I have high hopes for 2013 on a personal, professional and unprofessional basis.
This is the first year that WV and PA Aquaculture is officially recognizing the very important contributions that non-producer fisheries management brings to empirical science, the community, and to the economy. (MD is boycotting us for some strange reason -- including media news releases within miles of the multi-state conference.)
As an active member of the West Virginia Aquaculture Association, it has taken me at least seven years to get here. I need all your help to make it successful. With the addition of Matt Rayl to Pond Boss, we may be able to do more outside of state extension services and other gov't and professional agriculture/aquaculture groups.
When I first really pushed for it, we struggled with a title for our segment of aquaculture.
What should we name the non-producer and non-professional fisheries people, like me and so many others on Pond Boss. Are we any different than non-producer farmer "Master Gardeners" who must provide all kinds of free advice as part of their internship and continuing qualifications? They are strongly supported by local state Extension Services in nearly every state.
With all that, I sure wish JHAP could join us to do "Pond Management Standup Comedy."
I'm still hoping that weather and the judiciary system will permit Todd L., and Sunil to join us (it isn't what you might think -- Todd is supposed to represent a DUI client in court, and Sunil has had nothing to do with any of it.) I can work either or both of them into the program on Friday or Saturday. They too bring the best of pond management fun and education.
So, are we non-professionals, un-professionals, freaks ...?
P.S. -- Sunil and Todd, we've got room to put you up on Friday and/or Saturday evenings. Lynda would just like to know how many are joining us for dinner on Saturday evening.
Time to get on the road to pick up the Pond Boss himself!
I hope to see a lot of friends from WV, VA, MD, and PA at the conference.
Ken
