It’s time to submit your nominations for our annual WA-BC Chapter awards!  All you have to do to nominate a person or group is send us an email with:   (1) the nominee’s name, (2) the name of the award for which you are nominating them, and (3) a brief explanation for why they deserve this award.  Please submit your nominations to the Chapter Past-President, Brian Missildine, at brian.missildine [at] dfw.wa.gov by COB on January 23, 2015.  We will announce this year’s award recipients at our WA-BC Chapter annual conference, which will be held in Richmond, British Columbia on February 16-19, 2015.

Conference information can be found at agm.wabc-afs.org.  There’s still time to register, make hotel reservations,  submit abstracts, apply for student travel scholarships, become a sponsor or volunteer, or register for the Trade Show (COB on January 16 is the deadline for abstract submittals and for student travel scholarship applications).  An added bonus is that we’ll be co-convening with the Pink & Chum Workshop!  It should be a great conference with a wide variety of attendees from both British Columbia and Washington State.

Here are the award descriptions:

Haig Brown Award:  Established in 1981 to recognize those who have produced outstanding, non-technical articles or publications on any aspect of fishery management, research, habitat protection, enhancement, or other related fields.  Presented to an individual or agency who best exemplifies the journalistic spirit in Haig Brown’s book, The Western Angler: “Hand in hand with preserving and improving the fishery must go the work of presenting it properly to the public.”  The Haig Brown Award consists of a small sculpture and a $100.00 (US dollars) check.

Worthy Coelacanth Award:  First presented in 1984, the award goes to a senior member (over 55 years young) of the WA-BC Chapter who has made an outstanding contribution to fisheries management and science.

Volunteer Organization:  For a volunteer organization that has made exemplary contributions to fisheries conservation, education, or science.

The Fish Gaffe:  This award recognizes the most noteworthy faux pas by a Chapter member each year. [The first recipient was Jeff Cederholm for his outstanding collection of self-inflicted typos in a previous AGM agenda].

Certificate of Appreciation:  For a member, non-member, or organization who has significantly contributed to the betterment of the Chapter or it’s activities.

Certificate of Achievement:  For a Chapter member who has demonstrated significant professional achievement, consistent with AFS goals and policies.

Conservation Organization of the Year:  For an organization that has significantly contributed to a program or activity for conservation of fishery resources or habitats.

Meritorious Service:  Awarded to a Chapter member who has made substantial contributions to the success of the Chapter.

Tommy Brayshaw Junior Conservation Award:  Established in 1995, presented to someone 16 years or younger who has meaningfully involved in some form of fish conservation work.