I know Woodchuck...and he's no John Kennedy...or is that DanQuayle? Anyway he has a point. Politics and politicians and laws do more than all of our protests, meetings, letters and emails. Until we get some of the laws changed and some of the politicians changed
( Gary Locke) and until we get a real voice in Olympia and Washington DC forgetaboutit....There will always be narrow agendas from interest groups but in the larger picture all sportsmen and women need to figure out how to change the laws and the politicians. Does Patty Murray fish? Maria Cantwell? Jim McDermott? Gary Locke? I don't think that was a pink fishing shirt Jim wore in Bagdad.....I think the Recreational Fishing Alliance has a good shot at becoming a voice here in Washington state as it has back East.

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.....in the mean time we will persevere and push for change and a voice to politicians as diverse organizations and clubs work together on issues regarding steelhead preparing for Summit 2. Look for a full report on the Summit on WSC website in the future. If your organization or club is interested in participating please contact the WSC.



Rich Simms
WSC 1st VP of Membership
wscmembership@yahoo.com

Hello, Bob. Just have a few minutes to post again, between holiday activities...

You seemed to accuse me of hiding my identity?? I don't get that, as my profile has as much info as yours, and my name's been "out there" plenty for last six months, as the contact point for the Steelhead Summit!

My name is Dave Bailey. I was the founding secretary for WSC, and have been active in TU, B.A.S.S., and others for the last 20 yrs. No apologies; I look at the 99% good work that groups do, rather than the occasional error.

As for CPR-Fish, you'll have to pardon me/us for not knowing that group. I don't doubt that you've posted information on it, but ya know... I can't remember any of your posts that weren't totally negative (Graemlins too), and I guess I just skip over most of them anymore. Mean time, I'll see that you are invited to the next summit, and you might do some more P.R. for CPR.

We tried very hard to locate and invite every possible group that has any interest in steelhead! We need ALL the groups we can get, to make changes in fish management, so we tried to gather folks from one extreme to the other, like WA Trout to the Wildcat Steelhead Club. BTW, RFA wasn't there, but only because Mike Gilchrist had to work that Saturday; he's still involved.

The only "rule" was that we had to agree to disagree. There was plenty of disagreement, but believe it or not, there was much more to agree on! We are moving ahead, and any other groups are most welcome to jump aboard at any time. Just write me at captain@olypen.com.

I'm not sure why you wrote all that history about the FOC, except maybe to explain your apparent bitterness toward the rest of the world? [We'd still like to have some current contact info for them.]

Anyway... I wish you peace!

Sincerely,
Dave/Scaly

Scaly

The reason why you got so much "back ground" information about the FOC was not because I was trying to "Knock them" (the FOC); it was only to let some of you people who still think and believe that I am still with the FOC that I am not. I am no longer an active member of the FOC.

Even though I work with the FOC, and also support their efforts, I am not a member of that group anymore. The record on this board needed to be set straight. To this day, many staff members of the WDFW still associate my name with the current FOC. It just isn't that way now, and it hasn't been that way since 1996. The FOC is still worth supporting no mater what internal things happen in the past.

As for CPR-Fish, we are a very small group, and that is the way that we want to keep it! When it comes to legal matters, you don't really need a lot people or members to acheive that goal and that is what CPR-Fish does best!

After 9 years of belonging to the FOC, being their Business manager for eight of years and also their Treasure for 6 years and their president for almost 4 years, you kind of get burned out! At one time I was accountable for over 1200 members; that is pretty big responsibility for anyone to do. As time goes on, you will probably see the same things happen in your group too. It just happens when you start getting big money involved.

I can't help it if you don't like my threads; that's your right! I don't practically care for T.U. threads either, so I guess we both have our shortfalls. I worked with TU during the relicensing, and to say that I was not impress is an understatement for sure!

You say; "As for CPR-Fish, you'll have to pardon me/us for not knowing that group. I don't doubt that you've posted information on it, but ya know... I can't remember any of your posts that weren't totally negative (Graemlins too), and I guess I just skip over most of them anymore".

Well WDFW, NMFS, Tacoma, WDOE and many others know who we are and have night mirrors when they hear our name! Obviously Scaly, I have NEVER, unlike some, have tried to promote our groups on this site… have I?

I am not one of your "love in" type of guys that you apparently enjoy reading so much of. Almost every posting I make is informative, but sometimes I will degrade my posts like most active members do from time to time. It's kind of funny that you have never spoke up before about my postings or my uninformed opinion before. I have to wonder why???

Finally, you think that I may have "bitterness". It is not really "bitterness", it's only the "disappointment" of not achieving what so many of us originally had set out to do, and did not get it accomplished!

I almost forgot , you say that I post "totally negative Graemlins" Well maybe Bob will make some "love ones" so that I can make you more happy!

Good luck in your new adventure, if it is like most other organizations…you'll need all the luck that's there!

Have a good year, and catch a few fish for me...and yes, I too also wish you peace!

Cowlitzfisherman <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" />