LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, ZACH SMITH
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Greetings, Missouri Outdoor Communicators and welcome — “welcome back,” for some of you — to the MOC newsletter. In the spirit of regular communication our executive director, Kyle Stewart, has resurrected the quarterly publication, so please send him a word of thanks. I don’t doubt that he would also appreciate content, photographic and otherwise, for these newsletters (hint, hint).
If you’re new or recently new to MOC, let me be one of the first to welcome you to the group. Compared to some of our members, and I mean this in the nicest way, I’m a recent member myself and one thing that’s become apparent to me during that time is that we have a long legacy behind us. Our veteran members have, in many cases, spent the better part of their lives in the outdoors and sharing those experiences with others. So, we have big shoes to fill, but I’m confident we also have a bright future ahead. Our ranks and our reach are growing and we have more opportunities than ever to share the outdoors.
We’ll get into all that — where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re going, not to mention what we’re doing — in the months ahead, but for this first chat and return to the newsletter format, I’ll keep things brief and to the point. I’m excited to help lead an organization that has given me so much, professionally and personally, and for those of you who are new to the group and wondering what MOC can do for you (and vice-versa), or if you just need a gentle reminder, here’s what I’ve learned about making the most of your MOC membership.
1. Attend the annual MOC Conference and events.
I’m sure everyone has heard by now that this year’s annual meeting at Bunker Hill Ranch was a smashing success all around, and many thanks to Kyle, our Past President Barbara Gibbs Ostmann, the Beenders-Walker Group, supporting sponsors and Mary and Greg Howell of Bunker Hill are in order. I know I’m speaking for many of the attendees when I say this year’s speakers, story opportunities and setting recharged my batteries and my enthusiasm for the best job on Earth: telling people about the outdoors. No matter where it’s held, the annual MOC Conference has that effect on us. It’s a great chance to network with friends new and old, find story ideas, hone skills and explore new places. I look forward to it all year, every year, because the MOC membership is the heart of this organization and some great things happen when we’re together. Next year the destination is Mozingo Lake Recreation Park near Maryville in northwestern Missouri, and another great program is already simmering nicely over the campfire for 2020. Thanks to input from the membership, there’s also a nice bed of coals being banked to add some additional programming to the calendar next year that is sure to please everyone, no matter what your outdoor niche may be.
2. Contact your fellow members
. In no uncertain terms I alluded earlier to the fact that we have a top-tier membership — communicators who have won innumerable awards and been recognized by their peers in the industry across multiple organizations for their knowledge, expertise and skills. In short, our best resource is each other. The folks who make up MOC are hands down some of the nicest and most helpful I’ve met in my life. We all want each other to succeed and we’re all willing to impart whatever knowledge we have — trade, topic or otherwise — to help our fellow members. From how to send a freelance query to an editor to how to paddle a kayak and canoe, I can guarantee you someone in MOC is willing to offer firsthand experience and assistance. Feel free to contact Kyle or myself if you need to connect with a fellow MOC’er. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out or share success stories online at the
MOC Member Forum.
I’m the only one that’s been known to bite, and I’ve had my rabies booster this year.
3. Spread the word.
Membership-based organizations such as ours are only as strong as the members make it, or want it to be. By the same token, you can only get out of such organization what you put in. Lucky for us being “Missouri Outdoor Communicators” is more than a title or a job description — it’s what we’re passionate about and probably doing anyway. For those of you who attended this year’s conference, I know
something
about the weekend tugged at that same part of you which brought you to Bunker Hill. Maybe it was a speaker at our opening night dinner or a guide you spent part of the weekend with on the river. Maybe it was that “being back at camp” experience or seeing the stars over the bluffs on the Jack’s Fork. Even if you couldn’t make it to the conference this year, I’m positive if you’re reading this that you’ve had that same experience in recent memory in the woods, on the water and out of doors. Whatever it was, follow that thing that pulled at you. Write, photograph, film, compose, paint or tweet that moment out there and tell someone about it, whether it’s a published piece or a text to a friend “hey, we should go camping there this fall.” Sharing, promoting and encouraging recreation in the outdoors is part of the MOC mission, and you never know what your experience, what your moment, may become for the person who reads it, sees it or hears about it. A first fishing trip? A rekindled love of birdwatching? A new MOC member in the making? It’s all possible, but none of it happens without you.
And while you’re at it, thank the people who made it happen for you. Whether it was a local guide who generously donated their time to us or a friend who prompted you to pick up your walking stick, a little good will or a few good words go a long way toward making the world go ‘round.
I’ll yammer at you again soon (probably sooner than many of you would like), but until then — get outside!
- Zach Smith, President 2019-2020
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
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Greetings, All.
I trust everyone has been enjoying their fall thus far and hopefully spending a healthy amount of time on the water, in woods and in the fields. I also hope that everyone is gearing up for an enjoyable holiday season. It will be here before we know it.
After some great feedback, we have revived the quarterly MOC TALK newsletter, albeit in a slightly different format. While we are still fine-tuning the details of the newsletter, I would appreciate any feedback that you'd be willing to provide as to how the newsletter might best serve you and the organization as a whole.
We had a great conference and have many other exciting events to look forward to in the coming year, including the 2020 conference at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park (more on that later in the newsletter).
There are a few things we have going on behind the scenes that I'd like to touch on:
We have secured host destinations for both the 2020 and 2021 MOC conferences. We couldn't be more excited about these opportunities and look forward to planning two great outings that each offer unique and interesting outdoor opportunities and great
We also have secured host destinations for the Fish & Fun Media Camp for 2020 and 2021. These smaller outdoor events have always been a good time and we're confident the next two events will follow in that tradition.
Also, we've been working on populating a dedicated page on the MOC website to archive Craft Improvement articles so that our members can reference them as needed. This is still a work in progress and more articles will be posted throughout the year. You can find this page here:
www.missourioutdoorcommunicators.org/craftimprovement
To view this page you will be asked to provide a password and it is:
MissouriOutdoors
(please note the password is case sensitive)
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MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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The following Missouri Outdoor Communicators were confirmed to serve on the Board of Directors at the MOC conference at Bunker Hill Retreat, September 9, 2019.
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OFFICERS OF THE BOARD, 2019-2020
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Gretchen Steele,
Vice President
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Tim Kjellesvik,
Secretary
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Bobby Whitehead,
Treasurer
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Darrell Taylor,
Supporting Member Liaison
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Kyle Stewart,
Executive Director
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Matt Miles,
Term Expires 2020
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Scott Heminger,
Term Expires 2020
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Lucas Bond,
Term Expires 2021
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Ken Taylor,
Term Expires 2021
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Scott Pauley,
Term Expires 2022
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Tyler Schwartze,
Term Expires 2022
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2019 Bunker Hill Retreat Conference Wrap-Up
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Clockwise from Top Left: Jackson Kayak Pro Jason Brink fishes for smallmouth on the Jacks Fork River near Bunker Hill Retreat (photo by Brad Wiegmann); A bull elk looks after the herd at Peck Ranch Conservation Area (photo by Gretchen Steele); Rocky Falls in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways near Winona (photo by Gretchen Steele)
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The 2019 Missouri Outdoor Communicators conference got underway on a beautiful - and very warm - Friday afternoon and that set the tone for the rest of the weekend. The weather cooled a bit and was splendid over the course of the next several days, the layout and feel of Bunker Hill Retreat, which is situated right on the Jacks Fork, was extremely charming and served as a welcome reminder just how beautiful Missouri's Ozarks are and how lucky we are to have such beauty in own backyards.
Friday afternoon MOC members split their time either fishing with local guide Bill Smith; paddling, fishing and testing new Jackson Kayaks, hiking through the surrounding Ozark forest to a picturesque spring, relaxing in the shade of awnings and porches and enjoying a reunion with fellow members. That evening, after a cookout where both Matt Miles and Dennis Whiteside proved to be true grill masters and Marjorie Beenders' side dishes nearly stole the show, we learned about the beginnings of one of Missouri's precious jewels, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways; the fascinating history of and care for Missouri's native and non-native black bear populations; and how Bunker Hill Retreat got its start and recently opened to the public. Afterward, several MOC members enjoyed a large bonfire on the gravel bar, a fitting end to a great first conference day.
Saturday began with a hearty breakfast before members and their guests headed out to float and fish the pristine Jacks Fork River; tour Peck Ranch, Rocky Falls and Alley Spring Mill; tour the CCC lodge and cabins at Big Spring and take a johnboat tour of Big Spring. Once back at camp, the evening's program got underway with the 2019 MOC Awards in Craft ceremonies and the presentation of the 2019 Toyota Community Generosity Award to the Scenic Rivers Stream Team Association. A highlight of the program was the dramatic retelling of a tale of local history, tragedy and revenge performed by "Doc" Nappier of the Eminence area. Saturday evening's auction and raffle was a success as MOC raised just over $2,000 to go towards to the "Buck" Rogers Memorial Scholarship fund.
On Sunday, following another homemade breakfast, the membership convened for the annual business meeting followed by the board meeting. Shortly thereafter it was time for lunch before packing up and making the beautiful, winding, tree-lined drive away from the river and back to modernity. A refrain that could be heard throughout the entire weekend was telling of the location and the experience: "What an amazing place - I can't wait to come back with my family."
On a personal note, I'd like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to past MOC president Barb Ostmann for introducing us to Bunker Hill and working hard behind the scenes to help make sure we had an outstanding conference.
To view the minutes from the 2019 MOC Business Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting,
please click here
.
The password to view the above pages is MissouriOutdoors
(please note the password is case sensitive)
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Clockwise from Top Left: Many conference attendees enjoyed a pleasant float on the Jacks Fork River near Eminence (photo by Brad Wiegmann); The iconic Alley Spring Mill near Eminence (photo by Gretchen Steele); A delicious cookout on Friday night was sponsored by Whitetails Unlimited (photo by Brad Wiegmann); Mitch Glenn, Ray Eye and Bobby Whitehead enjoy a conversation at registration (photo by Brad Wiegmann); There was a lot of great gear for the 2019 conference auction and raffle (photo by Brad Wiegmann); Dena Matteson of Ozark National Scenic Riverways speaks to the group on Friday night (photo by Brad Wiegmann); "Doc" Nappier regales the group with a fascinating tale of local history, tragedy and revenge on Saturday night (photo by Brad Wiegmann)
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A NOTE FROM EMILY ADAMS, THE 2019 "Buck" ROGERS
MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
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Hello again to everyone at MOC!
I’d like to thank each of you for so generously welcoming me into your organization.
When I saw the long, shaded drive to Bunker Hill I could feel myself exhale at last. The beauty of the Ozarks hasn’t changed much since I paddled down the Jacks Fork River as a little girl. Neither has Bunker Hill’s cabins, mess halls or pre-internet charm.
It was in this remote setting where I first met all of you. I’ve never interacted with a group of people so passionate about bears and bass. I was blown away not only by the fantastic communicators in the room, but also by the park rangers, conservation agents and business partners that worked to make the experience great.
I left knowing that people in Missouri care deeply about the outdoors. They want to preserve its legacy for others, whether that’s by researching a bear’s eating habits or writing about the best fishing lures. I am excited and honored to be a part of this tradition.
Thank you again for your support. It was a pleasure to meet each of you, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come for MOC.
Have a wonderful year,
Emily Adams, winner of the 2019 "Buck" Rogers Memorial Scholarship
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2020 MOC CONFERENCE HOST ANNOUNCED:
MOZINGO LAKE RECREATION PARK
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Our host location for the 2020 Missouri Outdoor Communicators annual conference is the beautiful and scenic
Mozingo Lake Recreation Park
in Maryville, located in northwest Missouri
.
Mozingo Lake Recreation Park is a 3,000-acre park with a 1,000-acre lake that offers outdoor recreation year-round. Some of the highlights of the area include:
guided fishing on one of the Top 100 Bass Lakes in the Country
according to Bassmaster Magazine,
hunting
,
bird watching
,
horseback riding
,
canoeing and kayaking
, exploring both
primitive and paved hiking trails
, two celebrated
golf courses
(an 18-hole course and a nine-hole hybrid course), as well as the Mozingo Outdoor Education & Recreation Area (MOERA), which features a ropes course, a challenge course,
trapshooting range and archery range
. Additional outdoor opportunities may include a guided
tour of TightlinesUV Tackle
production facility,
guided hunting
, guided tours of
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
and guided tours of
Dunn Ranch Prairie
.
During our time in Maryville, we will be staying at the impressive
Cobblestone Inn & Suites
at Mozingo Lake. Cobblestone features 40 well-appointed guest rooms, a fitness center, business center and large state-of-the-art conference facilities.
The dates for the 2020 MOC conference at Mozingo Lake are tentatively scheduled for Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11-13
.
However, we are currently exploring the possibility of moving the conference dates to late March
in order to avoid an overlap with the 2020 Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers conference as well as other important hunting seasons in hopes that we will have a record-breaking attendance. A confirmation of the conference dates will be announced shortly.
If late March will NOT work for you, please let me know ASAP
.
To ensure we are able to make the Mozingo Lake Conference as successful and productive as possible, I'd appreciate it if you took a couple minutes to
complete this survey
so we can have a better understanding of what activities and aspects of the conference are most important to you.
I thank you ahead of time for your feedback.
Be on the lookout for more information regarding the 2020 MOC Conference. It's going to be a great conference!
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Outdoor adventures in the Maryville area may include kayaking on Mozingo Lake, taking a guided tour of Dunn Ranch Prairie, taking a guided tour of Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge and exploring the miles hiking trails at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.
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LOOKING AHEAD
We also are happy to announce that the 2021 MOC Conference will be held at
Bennett Spring State Park
in Lebanon, MO. This will be the second time our conference has been held at this beautiful setting and we are looking forward to planning another fun and successful conference in the Lebanon area.
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MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS HONOREES
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It has been a very exciting couple of months for many MOC members as they've been recognized among the "Best of the Best" in outdoor communications. Below you will find a list of our members that have recently been recognized for their contributions to the world of outdoor media. Congratulations to all of you! These accolades only serve as further proof of the Missouri Outdoor Communicators truly talented and prestigious membership. Keep up the outstanding work!
MAJOR HONORS
- Larry Whiteley was recently inducted in the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame class of 2019
- Kenny Kieser was awarded the inaugural Angling Awareness Award from the American Sportfishing Association
MOC AWARD WINNERS
- Kenny Kieser - 1st Place, Bolivar Conference Writing Contest
- Zach Smith - 2nd Place, Bolivar Conference Writing Contest
- Larry Whiteley - 1st and 2nd Places, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation Youth in the Outdoors Writing Contest
- Gretchen Steele - Winner, 2019 MOC People's Choice Photography Contest
ASSOCIATION OF GREAT LAKES OUTDOOR WRITERS AWARD WINNERS
- Conservation Federation of Missouri - Golden Glow Organization Award
- Larry Whiteley - Best of Show/ Best of the Best Award for Excellence in Writing or Electronic Media
- Kenny Kieser - 1st Place, Best of Newspaper/ Hunting
- John Sloan - 1st Place, Best of Newspaper/ Open
- Kenny Kieser - 3rd Place, Best of Magazine/ Hunting
- John Sloan - 1st Place, Best of Magazine/ Fishing
- Kenny Kieser - 1st Place, Best of Magazine/ Open
- Tim Huffman - 3rd Place, Best Book
- Larry Whiteley - 3rd Place, Best of Broadcast - Radio/ Open
- Larry Whiteley - 1st Place, Best of Broadcast - Radio/ Hunting
- Larry Whiteley - 3rd Place, Best of Broadcast - Radio/ Hunting
- Larry Whiteley - 1st Place, Best of Broadcast - Radio/ Fishing
- Brandon Butler - 3rd Place, Best of Electronic Media - Blog/ Hunting
- Larry Whiteley - 3rd Place, Best of Electronic Media - Blog/ Fishing
- Brent Frazee - 3rd Place, Best of Electronic Media - Blog/ Fishing
- Larry Whiteley - 1st Place, Best of Electronic Media - Blog/ Open
- Brandon Butler - 3rd Place, Best of Electronic Media - Podcast/ Hunting
- Brandon Butler - 2nd Place, Best of Electronic Media - Podcast/ Open
- David Gray - 1st Place, Best of Electronic Media - Vlog/ Fishing
SOUTHEASTERN OUTDOOR PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNERS
- Henry Repeating Arms - 2nd Place, Industry Public Relations
- Brandon Butler - 1st Place, Audio Program
- Brandon Butler - 1st Place, Electronic Publishing/ Story
- Brandon Butler - 1st Place, Weekly Newspaper/ Story
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MOC FISH & FUN MEDIA CAMP
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We are currently in the planning stages for a
MOC Fish and Fun Media Camp
. The camp will be held at Stone Creek Lodge and hosted by Kris Nelson, owner of Stone Creek and Tandem Fly Outfitters near Stockton, MO.
The dates of this event will depend on what dates we settle on for the 2020 conference. If the conference moves to March, then this would be a fall event as opposed to a spring event as originally planned.
The Fish & Fun Media Camp event will be structured similarly to the Spring Fling and Cast & Blast events held in the past. Between 15-20 MOC members, both Media Members and Supporting Members, will enjoy several days of fishing with the best guides on Stockton Lake; hiking, biking, kayaking and birding at Stockton State Park; learning about current and future conservation efforts; and exploring additional outdoor story opportunities in the Stockton area.
We are still finalizing the dates and finer details for this event, but we will make additional information available in the next couple of months.
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PODCAST PRINCIPLES: HOSTING A QUALITY SHOW ON A
LEAN BUDGET
By Tim Kjellesvik, host and founder of The Thinking Woodsman Podcast
I started The Thinking Woodsman Podcast because many of my favorite hunting and fishing shows had fizzled and went away. I wanted a platform to discuss real issues that face outdoorsmen and women, to explore the complex ways we’re changed by our time afield and to do it in a fun way. I felt like too many people in the industry could stand to loosen up a bit…so I did a bunch of research, spent a little money and launched my show back in February of 2016. What I’ve packaged here for you is simply one way to skin the cat, along with considerations only you’ll be able to make. My hope is that it shallows out the learning curve I had to climb.
Why?
The first question you’ll need to ask yourself is, “Why do I want to start a podcast?” What will be so different and compelling about your show that people will care to actively seek it out? Search iTunes for shows in the genre you want to produce. Is there already an effective voice there? If not, you can check the first box off your podcasting “To Do” list. If there is already someone in that space, you’ll have to determine if you can do a better job or approach the content from a fresh angle. Ultimately, you must determine what you’ll say and how you’ll say it. If you can articulate that, you’re in good shape to proceed.
Equipment
In podcasting, next to content, audio quality is everything. DO NOT use the standard mic on a laptop or your phone…save these for rare “in the field” segments. As a rule, use a quality mic (expect to spend no less than $60) that includes both XLR and USB output modes. This will give you the flexibility to run your mic directly to a computer, or if you expand to multiple mics or just want more control over your audio, you can input that same mic into a mixing board. Also, consider adding a pop screen to your mics to mitigate distracting pronunciations of hard “P”s.
What’s a mixing board? You know the big deck of knobs and sliders in a recording studio? That’s a mixing board. Thankfully, you won’t need something as complex or expensive as that. A mixing board allows you to add multiple mics, other input devices and adjust the recording sensitivity of individual microphones, especially helpful with especially loud or quiet talkers. You literally mix audio streams with it into a single source. Look for a board with at least two XLR inputs so you’ll be set when you want to conduct an interview. If possible, choose a mixing board with a USB output to run your audio into the computer.
Since recording and working with audio isn’t nearly as taxing on a computer as video, most any modern computer, laptop or tablet will work to capture sound. You’ll likely be able to use the laptop or desktop computer you already own. You’ll also want a decent pair of over-the-ear headphones so you can monitor the quality of your recordings and edit them with precision.
Software
You’ve got the gear, now you have to capture the audio and edit it. If you like spending no money and don’t mind not having the ability to right click for more options, Audacity (audacity.com) is a great choice for recording software. It’s a no-frills recording suite with a powerful set of tools that’ll help make your show sound its best. There are other payware options for editing audio, but for 90% of podcasters, Audacity will be your best bet.
Studio
Where you produce your magic matters. Avoid rooms with excessive ambient noise, like spaces near a furnace or high traffic areas. Once you start considering the “where,” you’ll realize just how noisy everyday life truly is. You also want a place you feel comfortable and confident to focus on the topic at hand.
Will you be inviting guests on the show? Where will they sit? Will they be able to sit across from you naturally or be forced to face the same direction you do? These are all things to consider when planning out your space.
Media Usage
Got a Ted Nugent song already picked out as your intro music? Unless you’ve secured a license to use it, you can’t…not even a second of it. Despite the various bits of counsel online, no copyrighted songs or music can be used in your work…no matter how short a sample you use. Purchasing a song you’d hear on the radio is a difficult proposition even if you know the artist, since oftentimes the artists themselves don’t own the music.
The good news is that there are websites with catalogs of recorded studio music you can download for a reasonable price (around $3 per song). Jewelbeat.com is a great place to start, but there are others. Be sure to read the licensing agreements associated with the work. There may be stipulations on how to credit the artist and the number of projects the song can be used in.
File Hosting
So you’ve recorded, edited and produced a show. Now what? You’ll need a hosting solution, somewhere to store your audio files so people can access them. I’m a hardcore DIYer and after much research learned that when it comes to podcasting, it’s best to pay for a service as opposed to trying to use your own hosting solution, especially if you expect high demand.
Some popular podcast hosting solutions are blubrry.com, libsyn.com and soundcloud.com. Do some research to compare what you get for the monthly hosting fees. Also consider ease of integration into your existing website. What about stats? Will you need to run monthly reports for sponsors?
Make it Accessible
Once you’ve settled on a hosting service, you’ll want to get clearance for your show on iTunes and Google. iTunes boasts the largest podcasting library and is by far the most popular place for listeners to consume content. Both Apple and Google have about a two day clearing process to ensure your show fits the format and rating you assigned it in the application process. Visit their respective websites for the steps involved with submitting a show for inclusion on their service.
A podcast is a great way to reach a targeted audience in ways that work for them through the devices they choose. Once you’ve gotten all the logistics worked out, then you can begin the real work of developing a style, generating content and growing your listenership. It’s certainly no overnight project, but as someone who loves the outdoors, I’m willing to bet you’re no stranger to putting in the effort.
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For future issues for MOC TALK, please send story submissions, photographs, inquiries and upcoming events to Kyle Stewart at
[email protected]
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MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS
125 E. HIGH STREET, SUITE 200
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101
PHONE: 573-619-3296
WWW.MISSOURIOUTDOORCOMMUNICATORS.ORG
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