I'm proud to nominate the Ozark Fly Fishers as the Southern Council Club of the Year. The Ozark Fly Fishers continue to support the goals of the Southern Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers after more than three decades of existence. Throughout its history, this organization and its members continue efforts not only to promote the sport of fly fishing but to work strenuously to protect and enhance our environment for future generations. At the same time, the club also provides an opportunity to bring people together and develop new and often lifelong friendships.

In three decades, we've seen enormous changes in how we work, play, and relate to one another. Organizations like ours have remained constant and positive influences--a social fraternity open to people from all walks of life. Over the years, we've played a major role in providing an entrance into the sport for many people but we've also worked to increase the opportunities and quality of angling available. And people have responded--our membership has remained consistently in the 300+ range.

We like to think that our club has had an influence on the rise of catch-and-release fishing in this part of the country. We have worked for the development of a brown trout fishery on streams like the Current, Meramec and North Fork; the nurturing and availability of our wild rainbow fisheries; and the protection and enhancement of our smallmouth bass fishing. We have contributed monetarily to the All Fish, All Waters Foundation.

Ozark remains extremely active with education programs, providing fly fishing and fly tying programs through the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Department that have introduced several hundred people to the sport again this year. Our members share their time generously not only through this program but in response to many community requests. Just recently we were contacted by Channel 5 in St. Louis and members of the Ozark Fly Fishers participated in the Newschannel 5 Adoption Project entitled "A Place To Call Home". Whether it's fly tying session at a school in Granite City, Ill., at a Boy Scout troop, the Kid's Fishing Fair at the Busch Conservation Area or a festival at a state park, our education activities have been constant throughout the year.

Our meetings are a source of entertainment and enlightenment for our members featuring speakers like Jason Borger, Jack Gartside and Dave Whitlock. We have both Certified and Master Casting Instructors available before each meeting along with a monthly fly tying demonstrator. We have a video library and our raffles provide prizes at each meeting. We conducted a raffle to raise money for the ALS and MD Foundations in the name of club member Jerry Clark. To publicize these efforts our web site, www.ozarkflyfishers.org, and our monthly newsletter are extremely active and informative, offering articles on club activities, information on conservation issues, photos, fly recipes, recommendations, and simply an opportunity for club members to share their thoughts.

Our interest in conservation issues remains a priority. Our members are also registered members of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. We continue to monitor and support efforts such as the Missouri Stream Team project, the Friends of the North Fork and White Rivers, the Smallmouth Alliance and others. Our members participate annually in a cleanup project on a section of the upper Current River which we have adopted. Our communications with state biologists and authorities in Missouri and Arkansas remains constant. These biologists are often guests at our club meetings and our club members take an active role in attending important meetings which deal with conservation issues. We feel that our club was instrumental in defeating Missouri Senate Bill 36 which exempted many gravel miners from MDC rules.

In the same spirit, we continue to participate wholeheartedly in Southern Council and other conclaves including the national conclave. Our members are serving as directors, presenting programs, tying flies, supervising casting contests and in general volunteering their time and skill to contribute to the success of these events. Our club members donate hundreds of flies each year to the Conclave for the casting games. Whenever a call for help has come from the Southern Council we have never failed to respond.

As I mentioned, our club is open to people from all walks of life. Each year we try to develop new activities for the enjoyment of our members. We have developed an outing each month that allows our members to experience new water and meet new friends. This year saw the second of what we hope to be an annual Ozark Women's Outing. We have just recently made an exciting connection with the St. Louis Boy Scouts of America Council helping scouts qualify for and achieve the new Fly Fishing Merit Badge. Our annual Catch & Release outing in November at Bennett Spring draws many of our members and promotes not only fishing but also fellowship. All of this involves a lot of effort--effort that continues the work that others have laid down throughout our history. We feel that Ozark has made a difference.

Sincerely,

Larry Carli
President
Ozark Fly Fishers

Brian Flinchpaugh
Immediate Past President
Ozark Fly Fishers

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