Subject: NPAA 2009 1st Quarter Newsletter

I am sure everyone is as glad as I am to see the winter of 2008-2009 behind us. Record snowfall across the upper-Midwest will help to bring water levels back to normal in many of our favorite bodies of water, but in others it will mean record high water levels. It’s good to have the winter behind us and great to know that tournament season is now upon us!

I want to thank those of you who have sent your 2009 membership renewals into Cody over the past month or so. For those of you who have forgotten, or didn’t receive the 2009 application packet via e-mail, please touch base with Cody in the very near future to get your dues paid. We are on track to maintaining the vast majority of our current member base, and the amount of new member applications that Cody is receiving is above last years pace. The NPAA’s theme for 2009 is “It’s Time to Make a Difference”. Let’s all play our part in solidifying the future of our organization by getting out there and signing up at least one new member this year.

Successful people and organizations use goals to guide their decisions in day to day life, and in business. Without goals it is difficult if not impossible to succeed. To that point the NPAA Board has identified the following as goals the NPAA’s goals to achieve in 2009. Please review them and feel free to let us know if there are any goals you would like to see added to the list.

2009 NPAA Goals
• Increase Membership by 20% (350 2008, Goal is 420)
• Increase Supporting Partner’s by 30% by year end (14 2009, Goal is 19)
• Develop two new sources of revenue to allow NPAA to grow capital reserves
• Continue to support Youth Clinic activities
• Develop a fund raising system to support Youth Clinics and other NPAA Projects
• Monitor legislative initiatives that can impact the sport of fishing and create a system to lobby for legislation that allows for the use of the resources by anglers
• Execute changes to By-Laws and Articles as voted upon at 2010 Conference
• Continue to leverage the power of the internet through the NPAA website to grow membership and support our industry partners
• Make the 2010 Annual Conference an event that our members feel they must attend.

Throughout the year we will work toward meeting these goals, most of which will not be accomplished unless we have the help and support of you the members. Thank you for your support of the NPAA and remember “It’s Time to Make a Difference”.

Working to Make a Difference,
Patrick Neu
NPAA President