Gary Loomis will be in the Olympia – Lacey area on June 19th to tell anglers, and others interested in the conservation of marine resources, why they should be a part of the Coastal Conservation Association.

Already more than 1,200 folks in the Pacific Northwest have joined CCA, which has set up two official state chapters in Washington and Oregon.

As will be explained at the meeting, the CCA model involves local chapters raising funds for use on state level issues. Those issues are determined by the CCA philosophy; better decisions are made when you involve a lot of people. The average state board is over 50 folks.

The only funds that go to National are the $25 membership dues, which are used to pay for the members subscription to TIDE magazine, national staff and national lobbying efforts. When a member joins at a higher level, the difference between that and the $25 is returned to the state where that member resides.

The meeting will be held at the Woodland Creek Community Center in Lacey beginning at 7:00 PM on the 19th.

You can learn more about the organization at joincca.org.

Spookalotafish, aka
Jon Bial

Thank you....c

If at all possible I would encourage you to attend and listen to Mr. Loomis speak. It will be eye opening.

A lot of us have beat our heads against the wall attending commission meetings etc and fighting the outside influences that deter our local sport fishing and nothing has changed.

The CCA has a proven track record of fixing wrongs in many other places around the country and have been aware of what we face in the Pacific NW. I personally have fought hard against the gill net industry and the end result is not much has changed in recent years. The CCA isn't going to do the job for us but will coach us and point us in the right direction to not only get things happening locally but will have a huge influence in representing us at the national and federal levels in Washington DC where things really get done.

If you have a passion for the fisheries in the NW and fixing them for our next generation please attend this meeting or at a minimum research the CCA and pony up the minimal $25 to become a member. 2000 local NW fisherman already have.

Thanks for checking it out ! http://www.joincca.org/

The "Tyee Warrior"

Officers and Directors elected to lead fast-growing Pacific Northwest CCA chapters

Local Leaders Set to Guide Conservation Efforts



WOODLAND, WA - Not long ago, a group of concerned anglers from Oregon and Washington with an urgent need to take a more active role in the management of their marine resources contacted Coastal Conservation Association. Just six months later, CCA Washington and CCA Oregon are officially open for business and proud to announce the election of officers and directors to lead the attack on a variety of conservation issues in the region, particularly salmon.

"In just a few months, our membership grew from a handful of concerned folks to more than 1,300 in these two chapters," said Matt Olson, president of CCA Washington. "This is largely attributable to the frustration of sports anglers throughout Oregon and Washington. They are refusing to let wild salmon populations disappear forever at the hands of commercial gillnetters."

With the clock ticking for wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest, the two newest CCA state chapters wasted no time organizing boards and launching three local chapters in each state. The pace of membership growth in the region has exceeded expectations and reflects the urgency anglers feel towards a resource that is a historic symbol of the region.

"Gary Loomis deserves much of the credit for bringing CCA to Washington and Oregon. He has been tireless in spreading the message and he has the visibility and charisma to draw attention to this issue," said David Cummins, CCA president. "The plight of salmon is really motivating people by the hundreds to get involved in CCA. We have rarely seen this degree of frustration with a fishery and its management. People here know what is at stake and they are ready to do whatever they have to do to fix the situation."

In addition to officers and directors, committee chairmen were also appointed in both chapters who will begin the grassroots process of determining goals and developing strategy to address the region's complex conservation issues. The first CCA Washington chapters will be based around Central Puget Sound, the Lower Columbia River Valley and the Chehalis River Valley. CCA Oregon will also begin with three chapters centered around the Mid-Willamette Valley, Portland Metro and Columbia County.

"CCA is a grassroots advocacy organization, not a fishing club, and that makes it different from most groups in the country. We are going to be looking at these issues in a new way," said Mads Ledet, vice chairman of CCA Oregon. "Local anglers and conservationists have to get involved to change the future of salmon in the Northwest. That is the strength of CCA."

CCA is the largest marine resource conservation group in the country, with more than 94,000 members in 17 state chapters along the Gulf, Atlantic and Pacific coasts.



CCA Oregon Officers



Gary Loomis

Chairman



Mads Ledet

Vice Chairman



Jon Bial

President



Ivy Schlegel

Treasurer



Stan Steele

Vice President

Just wanted to bump the message that Gary will be in Olympia on June 19 to talk about CCA.

Jon Bial
aka Spookalotafish

Just a Question, Heard on the BIg C over the Weekend that Gary Loomis had suffered a Heart Attack???? Any info would be appreciated.

Wow...a heart attack? I hope the rumor is wrong...I haven't heard anything about it. I hope he's OK.

Fish on...

Todd

Heart attack rumor not true,according to the folks at G Loomis.

Gary did not have a heart attack. He is fine and answering questions in Olympia about CCA as I write this.

Jon Bial
spookalotafish

Gary posted this on the sister board.