The program for this day of E&E&E (Entertainment, Education & Eccentricity) is:

9:00 AM Introductions, Program 1:Saltwater Fly Fishing in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

10:30 AM Fly tying demonstration

Noon Lunch on your own

1:00 PM Program 2: Fly Fishing in the Western United States

2:15 PM Fly tying demonstration

This program will be held at: Powder Valley Nature Center 11715 Cragwold Rd. Kirkwood, MO 314-301-0500

Cragwold is west of Geyer Road in Kirkwood, just before Geyer crosses I-44 on the north. There is a sign on Geyer directing you to Powder Valley.

This program is free to Ozark members. Non-members will be charged $10.00 which can be applied to an Ozark membership which is a great deal.

Henry's love of fishing, writing, history, and the outdoors were intertwined. This could be seen clearly in his writing for various publications. It wasn't the catching that was all that significant when you read his articles; it was the experience -- exploring and hiking into a new stream, taking time to sit and ruminate atop an Ozark bluff, contemplating a freshly-caught native Ozark smallmouth bass. Those who never met Hank got this from his writing. Those of us lucky enough to know the genuine article not only saw the poet but the unpretentious companion and friend who was quick to laugh, didn't mind popping a few balloons, and was eager to listen. He wasn't afraid to take a stand on an issue where he thought a stand was needed.

He also accomplished some important things. He awakened a lot of people to the joy of fishing for smallmouth bass, noting that they were the native fish of our Ozark streams, and that they need to be nurtured and valued. He unselfishly guided and taught a lot of us how to fish for them. He had no small part in the success of the Smallmouth Alliance, another sportsman group that espouses fishing for smallmouth. He was pas-sionate about the environ-ment. And he wasn't afraid to question Missouri officials about the consequences of their reintroduction of otters on stream fisheries or the impact of gravel mining on Crooked Creek in Arkansas. He served as a board member with Ozark, as a conservation chair, and even organized some of our warmwater outings. He liked all kinds of fishing, all kinds of subjects, and all kinds of people. And we liked him too.

Larry Carli
Education Director

There will be an increased emphasis on promoting the Federation of Fly Fishers as a national organization among the FFF chapters around the country. The Southern Council includes from 46 FFF-affiliated chapters in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas. Southern Council officers also may be paying visits to these chapters over the next few years to develop stronger ties. Our chapter continues to encourage our members to join the national organization as well as con-tribute to our chapter.

More than 700-plus people attended the two-day Southern Council Conclave this year. That's down about a hundred from the year before. But the weather was good and the programs were excellent. Ozark also had a large contingent. And the fishing was more than fair--they turned the water off on the White for the first time since June, although water still ran on the North Fork that weekend.

Some of the Council clubs may be asked to further underwrite some aspects of the annual conclave to help cut costs and raise more money for education and conservation projects. And proceeds from the Council this year will go to fund a number of projects. Those awards will be made in December but funding requests were made at the October meeting to sup-port efforts along Capps Creek in Southwestern Missouri, the Missouri StreamTeam program, and a Collins Creek trout restoration project on the Little Red River in Arkansas. The Collins Creek project may create spawning habitat and a catch-release stream for children similar to Dry Run Creek on the North Fork River in Arkansas.

It's a busy time of year. We had a stream team outing on October 18-19 on the Current River. Jack Gartside is coming on November 2. Our catch-release outing is set for November 8-10. Try to get to all of them, it's worth it.

And don't forget to lend a hand to help out with club activities. We can't do it without you.

We are aware that Sand Spring Resort has been sold, to close in Jan. 2003. We'll get in touch with the new owner and see if our arrangements will continue. We have been told that the rates will probably increase. Another change at Bennett is that there will be a new hatchery manager - Ron has retired. Scuttlebut has it that the new manager will come from Taneycomo.

Remember, you'll need a $7.00 Trout Permit available everywhere Mo. hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Russ Hill 314-275-2673

Jack Gartside, author, flytyer and long-time Boston cabby, will be the featured speaker at the program, which is sponsored by the Ozark Fly Fishers. The program, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include slide shows and tying demonstrations by Gartside. The admission fee is $10 for non Ozark members, which can be applied to the annual membership fee for the Ozark Fly Fishers. Gartside was profiled in Sports Illustrated in 1982 as a Boston cabdriver who created some of the most innovative and inventive fly patterns of the modern era. He also has accum-ulated an enormous range of fishing experience in the United States and throughout the world.

He has since been profiled in major fly fishing mag-azines not only in this country but also in Norway, France and Japan. His best-known fly patterns, the "Gartside Hopper," the "Sparrow," and "Guggler" are trout and saltwater standards.

He is also the author of "Striper Flies," "Scratching the Surface" and "Fly Patterns for the Adventurous Tyer." For the last 25 years, he has conducted fly tying seminars in the United States, England, France, Norway, New Zealand and Japan.

But Gartside is also known for being unconventional in a variety of ways. A magazine cover of Fly Fishing in Salt Water carried the famous photo of Jack, fly rod in hand, atop his inflatable giraffe "Gerald" in search of quarry. There is also a famous magazine picture with Gartside sitting in front of his fly tying vice, cigarette and mixed drink nearby, looking more like a gambler ready for a card game rather than preparing to tie a woolly worm. His web site is loaded with unique and useful information as well as humor.

Famous fly fishers offer their testimonials. "One of only a few who have ventured outside the ordinary," said Gary Borger, another famous fly fishing author and speaker. "Exceptionally gifted," says author Eric Leiser. "His paint don't dry," says famous fly fisherman Lefty Kreh.

A note of appreciation is appropriate to Sage and Winston for supplying the casting equipment used by all the participants. Bill Hale, Al Boursiaw, and Brian Flinchpaugh admin-istered the distance casting while Steve Antonic, Joseph Aimonette and Bob Temper handled the accuracy pond on Friday afternoon. The "Pond Crew" of Joseph Aimonette, Al Bourisaw, Larry Carli, Bill Hale, Jerry Jarosik, Steve, and Bob showed up early Thursday to set up two casting ponds and again on Sunday to disassemble and store them at Wapsi for next year. Without the crew and Joe's truck we couldn't have done it.

Trophies were awarded for distance and accuracy in men, women, male and female youth categories. While many of the Ozark members were either working the games or demonstrating tying, some Ozark members placed in the contests. Matthew Taylor had a first place in male youth distance while his mother Chris took first in women accuracy and Sue Clark placed second. Jim Rogers had such a good time placing 2nd in distance and 1st in accuracy thathe is going to join Ozark.

Once again, thank you to all who helped make this a successful Ozark project.

Last year's attendance set an all time high and it is expected this coming banquet will be even larger. The banquet will again be held at Joe Hanon's Restaurant located at the intersection of Hwy 270 and Dorsett Road.

Good news! We were able to get the entire banquet facility! (last year we shared with the Coast Guard). That means much more room to stroll down the displays for Silent Auction as well as table hopping while visiting with old and new friends. There will be two bars servings us that should expedite drink orders. Auction items will be displayed in an easy to see manner. In short, just a much nicer accommodating arrangement.

Food, as usual will be great. Chicken or steak with all the usual trim-mings. Plus - that delicious Raspberry Torte and the All American Apple Pie.

Price will be a little higher this year but still within the budget of all. Singles fare will be $30 and couples $55. There is a reservation form following that you need to complete and send in ASAP. In the event of plan's change, we need notice at least 3 days prior the banquet time (by January 22nd). to change or cancel with refund your reservation.

ATTENTION ILLINOIS MEMBERS

It has come to our attention that all Members of Ozark who currently live in Illinois and are also FFF Members are currently being counted in the Great Lakes Council. Since our club Ozark Flyfishers is currently in the Southern Council this doesn't make a lot of sense. The only way we can get this corrected is to have all Illinois Members initial their names on this Renewal form stating they want to be counted in the Southern Council instead of the Great Lakes Council. Please check the renewal form and if you live in Illinois make sure you check and initial this part of the Renewal Form to insure your membership is counted toward the Southern Council.

Also again this year is a Membership called a Corporate Membership. The cost for this is $250 per year. These members will have all the benefits of the Commercial Membership plus these additional benefits: Your Business recognized on our Corporate Membership Plaque prominently displayed at each meeting,

A Business Card Size Advertisement in each newsletter, The Privilege of Advertising in our newsletter for an additional fee.

RECEIVE THE NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

Also on the renewal form will be an option to check if you would prefer to receive the Monthly Newsletter by e-mail instead of in a regular mailing. It was felt that this was a way the Club could save some money on our postage expenses.

Anyone having any question regarding any of this please contact me either by phone (618) 281-6461 or by e-mail at grvieth@htc.net
Greg Vieth
Membership Chairman Ph: 314 724-5385

In my humble opinion, our next speaker, Jack Gartside is one rare individual. I had the pleasure of meeting him in Livingston Montana about a decade and a half ago. He had gained a bit of national notoriety back then, from an article in Sports Illustrated. As I recall the article was about a Boston cab driver who tied flies between fares, and drove to Yellowstone every summer in an old Volvo with 300,000 miles on it. Had a Phd. in English, I think. Drove a cab. But had a higher calling in pursuit of the wild places. I think he and Hank had a lot in common.

As was announced at the last Ozark meeting, I am hanging up the word processor and turning over the editor's duties to the next lucky member. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this fine organization for what, fifteen years? Maybe too long, maybe the muse deserted me. In that tenure, I met men who I now consider among my closest personal friends. That we all fish is redundant. They are exceptional people who, in their varied interests and personalities, represent the finest our species can find. I couldn't ask for more from any organization. It's true, what you get out of something is proportional to what you put into it. I consider my time very well spent with dividends that will last a lifetime.