3/99 ORCA NEWSFLASH
RENDEZVOUS WITH INDUSTRY MEMBERS AT SUNDANCE
There's still time to sign up for ORCA and Outdoor Retailer's Fourth Annual Outdoor Industry Rendezvous and Conference, a veritable feast for the mind and senses. By popular demand, this year's conference, presented by Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Team, will again be held amidst the alpine peaks of the Wasatch at Sundance resort in Utah, April 9-11.
The following is just a sampling of experiences lined up for this year's participants.
HEAR. Listen to cutting-edge presentations from guest speakers and colleagues on topics including state-of-the-industry business development and sales techniques, as well as industry-specific challenges like media relations, e-commerce and targeting the youth market.
TASTE. Between workshops, speakers and panel discussions, there is plenty of time scheduled for outdoor fun. Get a taste of skiboarding, fly-fishing, ski archery and snowshoeing by taking part in a number of recreational offerings.
SMELL. Your nose will be delighted at the crisp, clean alpine air, not to mention the delicious aromas of extraordinary culinary delights served during the Rendezvous.
TOUCH. Put hand to shovel for an afternoon and get back to your roots by participating in the perennially popular trail and habitat restoration project.
SEE. A sight for sore eyes is the beauty of Mount Timpanogos, the spectacular backdrop at Sundance. On Friday evening, enjoy a visual smorgasbord of films presented by the Best of Banff Film Festival. Finally, see industry friends and colleagues in an intimate setting which allows for ample time to socialize, network and exchange ideas.
At press time, rendezvous coordinators were more than halfway to their goal of enrolling 250 participants at this year's conference. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to share cutting-edge industry information in a setting you'll never forget. For registration forms and more information, call ORCA's toll-free fax-on-demand line at 800/825-5338, or visit us on the Internet at www.orca.org/rendezvous.
SPONSORSHIP MOVES MOUNTAINS
The Outdoor Rendezvous & Conference could not have become the important industry tradition it is today without the support of numerous sponsors. ORCA would like to thank the companies who have kindly provided sponsorships this year as well as in the past.
The most generous supporter of Rendezvous '99 is Presenting Sponsor Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Team. This team will make its' debut at the conference, integrating its presence into various facets of the three-day weekend. The Best of the Banff Film Festival is enjoying sponsorship from Glen Raven Mills, while Sportif USA is enthusiastically backing the media panel "How Events in Washington D.C. are Changing News Coverage and What it Means to You". ORCA shipping partner RPS will host the Rendezvous message center, while Balance Bar is bolstering its presence at the conference by becoming involved at two different sponsorship levels. Trail project/Sampling program sponsors include Backpacker, GU, Outlast, Outside, Nextec, Terrapin and Tres Gatos Trading Company. Still more sponsorship relationships are just a pen stroke away from being finalized.
For more information on visit www.orca.org/rendezvous/index.html or call 303/444-3353, ext 106.
HOUSE COMMITTEE CALLS PERMANENT LWCF PROGRAM AND "BACK PACK TAX" ALTERNATIVE HIGHEST PRIORITY
The House Resources Committee held two days of hearings on two bills that many witnesses called the biggest conservation initiatives since the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (HR 701), sponsored by Resources Committee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), and a smaller bill (HR 798) sponsored by the ranking democrat on the Resources Committee, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), both include permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and authorize the "Teaming With Wildlife" program minus the "backpack tax."
The Resources Committee considers this initiative its highest priority for this Congress. The fact that both the Chairman and the ranking democratic member of the committee have bills addressing LWCF, a program to buy parks and open space using offshore oil receipts, and "Teaming", a state fish and wildlife initiative, highlights that priority. And while there are significant differences between the two bills, the similarities of the bills and the willingness of the Republicans and Democrats on the committee to work together on the bill make its future bright.
Similar bills have been introduced in the Senate, with hearings expected later this spring.
However, the budget implications for the bill are a big hurdle that must not be overlooked. To fund LWCF, "Teaming", and a coastal impact assistance program, the bills take $2 to $3 billion of offshore oil receipts "off budget". This would by-pass the powerful Appropriations Committee, who has provided only a fraction of the LWCF funds available for land acquisition in recent years. Finding $2 - $3 billion in offsetting funds and working through the opposition of the Appropriations Committee will not be easy.
Full and permanent funding for LWCF is a high priority for ORCA. The outdoor industry is working on this initiative with environmental, conservation and recreation groups who recognize that providing funding for parks and open space via LWCF will preserve special and beautiful places, protect America's natural heritage and ensure a future full of outstanding outdoor recreation opportunites. In addition, the fact that the bills fund the Teaming with Wildlife initiative without a tax on our industry allows us to work in concert with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the main proponents of the tax, on a common goal.
ORCA is committed to working with the sponsors of HR 701 and HR 798 to ensure that LWCF is fully funded, that "Teaming" is funded minus the "backpack tax", and that the concerns of the environmental community regarding the coastal impact assistance program are heard.
For more information on these proposals, and a sample letter to write your Member of Congress on this issue, see ORCA's website at www.orca.org.
PLAN NOW FOR LOBBY DAYS
"This year provides an opportunity for the industry to make a major impact on legislation to provide a permanent funding program for purchasing parks, wild lands and open spaces. The Presidents Lands Legacy Initiative and Congressional proposals to fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund make this years Lobby Days more important than ever."-Myrna Johnson, ORCA's Director of Government Affairs.
Attention manufacturers and suppliers, retailers and non-profits! Don't forget to mark your calendars to attend one of the most important annual events of the outdoor industry: ORCA & SGMA Lobby Days & SGMA Taste of the Outdoors Exhibition, June 8-10.
This event is a grassroots effort in which industry members have the opportunity to personally meet members of Congress and their aides in Washington D.C. to discuss industry concerns. Significant progress with recent outdoor recreation issues including both the fixed climbing anchors ban and backpack tax can be traced to groundwork laid at last year's Lobby Days. This year, participants are in a prime position to push for legislation to permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program that provides funding for parks, open spaces and wild lands.
Your participation can make a difference. Give us a call to find out how your voice can be heard in Washington this year. For more information, contact ORCA's Director of Government Affairs Myrna Johnson at (303)444-3353, ext. 101.
AORE TRANSITION IN PROGRESS: UNIFIED COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, TO ACT AS MANAGEMENT COMPANY
At the International Conference on Outdoor Recreation and Education (ICORE), held just this past October 20th - 24th, the AORE Board of Directors and members voted unanimously to establish AORE as an independent professional membership association complete with its own 501(c)3 not-for-profit designation.
AORE is pleased to announce that Unified Communications, LLC will serve as the management company. "AORE is excited to be working with Unified Communications (to provide association management services). UC's staff has years of experience in both association management and outdoor industries, a combination that will undoubtedly help our Board take AORE to the next level," says Rob Jones, AORE President.
ORCA and the AORE Board of Directors are excited about the future of AORE. As ORCA focuses on business trade association projects, AORE will continue to serve outdoor education professionals.
The memberships of all outdoor education professionals will be transferred to AORE by the beginning of April. Outdoor education professionals wanting to continue receiving ORCA benefits and services should contact ORCA at 303-444-3353 for a membership form. Outdoor industry companies and organizations wishing to support AORE can contact the new association at PO Box 1928, Boulder, CO 80306-1928.
AORE MEMBERS ACCESSING ORCA'S BENEFITS AND SERVICES JOIN ORCA TO CONTINUE SAVING MONEY
The memberships of all outdoor education professionals will be transferred to AORE by the beginning of April. As an outdoor professional, if you (or the organization you work for) are taking advantage of the FedEx, Yellow Freight, or RPS discounts available to members, you must join ORCA. Our contracts with these vendors require that all memberships are current. We will extend a 60-day grace period to all AORE members accessing these discounts. Please join ORCA by May 31, 1999 to continue saving money with these vendors.
Join ORCA today and continue to receive the great benefits and services of membership including: The State of the Industry Report, weekly Outdoor WebNews, industry market data, legislative updates, Climb Smart! materials, the monthly News Flash, discounted registration fees to the Rendezvous and more.
ORCA WELCOMES NEW TEAM MEMBER TO MEMBERSHIP DEPARTMENT
In February, Robert Guest joined the membership department as our new full-time member services associate, replacing Ellen Hansen, who accepted a position with the Naropa Institute of Boulder. Robert, a graduate of the University of Florida with a BA in geography, comes to ORCA with a background in Information Processing and Client Services. A native of Howard, Colorado his interests include wilderness, hiking, movies, and music. Robert can be reached at 303-444-3353, ext. 106, or e-mail: robert@orca.org.
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