OWAA Annual Conference

Bismarck, N.D.

June 21-24, 2008

Questions about OWAA’s 81st Conference?

Contact Robin Giner,
Director of Membership & Conference Services
121 Hickory St., Ste. 1
Missoula, MT 59801
406-728-7434
406-728-7445 (fax)
rginer@owaa.org

Overview

HIGHLIGHTS
WHY MEMBERS COME
FEATURED SPEAKERS
QUESTIONS?

A word from the Conference Chair

Listening to Nature, by John L. Beath, Conference Program Chair

OWAA's 81st annual conference will be held June 21 - 24 in Bismarck, N.D. at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel. This year's conference features high-tech combined with high-energy and some new twists.

Listening to Nature, the theme for our 81st annual conference, says it all. As outdoor communicators, we can always learn from listening to nature. This year's keynote speaker, Jon Young, knows not only how to listen to nature, but how to teach many of nature's unique languages. Young first began his outdoor career as a student of famous tracker, Tom Brown, Jr., and after college founded the Wilderness Awareness School (WAS) in Duval, Wash. At WAS he created programs geared toward both youths and adults, and is the author of several books and audio series. Two of his most popular classes, "Interpreting Bird Language" and "Animal Tracking" highlight this year’s conference theme. “Interpreting Bird Language” will be offered during Sunday’s Community Night auction event.

Craft Improvement is a key component to conference. Attendees will have a tough time choosing which sessions to attend. "Something for everyone" is the goal in Bismarck. OWAA's sections, Newspaper, Photo, TV/Video and Radio, will provide Super Sessions on Tuesday morning with information-packed, informative workshops.

Magazine and book editors will be on-hand for the "One-on-One with the Editors/Publisher" event on Saturday. Interview rooms will be available throughout the conference for writers and broadcasters to have a quiet place to converse. The Outdoor Skills Contest will again be part of the combined Breakout and Shooting Day to add a competitive and fun way for supporters to interact with OWAA members, maximizing the opportunity to showcase their latest and greatest.

Continuous News Conferences will again be featured at the OWAA conference. Industry professionals will have briefing opportunities in a centralized location for press conferences and announcements to get their messages heard. And newsmakers will be a big part of conference, too. See the schedule for information on these controversial speakers who will, no doubt, provide ample story material while giving OWAA members a "Front Lines, Front Row Seat" to age old debates that will affect us all for years to come. Don't miss the timely and exciting exchange of ideas from our featured newsmakers!

A key feature in Bismarck will be a Global Warming super session. The panel will include Timothy Ball, Ph.D., a retired university professor and leading climatologist in Canada and head of the Natural Resources Stewardship Project; and Doug Inkley, certified wildlife biologist and the National Wildlife Federation’s Senior Scientist with expertise in ecology and wildlife management. Additional panelists will be added. This is a must-attend panel discussion that will include time for audience Q & A.

Let’s not forget our supporters’ hospitality suites! This year OWAA will expand the hospitality suites to include a few on Friday night as well. With so many members arriving Friday it only made sense to extend this opportunity as we gear up for four exciting days.

Awards night this year will combine the Excellence in Craft Contests with OWAA’s traditional Honors Awards into one streamlined event. Make sure you attend this exciting banquet at the close of conference on Tuesday evening.

This is only a small sampling of what’s in store at OWAA’s 81st annual conference in Bismarck. I sincerely hope to see everyone there!

Click here for a special invitation from our friends at
Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau

HIGHLIGHTS

Saturday, June 21

“Becoming an Outdoor Communicator” workshop.
“Global Warming Super Session” – The truth about global warming.
“Ask the Editors” and “One-on-One with the Editors/Publishers” – Twenty-plus publishers and editors are expected.
“The Write Stuff: 10 Tips for Successful Freelancing” – Insider tips on How a part-time or full-time freelancer can make more money
Opening Night Festivities at Fort Abraham Lincoln – A showcase of North Dakota history.

Sunday, June 22

Keynote address – Jon Young, founder of the Wilderness Aware-ness School, will offer a solution to getting kids and adults outdoors. -- “Writing in the Narrative Voice” – Craft improvement with guest author C.J. Box.
“How to Self-Publish Books for Profit” – Panel discussion by some of the industry’s most successful self-published authors.
“Digging Up the Dirty Truth: Uncovering the Untold Story” – How to cover an undercover story.
“Entering the Blogosphere” – Learning to use blogs for increased audience outreach.
Community Night and Live Auction – Join members of the community for music, auctions and fun.

Monday, June 23

Shooting Program – Spend the morning at the Bismarck/Mandan Rifle & Pistol Association Range trying out the newest firearms.
Breakout Day – Break out of the hotel and enjoy an afternoon at Pioneer Park in Bismarck, where industry professionals will demonstrate products, discuss programs and answer questions.
OWAA Outdoor Scene Stock Photo Shoot – Fill your photo library. -- Outdoor Skills Contest – Compete with your peers at the Shooting Program and Breakout Day. Winners to be named at lunch Tuesday.
“Nutty Irishman Bash” – An OWAA tradition continues with the social event of the season.

Tuesday, June 24

Section Super Sessions – OWAA’s four sections – Newspaper, Photo, Radio and TV/Video – present programs on their specialties.
Environmental Education – A new approach to get kids outdoors.
Business Meeting – Meet the board and discuss the state of OWAA.
Annual Photo Scavenger Hunt.
Awards Banquet – Excellence in Craft Contests and OWAA Honor Awards combine into one evening.

Why members come to conference

“My welcome at OWAA’s Roanoke conference could not have been friendlier. Other organizations could use your welcome as a benchmark.”
– John W. Hayes, green-ribbon attendee

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“Thanks very much for all that OWAA staff did to facilitate the Roanoke conference. I enjoyed meeting everyone. As a real new kid on the block in OWAA, I appreciated the guidance given me by many of the members, as well as the social activities that enabled us to get together as a group.”
– Gavin Maurer, vice president, marketing, National Geographic Maps

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“Since Bowhunter magazine’s birth in 1971, I’ve depended on tons of OWAA talent to help make it the most authoritative and successful archer/bowhunting periodical ever published. … It’s one savvy investment any outdoor writer, editor or photographer should not hesitate to make.”
– M.R. James, Bowhunter founder/editor emeritus

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“I would like to thank everyone at OWAA who was part of this year’s conference. The conference was a wonderful experience for me. I met so many great people. Everyone was very helpful and genuine.”
– Tom Wandel, president, Blackstone Outdoor Gear LLC

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“Thank you so much for all you did for the spouses. It was the best meeting yet!”
– Katherine Hester, Springfield, Va.

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“Just wanted to say what a great weekend and a wonderful time I had at the conference. You all rock! I think my favorite part was the new Outdoor Skills Award program at Breakout Day. Every-one is so nice … kudos to you all. I look forward to next year!”
– Michelle Scheuermann, director of communications, The Sportsman Channel

FEATURED SPEAKERS

JON YOUNG

Inspired by his childhood mentoring with tracker and author Tom Brown Jr., Jon Young has pioneered blending indigenous mentoring techniques from around the world with the tools of modern field ecology. Under Young’s guidance, Wilderness Awareness School, which he founded originally as a high school nature club, has grown to reach students around the world with programs that help people reconnect with their local environments.

C.J. BOX

C.J. Box is the author of eight novels, including the award-winning Joe Pickett series. The Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers named Box its 2007 Writer of the Year, and his short stories have been featured in “America’s Best Mystery Stories 2006” and translated into 12 languages.

ROB OLSON

Delta Waterfowl President Rob Olson believes the future of wildlife rests with the hunters who support the science necessary to maintain healthy wildlife populations. He’s witnessed the dramatic drop in numbers of Canadian waterfowl hunters, resulting in erosion of support for waterfowl research and management, giving him unique insight into what can happen when hunters lose their political clout.

VALERIUS GEIST

Dr. Valerius Geist, of Vancouver Island, B.C., is widely acknowledged as a preeminent authority on the biology, behavior, and social dynamics of elk, moose, bighorn sheep and other wild ungulates worldwide. Val is also an award-winning author, a talented wildlife artist, a champion of ethical hunting, an emeritus professor of environmental science at the University of Calgary, a multilingual scholar of Pleistocene evolution, and the only North American hunter to be honored with professional membership in both the Boone & Crockett Club and its elite European counterpart, the Conseil International de la Chasse.

Questions about OWAA’s 81st Conference?

Contact Robin Giner
Director of Membership & Conference Services
121 Hickory St., Suite 1
Missoula, MT 59801
406-728-7434,
(fax) 406-728-7445
rginer@owaa.org