RIDGEFIELD, Wash. – Anglers hit the jackpot last Saturday at the shiny new Ilani Casino.
But it wasn’t a house lottery, noisy video game or boxcars at the craps table that raked in the big bucks.
It happened unexpectedly in the casino’s well-appointed conference center, where many, if not most of the who’s who in the region’s fishing world joined their passionate fishing partners in a banquet supporting Hatchery & Wild Coexist.
“We were hoping for 100,” said an elated Don New, linchpin and head cheerleader of the growing hatchery/wild movement. “We got 322! It was our capacity. We had to turn some away.”
It reminded me of the “good old days,” when banquets for the Willamette Salmon Quest, Association of Northwest Steelheaders and Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association were headlined with greatness.
Many, perhaps most, of those same surviving old-timers paid their fare for some of the finest fare I’ve ever…EVER…seen served at one of these chicken-buffet events.
And they were joined by many, even most (?) of the current crop of youngsters, some of whom thankfully brought their own kids. That was refreshing, as I’ll share in a moment.
Even Santa Claus was there, organically rotund, with a real beard and medieval period garb, prowling the silent auction tables, daring anyone to make his naughty list.
I unexpectedly scored several Christmas gifts when my wife disappeared while I was chatting with Iva Hays – Owin’s wife and guardian from Outdoor GPS. Thinking mine was just taking her time in the Lady’s room or pumping the $20 bill I gave her into a penny machine, I sneakily gobbled up the last of her chocolate mousse/strawberry dessert just before she returned with $220 worth of “presents” bought with my forged bid number. Anyone want four coaster rides at Leavenworth, Wash., and lunch at the Munchen Haus restaurant?
(Oh, yeah and…Sneaking her dessert on top of tasty chicken, turkey and dover sole cost me a dollar a pound, which she did spend on the penny machine and I now must lose all 20 before Christmas dinner. Dammit Iva!)
The auction items – few had to be purchased – will yield something north of $100,000 after all cash donations are accounted for, New believes.
And, just when New thought his prayers had been answered, Jerry Dove of Tillamook Anglers took him aside and quietly committed to match, dollar for dollar, every penny raised that night. He would use money from the Loren Parks Trust (he manages it) to match what the banquet raised in its silent and live auctions as well as the bucket raffles. Don’s wife, Shari Safley built over 36 gift baskets and created 40 elaborate table centerpieces.
Everything.
“It just kind of took my breath away,” New said. “Loren was always so generous and helpful for fisheries and just continues to be.”
It’s looking good for Hatchery & Wild Coexist and the many ways it will expand it’s brand.
Take those kids for example; or send yours!
New’s group spends more than $10,000 annually on youth events, shows and special support for a youth fishing season at the state’s Cedar Creek Fish Hatchery near Hebo.
He’s become a regular at shows, fishing clubs (and others; anyone who will hear the message) and the legislature. Five years ago, the organization’s first major campaign raised $30,000 to commission a 60-page report on the economic impact of hatcheries in Oregon and Washington. This document, used extensively in both states, was a significant factor in developing Oregon’s Hatchery Resiliency. It’s available on the website.
Saturday’s success comes in the wake of last week’s announcement, some in the conservation community filed a new lawsuit against hatcheries.
I say “some” because I consider myself and everyone in that audience just as innately devoted to the restoration and protection of wild fish.
Don New introduces renowned publisher Frank Amato
Hatchery/wild is a tax-deductible, 501c3 organization, which means New has to be careful about his advocacy.
Fortunately, he’s well aware of his limitations (Clint Eastwood in “Dirty Harry”).
And is eagerly anticipating production of a new video about sea lions, now in the planning stages. It will hopefully equal the success of his last documentary, “A River Between Us,” an hour-long production about Klamath River Dams that made its way to the desk of Sally Jewell, the last Secretary of Interior under President Obama.
She watched it, was impressed and talked to Obama, who then signed an executive order to remove the dams before his term ended.
New plans to use some of the proceeds from Saturday, in addition to more donations from a few stalwarts in the crowd that night, to produce a similar film concerning predation problems posed by sea lions.
Although Oregon and Washington have congressional approval to lethally remove (i.e., kill) sea lions up and down most of the lower Columbia and its tributaries, neither state has enough money to pay for all the traps and transportation necessary.
“We need to make people understand (the folly of) spending all this money for protection and preservation, then just let sea lions gobble up our fish,” he said. “We can get the infrastructure if we get it funded.
“The stroke of the pen is critical.”
So are all 302 of the rest of us.
…Which includes, especially, Don and Shari New.