April 2008

Missouri Chapter - American Fisheries Society    Est. 1965

President’s Message  

Student Support Trust Fund

A long-term project of the Missouri Chapter has been to establish the Student Support Trust Fund.  In February of 2000 a document describing the fund included the following key text:

Student Support Trust Fund (SSTF) – The goal of MOAFS is to build the SSTF to $100,000, at which time the annual interest earned on the corpus will be used for stipends to support students.

Thanks to the work of dedicated MOAFS members, we’ve built the fund to a total of more than $80,000 in the last eight years.  However, recent additions have been minimal and its time to make the final push to our goal of fully funding support of Missouri students in fisheries and aquatic sciences.

The MOAFS EXCOM will be meeting in late June to discuss this issue and agree on a fundraising plan for reaching our goal.  At a meeting earlier this year a number of options were discussed and it is likely that a raffle, with all proceeds directed to the Student Support Trust Fund, will be conducted in late 2008.  In addition, look for new opportunities to combine your long-term support of the Missouri chapter with financial support of the Student Support Trust Fund. 

With uncertain economic times, faltering interest in the outdoors and natural resource professions, and escalating costs for education, there has never been a greater need for student support.  Let’s finish the job of fully-funding the Student Support Trust Fund and make an investment in tomorrow’s professionals and the wise management of our aquatic resources.

Parting Message from 2007 President Brian Canaday

As I sit to write this message I am reminded of just how lucky we are to work with Missouri’s incredible and diverse natural resources.  One thing that binds all of our membership together is water.  Water truly is the most important natural resource we have on the planet.  Demands on our fresh water resources are increasing. Issues of drought, flooding, and water rights are of paramount importance to a developed and developing world.  Wars are being fought over water making it seem comparable to oil in its importance as a natural resource.   Keeping water supplies available, abundant, clean, and healthy requires the attention of a diverse group of people – biologists, farmers, conservationists, public policy makers, lawmakers, environmental health workers, and concerned citizens. It can no longer be taken for granted.  Make no mistake about it, the health of our water resources and the fish and wildlife that depend on it is in our hands.  What an awesome and humbling responsibility.  I know we are up for the challenge.

Like many of you, I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel and I am sure like you, most of my travel takes me to wild places with water.  One constant that I noticed is the relationship people have with water.  During a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, I watched visitor after visitor kneel down and touch the water flowing from Mammoth Springs.  They were drawn to it.  They “had” to touch it.  I could not resist and had to ask a couple and there children “why”.  “Why did they feel the need to touch it?” The man thought for a moment then told me that he “did not know, but, he just needed to do it.  Something deep within him told him to do it”.  I would bet that each of us shares that common feeling, that feeling deep within us that has drawn us together to work with the very resources we love.

Thinking of this conversation, I thought about my relationship with water and the impressions I am making on my family. All of my vacations revolve around water. My family knows no difference. The first thing we do when we get to our destination is to go and “see” the water.  Whether boating on Table Rock, canoeing an Ozark stream, floating the Big Muddy or surfing the waves in Hawaii, I want to “see” the water. I want to touch the water, get my feet wet, wash away the concerns of the day and get rejuvenated.  Water does that.  It unplugs you from your everyday life.  Memories bubble up from deep within to recharge your sole.  We do this time and time again so we can remember and make it though till the next time you have a chance to experience it.

My time as your Chapter President is winding down. I have been reflecting on the things we as a chapter accomplished.  This list is impressive and you should be proud of what you (we) have accomplished.  Having said that, I can’t help but think that so much more could be done.  What could you do to help? Consider helping with a committee, organizing an event, working a booth, drafting a letter of support, attending a committee hearing, or running for a chapter office.  The leadership skills and experience you will gain will prove valuable to you in your career as a fisheries professional. 

In closing, I will leave you with this question: How did you do on your “one” thing?  At the Annual Meeting as well as my previous President’s Message, I challenged each of you to do one thing for the Missouri Chapter.  Have you done it yet?  If not, why?  If so, can you do more?  Please drop me a note to let me know how you are doing.  I can be reached at brian273@centurytel.net or brian.canaday@mdc.mo.gov.  Like many of you, I will continue to remain active in chapter activities to further our mission of:

●          Advancing the conservation, development, and wise use of aquatic resources for optimum use and enjoyment by people,

●          facilitating the distribution of information regarding the aquatic sciences,

●          promoting and evaluating the educational, scientific, and professional aspects of the aquatic sciences, and

●          providing an organizational structure that equitably represents its members, develops opportunities for effective leadership, and generates the resources necessary to accomplish Chapter programs.

It was my sincere pleasure to serve you as Chapter President.  I wish you and your family the best of luck in the coming year.

Sincerely,