Jim Hissong elected National Leadership Council Representative for Wyoming Council

Howdy from southwest Wyoming. I am Jim Hissong, your new Trout Unlimited (TU) National Leadership Council (NLC) Representative. In the past, I have served as Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU) Treasurer for five years. Also, I have held leadership positions as president and currently treasurer of Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited.

Werner Studer did a great job for five years as National Leadership Representative Rep, but he was termlimited. I requested an appointment to NLC from the WYTU Council at the spring council meeting held in Rawlins and they accepted my request. So, here I am at bottom of the learning curve, with a lot of homework.

Briefly, Trout Unlimited National’s administrative structure can be seen in the accompanying chart. Under TU’s bylaws, the NLC has three purposes:

1) Establish the National Conservation Agenda

2) Facilitate implementation of the National Conservation Agenda

3) Build the organizational capacity of Trout Unlimited.

The NLC accomplishes these three tasks by being a conduit between state councils and TU National. It is to this last point that I have developed my initial plans as WYTU NLC Rep. As I told the spring council, I am willing to traverse this big, square state and attend local TU chapter meetings. There, I can summarize, update, and discuss TU’s current strategies regarding climate change, priority waters initiatives, membership diversity, youth education, etc. In other words, feel free to contact me and schedule me as a presenter at your TU chapter meeting(s).

Along with WYTU Council President, Kathy Buchner, I attended the Western Regional Conference in Taos, New Mexico, last month. I hobnobbed with NLC leadership to learn my role as Wyoming Rep. I asked to be appointed to NLC’s Responsible Mining and Energy workgroup along with the Youth Education workgroup. Most of the workshops I participated in focused on the water crisis in the states of the Colorado River Compact. Believe it or not, water users (read agriculture, recreationists, golf courses, native tribes, urban developers) are finally sitting at the table and talking compromise solutions. They have no choice. Time and space will not allow me to discuss the Western drought crisis here. However, you can expect an email newsletter from me after I attend a couple more info-meetings and do some research.

Thanks for your confidence in me and appointing me as your WYTU NLC Rep. I hope to see you at your TU chapter meeting soon.

Jim lives with his wife of 49 years, Susan, in Mountain View,Wyoming, along with their rescue dogs,Wrigley and Santo. GO CUBBIES! You can reach Jim by emailing him at wyohiss@gmail.com.

FROM THE COORDINATOR Mike Jensen

Well, here it is. After four years of assisting the executive committee and members of Wyoming Trout Unlimited, the time has come to hang up my “coordinator hat” as well as my “editor’s hat” of The Trout Tale newsletter

OUR MISSION:

Conserving, protecting and restoring Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds

WYOMING COUNCIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

 Kathy Buchner

Jackson Hole..........................................Chair

 Sadie Valdez

Rock Springs..................................Vice Chair

 Tom Brown

Cody................................................Secretary

 John Madia

Sheridan...........................................Treasurer

 Jim Hissong

Mountain View................NLC Representative

 Dave Sweet

Cody...................................At Large Member

 John Burrows

Lander................................At Large Member

 George Phillips

Rawlins................................At Large Member

 Cole Sherard

Laramie...........................................Past Chair

 Mike Jensen

Cheyenne...................Council Coordinator

WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED CHAPTERS

 Curt Gowdy

 East Yellowstone

 Grey Reef

 Jackson Hole

 Laramie Valley

 Platte Valley

 Popo Agie Anglers

 Powder River Basin

 Seedskadee

 Star Valley

 Upper Bear River

 Upper Green River

To join Trout Unlimited today, go to tu.org and click on the “Memberships & Giving” tab. Then choose “become a member.”

As I write this one last column, along with assembling the various pieces of this newsletter, I find myself reflecting upon many memories of being involved with Wyoming Trout Unlimited both as a volunteer and as a hired independent contractor for the Wyoming Council executive committee of Trout Unlimited for 13plus years. My family and I have been truly blessed and I’m fortunate to be able to reach a milestone in my life, and share with you, that after a successful 38-year career in the newspaper business (most of it in Wyoming) — and the past four years working with Wyoming Trout Unlimited — I’m going to retire on August 1.

As the headline of this column states, it’s been a hell of a ride, and one that I’ll never forget. It’s been an honor and privilege to be involved with Wyoming Trout Unlimited serving as your council coordinator and newsletter editor.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work and collaborate with some of the most talented Trout Unlimited staffers and volunteers found anywhere — from the very top of Trout Unlimited down to the chapter level. They are passionate. They are resourceful. They are dedicated. And I’d stack them up against anyone. They’re that good. And, it goes without saying, I’m proud to call many of them friend.

A couple of highlights from my time spent with Wyoming Trout Unlimited is when the Wyoming Council was presented the “Bollinger Award for Best Newsletter” in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in September 2014 at the national Trout Unlimited meeting.

The council also received another top award when they received the State Council Award for Excellence in 2013 at the national Trout Unlimited meeting in Madison, Wisconsin. I was proud to accept both of those awards in person and represent the many volunteers and staff who contributed to the council receiving two top-tier awards from Trout Unlimited.

The collaborative effort of so many people — volunteers and staff, alike — who have made outstanding contributions to make this newsletter what it is, and to have our work recognized by our peers, makes those awards very special. That same spirit applies to today’s volunteers and staff who work hard to showcase their incredible work and bring success to awesome projects. I only hope I played a small role in contributing to the continued success of Wyoming Trout Unlimited.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank my friend and former co-worker, Amy Ferrin. Amy is one of the finest copy editors I know and I have her to thank for making me look like I know what I’m doing with this newsletter. Thanks, Amy; you are the best.

As I say so long, I’m going to borrow some of my words from a previous newsletter column and leave you with this. The words from the chorus of one of my favorite songs — Wood Smoke in the Wind — sung by Michael Martin Murphy, along with a favorite quote from Izaak Walton.

I’m gonna get so lost, I’ll find myself again, I’m gonna drift away like wood smoke in the wind

I’m gonna get so lost, I’ll find myself again, I’m gonna drift away like wood smoke in the wind

“I have laid aside business and gone a-fishing”

— Izaak Walton

After four years, Mike Jensen is stepping away from his Wyoming Council Coordinator and newsletter editor positions with Wyoming Trout Unlimited. Mike and his wife, Jodi, call the Cheyenne area home and he always looks forward to driving his drift boat and creating more Wyoming fly fishing adventures and memories with family and good friends.