The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, and Bass Pro Shops are among the newest supporting groups of Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA).
Supporting groups, businesses and agencies affiliate with OWAA to gain access to 1,300 of the nation’s best-known outdoors communicators.
“NSSF has a long history of being a supporter of OWAA, so it feels good to be back,” said Bill Brassard, NSSF managing director of communications, safety and education. “OWAA’s new policy regarding ‘supporters’ is what made it possible for NSSF to rejoin.”
Kevin Rhoades, executive director of OWAA, said that OWAA’s board of directors and membership last spring instituted a new business relationship with supporting groups, businesses and agencies that will improve access to OWAA’s members and foster debate and dialogue.
“We see ourselves as a diverse outdoor media group aspiring to create a forum for the exchange of ideas about all things related to the outdoors. We hold the First Amendment in the highest regard,” Rhoades said.
Brassard said having access to outdoor communicators is of major importance to increase participation in the shooting sports to promote a better understanding of the firearms industry and its products.
“The NSSF and its industry partners sponsored two successful tactical rifle education seminars at outdoor writer conferences over the past year, and we’ll consider doing another at the OWAA Conference in Bismarck next June,” he said.
OWAA’s next conference is slated for June 21-24, 2008, in Bismarck, N.D. The 81-year-old organization will sponsor a shooting event on Monday, June 23, and OWAA supporters Smith & Wesson, Browning, the Bureau of Land Management and others plan to demonstrate products and instruct OWAA members in shooting safety.
OWAA is a nonprofit, international organization that was founded in 1927 by a small group of hunting and fishing writers. Since then, the organization has grown to approximately 1,300 communicators from the broad, modern spectrum of outdoor beats, from shooting to camping, backpacking to kayaking, wildlife watching and mountain climbing.
From these diverse backgrounds and disciplines, members gather beneath the OWAA banner to hone skills, share philosophies, develop profitable business strategies and network with peers, conservation policymakers and industry trendsetters. OWAA’s membership remains grounded in its historical roots â hunting and fishing communications. However, it continues to broaden its outlook and services to encompass all resource-dependent outdoor activities.
OWAA’s national headquarters is located in Missoula, Mont. To learn more about OWAA, “The Voice Of The Outdoors,” call 406-728-7434.
