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August 8, 2007
Greetings fellow members,
I hope you're as excited as me about the upcoming conference in Homosassa. Besides all the great things planned, I'm really looking forward to the presentation of awards for the Excellence In Crafts Awards -- the submissions were really excellent and I enjoyed chairing the EIC this year.
Kelly Braden, Second Vice President & EIC Chair
KJBraden1@aol.com
FOWA CONFERENCE ROOMS BOOKING UP
Those wishing to attend the 61st Annual FOWA Conference in Homosassa on Sept. 12 – 16 need to move quickly. Only riverfront studios and suites (one- and two-bedroom) remain at Riverside Resort. The adjoining conference property, MacRae’s of Homosassa (352-628-2602), has just a few remaining efficiencies at $75 per night.
Another accommodation alternative is our host site for the Thursday, Sept. 13, craft-improvement seminars and luncheon: The Plantation Inn and Golf Resort, only about 15 minutes from Riverside/MacRae’s in Crystal River. It’s a beautiful property with nice rooms. When calling to reserve, mention you’re with FOWA and you’ll receive the conference rate of $89 per night ... call 800-632-6262 or 352-795-4211.
We’ll all enjoy a fantastic program in Homosassa and Crystal River, thanks largely to the efforts of Mary Craven and Tracie Conti from our host, the Citrus County CVB. Activities include the roast of Billy Pate to kick off the conference, a tour of a boat factory, our guided fishing tournament with a fish-fry lunch for all, shooting and archery, a visit to the Homosassa Wildlife Park, the Gala FOWA Auction, the Al Hubbard Corporate Breakout, great speakers, seminars, banquets, and as always outstanding networking with Florida’s top outdoor communicators and Corporate sponsors – all under one roof at the same time. Great pre- and post-conference opportunities await as well.
Keep in mind that those attending will be eligible for the Best Conference Site Story that will pay $750 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd and $50 for 3rd. The winner of the $500 prize for last year’s Conference Site Story will be announced at the Excellence In Crafts Banquet on Saturday night along with all the other EIC category winners. For more details on the itinerary and to get registered, visit or email dkelly@fowa.org.
See you in Homosassa,
Doug Kelly, Executive Director
HIGHLIGHTED MARKETS
Florida Game & Fish
Florida Game & Fish is look for queries for the March - May, 2008 editions on Sunshine State destinations for snook, largemouth bass, and bluegill/panfish. Also peacock bass ideas for Miami/Dade area, particularly do-it-yourself angles without a guide.
Additionally need destinations for public turkey hunts or profiles of "expert" turkey hunters in the state.
For the June - August 2008 period looking for queries on destinations for freshwater catfish, largemouth bass, seatrout, redfish and king mackerel. Also pre-season whitetail deer ideas.
Article length of 2500 words. Pay is $200, plus $75 for your color photos used and $25 for any converted to black and white. Usually story package works out to $300 to $350. But, query with or without photos. We have a huge inventory of generic images.
Query Jimmy Jacobs at jimmy.jacobs@imoutdoors.com.
Sport Fishing
Sport Fishing needs images that show boats anchoring offshore; deploying/pulling anchors; anchors on deck, etc (contact mike.mazur@bonniercorp.com).
Also needed are big wahoo, esp. closeups, underwater -- images without any obvious geographical reference points.
contact chris.woodward@bonniercorp.com
Deadline for both: Sept 1, 2007
CURRENT MARKETS
BIRD Design
BIRD Design (Brand Integrity Represented in Design), a graphic design agency in Hollywood, Calif., seeks one or two outdoor sports writers specializing in domestic hunting and fishing to write short articles or editorials monthly for a project with VERSUS. Length of articles will vary: Some will be short sidebars; others may run up to 500 words. North American/one-time rights are offered. Writers will be considered subcontractors and will invoice BIRD for hours worked or articles written. Contact Office Assistant Erika Quinn, BIRD Inc.,
7039 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028; call 323-962-4908, ext. 103; e-mail erika@birddesign.com; visit .
Bird Hunting Report
In its 18th year of publication, the Bird Hunting Report newsletter speaks to traveling wing shooters who want the facts on quality places to hunt. Sought for publication are experienced-based, fact- checked reports that make educated value judgments and recommendations about available worldwide hunting opportunities: on public and private lands, in lodges and clubs or “do-it-yourself.”
This is a great secondary market for information you’ve gathered for other stories. Payment is 16 cents per word for an 800-1,000-word report. No photo support is required. Direct questions, queries and requests for style sheets to Managing Editor Tom Carney, tom@birdhuntingreport.com.
The Elks Magazine
The Elks Magazine, 425 W. Diversey Parkway, Chicago, IL 60614. Email CherylS@Elks.org. Website . Cheryl T. Stachura, Editor. 35% freelance. Buys approximately 30 general interest manuscripts per year. "The basic mission of the magazine is to share the news of the charitable activities of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks with its members. However, well-targeted and well-written freelance feature articles are also published. The Elks Magazine is a 4/color, glossy magazine that contains advertising."
Welcomes new writers. Circ. 1M. 10 issues/year. Usually pays on acceptance; may pay on publication. Buys first publication rights, and one-time North American serial rights in print only. No reprints.
Prefers a final ms to a query as decisions are based only on final ms. Sample by mail request. Subscription US only $12. Guidelines online at . Current Needs: "We are always in the market and will buy what seems to fit our audience.
We're interested in topics including sports and sports figures, Americana and American history, technological advances, personal finance, nature, and so forth. We do not buy travel stories because we have a contracted travel writer. Our readers are primarily men over 50. Please refer to the writer's guidelines." Pays $0.30/word for 1500-2500 words. Submit complete ms. Photos/Art: No longer purchase freelance cover photos. Hints: Basically a problem is when writers haven't read the guidelines and submit manuscripts that are too long or short, are first-person or religious or political--all someone need do is check the guidelines." Obtaining a few issues to get an idea of our typical feature article is a good idea too.
InshoreFan.com
InshoreFan.com is looking for writers that can quickly turn around tight, cutting-edge content involving inshore and nearshore fisheries on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. InshoreFan is particularly interested in striper (plus weakfish and flounder) articles from the Northeast, and trout and redfish articles from elsewhere. It might also be interested in articles on West Coast inshore fishing. Note that InshoreFan is a news publication, so it is less interested in evergreen how-to/where-to content than in stories with a news angle.
News can include people, tournaments, techniques, products, legislation, conservation, etc., so long as it is widely applicable.
Pay is $50 per article, which must be at least 800 words (writing long is okay) and include two good-quality digital photographs.
Payment terms are net 30 after acceptance of invoice. If interested, spend some time surfing InshoreFan.com, then submit qualifications and three story ideas in no more than three paragraphs, plus two digital photos of anglers with fish, to Jay Kumar at editor@inshorefan.com.
Marlin
Marlin is looking for good, entertaining feature story ideas that we can use in the 2008 calendar year. All articles must pertain to big- game bluewater fishing techniques, personalities and/or destinations.
Keep in mind that Marlin is a very image conscience magazine and all articles must have excellent photo support or at least connections to photographers with the images we will need. Although some of you may not be writers, we still encourage you to send us any story ideas you might have that pertain to Marlin magazine. If you would like to send us a story idea that you plan on writing, please let us know. As always, we're looking for stories that focus on offshore species such as sailfish, marlin, swordfish, tuna, wahoo and dolphin. Please don't send us story ideas on walleye. It happens. If you would like us to consider your story ideas, please send us your queries by August 1.
However, we are always open to story ideas for future issues down the road. Send ideas to Charlie Levine at Charlie.levine@bonniercorp.com or Dave Ferrell at dave.ferrell@bonniercorp.com.
The Sportsman Channel Magazine
The Sportsman Channel magazine seeks content for its fourth-quarter issue. Editorial and photography needs are as follow: cover photo of white-tailed deer (at least 300 dpi, 8x10 inches, color); cover story (word count 1,000-1,500 words) on white-tailed deer; inside stories (800-1,000 words) on the topics of (1) grouse hunting, (2) taxidermy and (3) fall muskie fishing. All articles must include high- resolution photographs to be considered; however, don’t send them with the article. Deadline for all submissions is Aug. 15. The editors prefer first rights but will accept second rights. Rates range from $100-$300, depending on the story usage (cover story vs.
filler, for example), length of story and whether it’s first- or second-rights. Send to Karen Scheer at kscheer@thesportsmanchannel.com.
Hunting, Fishing Writers Needed
EVENTS
Holiday Gift Idea: Get Her Out of the House, and Onto the Water!
For women who yearn for the thrill of fishing, a gift certificate to the "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!"® award-winning fishing seminar series for women may be the cure. Certificates for a weekend adventure include a welcome reception, classroom instruction for inshore, offshore, bottom and fly fishing, hands-on opportunities to try fishing skills and a fishing trip on the water. The package comes complete with on-site meals, t-shirt, goody bag and chance to win exciting prizes. No experience or equipment is necessary. Classes are taught on beginner and intermediate/advanced levels. Even the category of fishing boat can be pre-selected.
Choose from Florida locations such as Ft. Lauderdale, Stuart, St. Petersburg or Islamorada. An additional program where men can attend as guests is held in Costa Rica.
Known as the "No-Yelling School of Fishing," this program has been featured on Inside Edition, NBC's Nightly News, CBS/The Early Show, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Southern Living and more.
Certificates for seminar registration range from $135 - $150 and fishing fees range from $35 - $275, depending on location and length of fishing trip. Contact "Ladies, Let's Go Fishing!", P.O. Box 550429, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33355, phone 954-475-9068, fax 954-474-7299, toll free information 1-888-321-LLGF (5543),
email: billfishbetty@hotmail.com
website: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com
To put the icing on the cake, add a nifty gold pendant of the fish she might catch, or fishing tackle she will need. Links to these items, as well as the seminar schedules, are provided on the website.
CORPORATE CORNER
From the Florida Guides Association Newsletter:
Boater Survey Needs Panel Members
More Boaters Needed for Survey
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is cooperating with the National Recreational Marine Research Center in a major study of recreational boating, with a special emphasis on determining the adequacy of boating access. This study will provide comprehensive state and regional information on the need for boating access and facilities, how much and where boaters boat, and the economic significance of boating throughout the state and in local communities. Your participation is very important to the success of the project.
The Research Center has conducted more than 16,000 surveys and have information about 9,700 boating trips. We are hoping to get information about 12,000 boating trips to make this a one-of-a-kind survey! You are wonderful folks and this study is very important to the future of boating in Florida.
We are still recruiting boaters to the Florida Boater Panel. If you know other boaters who you think would be willing to join the Florida Panel please refer them to . If you are a member of a boating or angling club PLEASE send other club members to this site!
Each responding Boater Panel member will receive a coupon for $10.00 off a $50.00 purchase at West Marine stores. Additionally, if you complete at least FOUR (4) MONTHLY SURVEYS, you will be entered into a drawing for one (1) chance to win a $1,000.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE AT WEST MARINE. The drawing will be held in November 2007, and we will announce the winner to all Panel members.
Michigan State University has strict protocols to protect the confidentiality of persons who respond to our surveys. We are going to great lengths to protect the confidentiality of the information that participants provide. When you submit your responses to the survey we will separate your email from the data that you provide and keep them in separate files without any way to identify the participants that provided the information.
Thank you, my friends - yes, folks like you who take the time to make a difference for boating are friends! If you have any questions, please contact us at rmrc@msu.edu, or telephone us at 517.432.0282.
Dr. Ed Mahoney, Co-Director (Email: rmrc@msu.edu) National Recreational Marine Research Center Michigan State University
Steve Kearl
Communications Director, Florida Sea Grant Associate Director, IFAS Communication Services University of Florida Box 110409 Gainesville, FL 32611-0409 Phone 352.392.2801 SUNCOM 622-5870 Fax 352.392.5113
Suggs Wins $1,000,000 with Tru-Tungsten Weights
On August 5, 2007 Scott Suggs became a millionaire when he won the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup. Suggs tossed a spinnerbait and big 10-inch worms to pull 17 pounds, 1 ounce of bass from Lake Ouachita to capture first place in the nation's first million dollar bass tournament. He weighted his worms with 3/8-ounce Tru-Tungsten weights to get them down to the summer bass. That turned out to be a good - real good - choice.
Make sure you have plenty in stock. They'll be hot!
Bushnell to Acquire Final Approach and Kolpin Hunting Product Lines
Bushnell Outdoor Products, Inc., the worldwide leader in sports optics, premium eyewear, and outdoor accessories for 60 years, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the Final Approach and Kolpin Hunting Product Lines, from Facilitator Capital Funds, a Milwaukee based private equity group.
Kolpin® is a premier provider of high quality hunting and shooting products. The acquisition includes two primary product lines — the Final Approach® brand of waterfowl products, and the Kolpin line of shooting accessories. Not included in the sale to Bushnell is Kolpin Powersports, which manufactures and distributes a full line of ATV and UTV products and accessories. Under the terms of the acquisition, Kolpin will retain the brand name and provide a long-term licensing agreement to Bushnell.
This acquisition continues the expansion of the family of outdoor brands under the Bushnell Outdoor Products umbrella. The Final Approach brand is positioned as "The Waterfowler's Company" and was the original developer of low-profile hunting blinds. The product line now includes a wide range of innovative products and accessories for the waterfowl hunting market, including a new line of innovative duck and goose decoys. The Kolpin line of shooting accessories includes Kolpin branded soft-sided gun cases, slings and gun vises.
“The Final Approach brand and Kolpin shooting accessories will be a great addition to our company,” said Joe Messner, President and CEO of Bushnell Outdoor Products. “These products are field-tested and enjoy a reputation of quality and value amongst shooters, hunters, and our retail customers.” added Messner.
The parties signed a definitive purchase agreement and the transaction closed on August 6, 2007.
This marks the sixth acquisition Bushnell has made since 2001. The most recent was the purchase of Michael's of Oregon in 2005 and the addition of the Uncle Mike’s®, Hoppe’s®, Butler Creek®, Stoney Point®, Uncle Mike’s Law Enforcement® and Blackwater Gear™ brands. The Tasco® sports optics brand was added in 2002 and Bollé® and Serengeti® premium eyewear brands were acquired in 2001, along with Moonlight night vision products.
Bushnell is a privately held company funded by WindPoint Partners, a private equity firm with offices in Chicago and Detroit.
Contact: Jen Messelt – Bushnell Outdoor Products
(913) 752-6105 / jmesselt@bushnell.com
Bushnell Outdoor Products is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products based in Overland Park, Kansas. Bushnell Outdoor Products sells its products worldwide under the Bushnell®, Tasco®, Serengeti®, Bollé®, Uncle Mike’s®, Stoney Point®, Hoppe’s®, Blackwater Gear™ and Butler Creek® brand names. For information about any of these brands or products, please contact Bushnell Public Relations at (913) 752-6105.
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