Ozark Fly Fishers, Club Of The Year

2/16/00

Club Of The Year Award
by Bob Temper

More Awards!
See other 2004 Awards:
	Man of the Year
	Conservationist
See 2003 Award:
	Club of the Year
See 2001 Award:
	Tyer of the Year
See 2000 Awards:
	Tyer of the Year
	Man of the Year
See 1999 Awards:
	Teacher of the Year

Ozark Fly Fishers was awarded Southern Council Club of the Year, sharing the honor with the North Arkansas Fly Fishers. It's on-going programs and activities support the goals of the Southern Council of the FFF Our club is dedicated to the sport of fly fishing, the FFF, local clubs and the Southern Council through ongoing active promotion and participation in many activities. The club teaches fly fishing and fly tying through the St. Louis County Parks Department, Missouri Conservation Department, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Formal programs are offered in beginning, intermediate and advanced fly fishing and flytying. Through its membership, Ozark has actively supported other local organizations such as Roubidoux Fly Fishers, the Smallmouth Alliance and TU.

The club promotes conservation and the sport everywhere. Through its membership it has organized teaching programs for the Boy Scouts, grade schools, nursing homes and our own club. Numerous members have done demonstration fly tying at the national FFF and the Southern and Southeast Council Conclaves. The club has been tying at the Missouri Department of Conservation and local conservation and fishing shows, providing the opportunity to talk to people about conservation, fishing and promoting the local and national organizations. Members have provided fly casting and tying instructions for the Missouri Women Outdoors Program. In spite of trying to avoid personal recognition for his activities, one member was presented the Walter Bemire Memorial Hunter Education Instruction- "Friends of Hunter Education Award" by the State of Missouri for his instruction activities and fly tying at their annual meetings.

Ozark Fly Fishers has entered a contract with the US Forestry Service to provide manpower on Mill Creek to improve bank stabilization and habitat. We have also worked on Spring Creek and are registered as a Missouri Stream Team on the Current River. We have donated funds on behalf of conservation to Crooked Creek, Missouri Stream Team, Arkansas WET program, the Smallmouth Alliance and the Homebuilders Environmental Stewardship Project of the Roubidoux watershed. The organizations registered all of its members with the Conservation Federation of Missouri. We attempt to be a positive influence on regulatory agencies to promote and protect gamefish and their habitat. We do this through individual and official club letters as well as face to face communication.

The club has provided leadership and Southern Council Conclaves by volunteering to chair previous conclaves and participate the raffle sales and hospitality bar. Additionally we support the council conclaves through providing manpower to the casting games and casting instructions. Donation of flies, etc. from our members are used as participation prizes in the casting games.

With club membership approaching 300, we provide year round activities, a monthly newsletter and monthly programs on all aspects of fly fishing. As a service to members we have an extensive video library offered on a no fee basis. During the last year we added a clearinghouse as a way to connect members wanting to go or take others fishing. During daylight savings months we provide casting instruction an hour before each meeting. During other times of the year we precede our meeting with instructions on knot tying and fly tying techniques. The monthly programs are diversified, ranging from local to international fishing. We have had conservation agents and stream biologists from Missouri and Arkansas. The featured speakers have included local and regional guides, experts on salt, warm and cold water fishing, tackle manufacturers, authors and fly tiers. With a membership spanning Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas and with distant members in California, Oregon and Wisconsin, we are proud to report that we average over 100 members at our meetings usually held the fourth Thursday of the month.

Ozark Fly Fishers may not be all things to all people but we have a solid program with steady leadership that provides a quality year round program for its membership. The organization has a positive stance on conservation and is well respected in the community. We look forward to the coming year with the same commitment we have shown in years past.

Last revised:10/19/04

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