2007 AFF President's Message

The President’s Message
By: Todd Fleming
Alamo Fly Fishers – President 2007

Happy New Year everyone! 2007 is already here, and I’m still trying to enjoy the memories of 2006. It was a great year for AFF, but it passed much too quickly. I am very excited to be leading this club for the next year, but I’ll admit I am a bit humbled as well. The leadership position is not my usual forte. I generally prefer to be supportive, and work behind the scenes to make things happen. About five years ago Clay Gill started talking to me about taking a leadership role in this club. I told him I was only a rookie, a newbie – not yet leadership material. I had only been a member for little over a year, and still not even mastered the double haul. There was no doubt in my mind that there were many others who were much more qualified than I. Clay never let it rest. Under much duress I agreed to take on the treasurer position in 2002, at the mid-year elections. I tried to convince myself that the treasurer position was a supportive, behind the scenes type of leadership position. I rationalized that I could collect the membership dues, keep the checkbook balanced, and run the monthly fly raffle. I hadn’t considered I would need to be the club greeter, and salesman for new members. I thought that job required an outgoing personality - something I wasn’t comfortable with. Well, I got organized with the bookkeeping, got comfortable with the treasurer position, and eventually learned the names and faces of almost everyone who attended more than one meeting. I spent three years handling the treasurer duties before Lloyd Mathews asked me to be his vice president.

I had been treasurer long enough to know that I couldn’t be the vice president. I knew one of the main duties of the vice president was to schedule the speakers for each of the monthly meetings. That was a big responsibility. How was I going to do that? I didn’t have contacts in the fly fishing community to call on for meeting speakers. All I wanted to do was go fishing, and in my spare time tie some flies and practice my casting. I was nervous and uneasy just thinking about being the VP, but Lloyd wouldn’t take no for an answer. I finally agreed to be the vice president, and I started talking to some of the former officers for advice. They got me going, and then I started thinking on my own. What topics did I want to know about, and who were the people that I would like to meet? It was awkward at first, but soon became enjoyable. I started making lists of possible speakers and presentation topics. Next, I did some research to learn more about those people and their possible presentations. And then I started e-mailing and making phone calls for speakers to fill our meeting dates. During the past 18 months, I made many new contacts and friends, and my list of possible speakers hasn’t stopped growing. Just when I felt comfortable with the VP position, it was time to take on the president’s role.

There was no way to avoid becoming president, but I did find a way to postpone the inevitable for six months. I suggested we change our officer elections from mid-year to calendar year so they would coincide with the FFF elections and terms of office. Everyone agreed that was a good idea. The current officers extended their current terms, and I successfully postponed taking over the presidential duties for six months. Time marched on, no more delays, and I was voted in to be your new president for 2007. I want to thank Lloyd Mathews for leading this club through the past eighteen months, and leaving it in better shape than when he began. He had great vision for leading this club, and has clearly taken it to another level. Lloyd has left some very big shoes to fill. I still have his number, and I intend to call him often.

I want to also thank Jon King – our other outgoing club officer – for his many years of service. Jon has been our outings director for the past four and a half years. He has researched, organized, and lead outings to locations near and far. Jon worked hard to plan freshwater outings, cold water outings, and saltwater outings. We live in a wonderful location with great places to fish in all directions. Sometimes Jon planned multiple outings in a single month. Jon was careful to consider all interests and skill levels. He made arrangements and scouted locations for wade fishermen and for those with boats or kayaks. He also had suggestions on everything from flies and gear, to accommodations and dining. Jon’s outings were always well organized, timely, and fun. He wanted everyone to be successful. We established many new “firsts” along the way, a few state records, and increased interest in the popular and traditional outings. Thank you Jon for showing us many great places to cast our flies!

I’m very thankful for our returning group of office holders – Mike Richards, Mike Lee, Chris Wray, and Joe Filer.

Mike Richards has been editing and publishing our club newsletter for longer than I know. Just since I have been a member, the newsletter has grown in length and stature, and ranks among the best newsletters in the state. It is a monthly publication that attracts a lot of attention from readers beyond our club membership. I think our secret is out. We have a large active membership, and offer many activities for new and experienced fly fishermen to get involved in this sport. Thank you Mike for doing a great job to spread the word of our active club!

Until just this past year, Mike Richards also handled the duties of club webmaster. He originated and developed our website along with publishing the newsletter. Mike did a remarkable job keeping both media updated with current information. He was working without a break, but we finally got him some help. Mike Lee agreed to step in and take on the responsibility of updating our website. Mike is an experienced computer guru, and developed a second generation of the website. Mike is still tweaking and tinkering with the new options, and continuing to add new features. It is already a very in-depth website with multiple layers of fly fishing information and club activities, but it is still getting better. It should already be one of your internet favorites – please check it often. Thank you Mike Lee for using your expertise to take our website to another level!

Chris Wray agreed to stay on as education chairman. Chris recently tied the “other knot” with his longtime girlfriend Rae Dishinger. Both are active members of AFF, and we look forward to their team effort in leading our education programs. Chris and Rae are some of our many active younger members. I am so excited to see these younger members in leadership positions. They are energetic, excited, and have new ideas. It speaks well for the sport of fly fishing, and the future of our club. Thank you Chris for your continued energy as the education chairman!

Joe Filer is stepping up from the secretary/treasurer position to be the new vice president. Joe has been an active member of the club for several years, and brings some exciting ideas for meeting programs. Joe’s goal is to continue to provide programs that educate, stimulate, inspire, and motivate. I’m looking forward to a great line-up of meeting speakers that will pack the house!

Our new secretary/treasurer is Mark Paulson. Mark is a registered professional land surveyor, and manages his own businesses. He is very capable of keeping track of our club finances. Outside of work, Mark is addicted to saltwater fly fishing. He loves sight casting to redfish, but this past year I know he also spent more than a few days trying to land his first tarpon on the fly. I am anxious to do some more fishing with Mark because he is a lot like me, and will not rest until he has conquered that challenge. Mark has a lot of energy for fly fishing, and will also bring a lot of energy to the leadership of this club. Thanks Mark for being our new secretary/treasurer!

Our other new officer is Dan Dockery. I convinced Dan he would be the right man to take on the position of outings director. I haven’t met anyone more active than Dan. He is young, enthusiastic, and wants to do everything. We have fished all year round together, in all kinds of water, day and night, hot and cold, wet and dry, for big fish and little fish, lots of fish and no fish, on foot and in kayaks, up early and out late, from piers and from shore, over slippery rocks and through thick mud, he did it all. He did very well, and he wants to go back for more! Dan is the proverbial “sponge” – he is soaking up knowledge from everything he does, and everyone he meets. He is also very unselfish about sharing what he learns with others. Dan is personable and outgoing, and will be outstanding as outings director. When I talked to Dan about this position, I told him I would not allow him to organize and lead every outing. I told him I wanted him to direct and to delegate that responsibility. Dan may outline and schedule a calendar full of outing dates and locations, but he is going to tap different individuals to lead those outings. The outing director’s job is too large for one person to tackle on his own without help. We have many experienced members who can lead individual outings, and share their knowledge of one location. My goal is to not burn out Dan’s enthusiasm, and to also develop some future club leadership a little bit at a time. Please volunteer, or agree to lead an outing when you are called upon. We will have a better outings program if we can spread that work over many shoulders. I am excited to work with Dan and all of the outing leaders for a year of great outings. Thank you Dan for chairing the outings director position! I can’t wait to get back out on the water!

There are many other individuals that have mentored to me, and have guided me into this leadership position, but there is one more person I must mention. I want to thank Bruce Young for his tireless dedication to this club and to this sport of fly fishing. He has taught many, if not most of us, how to tie flies. He has a vast knowledge of fishing and fishing gear in general, and has the patience of a great blue heron to share that knowledge with anyone who has a question. Bruce has been a good friend and advisor for me since I joined the club. We visit often, and sometimes late into the night. As for his best fishing advice, Bruce continues to tell me, “If you want to catch fish, you’ve got to fish where the fish are.” That makes perfect sense to me. I know I will be calling him often for information and advice on all things related to fly fishing, and cooking too! Thanks Bruce.

I want to close by saying I have received many unexpected pleasures each time I have stepped up to accept a new challenge in the leadership of this club. I hope everyone will get involved with leading some aspect of this club. I guarantee you will get more out of it than you ever put in. Try it and you will see. Now I think it is time to go fishing.