Archery Business Jan-Feb 2012
The KDFWR met ATA representatives Aug 29 at the agencys headquarters in Frankfort January February 2012 archeryBUSINESS 19 every intention of attending the Show but havent registered you can still make it happen online Plus youll avoid the wait at the Show registration desk onsite Online registration is open until the week prior to the Show Heres what you do Go to archerytrade org Youll see Trade Show Registration on the homepage bottom right Click there Youll need to use your member sign in information to access the registration screens If you have trouble ATA staff can walk you through online registration Call 866 266 2776 Express Pass 101 After the ATA receives your payment and your registration is complete you will receive a confirmation via e mail featuring your ExpressPass as well as hotel links and an access code to discounts in the ATA hotel block When you pack for the Show be sure to bring along your Express Pass to expedite your arrival at the Columbus Convention Center where youll find ExpressPass kiosks at two convenient locations inside Just swipe your ExpressPass grab your badge s and youre ready to hit the Show floor ATA Show Did You Know The industrys Trade Show has generated more than 15 million since 2003 Revenues are used to fund hundreds of projects that put bows in the hands of new archers To date the ATA has spent more than 13 million to support the implementation of the National Archery in the Schools Program across the country and Canada When state archery coordinators were asked in 2011 if they used federal excise taxes FET to benefit archery programs 84 percent said yes The ATA developed an archery park concept used by state wildlife agencies plans that includes a 90 meter target range 3 D field and broadhead target ranges and a 25 yard beginner range The ATA hosted an Archery Academy in Houston Texas the fourth largest city in the country which resulted in the implementation of programs for beginners This academy demonstrates archerys support in urban centers with dense populations and large pools of potential archers In 2011 the U S Fish and Wildlife Service approved Explore Bowhunting to be funded from the federal excise taxes paid by industry These funds make up the Pittman Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act ATA Kentucky Craft Strategies to Grow Archery Bowhunting The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources KDFWR met recently with ATA staff to create a strategic plan to grow shooting and bowhunting opportunities in the Bluegrass State The KDFWR which launched the National Archery in the Schools Program by installing NASP in 21 Kentucky middle schools in 2002 met ATA representatives Aug 29 at the agencys headquarters in Frankfort Jay McAninch ATAs CEO and president said the meeting was likely the first effort by a state agency and industry group to work together on a specific long range plan to increase shooting and hunting participation This was a major step forward McAninch said With so many schools now offering NASP its more important than ever for our industry and individual states to keep students shooting arrows once NASP teaches them basic archery skills Jon Gassett commissioner of the KDFWR and key agency representatives devoted their entire day to working on the strategic plan with four ATA staffers led by Mitch King ATAs director of government relations King was joined by Michelle Doerr ATA director of archery and bowhunting programs Emily Beach education and research manager and Jennifer Mazur manager of archery and bowhunting programs Long Term Commitments This isnt the first time ATA and the KDFWR have worked together to boost recruitment and retention of hunters and shooters During the past year for example ATA and KDFWR co funded and launched the ATAs Explore Bowhunting program which introduces participants to skills useful for hunting wildlife viewing and nature photography ATA will provide matching funds for two years to support the implementation of the program King said the new strategic plan will focus its efforts on Kentuckys metropolitan areas where young people and families have few opportunities to shoot archery By getting families engaged in archery for the first time the ATA and KDFWR hope to steer them toward hunting opportunities they otherwise wouldnt have considered The first five Kentucky communities to receive this added attention will be Louisville Ashland Lexington Somerset and Bowling Green As part of the ATAs community archery strategy the ATA and KDFWR will host Archery Academy training sessions for beginner archery instructors from the agency community schools and park and recreation departments The Archery Academy is a joint program provided by the ATA and its members and made possible by a generous grant from the Easton Foundations Besides training archery instructors the academies develop archery and bowhunting programs and help communities learn how to build archery facilities The ATAs Explore Bowhunting curriculum is part of each Academy Saturation Assistance In addition to the academies the ATA is working with USA Archery to develop more Junior Olympic Archery Development JOAD programs in Kentucky Our goal is to figure out how to get various clubs pro shops and archery organizations working with the agency to help kids take the next step after NASP King said Well try to saturate those communities with wellrun archery programs to get the most bang for our buck Other States Lining Up While Kentucky might be the first state to have its state wildlife agency work with the ATA to craft a strategic shooting and hunting plan it wont be the last The ATA Team intends to visit Texas Parks Wildlife officials in November to begin work on a similar plan and then visit agency representatives in Michigan Virginia Arizona Nebraska and maybe Florida Whenever possible we want to focus our efforts where state agencies share the ATAs commitment to long steady growth for archery hunting shooting and bowhunting King said In some ways were doubling down on our investments to make sure we give this our best possible shot States like Kentucky are wall in with that approach
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