April 2008

Missouri Chapter - American Fisheries Society    Est. 1965                    Page 6

Awards  

The 2008 MOAFS Awards Committee was comprised of Shannon Brewer, Harold Kerns and Chris Vitello (Chair).  Award recipients for 2008 were:

The current committee will recommend some minor procedural changes for 2008/2009.  Brian Canaday, as immediate Past-President, has agreed to chair the committee next year and will be seeking volunteers to assist.  Meanwhile, you are encouraged to recognize a deserving peer or citizen and submit nominations for the next cycle.

Steve Eder – John Funk Award of Excellence

The John L. Funk Award of Excellence is named in honor of Slim Funk, the founder of the Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.  Receiving the award means that your professional peers recognize, appreciate and respect your long-term commitment to the aquatic resources of Missouri.

The recipient of this year’s Award of Excellence has been described using words that include leader, mentor, dedicated, professional and friend.  This year’s recipient has been a member of the American Fisheries Society since 1973.  Our recipient has served the Missouri Chapter as Awards Committee Chair and President and has served on a variety of committees at both the Chapter and national level.

Our recipient has demonstrated a career-long commitment to Missouri’s aquatic resources.  He has been instrumental in efforts to elevate the awareness of catfish fisheries and better manage catfish populations in both impoundments and large rivers.  He has taken a lead role in efforts to limit the introduction and expansion of Asian carp and other invasive species in Missouri and has been a leader in efforts to better understand, protect, enhance and manage Missouri’s sturgeon populations.  Under his leadership, MDC Fisheries personnel have taken lead roles in the management and recovery of a full array of aquatic organisms across Missouri.

Our recipient is a graduate of Michigan State University and Colorado State University.  He has worked for the Missouri Department of Conservation since 1974, serving as a biologist, management supervisor, field operations chief and, currently, Fisheries Division Chief … the position from which he plans to retire later this year.

For his dedication and service to the American Fisheries Society and his career-long commitment to Missouri’s aquatic resources, please join me in recognizing Steve Eder as the 2008 recipient of the John L. Funk Award of Excellence.

Citizen's Award - Regina Van Patten recipient

The Citizen’s Award is given by the Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society to persons not directly employed in the aquatic field who make a substantial contribution on behalf of Missouri’s aquatic resources.

The recipient of the 2008 Citizen’s Award is a dedicated educator who goes beyond the classroom to reach her students.  Believing that it is important for students to learn life skills that can be shared with friends and family, our recipient has invested her time and personal finances to reach a variety of young students and to help develop the next generation of Missouri anglers. 

Regina Van Patten, the seventh grade Science and Math teacher at the South Callaway R-II Middle School in Mokane, Missouri, formed an after-school fly fishing program in 2002.  The program is called Hooked on Fly Fishing (HOFF) and focuses on recruiting youth anglers at the seventh and eighth grade level.  The program uses a mentoring concept.  Over the six year period since its inception, more than 140 students have graduated from the program.  Many continue to participate in fly fishing outside of the program and help to mentor others.  The program continues to be one of the more popular activities available outside of the district’s regular sports programs.

Regina uses science concepts in the program, exposing students to aquatic entomology and stream ecology and relating them to fly fishing.  Students learn about the life cycles of insects and their relationship to water quality along with a comprehensive fly fishing curriculum.  She also incorporates angling ethics and an appreciation for the outdoors into the program.

For her dedication to the recruitment of Missouri’s next generation of anglers, please join me in recognizing Regina Van Patten as this year’s recipient of the Citizen’s Award. 

Letter of Recognition to Terry Finger

The Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, at its January 31, 2008 meeting, recognizes Terry Finger for his efforts on behalf of Missouri’s aquatic resources.

Combining his understanding of the legislative process with a sound background in and solid understanding of science and stream management issues, Terry has become an integral part of the Chapter’s advocacy efforts on behalf of Missouri streams.   Our recent successes in advocacy, especially those related to instream gravel mining, have resulted largely from Terry’s efforts and his ability to bring together like-minded sporting and environmental organizations for a common goal.  Terry has brought renewed focus to the Chapter’s advocacy efforts on behalf of streams, and the Chapter’s Legislative and Environmental Concerns Committee has long found Terry an indispensable guide through the intricacies of the legislative process.  Terry works behind-the-scenes, never seeking recognition for his efforts.  Because of Terry’s efforts, the Chapter is a better advocate and Missouri streams enjoy enhanced protection from undue disturbance and unnecessary impact.

The Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society presents this Letter of Recognition to Terry Finger for his consistent, energetic and effective support of good stream management and for the protection of Missouri’s aquatic resources.

Letter of Recognition to Great River Engineering

The Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, at its January 31, 2008 meeting, recognizes Great River Engineering for its efforts on behalf of Missouri’s aquatic resources.

Great River Engineering and its employees, led by Spencer Jones and Brian Orr, have provided engineering services on low-water crossing replacement projects on streams throughout the Ozarks.  At times, they have donated their services, resulting in aquatic organism passage benefits where these issues might otherwise have gone unresolved.  Their efforts have resulted in improved aquatic organism passage for projects on Crane Creek, Thomas Creek and the Little Niangua River.  Working with a variety of partners, they have helped to identify effective and cost-conscious solutions to stream passage issues and have now begun incorporating similar design features into projects on other Missouri streams.  Great River Engineering staff members have also become strong advocates for enhanced aquatic organism passage, promoting passage criteria and increasing awareness of passage issues related to stream crossings with county commissions and state and county road crews throughout Missouri.  Most recently, Great River Engineering staff has begun working to develop new and innovative, passage-friendly inlet structure designs that have the potential for use throughout the Missouri.

The Missouri Chapter of the American Fisheries Society presents this Letter of Recognition to Great River Engineering and its employees for their efforts to enhance aquatic organism passage in Missouri streams.

Darren Thornhill received a Certificate of Appreciation at the MO AFS Meeting at Tan-Tara for his service to the chapter as Treasurer.

Moments after transfer of the gavel, 2008 MO AFS President Mike Kruse presented Brian Canaday, 2007 MO AFS President with a certificate of appreciation for his service to the chapter.

This year’s overall Conservationist of the Year is Vince Travnichek, of Savannah. 
Travnichek supervises the Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri River Resource Science Field Station in St. Joseph. He holds bachelors, masters and PhD degrees in biology, wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture and has conducted research related to catfish, sturgeon, commercial fishing and Missouri River management issues.

Rob Pulliam, Gray Summit, is the CFM’s Professional Conservationist of the Year. His work as a fisheries management biologist with the Conservation Department in Gasconade, Maries and Osage counties involves solving stream-bank erosion problems, managing fish populations in several lakes and streams as well as working to recover populations of the endangered scaleshell and spectaclecase mussels and the Niangua darter.