2019 AGLOW ANNUAL CONFERENCE
LaCrosse, WisconsinCONFERENCE COUNTDOWN
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2019 AGLOW Annual Conference
LaCrosse, Wisconsin
September 16 – 19, 2019
The 63rd Annual Meeting of the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers will take place along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin September 16-19, 2019.
The AmericInn La Crosse will be the host facility for this event, sponsored by Explore La Crosse and the La Crosse County CVB. To receive the AGLOW group rate you must call the front desk of AmericInn La Crosse directly by calling 608-781-7000 and dial 0 for reservations. The group name to refer to is “AGLOW” and this will allow guests to book in the block under the group rate $94.99+tax per night.
Americinn La Crosse
1835 Rose St.
La Crosse, WI 54603
608-781-7000
Online Registration Form
2019 Conference Schedule
Monday, September 16
Morning Trips Afield
7:00am – 10:30am
Numerous Fishing opportunities on the Black and Mississippi Rivers
AGLOW Board of Directors Meeting-(Patio Room)
8:00am – Noon
Registration Table Open (Lobby):
8:30am – 4:00pm
Press Room Open (Paddlewheel Room)
8:30am – 2:30pm
Keynote Tourism Workshop (Tourism Members Only) (St. Croix Room)
10:00am – 11:00am
Tourism members will learn how to get the most from their AGLOW membership from Past President Jim Zaleski.
National Wildlife Federation Welcome Lunch (Wisconsin Room)
11:00am – 12:30pm
NWF Senior Communications Coordinator from the Great Lakes Regional Center, Drew YoungeDyke will be on hand to welcome you to the 2019 AGLOW Conference. The National Wildlife Federation is the largest conservation organization in America with over 6 million members and supporters and 52 independent state and territorial affiliates. Founded in 1936, its mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Its Great Lakes Regional Center, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, focuses water issues affecting the entire Great Lakes region, including the continuing effort to stop Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes.
After lunch, John Anfinson with Mississippi National River & Recreation Area-National Parks Service will fill you in on the upcoming field trips.
New Member Orientation (St. Croix Room)
1:00pm – 1:30pm
If you are new to AGLOW or this is your first AGLOW conference, join AGLOW Executive Director Mark Smith for a brief overview of how to get the most out of your conference experience. This is open to all new members, Media, Corporate, Conservation Non-Profit and Tourism.
Past Presidents Meeting (Moxie’s Pub)
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Spouse Reception (Patio Room)
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Spouses who would like to attend any of the spouse activities planned for the week should attend this reception to find out details of these excursions in and around La Crosse.
General Membership Meeting (Wisconsin/LaCrosse Room)
1:30pm – 2:15pm
Agenda items for this meeting will include; election results for the 2020 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, a brief presentation from the 2021 Conference Bidders, Waukesha-Palwaukee, Wisconsin and Branson, Missouri, and an introduction of the new Horizons editor, Tom Watson.
Busses depart for Afternoon Field Trip (Main Entrance)
Lobby: 2:45pm
Afternoon Afield
3:00pm – 5:30pm
Option 1
Field Trip (Media Members ONLY-Maximum 70)
Shuttles will depart at 2:45pm from Hotel Lobby
Enjoy tours of three unique facilities that are essential in the ecosystem that makes the Upper Mississippi River the resource it is. First, we will take a stroll through the Lock & Dam with the Army Corp of Engineers to see and understand the role in which the locks & dams provide Old Man River. Then, we’ll tour the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center which will provide insight on access to research, monitoring, and mapping information about the Upper Mississippi River, its habitats and the diverse species that call it home. Lastly, we’ll check out the Midwest Fisheries Center as they highlight Whitney Genetics Laboratory’s work testing water samples for invasive species, the La Crosse Fish Health Center laboratories that test wild and hatchery fish for diseases, and the La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, a team of field biologists that monitor populations of invasive and native species and works on partnerships with other agencies and property owners in ensuring healthy waterways and habitat for aquatic animals, including sports fish.Shuttles from tours will transport attendees directly to the Explore La Crosse Welcome Dinner at Myrick Park.
Option2
Numerous Fishing opportunities on the Black and Mississippi Rivers
La Crosse Welcome Reception
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Myrick Park Center
789 Myrick Park Dr.
La Crosse, WI 54601
La Crosse Welcome Dinner
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Explore La Crosse would like to welcome the 2019 AGLOW Conference with a Taste of the Driftless! This area is known as the Driftless Region since Ice Age Glaciers left untouched a unique landscape of towering bluffs overlooking scenic river valleys. Our cuisine is as unique as the landscape and this is your opportunity to taste a variety of local fare, brews, and wines. We will also have numerous activities and experiences to enjoy from axe throwing, visiting with falcons, scenic walks, and more. So be sure to dress casual and wear comfortable shoes to take in all that the Driftless has to offer!
Waukesha-Pewaukee, Wisconsin Hospitality Room
9:00pm – Midnight
Come visit the good folks from Waukesha-Pewaukee for a nightcap and some snacks. Be sure to ask about their bid for the 2021 conference.
Tuesday, September 17
Delta Defense Shooting Day Breakfast (Wisconsin Room)
6:30am – 8:00am
Join Kevin Michalowski and the gang from Delta Defense/USCCA for breakfast and an overview of shooting day activities at the Holeman Rod and Gun Club.
Conference Registration Table Open (Lobby)
Lobby: 8:30am – 11:30am
Press Room Open (Paddlewheel Room)
8:30am – 11:30am
Spouse Tour Departs
Lobby: 9:00am
Busses to Shooting Day Depart
Lobby: 8:30am
Holeman Rod & Gun Club
W7503 County Road T
Holeman, WI 54636
Delta Defense Shooting Day Morning Activities
9:00am – 11:00am
Before the range goes live, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and greet with the vendors, see some live demonstrations, obtain shooting product information, and test drive a RAM, Toyota or Yamaha! You will also find out what will be happening at each of the shooting stations in the afternoon.
Whitetails Unlimited Shooting Day Luncheon
11:00am – 12noon
Russ Austad is the Program Services Director at Whitetails Unlimited and handles all of their grants and programs. Russ will be telling you about a program called “Kids on Target” that is intended to get youngsters to the range.
Delta Defense Shooting Day Afternoon Range
12:00noon – 3:00pm
The shooting day committee from Delta Defense and the USCCA has put together an action-packed afternoon at the range. Right after lunch, the range will go “live,” and you will have the opportunity to get some “hands-on” time and expert instruction. There will also be more time to test drive a vehicle from RAM, Toyota or Yamaha. The day will wrap up with a cold range and a “create the media” hour. This will be an opportunity to interview, photograph and video the products and expert representatives on hand so that you can create some media!
Busses depart for Hotel
3:15pm
Busses Depart for RAM Trucks Evening Away and AIC Awards
Lobby: 5:15pm
Celebrations on the River
2100 Dawson Ave.
La Crosse, WI 54603
RAM Trucks Evening Away & Ducks Unlimited/Blackfish/Leica AIC Program
5:30pm – 9:00pm
Join Kelley Enright from RAM Trucks for cocktails and dinner and check out the RAM that will be on display there. Then we will find out who the big winners are in the 2019 Awards in Craft.
Gaylord, Michigan Hospitality Room
9:00pm – Midnight
Paul Beachnau is brining the whole gang to invite you to Gaylord, Michigan for the 2020 annual conference.
Wednesday, September 18
Yamaha Breakfast (Wisconsin Room)
7:00am – 8:30am
Yamaha will be well represented this morning with Ry Landry, Product Education Manager at Yamaha Marine giving a products overview,Scott Newby, ATV & SxS Senior Communications at Yamaha Motor Corp. giving an ATV & S&S overview, and finally, John O’Keefe, Senior Government Relations Specialist at Yamaha Marine giving an Advocacy overview.
Press Room Open (Paddlewheel Room)
8:30am – 2:30pm
Learn It Seminars (St. Croix/LaCrosse Room)
8:45am – 11:30am
Session#1 8:45am – 9:30am – Drew YoungeDyke “Hunting & Fishing Unleaded”
Session#2 9:45am – 10:30am – Brandon Butler-Alternative Energy & Conservation
Session#3 10:45am – 11:30am – Dena Woerner Vick-Omni Channel Content Creation
Spouse Tour Departs
Lobby: 9:00am
Toyota Scholarship & RMEF Luncheon (Wisconsin Room)
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Join Curt McAllister as he recognizes this year’s Toyota “Let’s Go Places” Scholarship recipients and then we will hear from Mark Holyoak about what is new at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Learn It Seminars (Main Dining Room & La Crosse Room)
1:30pm – 4:15pm
Session#1 1:30pm – 2:30pm
State of the Art Communication Panel (Main Dining Room)
“Juggle the Digital Jungle-Finding success as an outdoor communicator”
Mark Strand
Dena Vick
Cynthya Porter
Session#2 2:45 – 3:15pm
Scott Mackenthun-Working with Natural Resource Agencies (La Crosse Room)
Jon Giacolone-The Latest in Sonar Technology (St. Croix Room)
Session#3 3:30 – 4:15pm
Trent Marsh-Trail Camera Tech (La Crosse Room)
Nick Andrews-Science Behind Scent Control (St. Croix Room)
Roselein Alternative Energy Golden Glow Reception (Wisconsin Room)
6:30pm – 7:00pm
NSSF Golden Glow Banquet (Wisconsin Room)
7:00pm – 8:45pm
The Golden Glow Award is the highest honor bestowed by our Council of Past Presidents. This year the National Shooting Sports Foundation has sponsored the evening so that we may recognize the 2019 class of Golden Glow recipients.
Branson, Missouri Hospitality Room
9:00pm – Midnight
Stop in and see Larry Whitely at the Branson Hospitality Room and find out about all of the great things Branson has to offer.
Thursday, September 19
Leica Sport Optics Breakfast (Wisconsin Room)
6:00am – 7:30am
Brian Smith with Leica Sport Optics, USA will fill you in on all of the latest in high quality optics and ranging devices.
Morning Afield Activities
8:00am – 12:30pm
Upper Mississippi River Restoration – Boat Field Trip 4 hours
Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program – Boat Field Trip 4 hoursThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (UMRR) celebrates over 30 years of large river ecosystem restoration, intensive monitoring and research on the Upper Mississippi. To learn more about the Upper Mississippi River, and how the fish, wildlife and habitat conservation support outdoor recreation opportunities, plan to join this ½ day river field trip. River management and research professionals will provide a hands-on boating experience to see habitat projects and river health monitoring of fish, water quality and vegetation on the river.
Genoa National Fish Hatchery—Tour 1.5hrs
Genoa NFH works with 6 states, 5 tribes, and 1 country in restoring 6 separate strains of lake sturgeon for ongoing restoration programs to assist in this long-lived and interesting species. In addition to fish, Genoa assists in a multi-agency program to recover two federally endangered mussels to their historic range and works to restore 11 other native mussel species throughout the nation. Genoa is considered a national leader in the development of techniques and methods to forward freshwater mussel propagation.
Genoa’s location and its ability to create different rearing environments, makes it one of the most diverse hatcheries in the nation. Twenty ponds ranging in size from one-tenth of one acre to 33 acres, six raceways, and seven intensive rearing buildings make it capable of collection, culturing, and rearing cold, cool, and warm water fish species. Genoa raises, holds, and rears more species of fish (15) and freshwater mussel (15) than almost any other federal fish hatchery! Join this tour to get a behind the scenes look at a fish hatchery and a hands-on experience in fish and/or mussel rearing.
Inland Trout Stream Shocking-1.5 hours
The inland trout crew from the Wisconsin DNR will host this field trip that includes a stream shocking demonstration and insight into the restoration work that has been ongoing in the Coulee region for many years.
Various Fishing Opportunities on the Black & Mississippi Rivers
Press Room Open (Paddlewheel Room)
8:30am – 4:00pm
Spouse Tour Departs
Lobby: 9:00am
Board of Directors Meeting (Patio Room)
12:30pm – 1:00pm
Super Break-Out and Destination Outdoors Tourism Break-Out (Wisc/LAX/St. Croix Room)
1:00pm – 4:00pm
No doubt the most popular event every year! Come on in and visit with our Corporate and Tourism Members and check out all of the latest and greatest they have to offer.
Real Avid Super Break Out Open Bar
1:00pm – 4:00pm
Visiting the booths at Super Break Out can work up a powerful thirst, Real Avid has you covered, stop by for a little refreshment.
Nexus Outdoors & Raymarine Pizza, Beer & Auction (Wisconsin Room)
6:30 – 10:00pm
SAVE THE DATE!
2020 Annual Conference
Gaylord, Michigan
September 14 – 17, 2020
AGLOW SPONSORS
