Grandpa, Sound s like Todd corrected you on Fly Fisher label. But I would like to correct you in the above quote. The WSC was not responsible for lining up 54 people to say the same thing. I certianly don't remember that many, but I do rember many attending, because of the crabbing protest and motors on the Satsop & Wynooche.

The WSC did, however, coordinate a total of 6 board members, three minutes apiece, to present compelling and scientific evidence of the status of wild steelhead. We worked hard on our testimony and were well prepared. If you call that dominating, so be it, I'll take it has a compliment. The others who testified may have been a few other WSC members (Les Johnson is a Trustee and Dave Bailey is the Steelhead Summit Chair) and others who were excercising their privilage to testify at the public testimony.

On another note, in fact the WSC is working together with other organizations, including yours. In the Steelhead Summits, we have hosted, we are working together on other issues regarding steelhead, in fact that was my testimony to the Commission.

FYI,

November 8, 2003, Bellevue, Washington --

Twenty-six steelhead advocates from more than 20 angling and conservation organizations met for a third Steelhead Summit, working together once again on behalf of the northwest's very special seagoing rainbow trout.

Summit I and II, also hosted by the Wild Steelhead Coalition, were conducted in November 2002 and May 2003, respectively. At the earlier events, key steelhead issues were identified, and committees formed to draft policy and action plans on each. Examples are habitat, harvest, hydropower, hatchery practices, research, education and public outreach. Summit III continued these, and other, discussions, and inter-organizational liaisons were strengthened.

A summit group steering committee was established, a communications network was refined, and future goals were outlined. Another summit meeting is tentatively planned for spring of 2004.

Organizations represented at Summit III were: Wild Steelhead Coalition, Trout Unlimited, Puget Sound Anglers, American Rivers, Washington Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Federation of Fly Fishers (and several FFF clubs), Washington Trout, Northwest Women Flyfishers, Willapa Anglers, Olympic Peninsula Guides Association, North Umpqua Foundation, Steamboaters, Little Bear Creek Protective Association, and the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

Other groups involved in the Summit's "umbrella" organization are the Sierra Club, NW Sportfishing Industry Alliance, Native Fish Society, Wild Washington, Save Our Wild Salmon, and several British Columbia fishing clubs.

Summit groups will continue to collaborate between meetings, and are expected to make significant input to WDFW and other agency policy processes, as appropriate.