- Joined
- Mar 11, 2001
- Messages
- 70,011
- Reaction score
- 1,007
3rd Annual POMA Business Conference
8/11/08
A down-turned economy and skyrocketing travel costs didn't deter traditional outdoor sports journalists and industry professionals from attending the 3rd Annual POMA Business Conference at Sioux Falls, South Dakota last week. Close to 200 people made the journey and reaped tremendous benefit for their businesses.
"Attendance at this year's event proves that POMA's Business Conference is more valuable now than ever before," explained POMA Board Chairman Judd Cooney. "Today, industry professionals must make sure that every dollar spent provides the best possible bang for the buck.
"With 65-plus journalists, 90 industry representatives, a dozen college students, 15 dynamic speakers and educators, and 30 guests gathered and focused on business, the POMA conference is arguably one of the best values available."
Business sessions were highlighted by renowned experts in journalism, new-wave communications, photography, public relations, selling traditional outdoor sports content to non-endemic markets, utilizing interns and apprentices, the editorial opinion tightrope, 1st and 2nd Amendments and more.
POMA Outdoor Speakers Bureau and Stock Photo Gallery
POMA also launched two services at conference that reach well beyond the organization's membership rolls. The unveiling of the POMA Outdoor Speakers Bureau (POSB) Web site and the generated a buzz in the industry.
"POMA's Outdoor Speakers Bureau allows event planners to reach the most knowledgeable and entertaining speakers in the outdoor industry," said Laurie Lee Dovey, POMA's executive director. "POSB speakers cover a wide range of subjects, which obviously include hunting and fishing, but also journalism, photography, public relations and other business-related subjects." Parties interested in becoming POSB speakers or who would like to find a speaker for an upcoming event may do so at www.outdoorspeakersbureau.com.
The updated Stock Photo Gallery, which at present is available only to POMA members will go public in September, offers a wide range of capabilities that the previous individual member photo galleries did not. Photo buyers may use detailed searches or a subject category listing to find images that fulfill their needs. The current database of 3,000 images, which are the result of a two-year pilot program, will be augmented continuously in the coming weeks, months and years. Submissions are now being accepted from all POMA members.
POMA Pinnacle Awards Inaugural Honorees
Another highlight of the conference was the announcement of POMA's inaugural Pinnacle Awards honorees. Tack Robinson, the director of media relations of Mossy Oak, made the presentation. Mossy Oak is the title partner of the POMA Pinnacle Awards.
The Pinnacle Awards annually honor POMA communicators for exceptional journalistic achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused writing, photography/illustration and broadcasting.
POMA Partners
POMA executives and board also praised the generosity of the event's partners, whose liberal support allows POMA to bring in top-notch educational speakers and offer social and networking opportunities in an environment focused on education and business building.
The sponsors were: Alpen Optics, Archery Trade Association, Brownells, Coleman, DPMS/Panther Arms Federal Premium, Hunt Comfort, Garretson Sportsmen's Club, Liberty Press, Mossy Oak, MyOutdoorTV, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Otis Technologies, Realtree, SHE Safari, Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, South Dakota Tourism, The Sportsman Channel, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and XON-TV.
Auctions Ensure the Future
The generosity of a wide range of POMA members and friends, who donated fishing trips, business equipment, safaris and other hunts, advertising packages and much more helped to fill the POMA coffers and ensure POMA's financial stability. The conference auctions and raffles generated over $31,000 for the organization.
"These are our biggest fundraisers of the year," explained POMA Treasurer Michael D. Faw. "We can't thank the contributors enough for their kindness and dedication to POMA."
Next Year
POMA's 4th Annual Business Conference is set for St. Louis, Missouri, during late July and early August 2009. The specific location and dates will be announced in mid-September.
For more information about POMA or membership in the organization, visit http://www.professionaloutdoormedia.org.
###
POMA Mission... The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses.
Media Contact:
Laurie Lee Dovey 814-254-4719 or lldovey@professionaloutdoormedia.org
8/11/08
A down-turned economy and skyrocketing travel costs didn't deter traditional outdoor sports journalists and industry professionals from attending the 3rd Annual POMA Business Conference at Sioux Falls, South Dakota last week. Close to 200 people made the journey and reaped tremendous benefit for their businesses.
"Attendance at this year's event proves that POMA's Business Conference is more valuable now than ever before," explained POMA Board Chairman Judd Cooney. "Today, industry professionals must make sure that every dollar spent provides the best possible bang for the buck.
"With 65-plus journalists, 90 industry representatives, a dozen college students, 15 dynamic speakers and educators, and 30 guests gathered and focused on business, the POMA conference is arguably one of the best values available."
Business sessions were highlighted by renowned experts in journalism, new-wave communications, photography, public relations, selling traditional outdoor sports content to non-endemic markets, utilizing interns and apprentices, the editorial opinion tightrope, 1st and 2nd Amendments and more.
POMA Outdoor Speakers Bureau and Stock Photo Gallery
POMA also launched two services at conference that reach well beyond the organization's membership rolls. The unveiling of the POMA Outdoor Speakers Bureau (POSB) Web site and the generated a buzz in the industry.
"POMA's Outdoor Speakers Bureau allows event planners to reach the most knowledgeable and entertaining speakers in the outdoor industry," said Laurie Lee Dovey, POMA's executive director. "POSB speakers cover a wide range of subjects, which obviously include hunting and fishing, but also journalism, photography, public relations and other business-related subjects." Parties interested in becoming POSB speakers or who would like to find a speaker for an upcoming event may do so at www.outdoorspeakersbureau.com.
The updated Stock Photo Gallery, which at present is available only to POMA members will go public in September, offers a wide range of capabilities that the previous individual member photo galleries did not. Photo buyers may use detailed searches or a subject category listing to find images that fulfill their needs. The current database of 3,000 images, which are the result of a two-year pilot program, will be augmented continuously in the coming weeks, months and years. Submissions are now being accepted from all POMA members.
POMA Pinnacle Awards Inaugural Honorees
Another highlight of the conference was the announcement of POMA's inaugural Pinnacle Awards honorees. Tack Robinson, the director of media relations of Mossy Oak, made the presentation. Mossy Oak is the title partner of the POMA Pinnacle Awards.
The Pinnacle Awards annually honor POMA communicators for exceptional journalistic achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused writing, photography/illustration and broadcasting.
POMA Partners
POMA executives and board also praised the generosity of the event's partners, whose liberal support allows POMA to bring in top-notch educational speakers and offer social and networking opportunities in an environment focused on education and business building.
The sponsors were: Alpen Optics, Archery Trade Association, Brownells, Coleman, DPMS/Panther Arms Federal Premium, Hunt Comfort, Garretson Sportsmen's Club, Liberty Press, Mossy Oak, MyOutdoorTV, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Rifle Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, Otis Technologies, Realtree, SHE Safari, Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau, South Dakota Tourism, The Sportsman Channel, U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and XON-TV.
Auctions Ensure the Future
The generosity of a wide range of POMA members and friends, who donated fishing trips, business equipment, safaris and other hunts, advertising packages and much more helped to fill the POMA coffers and ensure POMA's financial stability. The conference auctions and raffles generated over $31,000 for the organization.
"These are our biggest fundraisers of the year," explained POMA Treasurer Michael D. Faw. "We can't thank the contributors enough for their kindness and dedication to POMA."
Next Year
POMA's 4th Annual Business Conference is set for St. Louis, Missouri, during late July and early August 2009. The specific location and dates will be announced in mid-September.
For more information about POMA or membership in the organization, visit http://www.professionaloutdoormedia.org.
###
POMA Mission... The Professional Outdoor Media Association is a group of individual communicators and Corporate Partners who believe in, defend, support and promote the heritage of hunting, fishing, shooting and traditional outdoor sports through writing, photography and other means. By doing so, members hope to educate the general public about these sports and encourage more participation in them. The organization serves the membership by helping members grow professionally, improve their skills, better their working environments and enhance their businesses.
Media Contact:
Laurie Lee Dovey 814-254-4719 or lldovey@professionaloutdoormedia.org
