To save room for more important and/or more interesting items this month, I only want to say "thank you" to the members who responded to Kevin's article last month about donating time to the Bingo fundraiser for the Mokelumne River Restoration Project.
OctoberAs the new president of the Sac-Sierra Chapter, this is my first time writing the "President's Message". I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why I joined Trout Unlimited.
One of my long time friends lives in the heart of the Sierra Nevada and we have spent many days together fishing and talking politics. He is an intelligent, talented fisherman who just about always teaches me something new. He is also very politically aware and informed, and we share many of the same opinions regarding politicians and the political process. Both of us worry that the decisions being made in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. will cause more damage to the fisheries we love. Where we disagree is that my friend does not think that he, as an individual, can make a difference; that the politics of water are so stacked in favor of agribusiness and development that we are doomed to suffer whatever fate is decided by others. I can't agree with him. To agree with my friend I would have to give up the dream that my two sons will have the opportunity to "chase fish" with their children, just as we have chased fish as a family across the western U.S. That's why I joined Trout Unlimited.
While serving as your president my goal will be to continue the work of building a strong, active chapter dedicated to a future where we can all chase wild trout in wild places. Now that's something I can agree with!