March 2023
Welcome to the Zane Grey Chapter March 2023 newsletter. March celebrates the beginning of Spring, March Madness, Mardi Gras, Pi-Day, and it is a time when activities really start churning. This March is no exception.
March is a wonderful time of the year in Arizona. In addition to Spring Training baseball, we have every conceivable festival, event, and outreach show possible. It is an opportunity for you to volunteer and help!
Our upcoming activities and some we list for AZGFD are varied, and we need volunteers for all these activities. Among the activities are:
- Salt River Saturday, this weekend, March 4. Come out and join AZTU Public Policy Chair and ZGTU board member Ron Stearns as he host this Saturday.
- Salt River Saturday, March 18, co-hosted by ZGTU VP Tom Goodwin and board member Fernando Reyes, as we host kids from the Scottsdale Boys and Girls Club. We need volunteers for this event. More about the specifics of this event later in the newsletter.
- AZ Fly Shop Spring Fling AZTU-ZGTU hosts a table – March 18
- BSA Sun City Grand Merit Badge Clinic March 18 – help kids fish, cast, and tie
- AZGFD Outdoor Expo – March 25-26 with AFC, DFC, AZ Fly Shop
- Native and Wild Trout Conference, AZGFD, 9-4, April 6, 2023
- Girl Scout Jamboree, Payson, April 29
- R-C Pipeline & Spring Box replacement, Spring 2023 TBD
- 2023 Fish Camp three sessions: June 4 – 9, June 11 – 16; & June 18 – 23 Volunteers needed for a variety of duties. We’ll send more details separately. But you can signup to be a volunteer this year here.
We encourage you to join us for these many activities. Click here to see the various events we have scheduled. We’ll continue to update these events, so check back frequently.
Arizona Council News:
We are sorry to report the Arizona Fly Fishing Film Festival is cancelled. The Film Festival committee is exploring additional options and may reschedule for later this year. No date is set.
Watch for upcoming conservation, youth opportunities, and community outreach announcements with the specific times, dates and contact info later in the newsletter.
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And guess what – we’ve entered the 21st Century . . . we can now text you with important updates, reminders, and other information. We promise we won’t SPAM your phone, the most we’ll send is three-messages a month. But you’ll need to ‘opt-in’ to get our text messages. You can opt-in here
We thank you for your help and support!
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Board Meeting - We’ve gone virtual!!!!
Please join us for our monthly board teleconferences
the first Thursday of each month @ 7:00 – 8:45 PM
Until then,
Tight Lines.
Alan Davis
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Help Wanted Needed!
Consider volunteering for a position with your chapter. We are currently looking for a number of volunteers. Scroll down to the Volunteer Section for more information. Or, contact any board member, or me.
Can you write in complete sentences, and spell most words correctly? Then we may have a job for you. Our newsletter editor is looking for an assistant editor. If interested, contact Wayne Miiller for more information.
Here are some of the articles in this month's Newsletter.
- Your Zane Grey Chapter of TU has a great Instagram! Follow us here!
- Arizona TU (@trout_unlimited_arizona)
- Conservation & Fishing
- Salt River Saturdays - 2 Dates in March!
- Public Policy
- Legislative Update
- Rural Groundwater Working Group
- SB 1306
- 4Fri Update - Moving to Implementation
- Upcoming Events: Meeting Thursday March 9th @ 7PM
- Volunteer Opportunities and Updates:
- See above in the President's Message and below
- Other Angling organizations
- ZGTU and affiliates calendar
- Follow ZGTU on Social Media
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Partnering with Desert Fly Casters Club and Arizona Flycasters Club, we plan a series of Salt River Saturdays. Arizona Game and Fish Department has listed all Salt River Saturdays on their Arizona FishAZ Network.
Come out for coffee, conservation, camaraderie, and an opportunity to fish the Salt River. Oh, and of course we'll have donuts!
We'll hold these events more or less fortnightly beginning in November, and generally follow this schedule: Click Here for Schedule
Saturday, March 4th with AZGFD
Saturday, March 18th with AZGFD
Saturday, April 1st with AZGFD
Saturday, April 15th with AZGFD
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February Meeting Summary
The AZTU-PPC meeting held in February 2023 was a two hour meeting devoted to the AZTU-PPC's Action and Strategy Plan for 2023. The Committee will be reviewing the results of the planning session at it's March 2023 meeting.
Legislative Update
The AZTU staff are actively working down at the State Capitol. We are monitoring a few bills of interest! More to come as this legislative session is off to a fast start. Secondly, AZTU partnered with the Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) in this year's annual Camo at the Capital held on February 20th. Camo at the Capitol was a huge success which included fly casting, wild game tasting of many varieties, and meet and greets with our state's decision makers as well as some of our state's most passionate and hardworking conservationists. We showed our legislature that sportsmen and sportswomen stand united for our wildlife, our public lands, and our heritage of angling and hunting!
Here are a few important items.. in case you missed them..
Rural Groundwater Working Group
The Rural Groundwater Working Group is working on a strategy to get the Arizona Legislature to pass legislation to allow counties to manage their groundwater. AZTU is an active member of this group. We recognize that surface water and groundwater are inextricably connected. {Continue reading here}
SB1306 Proposes Local Groundwater Stewardship Areas
A milestone was reached on January 27th when SB1306 was proposed in the Senate by Sen. Sonny Borelli. The companion bill is expected to be proposed in the House by Rep Leo Biasiucci. {Continue reading here}
4FRI Stakeholder Group
4FRI, the Four Forests Restoration Initiative, has moved from the Planning Phase into the Implementation Phase! This is a major step forward, facilitated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act. {Continue reading here}
Upcoming Events
The March 2023 AZTU-PPC Meeting: Thursday, March 9th at 7:00 PM. This meeting will be devoted to reviewing the results of our annual Strategy and Action Plan for 2023 held in February 2023.
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The AZTU Public Policy Committee (PPC) hosts a virtual meeting on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 until 8:00 PM. If you are interested, please contact Ron Stearns at PublicPolicyChair@az-tu.org .
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We have a number of Volunteer Opportunities! |
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AZTU and ZGTU are hosting a table, signing up new members and generally spreading the word about Zane Grey Chapter and Arizona Council. We need help staffing the table.
Can’t volunteer for the entire day? There are opportunities to work half-day shifts.
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Can you help staff our table @ AZ Fly Shop ?
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LOCATION
3254 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032
DATE AND TIME
03/18/23 8:00am
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03/18/23 3:00pm
Fly Fishing Community Event, featuring industry professionals and fly-fishing community groups.
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Sun City Grand Fishing Club BSA Merit Badge Clinic
9-2 PM, March 18, 2023
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Sun City Grand Fishing Club and Zane Grey Chapter are hosting the 4th annual Fishing and Fly-Fishing merit badge clinic with the Grand Canyon Council BSA.
More information is available here.
We need instructors to help with casting, fly-tying, and other activities. Can’t volunteer for the entire day? There are opportunities to work half-day shifts.
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Can you help with the Merit Badge Clinic?
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LOCATION
19900 N Remington Dr, Surprise, AZ 85374
DATE AND TIME
03/18/23 8:00am
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03/18/23 4:00pm
A joint Zane Grey Chapter and Sun City Grand Fishing Club Fishing and fly-fishing Merit Badge Clinic held for the Grand Canyon Council BSA.
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AZGFD Outdoor Expo
March 25-26, Saturday and Sunday 9 - 4
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We need casting instructors and general volunteers hosting a table, signing up new members and generally spreading the word about Zane Grey Chapter and Arizona Council.
Joining us again this year is the Arizona Flycasters Club, and also joining us the AZ Fly Shop. Once again we'll have Casting challenge hoops. Last year we had hundreds of people trying their best to win a hat or other prize.
Come on out, join the fun, we need your help. Can’t volunteer for the entire day? There are opportunities to work half-day shifts.
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Can you help us staff our table at the AZGFD Outdoor Expo March 25-26?
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I can help Saturday, March 25, 8-12N
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I can help Saturday, March 25, 12-4PM
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I can help Sunday, March 26 8-12N
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I can help Sunday, March 26, 12-4PM
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Can you help us staff the casting area at the AZGFD Outdoor Expo March 25-26?
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I can help Saturday, March 25, 8-12N
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I can help Saturday, March 25, 12-4PM
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I can help Sunday, March 26 8-12N
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I can help Sunday, March 26, 12-4PM
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Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference - April 6th |
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We're back live for the 14th Annual Native and Wild Trout Conference on April 6th from 9a.m. - 4p.m. at the AZGFD headquarters.
This year the conference returns to an in-person event after being presented virtually due to the COVID pandemic. The last in-person conference, in April 2019, gathered over 150 individuals from more than 50 agencies and organizations with many wide-ranging issues and presenters. Attendees will receive a free lunch.
We'll need volunteers to help with the event, plus an opportunity to hear the latest on native and wild trout restoration work in Arizona and New Mexico.
Don’t miss this highly informative networking event.
Details on registration (due by April 1st) and topics can be found at www.az-tu.org.
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Casting and fly tying instructors needed!
Join The Jamboree!
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Saturday, April 29 is your opportunity to introduce Girl Scouts to the joys (and frustrations) of fly fishing. The Arizona Cactus-Pine Council of Girl Scouts will be hosting their Jamboree at Shadow Rim Camp in Payson from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM. (Don’t worry! Lunch is provided for volunteers!)
Casting Clinic: We are looking for some casting instructors to help girls aged 9-17 learn the art of fly fishing. Casting will take place at the camp’s lake with a challenge for each girl to test her new skill in a very abbreviated version of the Danish Casting Games.
Fly Tying 101: Volunteers are needed to help Girl Scouts understand the art of fly tying and help them tie a woolly bugger of their very own. We will be explaining how various flies imitate various bugs/food that fish eat.
This is a great opportunity to instill a love of nature and impart some much needed outdoor education for these scouts. The Jamboree is designed to help Girl Scouts build outdoor confidence, self-betterment and learn new skills.
It’s great fun! But we need you to volunteer and make it BETTER! All supplies will be provided, you just have to show up.
Can’t volunteer for the entire day? There are opportunities to work half-day shifts.
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REMEMBER:
Your Conservation License Plate Supports Our Programs
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The Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) license plate fund is derived from the sale of wildlife conservation license plates and member organizations as well as non-member organizations are eligible to apply for those funds.
The Arizona TU Council and Chapters have received funds over the past eight years in support of the Annual Native and Wild Trout Conferences, Fish Camp, Trout in the Classroom programs and conservation projects.
The next time your registration comes up for renewal, choose the conservation license plate option at registration to show your support for conservation and our projects.
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Arizona Game and Fish Department, Desert Fly Casters, Arizona Flycasters and Zane Grey Chapter are co-sponsoring Salt River Saturday Conservation and Fishing events.
There are 2 dates in March!
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Social Media:
Check out the Instagram page for
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Looking for a Fishing Opportunity? |
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Below is a list of fishing organizations in Arizona. Feel free to join, explore, visit their websites or attend a meeting to find out more information: |
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Arizona Flycasters Club
@ The Arizona American Italian Club
7509 N 12th St
Phoenix, AZ 85020
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Fly-Fishing Social Event night - 2nd Tuesday of each month. Great speaker and awesome raffle. Donations support our Community outreach partners from Veterans to Youth activities.
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Desert Fly Casters Club
@ Chandler Elks Club
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General meeting 2nd Wednesday of each month. Social Event 6-7 Meeting @ 7PM Great speakers; check website for details.
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AZFISHBOOK offers a variety of social activities. Listed below are some of the activities available.
Check out the AZFISHBOOK Groups at:
Looking for buddy to fish with?
Signup for AZFishBook Newsletter:
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Join Trout Unlimited Today!
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Committed to
Protecting, Connecting and Restoring Arizona's watersheds and fisheries.
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Combined Calendar
AZ Trout Unlimited & Chapters, Arizona Flycasters Club and several other area fishing and conservation calendars
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You may access our calendar here.
Zane Grey Trout Unlimited
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Protect. Reconnect. Restore. Sustain. Conserving coldwater habitat in the desert southwest. |
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