NFC Tables at Trout Unlimited Cx3 Event in Portland, Maine

Thanks to a generous offer from Jeff Yates, Director of Volunteer Operations for Trout Unlimited, NFC was able to attend and table at the Friday and Saturday sessions at the recent Cx3 event in Portland, Maine. Also in attendance were NFC partners Downeast Salmon Federation and Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition, as well as a number of TU chapters NFC has worked with.

The event was overwhelmingly positive, and we made some new connections, discussed a number of potential partnership projects, and received several requests for presentations. We talked to a lot of people with common interests in regard to the preservation of wild native fish, and fielded many questions about who NFC is, what NFC does, and how NFC operates. We even saw a few NFC hats there :)

In attendance for NFC Friday was was Alan Lutz (NH Board), Larry Bastian (ME Board), and Bob Mallard (Executive Director). Saturday, the NFC table was staffed by Emily Bastian (National Chair) and Bob. In addition to table time, NFCers walked the lobby floor as well, and in some ways, this resulted in the most important interactions.

In addition to a few quick conversations between NFCers and Jeff Yates, Bob Mallard and TU CEO Chris Wood were able to meet and speak in person for the first time. Much to Chris’ credit, he mentioned NFC in his Saturday banquet speech.

Thanks to Alan, Larry, and Emily for taking time out of their busy schedules and braving the summer heat and city traffic to attend this important event.

Special thanks to Jeff Yates and Chris Wood for inviting NFC to their event. And thanks to those in attendance for making us feel welcome, and for their sincere interest in what we are trying to do. We are all in this together…