Updates from POMA's Executive Director

Posted on: Jan 15, 2024

Happy 2024! As hunting season gives way to the hectic show season in the outdoor industry, your association is working hard for you. With my first three months as your new Executive Director behind us, I have some updates to report. For our Media Members, we are working to expand our relationships with companies, organizations and agencies that provide new content. A couple of fresh examples: Most people are aware of the American Kennel Club as the organization that provides papers for pure bred dogs or is affiliated with dog fancier shows like the famous Westminster Dog Show. But many are not aware that AKC does a lot that is relevant to the outdoors. Performance field trials all over the country; maintaining breed standards for retrievers, pointers, hounds etc.; and fighting animal rights legislation that impacts the breeding of sporting dogs. AKC also works in search and rescue dogs and of course sled dogs? AKC will soon be a POMA Corporate Partner and will provide access to hundreds of dog events as well as their everyday programming. Our newest Corporate Partner is the Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation. If the name is not familiar to you, its leader may be. Jim Curcuruto headed up research and market development for NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association for a decade. His new organization cranks out a steady stream of content relevant to conservation and the hook and bullet world, highlighting the connection between industry and conservation, and producing research that facilitates recruitment of hunters and shooters. POMA’s annual meeting is less than six months away! As the rookie, I am just playing a supporting role as POMA Vice President Britney Booth and our own Laura Kenning are hard at work planning a fresh conference worth your time and investment. We’re being hosted by the South Carolina Waterfowl Association on their incredible property not too far from the state capital, Columbia.  I hope you will make plans to join us there as we remake the look, feel and value of our annual meeting. I am also pleased that POMA will continue to hold Insight Sessions in 2024. We’ve been so fortunate that former POMA President Michelle Scheuermann is our host, and she will continue holding these important chats throughout the year that provide learning opportunities and spotlight POMA partners. Together our new POMA Board and volunteers are bringing high energy to POMA to provide our members with the value they deserve. This is just the beginning. We welcome your thoughts and ideas. Happy New Year!   Rob