Todd, I promised an answer a few weeks ago regarding Garys numbers. Here is what I have come up with so far and this is straight from two Bios at the Vancouver WDFW office. Both told me the same thing: He came here and got our numbers. That was their answer. So maybe, just maybe your entire problem with these numbers is the simple yet true fact found in this great quote. "There are lies, damn lies and then there are statisitics" I would imagine you took statistics in college as well as I and I can only assume that you learned how to manipulate numbers as I did. Your hung up on it...I am not.

Now as for the rest of you on the fence; I have no problem whatsoever with your questions so let me attempt to answer a couple main ones.

What is CCA doing now after a year. Well lets quickly review the year:

One year ago there were no chapters in Washington now there are 11 and soon to be 13.

One year ago there were no members we hope by June 1 to be at 6000 here in Washington

One year ago there was no paid staff, we now have two full time and...

One year ago there was just talk about having a legal presence. We now have an attorney on a healthy retainer who has spent the last number of years in D.C. specializing in fish law. He will be moving to the state in the next month after his wife gives birth.

One year ago we talked about putting forth a plan to change laws, the first plan has been establshed and it is funded well and that is to get the Lower Columbia Commercial harvest to be selective so that the Wild and Native fish can make it back to the gravel in greater numbers.

One year ago WDFW didn't know who we were, now we have partnered with them on a rewards program, modeled after other such successful CCA reward programs in other areas of this country.

One year ago we had no positional statements: We still do not have offical statements, but only because there are minor changes that needed to be made and at the next State Board meeting I am certain they will be approved. I can tell you what the positional statements cover.

They are: Selective Fishing; Derelict Fishing Gear; Hatchery Funding and Reform; Catch Monitoring and Evaluation; Harvest Management; Nutrification of our Freshwater Ecosystems

You see while many of you who choose not to be involved complaining about nothing being done there are many of us sacrificing our work, our business', our family time and personal time to make sure this works. We as a state and as a country have spent billions of dollars on the 3 H's with virtually no significant results. That is why CCA is choosing to make the fourth and ignored H (Harvest) our first battle. We believe that if more fish make it back to the gravel the billions of dollars spent on the other 3 H's will have a chance.

Thats a snapshot of what has been done and is being done within this state. So if you still think that CCA has done nothing please join so with your expertise we can accomplish something in the coming year.


JimB
CCA Washington State Board Member