AFS Cal-Neva Newsletter
13 September 2021
SAVE THE DATE! 2022 CAL-NEVA ANNUAL MEETING

  • The Cal-Neva 2022 Chapter meeting will be held 2/14 through 2/17 at Lake Natoma Inn, Folsom, CA.

  • Provide your input on the meeting format at the link below.

  • Keep an eye out for more messages regarding meeting format and calls for abstracts in the near future.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Matthew Young

Greetings Cal-Neva Members!

Hopefully this finds you well, despite the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and yet another devastating California-Nevada fire season. Our lives continue to be affected by a changing world, but the fish persevere, as do we! The continued hard work of our membership throughout these last 18 months has been truly impressive.

Despite the continuing inability to meet face-to-face, the Cal-Neva Executive Committee still holds monthly conference calls and is conducting chapter business as usual. This includes the recent award of small research grants to well-deserving recipients, beginning to engage with other chapters and Western Division AFS to develop early career mentorship programs, and plan for our Chapter’s annual meeting. For details of these and other ongoing business please check out the Executive Committee meeting minutes at the chapter website (afs-calneva.org/communications/meeting-minutes), or reach out to myself [myoung.afs@gmail.com] or an ExComm member directly. 

Our 2022 annual general meeting is scheduled for February (2/14-2/17) and, although the constantly changing public health concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitate flexibility, President-Elect Eva Bush and the Planning Committee are dedicated to organizing an event highlighting the breadth and quality of science and conservation driven by chapter members and others. If you have any interest in joining the Planning Committee please contact myself or Eva Bush [evabush.afs@gmail.com].

I would like to take a second to acknowledge two members of the Executive Committee who have stepped down. Lisa Thompson was Chair of the Communications Committee for five years, and did a fantastic amount of work coordinating communications among the Chapter. Stephanie Durkacz was Chair of the Continuing Education Committee and coordinated continuing education events at our 2021 virtual annual meeting, as well as previous meetings. Many thanks to them both, and we (both the Chapter and the Executive Committee) greatly appreciate all of their time and effort.

I hope to see you soon at the annual meeting (in whatever format it takes), and until then, take care of yourselves, your loved ones, and the fish! 

Signed,
Chapter President Matt Young
OUTGOING PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

By Dave Lentz

Greetings, Cal-Neva AFS friends,

It’s traditional for the out-going Chapter President to offer a message at their transition to Past-President. I will start mine with a hearty THANKS to all Cal-Neva for giving me this opportunity to be part of a great team. The Cal-Neva team, handed the challenges and restrictions of the pandemic still managed to offer the chapter opportunities and services we provide annually. In-person events became virtual events but they still provided real and valuable experiences. Our 2020 annual meeting in Folsom was cancelled, last minute, but we waded into the virtual conference realm later that spring and of course we followed that with a successful 2021 online meeting in March. I should add that I followed a great line of leaders whose efforts enhanced the chapter’s resilience to weather the pandemic’s effects on our membership, finances, and community.

Normally, the monthly Chapter ExComm meetings help build connections and offer socializing opportunity and sharing a post-meeting meal. During my term, our Fall Excom Retreat and the monthly meetings were all held virtually. While I valued our team’s Zoom calls I’m really looking forward to resuming our in-person gatherings. Cal-Neva is planning for our 2022 annual meeting to be in-person and returning to Folsom again. There may be a virtual option too. Helping with planning and holding the annual meeting is a great way to widen your fisheries circle and be exposed to new connections. President-Elect (and Program Chair) Eva Bush will be looking for help as planning moves forward this fall.

Cal-Neva is fortunate to have outstanding fisheries and aquatics sciences students doing great work. Our student sub-units are award-winning and involved with creative activities and valued outreach efforts and they are developing our future fisheries leaders. We may explore interest to establish new sub-units as well. Our annual meetings feature the fine work of our students and get them exposure to AFS and fisheries professionals. We look forward to the student opportunities and are hoping to see big participation at our meeting next year.

Thanks again Cal-Neva and cheers!
Dave Lentz
Box full of questionnaires for Education USA Kindle draw by US Embassy Canada is marked with CC PDM 1.0
SEEKING CAL-NEVA OFFICER NOMINATIONS

Are you looking to expand your network, grow personally, make a difference for fisheries, and make lasting connections with other professionals and students? Then consider joining the leadership of the AFS CalNeva Chapter!

The Executive Committee is pleased to invite nominations for Officers for the AFS CalNeva Chapter. Nominations can originate from chapter members as well as self-nominations. This year, we are seeking qualified candidates for President-Elect (3-year term) and Secretary (2-year term), to serve terms commencing August 2022.

All officers receive annual dues and registration to Chapter Meetings, and President-elect/President have expenses paid to attend the national Society meeting. More info about responsibilities can be found here: Officer responsibilities

First call nominations are due December 1. Election will be held by electronic ballot and results announced at the Annual Meeting in February 2022. 

Questions? Please contact any officer or Ramona Swenson (Bylaws and Nominations Chair, rswenson@esassoc.com).
Trawl for a meeting that interests you
The 2022 Annual Meeting of WDAFS will be August 21-25, 2022. Stay tuned for more information or please visit: 
The American Fisheries Society 151st AFS Annual Meeting is rescheduled for November 6-10, 2021. Baltimore will be a fantastic location to continue to commemorate 150 years of fisheries science achievements. The past, present, and future of fisheries science will be on display as we bring together professionals from across North America and countries throughout the world under the theme of “Investing in People, Habitat, and Science.” Visit the conference website.
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