips unless pre-arranged
with, and confirmed by, Megan Hartman. (Some expenses may occur for family participation.) Please provide tearsheets and/or web links of any resulting stories within
one month of their publication. Direct questions to Megan Hartman:
Contact: Megan Hartman, Senior Marketing Manager
Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau
(O) 337-502-4345
(EM) mhartman@visitlakecharles.org
SEOPA Press Trips Offered in
Southwest Louisiana Throughout 2013
Sponsored by the Lake Charles/Southwest
Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau
_______________________________________
Hunting ‘Dem Ducks - Seasonal (The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will set dates in
late July for the two splits of the 2013-2014 season)
Duck hunting is a major sport in Southwest Louisiana.
Our area is known as Sportsman’s Paradise because
hunters find themselves in awe when massive flocks
of ducks and geese converge in Southwest Louisiana
during their migratory journeys. Hunting opportunities
include mallards, pintail, gadwall and teal with professional area guides. White fronted and snow geese
are also prevalent in these parts. Ammunition, accommodations, and meals for a one- or two-day hunt are
included. Please bring your own firearms.
Page 12
Fishing In ‘Da Coastal Water - Year Round
Fresh, brackish, and saltwater fishing is excellent year
round in lakes, bayous, rivers and marshes offering
unmatched variety and challenge.
Adventures in Louisiana’s Outback - Year Round
Explore the vital Louisiana coastal wetlands in “Louisiana’s Outback,” and see the birds, alligators and
other wildlife that inhabit them in their natural environments. The 180-mile Creole Nature Trail provides
an excellent change to view and photograph nature, or
fish, crab, and hunt.
Cajun Flavor Sensations - Year Round
In Southwest Louisiana, we are known for our flavorful
cuisine. Spices, rice, and roux (a mixture of flour and
oil used for rich flavor and thickening) are quite popular ingredients in Cajun dishes like jambalaya, crawcontinued...
Pre- and Post Conference Trips
fish etouffee, boudin and gumbo. Even gifts from the
Gulf, like shrimp, oysters, and crabs are seasoned up
good then cooked to perfection every way imaginable.
Check out nearly 30 stops along the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail and tell us which one’s your favorite.
It’s your opportunity to share why we truly live to eat
in Southwest Louisiana! This two-day trip includes
accommodations, meals and a guide.
Going Green for Golf - Year Round
Southwest Louisiana’s semitropical climate provides
lush scenery as the picturesque backdrop on four area
golf courses. Can you imagine a story detailing where
you played numerous courses, all within 30 minutes
of each other, in three days? Bring your clubs, camera
and hat, and leave the rest to us!
A Tradition of Calling - Year Round
Visit Faulk’s Game Calls in Lake Charles, a familyowned call company that’s been in business for 62
years, and see how they make their calls and learn the
rich history of this family owned company. The tour
includes one night’s accommodations and meals.
Southwest Louisiana: Birding and Nature Watching - Year Round (with advance notice)
The Southwest Louisiana Birding and Nature Watching press trip will leave at 8 a.m. for a drive along
the scenic back roads of the Creole Nature Trail
All-American Road including several National Wildlife Refuges and will return by 5 p.m. Binoculars,
a camera and a spotting scope (if you have one) are
sure to be needed during the outing. Transportation,
accommodations, meals, water and soft drinks will be
provided. This trip is available year round for a maximum of 6 people per trip. A member of Southwest
Louisiana’s own Gulf Coast Birding Club will serve
as your guide.
Saltwater Fly Fishing with Captain Jeff Poe of Big
Lake Guide Service - March - September
Explore Southwest Louisiana’s inland bays, bayous
and weirs on Calcasieu Lake with Captain Jeff Poe
of Big Lake Guide Service. Pick-up & lay down with
this professional guide as he shows you how to catch
trophy-sized speckled trout (and many more species!)
with a fly rod. This trip includes two nights accommodations and meals.
Grosse Savanne’s Fishing Tour - Oct. 6-7, 2013
Enjoy a fully guided half-day fishing trip in either
Grosse Savanne’s private marsh for redfish or in
their private 500-acre freshwater impoundment for
largemouth bass. Arrive as early as 4 p.m. on October
6 at Grosse Savanne Lodge with dinner being served
later that evening. On October 7, a continental breakfast will be served, and fishing will begin at daylight
and conclude around noon. Guests depart after lunch.
Sponsored by Grosse Savanne Waterfowl and Wildlife Lodge.
continued...
The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road has been
brought to life with the GPS Ranger™ -- a lightweight, rugged, water-resistant unit that features a
sunlight viewable screen. The sleek device features a four-inch LCD touch screen and can be
enjoyed by several visitors at once. As soon as
you step outside, the Ranger uses the GPS to
determine your location and then detects which
direction you are traveling. Whenever you enter
the satellite radius of a point of interest along
the Creole Nature Trail, video about what you
are viewing plays automatically. Devices can be
checked out at the Lake Charles visitors’ center
at no charge or a free app can be downloaded at the
iTunes App Store or Android Market.
Lake Charles/SWLA CVB
Page 13
Grosse Savanne’s Marshland
Educational Eco-Tour - Oct. 7-8, 2013
This trip will include a fully guided half day educational, eco-tour on Grosse Savanne’s 50,000 acres of
private lands. Writers will have the option of choosing
one of the following tours:
1. An educational boat tour of an estuarine ecosystem explaining marsh processes, wetland values, land
loss and restoration.
2. A more relaxed boat tour of a freshwater marsh
geared towards viewing alligators, birds and other
wetland species.
3. A vehicle tour off the beaten path through thousands of acres of agricultural lands and native coastal
prairie viewing a multitude of bird species, plant communities, and other various wildlife.
A Taste of Lake Charles Media Tour
Oct. 24-27, 2013
Attend a wine dinner as part of Rouge et Blanc Food
& Wine Festival, Lake Charles’ premier wine festival;
enjoy sightseeing at area museums and a carriage ride
through the Charpentier
Historic District guided
by a Calcasieu Historic
Preservation Society
member. Rouge et Blanc
includes wine samples of
hundreds of wines ranging
from summer whites to full
bodied reds to champagnes
to ports. Also, dozens of
local restaurants serving
local Southwest Louisiana
specialties will be at the
event, all located outdoors
in historic downtown Lake
Charles. And of course,
there’s music because you
will feel like dancing!
Pre-Conference Press Trips
________________________
Fishing, Byways, Battlefields & Cuisine
Near Arabi - Oct. 6-8, 2013
Enjoy a saltwater charter fishing trip in St. Bernard
Parish for redfish and speckled trout. History buffs
will enjoy visiting the historic Chalmette Battlefield
and Islenos Museum. Nature lovers will be able to
tour the San Bernardo Scenic Byway.
Outdoor Sporting Attractions in
Shreveport/Bossier - Oct. 6-9, 2013
It’s festival time in Sportsman’s Paradise! Journalists
visiting Shreveport-Bossier will experience outdoor
sporting attractions that will include fishing and hunting experiences, excellent dining at locally-owned
restaurants, including one that specializes in game
dishes. A step-on guide will escort journalists around
the Shreveport-Bossier area, including the Red River
Revel Arts Festival.
continued...
Father and son success!
Page 14
Pre- and Post Conference Trips
Bountiful Fishing Along Louisiana’s Fragile
Coastline near Cocodrie - Oct. 7-9, 2013
Writers will enjoy two days of fishing the bountiful
waters of Cocodrie, Louisiana, and the opportunity
to dine on fresh Gulf seafood straight from the water
to the table. Also learn more about South Louisiana’s
fragile coastline and the importance of protecting this
national estuary.
Bayou Teche Corridor Tour near
St. Martinville - Oct. 7-9, 2013
Experience the Bayou Teche Corridor with visits to
St. Landry Parish, St. Martin Parish and Iberia Parish. Highlights of the tour include a hunting lodge
tour, kayaking down Bayou Teche and sightseeing in
downtown New Iberia.
Living the Dream on Toledo Bend Lake
Near Many - Oct. 7-9, 2013
Fish for crappie on Toledo Bend Lake with two nights
at Cypress Bend Resort. Arrive mid-day on October 7
and depart the morning of October 9. This press trip is
available for four writers; spouses will be included in
evening meals.
Paddling Adventure or Fishing Trip
near Morgan City - Oct. 7-8, 2013
Writers would arrive in Morgan City on the night of
October 7 for a fishing trip or a paddling excursion the
following day. Fish in some of the best saltwater fishing
spots near the Gulf of Mexico and off of barrier reefs for
speckled trout, drum, flounder, redfish and sheep fish.
Enjoy a 6 to 12 mile paddling trip along the waterways
of the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge Paddling
Trails on October 8 where you’ll experience the beauty
of cypress-tupelo swamps, alligators and numerous bird
species up close and personal. This trip, limited to four
journalists for fishing and 12 for paddling, includes accommodations and meals sponsored by the Cajun Coast
Visitors & Convention Bureau. Morgan City is 146
miles from Lake Charles.
Post-Conference Press Trips
_________________________
Duck into Monroe-West Monroe
Oct. 13-15, 2013
Visit the Duck Commander store and warehouse, featured on A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty. Follow the
trail of the Robertson clan and visit local shops made
famous on the show that has swept the nation. Also
on the tour, a trip to a local rifle range. Hotel accommodations, food and transportation while in town will
be provided. Writers may bring their own firearms,
but if not, the range can provide them. This press trip,
limited to four journalists, is sponsored by the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Monroe is 200 miles from Lake Charles.
Sportsman’s Paradise in the Capital City,
Baton Rouge - Oct. 13-15, 2013
Explore Louisiana’s Sportsman’s Paradise by visiting the Capital City! You will experience abundant
swamplands, hike along waterfalls, Cajun dancing
and tons of delicious cuisine. Hotel accommodations, meals, tour admissions, images and story ideas
will be provided. Writers should bring comfortable
attire and shoes for hiking. This press trip, limited to
10 writers, is sponsored by Visit Baton Rouge. Baton
Rouge is 128 miles from Lake Charles.
Snacktime for an Egret
continued...
Page 15
Discover Genuine Cajun Culture in
Lafayette - Oct. 13-15, 2013
Discover genuine Cajun culture through food, music,
dancing and outdoor activities in Lafayette, the heart
of Louisiana’s Cajun Country. Spend a day at Festivals Acadiens et Creoles, Louisiana’s premier Cajun
festival, featuring Cajun and Zydeco music, Louisiana
artisans and authentic Cajun and South Louisiana
Creole cuisine. Enjoy kayak fishing in beautiful Lake
Martin, a cypress swamp located just minutes from
Lafayette. Your Cajun Country experience will also
take you to Bayou Teche Brewing, where innovative
ales are being crafted to complement the unique foods
and lifestyles of South Louisiana. Don’t forget to
bring your appetite and your dancing shoes! Accommodations, meals, tours and the kayak fishing trip will
be provided by the Lafayette Convention & Visitors
Commission. This press trip can accommodate eight
writers. Lafayette is 79 miles from Lake Charles.
Soft Adventure Tour of Louisiana’s Northshore
near Mandeville - Oct. 13-15, 2013
(2 nights with optional 3rd night)
St. Tammany Parish, aka Louisiana’s Northshore, is
where New Orleanians have come to play for more
than a century. With more than 80,000 acres of wildlife preserve, much of it accessible for soft adventure
like kayaking, fishing, crabbing, hunting, birding and
more, the Northshore offers great outdoor experiences as well as a vibrant culinary scene and eclectic
towns. During your two-day press trip, you’ll fish
from a kayak on one of our bayous, take a swamp
tour of the pristine Honey Island Swamp, and join one
of our charter captains for a morning of fishing for
redfish and monster trout. You’ll dine at local spots
like Palmettos on the Bayou and Young’s Steakhouse.
And if you choose to stay with us an extra day, plan
on quail hunting at Covey Rise Lodge with Dan Gray,
who hosts “gentleman hunts” for guests of his Maison
Reve B&B. After the shoot, you’ll go back to Maison
Reve to feast on your quail. Note: Alternative activities will be offered for spouses as desired. Accommodations, meals, and excursions will be provided.
Transportation will be provided as needed. This press
trip can accommodate 6-10 writers and is sponsored
by the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission.
Page 16
Dove Hunt in Jeff Davis Parish near Jennings
Oct. 13-16, 2013
Writers can participate in a dove hunt, skeet shooting
and fishing excursion in Jeff Davis Parish, available
for two to four journalists. Accommodations, meals
and shells for the dove hunt and skeet shoot will be
provided. Writers will need to bring their own gun
and fishing equipment (optional). This press trip is
sponsored by the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission. Jennings is 39 miles from Lake Charles.
“Lure”ing You in to Alexandria - Oct. 13-16, 2013
Tour the Rat-L-Trap factory and experience a freshwater fishing excursion in the Alexandria/Pineville
area. Writers can also take a guided biking tour of
Kisatchie National Forest and bike to “Little Grand
Canyon.” Bicycles, transportation, meals and accommodations are provided. Writers should bring
comfortable clothes and shoes for biking and hiking.
This press trip can accommodate 6-8 writers and is
sponsored by the Alexandria/Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. Alexandria is 102 miles from
Lake Charles.
Paddling Adventure near Morgan City
Oct. 13-14, 2013
Writers would arrive in Morgan City on the night of
October 13 for a paddling excursion. You may choose
to enjoy a 6 to 12 mile paddling trip, depending on the
weather, with guide Donovan Garcia along the waterways of the Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge
Paddling Trails on October 14. The refuge’s waterways offer a unique area of tranquility for wildlife and
visitors alike. Donovan will provide information to
writers about the refuge and its mission. Writers will
get a chance to view and enjoy the beauty of cypresstupelo swamps, alligators and numerous bird species up close and personal. This trip, limited to four
journalists for fishing and 12 for paddling, includes
accommodations and
meals sponsored by
the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention
Bureau. Morgan City
is 146 miles from
Lake Charles.
Photo by Brenda LaFleur
Marsh Sunset
Notice of Pending Vote to
Amend SEOPA Constitution
According to Article X of the SEOPA Constitution, members are hereby notified in writing
at least 30 days prior to the general membership
meeting in Lake Charles, La., Oct. 10, 2013,
that the board intends to propose the following
change to the membership for vote:
Addendum to Constitution, Article VII, Item A:
Special or emergency meetings of the Board may
be called by the President or Chairman of the
Board provided that a five-day notice is given.
Such meetings may take place sooner if twothirds of the board are available and in atten-
dance. Meetings may be conducted via any legal
means including, but not limited to, teleconference and videoconference. Any actions taken
must be reported in the next President’s report so
as to become an official part of the minutes.
Note: Item A currently provides guidelines
for calling a special or emergency meeting of the
executive committee, but not the whole board.
This addendum would make it easier for the entire board to meet between its regular annual and
midyear meetings if necessary.
Page 17
Special Member News
Making a
Difference
By Kenny Kieser
Today I changed the world—at
least a little––and you can too. Directly or indirectly, outdoor communicators constantly aid conservation
efforts. We are often called stewards
of the outdoors and occasionally find
ways to earn that title. The question is,
will you seize the opportunity when it
comes your way?
I recently received a phone call
that, thankfully, got my attention:
“The Kansas City Power and Light
Company (KCP&L) is planning to build a huge power
grid with 150-foot high poles and numerous strings of
wires with cables through the Mound City area bordering the Squaw Creek Federal Wildlife Area,” said
Joe Laukemper, past president of the region’s Ducks
Unlimited group. “This will knock out properties with
blinds and worse, have huge impacts on the wildlife. I
need your help!”
I sat back and thought about a flock of snow geese
that had been lost in a snowstorm in this area a couple
years ago and flew into much lower power lines. Several were killed and badly injured. Owls, hawks and
eagles had also been lost by flying into power lines that
were about 30 feet high and bordering the refuge. A
150-foot power line system that was 30 feet wide and
decorated with 20 to 30 lines and cables through the
middle of flight paths would be disastrous.
Squaw Creek Federal Wildlife Refuge, located in
Northwest Missouri, is a major stopover for waterfowl
traveling the Mississippi Flyway. More than two million white geese, and hundreds of thousands of ducks
and Canada geese stopover in this region each fall and
spring. Thousands of river-bottom-row-crop acres feed
these birds that Lewis and Clark mentioned in their
famous journal as “abundant wildlife.”
Page 18
Final Shot of the Day
I accepted Laukemper’s invitation and started
writing. My newspaper version of the story landed on
the wire and appeared in a landslide of newspapers
across this country. My shorter magazine piece was
published in American Waterfowler, Wildfowl and
several other noted publications and their websites
including Ducks Unlimited’s.
The KCP&L company received thousands of letters and e-mails from people across the country and
just recently changed direction of their power lines.
Now the lines will miss the Mound City/Squaw Creek
Region by several miles. To their credit, they listened.
I was shocked to find they actually published my
story on their website.
You can call this the power of the pen or even
beating city hall, but for me, it simply means that
one of my favorite places is saved and huge numbers
of migrating birds are undisturbed. Now every time
I drive in this region, I will have the satisfaction of
knowing that my stories played an important part
in helping to conserve some special wildlife and its
habitat. What could be better than that?
Craft Improvement
Three Easy Things To Keep In Mind
By Alan Clemons
Far be it from me to claim a perfect record when
it comes to writing and grammar, but the good Lord
knows I try to get it right.
Striving for the best whenever you’re putting
words on paper or the computer screen is challenging in today’s world. Gone are the days when a
newspaper’s writers, magazine or book authors and
editors for both were held in regard as being among
top wordsmiths. Just about everyone who can draw a
breath today and has access to a computer is told they
can be a writer, a “citizen journalist” (an oxymoron,
in my opinion), a reporter, and don’t worry about
grammar or any of that.
Well, grammar and all that goes with it still matters. Here are three things worth remembering to help
when you’re pecking away at the keyboard.
Bone Up On Punctuation
If you don’t have an Associated Press Stylebook,
the 2013 version is out and should be within your
reach either physically or online.
Why use AP Style? Yes, it has “rules” that may
seem stilted or outdated. But those rules help provide
consistency. Magazine (and some web) editors still
use AP Style as the foundation for their publications
and sites. AP Style is no-frills, nuts-and-bolts, meat
with few taters.
The stylebook is a good source for answers to
“When should I use an ellipsis?” or “Do I spell out
numbers one through nine or use numerals?” If nothing else, the stylebook provides insight to the basic
grammatical questions about ellipsis, commas inside
quotation marks, holidays, titles and more.
Do Not Capitalize Animals’ Names
As an editor, I’m begging you. Please do not capitalize Largemouth Bass, Mallard, Water Moccasin, Quail,
White-tailed Deer or other animals in your stories.
They don’t need it, it’s an unnecessary step an editor has to correct, and it should be avoided.
Additionally, be consistent throughout if in a
period piece or opinion column you use some kind of
name such as Bobwhite Quail or Ol’ Tom Turkey. Using it three or four times, then forgetting or reverting,
makes for a cringe-worthy moment when the editor
and writer get a final proof or the finished copy and
find slipups.
“Don’t” Use “Quote Marks”
Don’t put “words in quotes” to make them “seem”
more “emphatic.”
Quotes should be used primarily, and by that I
mean about 99.999 percent of the time, for quotations.
Avoid capitalizing Words For Emphasis or combining
these problems “To Get Your Point Across” to readers.
Italics may be used in rare instances, in my opinion, to help with emphasis. But I don’t care for that,
either. I’m of the mind that most readers are intelligent enough to understand emphasis that “might” be
otherwise inflected by “using quote marks.”
Those will or should be removed from copy by
editors. Try to avoid ‘em from the start and you’ll be
better off.
Alan Clemons is managing editor of Deer & Deer
Hunting, worked in the newspaper industry for more
than 25 years and is a grammar snob. He’s not perfect,
though, so fire away with rebuttals, howls, responses
and corrections to alanclemons@comcast.net.
Please send letters to the editor,
member news and other items for
consideration of print in SEOPA News
to lisa@seopa.org.
Page 19
Member / Industry News
Book Proposals Sought
The Derrydale Press, now owned by Rowman
and Littlefield, is actively seeking general fishing, fly
fishing, and hunting book proposals from qualified
outdoor writers. Of particular interest are proposals in
the area of regional how-to. For a prompt response,
please send only a précis of your book idea at this
point, along with a short note addressing your qualifications for writing the book you propose and any
ideas you have to assist the publisher in promoting
your book. Write: Don Causey, Executive Editor, The
Derrydale Press: doncausey@msn.com.
Learn From Turkey Hunting Guru Preston
Pittman in New e-book from John Phillips
You easily can take a turkey if you don’t make
any mistakes, but you have to know what the deadly
sins of turkey hunting are to keep you from making those mistakes. If you understand how to hunt
a turkey, you’re far more likely to take a gobbler
than if you just know how to call a turkey. In How to
Hunt Turkeys with World Champion Preston Pittman,
you’ll learn all of this and much more.
In the 49 bonus videos contained in this book,
Preston Pittman will look you in the eyes and teach
you how to call turkeys with box calls, friction calls,
diaphragm calls and other turkey sounds. You’ll also
learn why Pittman once put turkey manure all over
his body to kill a tough tom. When you have turkeys
that strut and drum in
the middle of a field,
when you know there’s
no way to get close
enough to get a shot,
Pittman will show you
some weird tactics
that have worked for
him to help you hunt
tough ole toms. But
the main thing you’ll
learn in this book is
how to become the
turkey. “I try to look
like a turkey, walk
like a turkey, talk
like a turkey and
think like a turkey,”
Page 20
Pittman emphasizes. “When you become the turkey,
you increase your odds for taking a gobbler by at least
1000 percent.”
Few men have dedicated their lives, futures and
fortunes to understanding a single animal of God’s
great creation. The wild turkey gobbler, wherever it is
found, has been Preston Pittman’s passion his entire
life. Using what he’s learned while hunting wild turkeys, he’s also become a master woodsman who can
take most game, regardless of where he hunts.
To learn more secrets about how to be a turkey
hunter from one of the world champions of the sport,
this turkey-hunting e-book by Preston Pittman is a
must. Check it out at Amazom.com or contact John
Phillips at Night Hawk Publications, 4112 Camp
Horner Road, Vestavia AL. 35243, (O) 205-967-3830,
(EM) nighthawkpub@mindspring.com.
BAREBOW! Lands Another Major Award
When Dennis Dunn’s BAREBOW! An Archer’s
Fair-Chase Taking of North America’s Big-Game 29
was first released in 2008, it instantly became recognized as one of the most comprehensive, singlevolume reference works ever published on all of
the North American continent’s huntable species of
big game. The big coffee-table-style book quickly
garnered dozens of positive reviews and numerous
national and regionsl awards.
Dunn just scored another triumph for his book, as
a result of having republished the 360,000-word tome
as a 7-volume series of eBooks — downloadable from
AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE to Kindle Readers, Nook Readers, and iPads. The Jenkins Publishing Group announced that Dunn’s eBook entry, THE
BAREBOW! BOOK, is being awarded the national
eLit competition’s top award — the Gold Award — in
the category of Sports/Fitness/Recreation.
This honor is especially impressive considering
Dunn’s entry was up against scores of works about
fishing, mountain climbing, skiing, tennis, golf,
baseball, basketball, football, etc. Dunn is confident
the award will draw more public attention to archery
hunting, and to the role it, and all hunting, plays in the
conservation of North American wildlife resources.
continued...
Member/Industry News
All 2013 eLit medal winners were invited to
display their winning entries at the 2013 BookExpo
America show in New York City where the Jenkins
Publishing Group presented its New Title Showcase
of this year’s winning eBooks. More than 22,000
people attend the show each year.
For more information about any of Dunn’s books,
visit his website at: www.str8arrows.com.
Freedom to Fish Act Awaits
President’s Signature
In a bipartisan move applauded by the sportfishing
industry and the broader sportfishing community, both
houses of congress passed the Freedom to Fish Act
which will remove unnecessary access restrictions to
recreational fishing along the Cumberland River in
Tennessee and Kentucky. The bill passed on May 21,
and now awaits the President’s signature.
Doug Markham, who was instrumental in spearheading the effort to make politicians aware of the
Corps’ refusal to participate in public debate had this
to say, “In my many years of observing the outdoors
industry, I have not seen sportsmen be any better at
working together to resolve an issue so beneficial to
our traditions and I could not be more proud of our
elected representatives for understanding our concerns and working to
satisfy our requests for a
common sense solution
to safety concerns around
our Tennessee and Kentucky dams.”
The bill, which is
strongly supported by the
American Sportfishing
Association (ASA),
prohibits the Army Corps
of Engineers from installing physical barriers that
bar boats from entering
the tailwaters of ten dams
along the Cumberland
River. In addition to prohibiting access to prime
fishing areas, these bar-
riers would impede potential rescue efforts in these
same areas.
“In this political climate it is refreshing to see a
bill receive bipartisan support in the interest of recreational anglers and boaters alike,” said ASA Vice
President Gordon Robertson. “Particularly concerning with these proposed closures was the lack of
public input that went into the Army Corps’ decision,” noted Robertson. “If anglers had been provided an opportunity to weigh in on this proposal,
Congressional action might not have been needed. It
is critical that the public be allowed sufficient opportunities to provide input on any policy decision that
might affect the public’s ability to access and enjoy
public resources.”
The Freedom to Fish Act prohibits any restrictive
area on the Cumberland River by the Army Corp
for two years and also requires the Army Corps to
remove any physical barriers that have been constructed since August 1, 2012. Any future restrictions must be based on operational conditions that
might create hazardous waters, and must follow an
extensive opportunity for public input.
More information on the Freedom to Fish Act
and the Cumberland River issue can be found at
ASA’s angler advocacy website, www.KeepAmericaFishing.org.
Henning Cultural Center
Page 21
SEOPA 2013 Annual Fall Conference
(Preliminary Agenda - Subject to Change)
DATE / TIME
Tuesday, Oct. 8
4 p.m. - until
Wednesday, Oct. 9
6:30 - 11 a.m.
7 - 11 a.m.
1 - 4:30 p.m.
1 - 4:30 p.m.
3 - 4 p.m.
4:15 - 4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 10
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
8:45 - 10 a.m.
10 - 10:15 a.m.
10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
Noon - 1 p.m.
1:15 - 2:30 p.m.
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
2:45 - 4 p.m.
2:45 - 4 p.m.
2:45 - 4 p.m.
4:00 - 4:15 p.m.
4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
5:30 - 6:45 p.m.
6 - 6:45 p.m.
6:45 - 8:15 p.m.
8:15 - 11 p.m.
9 - 10 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 11
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
6 - 7 p.m.
5 - 6:30 p.m.
7 - 10 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 12
8 - 9 a.m.
9 - 11 a.m.
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
11:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
4 - 5 p.m.
4:30 - 6 p.m.
6 - 11 p.m.
Page 22
FUNCTION
Board of Directors Meeting
Hands-on Outdoor Photography Sessions at Creole Nature Trail (Victor Monsour and Glenn Wheeler) - advanced sign-up required
Board of Directors Meeting (if necessary)
Registration / Hospitality Mixer / Tourism Showcase / Silent Auction
Sponsored by Fontana Village
Press Room / Silent Auction
Past Presidents Meeting
Green Ribbon Meeting - New Member Orientation
Leave for the evening activities- Hotel entrance
Welcoming Reception and Dinner along the Civic Center Promenade
sponsored by the SW Louisiana/Lake Charles CVB
Breakfast sponsored by PRADCO Fishing
Seismic Changes in Modern Media - (Paul Gillin)
Break
Maximizing Video (Tom and Ryan Gresham)
Keeping Up With the Changing Media Landscape - (Paul Gillin)
Lunch sponsored by Realtree Camouflage / Plano Molding
Keynote address by Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne
Second Amendment: Panel
Break
Outdoor Radio, Big and Small (Jim Ferguson, Tom Gresham,
Glynn Harris, Moderator: Doug Markham)
Writing Fundamentals Refresher Course - (Keith Sutton)
Corporate Member Meeting/Website Optimization Seminar (Brandon Butler)
Break
General Membership Meeting
Ladies Only Shooting Instruction (required prior to hands-on class)
Silent Auction
Hospitality
Awards Banquet sponsored by NSSF
Late Night Hospitality - Sponsored by Callis
Silent Auction
Breakfast sponsored by Nissan
Photography: Same Subjects, Different Styles - Review of Wednesday's
hands-on session - (Victor Monsour and Glenn Wheeler)
Fisheries and Tourism: Big Oil, Big Storms and the Future of the Gulf Coast
Board Buses for Breakout Day
Hospitality sponsored by Alabama Mountain Lakes and Decatur, AL CVB
Silent Auction
Dinner and Auction sponsored by Alabama Black Belt Adventures Assoc.
Breakfast sponsored by Graham County CVB
Ladies Only Shooting hosted by Smith & Wesson at the Range
All About Book Publishing - Panel Discussion
Board buses (round 2) in front of hotel for Shooting Day
Shooting Day and lunch sponsored by Smith & Wesson
Board of Directors Meeting - New Board Orientation
Cajun Cooking with Poppy Tooker
Hospitality, Dinner, Pickin' & Grinnin' and more - sponsored by Walther Arms
2013 SEOPA Annual Fall Conference Registration Form
Lake Charles, Louisiana - Oct. 9-12 - Isle of Capri Hotel
To register by mail, send this completed form with a check or credit card information to:
SEOPA, P.O. Box 115, Badin, NC 28009 • Online registration is available at www.seopa.org
To register by fax, send this completed form with credit card information to: 704-984-4701 (no cover sheet needed)
Please call 704-984-4700 if you have any questions regarding this form.
Name _______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Media Affiliation OR Corporation Name (will appear on badge)
SEOPA Officers and
Board Members
Membership Status
(please mark category)
(please mark all that apply)
__ Active
E-mail address: _______________________________________________
__ Corporate __ Founder
Daytime Phone: _______________________________________________
__ Student
__ Current Board Member
Is this your first SEOPA conference?
__ Yes __ No
Additional Attendee: ____ Spouse ____ Corporate rep. ____ Guest
Name ______________________________________________________
Additional Attendee: ____ Spouse ____ Corporate rep. ____ Guest
Name ______________________________________________________
Registration Fees
Member / Spouse before Aug. 1 - $80 each Member / Spouse after Aug. 1 - $100 each
__________
Member / spouse after Sept. 10 - $125 each
__________
Guest at anytime (must be pre-approved) - $250.00
__________
__________
Sub-Total: __________
Corp. Members Only, add:
____ extra table(s) at Breakout Day @ $10 each
___ MC
$100
__________
____ extra chair(s) at Breakout Day @ $2 each
TOTAL AMT. ENCLOSED OR TO BE CHARGED:
___ AMEX
__ Past President
__ Lifetime __ Current Officer:
__ Active-Retired
__ Retired
________________________
IMPORTANT: MEAL COUNT
As a courtesy to our generous sponsors, we need to supply the
most accurate count possible for meals and hospitalities. Please
list the number of people in your party as registered on this
form (you, spouse, and/or guest) who will attend the events
listed below. Please do not make reservations for meals you
will not attend. (Don’t forget to consider spouses’ programs
when registering for meals.) If you are unable to attend a meal
you specified, please contact Lisa Snuggs at least 48 hours in
advance. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Please indicate NUMBER of people attending each function:
____ Wednesday Welcoming Hospitality and Dinner
____ Thursday Breakfast
____ Thursday Lunch
____ Breakout Day, CVB Showcase and/or Shooting Day (includes one table and two chairs for Breakout or Showcase)
___ VISA
__ Associate __________
__________
___ Discover
Credit Card # _________________________________________________
Expiration Date ____________ Billing address for credit card:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
____ Thursday Hospitality
____ Friday Dinner
____ Saturday Breakfast
____ Saturday Lunch
(Shooting Range)
____ Saturday Hospitality and Dinner
____ Thursday Dinner
____ Friday Breakfast
____ Friday Lunch
(Breakout)
____ Friday Hospitality
REGISTRATION REFUND POLICY
Full refunds will be made if an Act of God forces cancellation
of the conference. Otherwise, for cancellations received prior to
Aug. 1, a refund of 80 percent will be made. After August 1 and
before Sept. 10, a refund of 65 percent will be made. Refunds
thereafter are considered on a case-by-case basis at the discretion
of the executive director.
LODGING: Isle of Capri - Call 1-888-475-3847 and use Group Code SEOPA13.
Rate isNews
$105/ June
plus2013
tax. Please retain a confirmation code and make sure you understand the cancellation policy.
SEOPA
RD052013
Page 23
Executive Director’s Message by Lisa M. Snuggs
I Could’ve Had a V-8!
Don’t you just love it when a light bulb clicks on
above your head? You can almost hear that cartoonish
“ding” sound and feel that look of pleasant surprise
come over your face. You ask yourself, “Why didn’t I
think of that before?” Then you look around sheepishly in hopes that nobody else sees that great big “duh”
written on your forehead.
This pretty much describes my acceptance of
modern communications. No, I don’t have a smart
phone or an iPad. I don’t text, tweet or twitter, but
I finally really understand that most everybody else
does and that they always will.
Print media has been on a steady decline for
nearly a decade and so has membership in most
outdoor communications organizations. The assumption that lost newspaper and magazine markets caused
writers to leave the profession is a logical one, but
it doesn’t spell total gloom and doom for the whole
industry. After all, surveys show fishing and hunting
are on the rise, and those who partake still want and
need information. I just had a difficult time believing
that traditional sportsmen would ever make the transition into digital media so willingly, but I was wrong.
Some did it because they had no choice, and some did
it because they actually enjoy technology. It seems
that some of the communicators in the crowd, me included, were the ones dragging their feet. Some older
and/or part-time print journalists chose to retire when
their comfort zones disappeared, but others embraced
the changing marketplace and are now reaping the
rewards of renewed careers.
SEOPA is finally joining the new age with an attractive new user-friendly website. As a matter of fact,
it’s my hope that those of you who are reading these
words, are doing so via seopa.org. While you’ll there,
you might as well utilize the online conference registration form and then send a website link to prospective new members. They are sure to be enticed by the
website in general, but be sure to direct them to the
conference page. It’ll have them tapping their toes in
anticipation of fishing, hunting, bird-watching, topnotch seminars, new products and, of course, a little
Cajun music, food and fun.
Helping Website Committee Chairman Kathy
Barker and designer Doug Cox with the new site has
been a real eye-opener for me. Though web work is
not my forte, it’s not nearly as daunting as I anticipated. I feel like I’ve been eating french fries every
day for the past decade and somebody just handed me
a V-8. What a refreshing relief.
Founded in 1964
Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, Inc.
Page 24
P.O. Box 115 • Badin, NC 28009
(O) 704-984-4700 • (FAX) 704-984-4701 • (TF) 800-849-7367
(EM) lisa@seopa.org • (WEB) www.seopa.org

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