CAMPFIRE CHAT WITH
MOC PRESIDENT GRETCHEN STEELE
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The leaves are changing, the deer are starting to chase, geese are flying overhead, and there was a frost across the freshly combined bean fields this morning. How can it be the first of November already?
I look at my calendar, and my heart alternately palpitates and swells. Fall is arguably one of the busiest seasons for outdoor communicators. Hunting seasons are open; fall fishing is at its peak. Camping, floating, leaf peeping – all make fall one of our favorite and most storyline-filled seasons!
Although my heart does its little pitter-patter of an anxious "How am I going to pull this off?" dance when looking at the calendar, it also swells with joy when I realize how lucky I am to have so many wonderful outdoor activities taking place.
I've been a tad sad this year – I missed the MOC conference, and I also missed the AGLOW (Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers) conference that was held in Missouri this year. I've heard nothing but great feedback from other outdoor communicators who our MOC members warmly welcomed. Speaking of the AGLOW Conference, kudos to those MOC members who carried on the tradition of MOC members winning some great Awards in Craft awards. Recalling previous AGLOW conferences, I can almost hear Marjorie's whoops of excitement when a MOC member's name was called during the ceremony. Marjorie is such a great cheerleader for all of us associated with MOC!
Because life has seen fit to throw me one curveball after another the past few months – all of which have left me feeling both physically and emotionally battered, putting together this edition of the Campfire Chat seemed to morph into some herculean task.
We all know that stymied feeling when words, images, and sounds just don't come easily. Call it writer's block, a broken brain, or creative jam up – whatever it is, I'm freely admitting to suffering from it now. I'm admitting this so that we can learn from each other, which is one of the very best parts of belonging to MOC. We have such a varied and eclectic membership. There's always someone to help us solve a problem, clarify an issue, or lend a hand.
I fell back on two sage pieces of advice from two outdoor communicators I value and respect. For years when I would get jammed up working on this article or that, throw up my hands in frustration and stomp off to the coffee pot in a snit, my longtime editor, friend and MOC member Jeff Lampe would tell me with a sigh, "You are overthinking this. Just. Tell. The. Story."
As I thought more about Jeff's always-good advice, I remembered another excellent piece of advice from our own Larry Whiteley. "Write from your heart." Since I found Larry's advice incredibly helpful, I saved the craft improvement piece he did for a previous MOC newsletter. Re-reading through that as Jeff's voice echoed through my head, I realized that just telling the story and writing from my heart was the best I could do right now.
So here we are. I'd like for this to be a perfect and polished shining example of what MOC members produce daily, but I fear that's just not going to happen this go around. But my heart is so full of admiration for fellow MOC members, gratitude for fellow MOC members, and thankfulness for those supporting MOC members and sponsors.
It's truly the people and community of MOC that make it such a wonderful organization. Everyone is willing to help with advice, opportunities, and instruction. It's great to be part of an organization where the members support each other so well and in many ways.
My heart is overflowing at the autumn sights and sounds around us. A young hunter's first deer, a fisherman's trophy trout, the geese overhead honking, the sandhill cranes' clattering and rattling, and the elk's mighty bugle.
For our newest members who will be reading their first MOC newsletter – do not be shy! Reach out, ask questions, and lean on us! The same goes for the longtime members. I am thrilled that we have young, new, enthusiastic members who take outdoor communication to levels we couldn't even have imagined 15 or 20 years ago. I'm equally thrilled that we have members that remind me of statesmen – sage, wise, and experienced in making things work and getting things done. There's so much we can learn from each other.
So when the "business" of autumn gets you down, wears you out, and leaves you running on creative empty – remember it's simple. Just tell the story, and write from your heart.
- Gretchen Steele, President
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE |
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Autumn greetings, MOC members.
It's hard to believe autumn is already here, though all the signs are obvious to see.
It's been a beautiful fall in Missouri. One of those falls that makes you stop to pause and drink it all in. It seemed the color came early this year, at least to central Missouri, and, thus far, it is not in a rush to leave.
For my family, fall is our favorite time to go for long hikes and quiet floats (quiet, that is, until we show up). We try to take advantage of the brief lull between sports schedules and extracurriculars to spend more family time outside, whether it be visiting favorite spots or exploring new ones. This fall we've explored several new-to-us state parks and conservation areas, and I must say, I have been most impressed. I'm always thrilled to find a new place that is close to home that offers an escape and new adventures. And, Missouri abounds with them. For example: For years I had driven past the signs for Pinnacles Youth Park and Finger Lakes State Park, both north of Columbia off US 63, and never stopped. We made a point to remedy that recently. I was stunned to find at Pinnacles a piece of Utah in the heart of Missouri. It was like a little version of both Arches and Zion national parks enclosed in 70 wooded miles of Central Missouri. And, at Finger Lakes, we had a paddling experience not altogether that dissimilar to floating our favorite Ozark streams, but without the four-hour round trip. The park's aquatic trail was well marked and easy to navigate and the narrow channels and clearer water felt much more like a river than a lake. We even had a picnic lunch on a sandy swimming beach, which we had all to ourselves. All this, more or less, right in our backyard, but we had no idea.
At the recent Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) conference held in Branson last month, that seemed to be a common theme. I had the pleasure of meeting many outdoor communicators and brand representatives from around the country and several said the same thing - "I had no idea Missouri looked like this." And those sentiments were always followed by something along the lines of "I'm going to have to come back!" It seemed, although they had heard about Missouri's outdoor reputation, for those I spoke with it had always been a "drive-through" state, a means of getting somewhere else from wherever they came from. They had never taken the opportunity to stop and explore but this time they deviated from the interstates. And, what did they find? That there is so much to discover and they didn't have enough time to take it all in. It's one of the things I love most about our state - if you love the outdoors, we have it all. Sometimes you just have to take the time and look for it.
Another takeaway from the AGLOW conference is that MOC is on the right track. I learned that there are several large and esteemed outdoor communications organizations that are not fairing well and are either dissolving or completely restructuring because they are struggling to recruit and retain members and evolve with the media landscape. Meanwhile, our little state organization is as healthy and robust as I can remember it being. We keep growing in membership and participation and our audience on social media keeps growing as well. I think that's due, in part, to the great diversity of outdoor activities we have in Missouri, but also due to the fact that you all, our members, do such an incredible job of promoting Missouri's outdoor bounty. So, let's keep it up and help more people discover what a gem we have in the Show-Me State.
- Kyle Stewart, The Beenders Walker Group
Missouri Outdoor Communicators Executive Director
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SAVE THE DATES!!
2023 MOC ANNUAL CONFERENCE UPDATES
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We are delighted to announce that the 2023 MOC conference will take place Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21 at Meramec State Park near Sullivan, Missouri. |
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The pristine beauty of the Meramec River and its surrounding bluffs, caves and forests were recognized as supreme natural treasures very early in the Missouri state park system, being designated as a state park in 1926.
The park's natural heritage is as rich as its abundant cultural heritage. Several miles of picturesque riverbank scenery are preserved in the park, providing a haven for river wildlife and recreation. Hidden within the park's expansive forest are several springs and more than 40 caves, including the famous Fisher Cave, a spectacular natural wonder.
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The Meramec River also is one of the most diversified rivers in North America. More than half of the species of fish in Missouri are found in the Meramec River. The most popular game fish are all three black bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted), panfish, catfish, drum and even trout.
Meramec State Park also has a strong Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) presence as well. In 1933, the craftsmen of the CCC began constructing trails, picnic shelters and other facilities at the park. Nine years of CCC work left Meramec State Park with a collection of comfortable facilities that blend into the rugged landscape with their rustic design.
Other area attractions include Meramec Conservation Area, Meramec Spring Park, Meramec Caverns, Onondoga Cave State Park, the City of Sullivan, and many more conservation areas and highlights all located within a short drive from Meramec State Park.
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CONFERENCE ACCOMMODATIONS:
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The MOC conference headquarters at Meramec State Park will be at the Hickory Ridge Conference Center and pavilion overlooking the Meramec River. We will plan to hold most of our meals, seminars and hospitality suite at the conference center.
MOC members and guests will be staying in the 22-room Hickory Ridge Motel (pictured), located next to the Hickory Ridge Conference Center. The motel features 19 units with two queen beds, and two units with three queen beds and kitchenette.
For those that would prefer a cabin, cabins will be available for rent at a discounted price.
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CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES:
A sample of conference activities and topics include:
- Floating the Meramec River
- Fishing the Meramec River
- Hiking celebrated trails
- Guided cave tour at Fisher Caver
- Tour the Meramec State Park Nature Center (pictured)
- Guided cave tour at Meramec Caverns
- Guided cave tour at Onondoga Cave
- Craft Improvement programs
- Story Starter Seminars
- Spouse/Guest Tours and Activities
A special thanks goes out to Kevin French, concessionaire at Meramec State Park for hosting our group.
Please be on the lookout for additional conference details - including activities and conference programming - in the coming months.
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(Left to right): Paddle along the beautiful Meramec River; Enjoy the spectacular natural wonder that is Fisher Cave; the Meramec is one of the most diverse rivers in North America.
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COMING SOON...
2023 MOC ONLINE HOLIDAY AUCTION
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The 2022 MOC Holiday Online Auction launches this evening, November 2 at 8:00 p.m. and will run until 8:00 p.m. on December 2, 2022.
As with the previous two online auctions, MOC has received many generous donations from Supporting Members as well as donations from several MOC Media Members.
You can view the online auction here:
The 2022 MOC online auction features 18 items primarily consisting of outdoor getaway packages and guided fishing trips.
Proceeds generated will go toward the Missouri Outdoor Communicators general operating funds to ensure the organization can continue to host media events, continue to work towards its mission and to also support future MOC Thayne Smith Memorial Service Day projects.
Please share the auction link with anyone and everyone that you think would be interested in any/all of the great prize packages.
Last year's online auction raised just over $4,000, which was double the amount raised the first year. We are hopeful this will continue to be an excellent revenue generator for MOC.
Many thanks to all those that donated to the 2022 MOC holiday auction.
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THE GRAND UNVEILING... MOC'S NEW LOGO |
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Have you notice something different scattered throughout this newsletter?
After a lengthy process, we are proud to unveil Missouri Outdoor Communicators' new logo (pictured to the right). Doesn't that look sharp?
We wanted to honor MOC's rich history, so we felt an update to MOC's original logo would best accomplish that goal. However, we wanted something fresh without entirely reinventing MOC's identity.
We have the primary logo, which includes the state outline as well as an alternate logo without the state outline, both in color, black and white and reversed (all white).
We hope that the membership is as pleased with the new logo as we and the board of directors are.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO MOC'S HONORED MEMBERS |
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Multiple MOC members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to conservation and outdoor communication over the last few months.
The Missouri Department of Conservation communications staff cleaned up at the Association for Conservation Information annual conference in Nashville, Tenn. in late July.
Out of 35 contest categories, MDC was awarded 15 honors. Some standouts include:
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- 1st Place - Best Podcast - Jill Pritchard (Nature Boost)
- 3rd Place - Best Recurring Video Program - Lucas Bond (Nature's Calling)
- 2nd Place - Best Video PSA & Marketing (Never Lose Touch with Nature)
- 2nd Best Magazine - The Conservationist
- 3rd Best Magazine - Xplor!
- Multiple photography awards and a lot more
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MOC Supporting Member Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) was awarded the Sacagawae Community and Partnership Conservation Award on September 28 during the 2022 National Lewis and Clark Conservation Awards hosted by the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation.
The Sacagawae Community and Partnership Conservation Award goes to organizations that are focused on exceptional community and partnership building that have led to progressive changes in conservation programs and have made a significant impact to Missouri. Congratulations to Tyler Schwartze and his wonderful staff and organization for this honor!
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During the 2022 Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers annual conference in Branson, Mo., four MOC members took home honors during the Excellence in Craft Award Ceremony.
Gretchen Steele was honored with the following awards:
- 2nd place - Best of Magazine - Boat, Travel & Camping
- 1st place - Best of Newspaper - Boat, Travel & Camping
- 2nd Place - Best of Electronic Blog - Fishing
- 2nd Place - Best of Photography - Outdoor Recreation
Kenny Kieser was honored with the following award:
- 3rd place - Best of Newspaper - Fishing
Brent Frazee was honored with the following award:
- 3rd Place - Best of Electronic Blog - Fishing
Larry Whiteley was honored with the following award:
- 1st Place - Best of Electronic Blog - Hunting
Congratulations to all of you. Keep up the outstanding work!
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"CHARLIE'S CHUCKLES"
FUNCTIONAL PUNCTUATION - END POINTS
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By Charlie Slovensky, MOC founding member and father of MOC TALK.
This column is dedicated to all those outdoor communicators who couldn’t make it as clowns in a circus or standup comedians in Vegas. It will be a combination of humorous quips and anecdotes to give us food for thought as we self-analyze our writing styles. It is offered free of charge and free of malice, and with the keen knowledge that none of us can afford the option of a therapist, not that visiting one would be helpful.
Functional Punctuation –
End Points, Part 1
As originally promised, this column was supposed to bring to a conclusion our discussion of punctuation marks. However, my research reveals that in addition to sentence-ending punctuation; there’s a host of other tools for adding intonation within sentences -- too many to cover in one column and still hold your attention (or mine, at least). So, this treatise will encompass periods, question marks, exclamation points, and a unique hybrid of the latter two. Next time, I’ll get into colons and semicolons, hyphens and dashers, parentheses and brackets, and slashes and ellipses.
Periods have two functions:
1) to finalize a mildly declarative or imperative sentence – “Coop cooked a veritable feast on the gravel bar the next morning.” OR “Learn how to cook your own goose.”
2) to follow most abbreviations – “Mr. and Mrs., etc.” It is worth noting that evolving usage has eliminated the requirements for many abbreviations – “RSVP is acceptable in place of “R.S.V.P.”
There should be no question what a question mark is for, but it does get complicated because there are questions that are direct, and ones that are indirect. This should be obvious from conversing with spouses and listening to customer service representatives. Direct questions require a question mark, but indirect questions don’t. I have observed that politicians and lawyers are adept at using these distinctions to their advantage. A direct question like “Who started the investigation?” can be responded to with an indirect question, such as “You shouldn’t be asking, now should you.”
Declarative sentences can include direct questions: “Who authorized the investigation? he asked. In this case, no comma follows the question mark. Then there’s the wriggling witness’s favorite, the interpolated question: “My assistant told me – did I hear correctly? – who started the investigation.”
Question marks used to express the author’s uncertainty should be laced in parentheses: “Coop was born in the Bootheel (?) but escaped to the Meramec watershed at an early age.”
Outdoor writers should use exclamation points a lot. They express excitement, surprise, and wonder, all of which are second nature to the natural world. “Look at that sunrise!” “Keep your rod tip up!”
Finally, I’m wont to take the liberty of combining a question mark with an exclamation point to express incredulity: “You actually survived that whitewater rafting trip?!” Or, to quote an excitable former tennis player, “Are you serious?!”
As stated earlier, next time we’ll fill in the gaps with all those other punctuation marks. It should set the stage for a long winter’s nap . . . .
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A GOOD SOURCE CAN MAKE FOR AN EVEN BETTER STORY
By Brent Frazee, award-winning freelance journalist, former longtime outdoor editor for The Kansas City Star, and MOC past president
I once read a story about a national television reporter who took a novel approach to get sources for stories.
He would throw a dart at a national map, then travel to wherever it stuck. He then would go through a phone book (yeah, it was a while ago), pick a random name, then do a story on that person if he or she was willing.
The premise was “Everybody has a story.” And it provided some great content.
Sometime, I think I’d like to do something like that with an outdoors-related theme. Throughout my long career as an outdoor writer, some of my most memorable experiences have come from days spent with sources who said “Why would you want to write about me?”
That’s the glue that has held my career together. I love telling everybody’s story.
I’m not into the technical side of the outdoors. In my mind, there are only so many ways you can tell people how to fish a plastic worm. I’m disappointed when the cover of a magazine blares “Revolutionary new way to catch bass” on the cover, then I find a mundane article about an age-old tactic.
And I seldom write first-person articles, talking about my latest adventures. I guess I’m one of those writers who doubts that people would want to read about my personal experiences week after week. I’m not the type of guy who can tell tales of landing a giant tarpon one week and shooting an elephant the next.
What I do love is telling someone else’s story. Like the time I met Hillbilly Joyce, a true Ozarks hillbilly who lived off the grid. We paddled a river together, caught fish and became instant friends.
Later, the person who set up the contact told me, ”Before you came down here, she asked if you were married.”
I had visions of a shotgun wedding in the woods and having to explain it to my wife when I got home.
But there were many, many more. My old buddy J.D. Fletcher, an iconic guide in the Ozarks, was always good for a laugh and a good story. He was a quote machine without even knowing it.
I can still picture him sitting at the back of his johnboat, spitting tobacco juice into the water and saying, “I wonder what the poor people are doing today? Then after a pause, he said, “One of them’s back here paddling this old boat.”
I also remember the guy who sat on a box of donuts on the way to the lake but still offered them to us when we got into the boat (I declined), the oldtimers who got into the blueberry wine when we were running trotlines and got so tipsy they could hardly function, and the woman who tried turkey hunting for the first time when she was in her 80s and took a big tom. I remember her turning to me and saying, “Why does everybody make such a big deal over how hard this turkey hunting is?”
Yeah, to me, it’s the people who make the story. I am constantly looking for that character who looks and acts like someone out of an old “Lil’ Abner” comic strip.
They can entertain, but they can also instruct. Those are the type of fishermen or hunters who have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves. If you can get them to open up, your readers might actually learn something.
But even if they don’t, they will get a subtle reminder of what makes our outdoors sports so special. We’re made up of a wide range of men, women and children—different backgrounds, ages, lifestyles and attitudes—with a common goal: enjoying the outdoors.
The next time you go out, resist the urge to tell readers about your experiences. Instead, tell the story about the guide or expert you are with.
You’ll be glad you did.
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For future issues for MOC TALK, please send story submissions, photographs, inquiries and upcoming events to Kyle Stewart of The Beenders Walker Group at Kyle@TBWGroup.net.
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MISSOURI OUTDOOR COMMUNICATORS
125 E. HIGH STREET, SUITE 200
JEFFERSON CITY, MO 65101
EMAIL: KYLE@TBWGROUP.NET
OFFICE: 573-636-8282
CELL: 573-619-3296
WWW.MISSOURIOUTDOORCOMMUNICATORS.ORG
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