RRR_Summer 2008_8.pdf - Theodore Roosevelt Conservation ...

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A Q U A R T E R L Y R E P O R T F O R O U R I N N E R C I R C L E F A L L 2 0 0 8
W W W. T R C P. O R G

Message from the Chairman
Featured Rough Rider
The TRCP’s Rough Riders are a select group of passionate individuals determined to demand proper stewardship of
our natural resources, who have invested in this vision for the future with financial contributions of $500 or more.
In Ways Beneficial
While the outcome of the November elections is an unknown, change is a certainty. No matter who or what
party carries the day on Nov. 4, there will be profound implications for the future of hunting, fishing and
conservation in this country.
plane, just the four of us with a raft and a canoe and no guide,
and were picked up five days later. It was amazing. We floated
by moose, were chased by bears, caught trout and salmon and,
when we got tired of eating fish, shot ducks. I will never forget
that trip.
Photo by dusansmetana.com
TRCP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JAMES D. RANGE - CHAIRMAN
BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN,
CALDWELL AND BERKOWITZ
R. THOMAS BUFFENBARGER
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
MACHINISTS AND AEROSPACE WORKERS
CHARLES H. COLLINS
THE FORESTLAND GROUP
SID EVANS
GARDEN & GUN MAGAZINE
CHARLES GAUVIN
TROUT UNLIMITED
MATT HOGAN
ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND
WILDLIFE AGENCIES
BILL HITE
UNITED ASSOCIATION OF
PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS
JAMES T. MARTIN
BERKLEY CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
CHRISTOPHER MERRITT
BERETTA USA
J. MICHAEL NUSSMAN
AMERICAN SPORTFISHING ASSOCIATION
DAVID D. PERKINS
THE ORVIS COMPANY
MARC A. PIERCE
BIG SKY CARVERS
CHARLES S. POTTER JR.
MAX MCGRAW WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
DONALD L. ROLLINS
CITIZEN CONSERVATIONIST
JOHN M. “MICK” SEIDL
CITIZEN CONSERVATIONIST
DR. ROLLIN D. SPARROWE
CITIZEN CONSERVATIONIST
HOWARD VINCENT
PHEASANTS FOREVER
DR. ALAN WENTZ
DUCKS UNLIMITED
DR. STEVEN A. WILLIAMS
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE
P.O. BOX 14420
WASHINGTON, DC 20044
202-654-4600
877-770-8722
WWW.TRCP.ORG
Consider the recent fracas that followed the Farm Bill. Upon getting through the multi-year slog that produced
a sturdy if not fantastic Conservation Title, the most effective program in it, the Conservation Reserve
Program, faced another imminent threat. Using the recent catastrophic flooding in the Midwest as cover,
opponents of CRP ramped up pressure on the Department of Agriculture to allow landowners to remove lands
from the program without penalty, essentially breaking their contracts without recompense. Such a move would
have caused game bird populations to plummet and water pollution from sedimentation to increase. Damaging
enough to fish and wildlife, further cuts to CRP also would cause ripples throughout the American economy, to
which hunting and angling are major contributors.
Fortunately, we were able to help repel this threat, doing so by combining the collective muscle of our partner
organizations and persistent contact by hunters and anglers activated by our messaging.
TRCP Farm Bill initiative manager Geoff Mullins recently mentioned to me, “As soon as we put one threat to
agricultural conservation to bed, another rears its ugly head.” His words were unfortunately right on.
Witness Open Fields. After we fought tooth-and-nail for five years to get the Open Fields hunter access bill
passed into law, another feat finally accomplished in the Farm Bill, there is an effort under way to leave it
unfunded. An amended budget under consideration would zero out the program, essentially killing the effort
to promote voluntary public sporting access on private land just moments after it had finally been given life.
Again the TRCP sprang into action, orchestrating sign-on letters from our partners and mobilizing our grassroots
ranks. We hope to make it clearly apparent to Congress, which has final say over the appropriation of the
necessary funds, just how damaging to America’s sporting tradition it would be to fail to fund Open Fields.
It is instances like these that remind me of the TRCP’s relevance. With our standing and proven-effective
channels for consensus-building through which to quickly organize, the community of American conservationists
has been able to address these latest threats. And we all know that these won’t be the last times bad policy is
proposed at the intersection of conservation and agriculture, nor is it the only policy sphere where bad decisions
threaten our wildlife heritage. We’re seeing plenty of them as we work in the areas of public lands energy development
policy, wetlands protection and oceans stewardship.
We also know that in response to most threats there are opportunities to improve, refocus, reshape or sometimes
even expand programs in ways beneficial to our fish and wildlife resources.
Finding them takes financial resources. That’s why every donation to the TRCP is an important one, and why
we thank you in advance for your contribution.
Sincerely,
James D. Range
Chairman
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NAME: DAVE PERKINS
LOCATION: MANCHESTER, VT
OCCUPATION: VICE CHAIRMAN, RETAIL &
SPORTING TRADITIONS FOR THE
ORVIS COMPANY
When and how did you become interested in
the outdoors
My family has always hunted and fished. In fact, most of our
family outings were focused on outdoor pursuits. This all stemmed
from my grandmother who was a great fly fisher and wing shot.
From a very early age, I hunted and fished as part of our regular
family time together. I got my first bamboo rod and my first
shotgun when I was nine years old.
What is your most memorable experience afield
In 1969, when I was 13 years old, I did a 5-day float trip with
my father and two brothers on the Agulapak River in southwest
Alaska. It was early days for Alaska’s tourist industry and things
were still pretty basic. We were dropped off on the river by a float
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What do you think are our most pressing conservation
issues today
The loss of wildlife habitat and open lands for wildlife.
What is your approach to facing conservation
challenges
To get involved and support organizations that are making a
difference in conserving the landscape.
How did you become involved with the TRCP
I was introduced to the TRCP by its chairman of the board,
Jim Range, whom I met while we were serving together on the
board of the American Fly Fishing Trade Association.
Why are you involved with the TRCP
I started tracking what the TRCP was doing and realized
that it was doing something different than other conservation
organizations I had worked with before. With its focus on
federal policies, it was working in a larger landscape than many
other organizations. I realized that the federal government
plays an important role in conserving our wild lands, because it
holds more land and has more money (our money) than anyone
else, so it can have a much greater impact on conservation issues
and habitat protection. I felt that I could have a greater impact
personally on the issues that I care about by being involved with
the TRCP.
Orvis remains a family company. What is that like
Because the family has control of the business, it allows the
company to do the right thing. Rather than make decisions for
short-term or immediate financial gain, we can invest in the
long-term for a healthy future. That is why we decided to give a
percentage of our profits to conservation, which is the right thing
to do from both a business and personal perspective, and also to
assure a healthy future for our kids and the wildlife.
What is your favorite rod of all time
I always like the newest Orvis rod. Right now, I am using a
new rod that was just developed by Orvis – a Helios rod. And
particularly like the 8’3’ for the 4wt.

Washington Watch
By Tom Franklin, TRCP Senior Vice President
Spotlight: TurnerFoundation
An old Capitol Hill saw
says that controversial
legislation doesn’t pass in a
presidential election year. 2008
is an exception, at least for one
key bill, but others likely will
await action from a new Congress
and president.
One of the more contentious
farm bills in memory limped to
passage under a “Groundhog Day” scenario in which controversy
over funding and a paperwork error caused the legislation to be
passed twice and vetoed twice. When the last veto was finally
overridden, a collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the
D.C. conservation community.
The good news is that the “Food, Conservation and Energy Act
of 2008” extends many successful farm conservation programs,
albeit at somewhat lower funding levels. One huge victory was
the addition of “Open Fields,” a TRCP signature proposal. It
provides $50 million to landowners who offer hunting access
through state programs. The Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP), the most effective private lands conservation program
for wildlife in history, will continue at a reduced level. The
Wetlands Reserve Program, Grasslands Reserve Program and
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program all were extended for four
more years. Tax incentives for conservation easements will
continue for two more years. A major disappointment was the
weakening of the Sodsaver provision that would protect rare native
prairie by removing federal incentives to plow them.
Now that this year’s farm bill is on the books, the attention of the
TRCP has shifted to implementing the authorized conservation
practices. The TRCP and its partners sprung into action when
CRP came under attack in July. Fortunately, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture decided against allowing land owners to
break their CRP contracts without having to pay their CRP
money back. Had the decision gone the other way, it would have
destroyed the gains to fish and wildlife habitat paid for by U.S.
taxpayer dollars through CRP. While this debacle was averted,
there will be more challenges to come.
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Looming on the horizon is the pressing need to work with the
new president and Congress on key issues. As we do, there is no
doubt that pressures on our fish and wildlife resources will continue
to intensify as our nation’s leaders strive to meet the needs
and desires of a growing population. Our ongoing challenge at
the TRCP will be to garner the resources necessary to guarantee
that the needs of wildlife, hunters and anglers are included in the
national policy as the new president and Congress engage in the
2009 conservation debate.
T.R.ivia
Theodore Roosevelt lived in the brownstone where he
was born until he was 14 years old. In 1916, the
house was torn down to make room for a commercial
building. After T.R.’s death in 1919, a group of
citizens raised money to purchase the site, tear down
the commercial building and rebuild the Roosevelt
brownstone as a memorial to our 26th president.
NAME: KATIE ECKMAN
LOCATION: ATLANTA, GA
OCCUPATION: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
TURNER FOUNDATION
Could you tell us a bit about the Turner Foundation
The Turner Foundation is a private family foundation started by
Ted Turner in 1990. The foundation is overseen by Mr. Turner
and his five adult children. Our mission is to prevent damage
to the natural systems - air, water and land - on which all life
depends. Among other things, the Turner Foundation is currently
supporting efforts to protect wildlife and wild places, mitigate
climate change and ensure clean air and water.
How did you become involved with the TRCP
The Turner Foundation was involved in early discussions
regarding the need for a coordinated effort to better engage and
activate hunters and anglers in natural resource decision making.
In partnership with the Pew Charitable Trusts, we committed
significant funding up-front to meet this need with a new organization
called the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
I presented this opportunity to our board, and they were excited to
get involved.
Why are you involved with the TRCP
Many members of the Turner family are committed sportsmen and
-women with an appreciation for conservation. Their “land ethic”
was ingrained at an early age. They recognize the incredible legacy
of environmental protection spearheaded by hunters and anglers
and the significant opportunity to affect change if this constituency’s
passion can be turned into action. Our grant to the TRCP is
the keystone of our support to conservation organizations.
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Do you enjoy outdoor pursuits If so, what in particular
I do. I really love fly fishing. My mom got me interested in the sport
several years ago, and I am thrilled to see more and more women
taking it up. I helped start a group of female fly fishing funder colleagues,
which I have gotten a kick out of. I also enjoy bird hunting.
What do you think are our most pressing conservation
issues today
Climate change. While some continue to debate whether climate
change is real and question the severity of potential impacts, sportsmen
cannot stick their heads in the sand. From changes in migration
patterns and forage availability to increased water temperatures,
sportsmen are likely to see and feel the impacts first from our
duck blinds, our tree stands or our favorite trout stream. We all
need to make a personal commitment to mitigating climate change
– but in addition, I think the voice of sportsmen will be critical as
wildlife and habitat managers wrestle with appropriate adaptation
strategies and the lack of funding for their implementation.
I also feel the disconnect between people and nature is a real threat.
How can we expect people to stand up for the environment if they
have never experienced and developed an appreciation for the
outdoors I just finished reading Richard Louv’s Last Child in the
Woods. As the mother of a two-year-old, Louv’s book hit home
and has made me think more about where our future stewards will
come from if this disconnect continues.
What is your approach to facing conservation challenges
Outlive your opponents.
More realistically, recognizing and valuing the human dimension.
For many, conservation is not a moral imperative. You’ve got to be
a salesman and figure out what is in this for everyone. Make what
you are doing make sense. When the economics are in your favor, use
them.
What hopes do you have for the TRCP
I hope the organization continues outreach to the millions of
“unaffiliated” hunters and anglers in this country. The potential to
engage them is great if we can figure out how to do it. The TRCP’s
partnership with the unions is brilliant. I also hope the TRCP
continues to use many different strategies for having its voice heard
– whether that means filing suit to stop oil and gas drilling in sensitive
habitats, using the press to communicate widely your issues or
working to find consensus within the conservation community and
with our elected officials.

Meet the Staff
NAME: WILLIAM H. GEER
JOB TITLE: POLICY INITIATIVES MANAGER
HOMETOWN: SALINAS, CALIF.
CURRENT TOWN: LOLO, MONT.
HOBBIES: HUNTING, FISHING, CAMPING
What did you do prior to working for the TRCP
I spent 32 years in professional wildlife management and conservation
before coming to the TRCP.
How did you discover the TRCP
I used to be the director of field operations for the TRCP’s predecessor,
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Alliance.
When and how did you become interested in outdoor
pursuits
I locked into the outdoors and fishing when I first became a scout
in 1956 and began hunting in 1959 with my uncle and cousins.
I have been at it ever since.
Why do you work for the TRCP
At this point in my professional life, I want to galvanize sportsmen
and -women to speak up in the democratic defense of fish
and wildlife conservation and the perpetuation of hunting and
fishing for the ordinary person.
What is the most difficult part of your job
Frequent travel and very long work days.
What is the best part of your job
Working very closely and creatively with perhaps some of the best
and most enthusiastic conservation-minded staff and sportsmen
I have ever met, on a daily basis. The association with such
people is inspiring and uplifting, even on the dark days when
other things seem to falter. Building new and effective outreach
products and networks brings about refreshing creativity rather
than bureaucracy. Besides, working daily in the spirit of our finest
conservation president, Theodore Roosevelt, is an honor.
What goals do you have for yourself and the TRCP in
the next year
I want to engage sportsmen in the defense of fish and wildlife and
hunting and fishing in the face of acceleration Western oil and gas
extraction and in proposals for climate change legislation.
What would you do if you didn’t work in conservation
Look for a job in fish and wildlife conservation. No kidding; it
is where I have spent my adult career for the past 35 years and I
cannot conceive of a better way to spend my life.
Can you tell us about your mapping project, how it
works and how it came to be
In assessing how development, such as oil and gas extraction and
residential home-building, affects fish and wildlife and hunting
and fishing, Steve Belinda (another TRCP initiative manager)
and I realized we were dealing with not enough information.
We have good biological information that tells us where fish and
wildlife are likely to be and how they might respond to habitat
changes incident to development, but we did not know the places
sportsmen and -women have come to depend on for their best
hunting and fishing opportunities. Frankly, the interests of the
conservation and sporting community have not been well represented
in the development process because we have often focused
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What is the TRCP Working On
Responsible Energy Development on Public Lands
Strengthening Wetlands Protections
Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change
Reforming the 1872 Mining Law
Elevating Sportsmen’s Voices in the Roadless Debate
Conserving Marine Fisheries
mostly on the animals. Hunters and anglers represent a large
national voting block, and they ought to be consulted and listened
to when it comes to threats to hunting and fishing.
The TRCP came up with the idea of asking hunters and anglers
to draw the boundaries of their “bread and butter” areas on GIS
maps provided by Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife &
Parks. These are the places they will fight to the end to keep intact
in the face of development, because they provide their best hunting
and fishing experiences. The new GIS map layer complements
critical habitat maps with the favored hunting and fishing
areas identified by organized sportsmen
throughout Montana. This new information
shows politicians and decision-makers
the hunting and fishing access opportunities
sportsmen value most and want retained in
the face of development.
T.R. HUNTED MORE THAN HE FISHED.
HAD HE THE BULLY BUGGER, THINGS MIGHT
HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT.
In honor of the T.R. Sesquicentennial, the TRCP introduces
the Bully Bugger, a limited-edition fly from master tyer Craig
Mathews. The long-time proprietor of Blue Ribbon Flies in
West Yellowstone, Mont., Mathews is a frequent contributor to
conservation initiatives. To cite only the most recent example,
Mathews worked determinedly with the TRCP partners at the
Trust for Public Land in a successful effort to preserve angler
access at the famed Three Dollar Bridge on the Madison
River. Now he’s teaming with the TRCP to help guarantee all
Americans a place to hunt and fish. By making a donation of
$150, you will receive one of only 150 Bully Buggers ever to
be produced. Mounted for posterity in a handmade shadowbox
atop an image of Theodore Roosevelt, the Bully Bugger is a
surefire conversation starter and a fitting tribute to the Father of
American Conservation. Learn more at www.trcp.org.
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T.R. SESQUICENTENNIAL 1858 - 2008
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY YEARS
TRCP
Sportsmen identify their “bread and butter” areas at the
Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave in Whitefish, Mont.

T.R. SESQUICENTENNIAL 1858 - 2008
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY YEARS
Portfolio
– photography of Dušan Smetana
O Carpathian Mountains, where he spent his boyhood following in the
utdoor photographer Duśan Smetana was raised in a small village in the
footsteps of his father in a quest for trout, red deer and wild boar. He studied
both forestry and photography in Presov, Slovakia. Mesmerized by stories of
cowboys and Indians in the American Wild West, he eventually escaped the
Communist regime of his homeland.
Today, Dusan’s work is widely used by a host of editorial and corporate clients.
He makes his home in Montana with his wife, two little kids and a loft full of
homing pigeons (and loves it).
The TRCP has had the privilege of working with Smetana on multiple
occasions over the last few years, most notably on the 2008 and 2009 TRCP
calendars. His striking images have raised the quality of many of our communications materials, from annual
reports to the TRCP Web site. Above all we are very fortunate to have formed a friendship with Dusan Smetana,
whose quick eye is matched only by his quick smile.
In honor of Theodore Roosevelt’s 150th birthday,
this year’s calendar is called “Teddy’s Vision, Our
Mission.” Get your copy at www.trcp.org.
For more information about this photographer, please visit
www.dusansmetana.com.
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TRCP

Outtakes from the Open
By Ken Barrett, Host, TRCP’s Life in the Open
Chasing Chesapeake Stripers
with TRCP Staff
TRCP staff members gathered in May at the International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Worker’s Winpisinger
Center in Maryland, on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, for our
annual staff meeting. I knew the striper fishing would be hot
on the Chesapeake, and sensing the chance to kill two birds
with one stone, I got on the phone with TRCP Communication
Director Tim Zink and asked if he thought a striper show
featuring some of our staff members might make a good story for
TRCP’s Life in the Open. “Sure,” he replied. Without further
ado, I began planning a show and devising a story.
Before I go any further let me say, though I always have a storyline
in mind before departing to tape a show,
rarely if ever does the hunting or fishing go as
I have envisioned it beforehand. So, like all
hunters and anglers, I adapt to the circumstances,
play the cards that are dealt and modify
my story accordingly. But, every once in
a great while my preconceived storyline and
the actual hunting and/or fishing adventure
mesh perfectly, and that’s exactly what happened
during the taping of the striper show
with my fellow TRCP staff members.
Mo and Bubba discuss the finer points of brushing the hair on a lure while Randy films.
environment. Kate Cywinski would be on the women’s team to address USA and union interests.
Britta Blodgett, the TRCP’s luckiest angler, and Mo Bates, the Partnership’s major domo
and head wrangler, would round out the ladies’ team. Geoff Mullins and I were the other two
boys’ team members. Geoff is plain good at everything he puts his hand to and proved to be
a quick read in his acting debut. If luck held and my storyline proceeded as I envisioned, I’d
catch the littlest striper, proving to one and all, that hosts are not always the best anglers.
A Hollywood script writer could not have been happier with the results. The girls won the
contest; Britta caught the whopper, followed by Kate and Mo, whose fish were bigger than
any the boys landed. Tom and Kate covered the issues perfectly. I caught the littlest fish;
Tom and I pouted while the women did a victory dance for the camera. Stacey and his son
Allen, a.k.a. Bubba, also an iron worker, were wonderful hosts, and Bubba was terrific on
camera. I left Maryland with a heck of a good show in the “can,” but you are going to have
to take my word for it until the fall of 2009 when it will air on VERSUS. Making a show
is just like hunting and fishing; it is always better to be lucky than good, and we certainly
got lucky on the Chesapeake.
TRCP’s Life in the Open travels the world searching for sporting adventures, while
exploring today’s pressing conservation issues. Both LITO and TRCP’s Escape to the
Wild air on the VERSUS network. Rough Riders can receive complimentary copies of
the show by contacting Britta Blodgett at bblodgett@trcp.org or 202.654.4613.
Kate Cywinski matches muscle with a monster.
My storyline began with the unearthing
of a three-year-old email from Stacey
Witherow, a union ironworker that runs
a charter boat out of Chesapeake Beach,
Md., inviting me to fish for stripers and tape a show on his
boat, the Mary Ellen. I called him and, much to my delight, the
invitation was still good. So now, I had a nice union member
angle to start the story with. Next, I needed an idea that would
allow me to feature a maximum number of TRCP staff members.
I wanted viewers to see that our staffers love to participate
in the kinds of outdoor activities they work on behalf of each
and every day. That’s when I came up with the idea of a fishing
contest, the men versus the women. If all went well, I wanted
the women to win, which, of course, they were sure would be the
case regardless of my plans. Tom Franklin, TRCP senior vice
president and certified wildlife biologist, would be on the men’s
team, so we would have our most knowledgeable Chesapeake
spokesman to address issues related to the bay and the marine
Geoff Mullins hooks into a cow.
The boys team working hard.
The TRCP staffers show off their catch before disembarking the Mary Ellen at the end of the day.
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Behind the scenes...
The less glamorous side of television: TRCP’s
Life in the Open host Ken Barrett does the dirty
work at the dock.
Sweet and Sour Striper
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• about 10 large or 15 medium shallots -
trim, leave root end intact, and quarter lengthwise
• 1 1/2 cups dry red wine
• 1 cup white balsamic vinegar
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 8 (6- to 7-oz) pieces striped bass fillet (1/2 inch thick), skinned
• Chopped fennel fronds for garnish
PREPARATION
1. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a 12- to 13-inch heavy skillet over moderately high
heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté shallots, stirring occasionally,
until browned and tender, roughly 8 minutes.
2. Remove shallots from heat and add wine, vinegar, water, sugar, raisins,
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and bay leaf, then simmer,
stirring occasionally, until shallots are very tender and liquid is thick and
syrupy, roughly 40 to 45 minutes. (If the liquid is reduced before the
shallots are tender, add a bit of water and continue to simmer.)*
3. Pat the fish dry, then sprinkle with remaining salt and 1/4 teaspoon
pepper. Fold fillets in half, skinned side in.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high
heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté 4 folded fillets, turning over
once, until deep golden, about 4 to 6 minutes total. Put cooked fish (still
folded) on top of sauce in heavy skillet. Wipe out nonstick skillet and
sauté remaining fillets in remaining oil in same manner, transferring to
sauce. Cook, partially covered, over moderate heat until fish is just cooked
through, 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Garnish with fennel fronds.
*The sauce can be made one day ahead and cooled completely, then chilled
and covered. Reheat over moderate heat before cooking fish.
We need you ...
and your friends.
T.R.’s conservation legacy and the example he set have given
Americans the hunting and fishing opportunities that lie at the
heart of our national outdoor heritage. You can set an example
by continuing your support for the TRCP and asking your
friends to become Rough Riders, too. For more information,
please contact Cary Ridder, director of development, at
202.654.4624 or cridder@trcp.org.
Visit www.trcp.org to join the TRCP today.
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership • P.O. Box 14420 • Washington, DC 20044 • 877-770-8722 • www.trcp.org