I just returned from the first meeting of the organizing committee of the Western Wisconsin Walleye Anglers Association. Two IDO staffers, myself and Jason Sullivan, are working with three other gents (Dave Markquart, Dan Meyer, and Tom Tomlinson) to get this association off the ground.
We developed a 5-point purpose statement that will focus the association’s activities:
1. Provide educational seminars and networking events to walleye anglers of all skill levels.
2. Provide opportunities to develop and use walleye fishing skills.
3. Protect and expand walleye fishing opportunities in western Wisconsin through conservation activities.
4. Engage the community through youth-angler mentorship programs.
5. Host club-level walleye tournaments in western Wisconsin.
We are about to enter our membership drive period, leading up to our first regular meeting. This meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 6 at 6:30 pm at Markquart Chevrolet, located between Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls WI on business Hwy 53. I will be presenting a seminar entitled, “Strategies and techniques for winter walleye fishing on the Mississippi River” during the meeting.
In the weeks to come, you’ll be hearing more about our association here on iDoFishing.com, and also through our association’s new website which will be launched shortly. I’ll be sure to update everyone as soon as our association’s website goes live. The WWWAA’s website will contain more information about the association, a schedule of our activities, and an on-line enrollment form.
The Western Wisconsin Walleye Anglers Association will fill a void in our part of the state. It will serve as a gathering place for walleye anglers of all levels and abilities, as a catalyst for us all to learn from each other, as a mechanism for walleye anglers to give something back to the community and the resource, and as a vehicle for us to improve our skills through competitive fishing events. I hope that many of you will consider joining the “WWWAA” as our association gets off the ground this spring!
If you have any questions, please feel free to post them here or drop me a PM. Thanks! 