Volume 13• Issue 12 • December 2008

- FFF Enters National Anglers’ Legacy Partnership –

FFF has entered an exciting national partnership with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) – launching a national Anglers’ Legacy pledge drive. Anglers’ Legacy encourages avid anglers to share their passion for both fishing and our cherished aquatic resources, by taking the Anglers’ Legacy “Pledge” and becoming Anglers’ Legacy ambassadors.
Becoming an Anglers’ Legacy ambassador is very easy – it is free, and takes less than a minute. In “taking the pledge” – and becoming an Anglers’ Legacy ambassador -- we promise to introduce at least one new person to the sport of fishing each year:
http://www.takemefishing.org/community/anglers-legacy/take-the-pledge/promo/FEDFLY08

In this simple commitment to pass on and mentor someone new to fishing, we can do much for our sport, our home waters and conservation efforts as well as for FFF and our local clubs. We should all take time to pass on the legacy…after all, someone did that for us during our lives…It’s time for us to share our sport with another person.

FFF has set a goal of having 8,000 members and fellow anglers “take the pledge” to introduce someone new to fly fishing. To achieve this, we need local fly fishing clubs to step up and help with this campaign to pass along our beloved sport to the next generation of anglers.

Please consider taking time to communicate this campaign -- and our Angler Legacy discount ($15) membership incentive -- to your club members, and encourage them to “take the Pledge.” The attached news story (below) can be readily used by fly-fishing clubs in their member communications -- and it outlines, in detail, the FFF membership incentive that can help those clubs earn additional free fly rods.

If you need any additional information or materials, please feel free to contact Josset Gauley at the FFF office josset@fedflyfishers.org , or Jeff Sedor at RBFF jsedor@rbff.org .

Many thanks for your support.

Federation of Fly Fishers Launches National Anglers’ Legacy Pledge Drive

FFF Sets Goal of 8,000 Members to Take Pledge; Member and Club Incentives Included In the Pledge Drive

The Federation of Fly Fishers has teamed with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) in a national campaign to introduce newcomers to fly fishing. Anglers’ Legacy encourages avid anglers to share their passion for fishing and "Take the Pledge" --–a promise to take at least one new person fishing during the coming year. FFF has set a goal of having 8,000 members and fellow anglers take the Anglers’ Legacy Pledge between now and March 2009, and has developed an incentive program to reward members and the newcomers they introduce to fly fishing.

“The Anglers’ Legacy Pledge aligns perfectly with FFF’s mission of education through the sport of fly fishing,” said FFF President and CEO R.P. “Pete” VanGytenbeek. “It’s fitting that we’re the first national fly fishing organization to participate in this important endeavor that promotes fishing, specifically fly fishing, to future generations.”

According to a 2008 survey of Ambassadors, most take more than four people a year fishing and also purchase 3.2 fishing licenses. To date, the Anglers’ Legacy program has signed on more than 75,000 Ambassadors nationwide.

Special Incentive Program Rewards Ambassadors and Newcomers
To help boost the pledge drive, FFF is offering an incentive that is beneficial to current and potential members, newcomers and local clubs. Once FFF members pledge to become an ambassador, they can offer a $15 discounted FFF membership to those friends and family they introduce to the sport. FFF will also extend the $15 discount membership to all new Ambassadors (who are not currently FFF members) and the newcomers they take fishing.

“Becoming an Ambassador can also help increase membership in our local fly fishing clubs because FFF-member Ambassadors can use the opportunity to recruit their newcomers to join their local clubs” said VanGytenbeek. “This also increases their club’s ability to earn additional free fly rods through the existing incentive program to have more FFF members represented in local fly clubs.

In order track FFF’s progress towards the 8,000 ambassador goal:
o Members are encouraged to access the Anglers’ Legacy Pledge site directly through the FFF Web site. Visit www.fedflyfishers.org and click on the Anglers’ Legacy logo -- located on the home page -- which takes you directly to the Anglers’ Legacy Web site.
To obtain the half-price membership, members must do the following:
o Once you take the Pledge, print the “thank you” message (which appears onscreen after the pledge has been submitted online) and retain it so your newcomer can receive the $15 membership. Then visit http://www.fedflyfishers.org/Default.aspx?tabid=4971 and print out the membership form & attach the printed “thank-you” page to the newcomer’s FFF membership form and a $15 check and mail it to FFF.
o If a newcomer decides to join your local club, be sure to record your club’s name on the membership form in order to receive credit towards free fly rods.

Remember – when taking the Pledge directly from the AnglersLegacy.org Web site, one must enter this promo code: FEDFLY08. This way, FFF gets “credit” toward its goal.

“Becoming an Ambassador is very easy, and at the same time, can do so much for our sport, our home waters and conservation efforts as well as for FFF and our local clubs,” said Van Gytenbeek. “We should all take the Pledge to pass on the legacy…after all, someone did that for us during our lives. It’s time for us share our sport with another person.”