The Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers Association
(M-DOWA)
was founded in 1957 as a non-profit professional organization dedicated to improving member knowledge of effective communications in all fields of the outdoors media including writing, photography, art, radio and television broadcast, video, and on the internet. M-DOWA promotes outdoor education, the wise use of our natural resources, and holds members to the highest ethical standards of journalism. And we strive to have fun while accomplishing the missions above.

 

 

 

President's Message

 

 

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Members and Guests

We can fly the banner of success and yet there’s always someone asking that question, “What have you done for us lately?” The officers and board of directors worked hard to put together the recent conference in Rehoboth Beach and it showed. Weeks after the dust settled there is still kudos coming in from all fronts on just how successful the conference was. And the notes are not only coming from those M-DOWA members who were fortunate to attend, but from the partners of Southern Delaware who picked up a lot of the tab.
If you didn’t attend the conference …it was your loss. But hopefully once you see the photos and read the stories from the conference you’ll see that M-DOWA is on a roll and moving forward. The question is whether you want to be part of the new frontier? Right now the current officers and board are planning next year’s conference in Maryland. And right now you should pencil in your March 2011 calendar that MDOWA is worth attending. Then when the exact date is confirmed make the date in ink!
            There are many members who served as officers and board members in the past who have toiled to get M-DOWA to where it is today. Their long-standing efforts are finally paying off. A record turnout came away from the great Rehoboth Beach conference with a lot of stuff including a new executive director and a new direction.
            You’ll see in a photo Bill May receiving his conference registration bag. Larger than the sacks we’ve had at registration before, the Bass Pro Shops deer pacs were full of take-home materials from Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach and all of Southern Delaware.  In the same photo with Bill and me was Aubrey Manzo, Tourism Marketing Manager, Southern Delaware Tourism. This lady is your key to anything outdoors you want to do in Southern Delaware.  Call her!  Set up trips for fishing, hunting, birding  …..ANYTHING. Aubrey can handle it for you.
            So, we ran a great informational conference and we opened the door to Delaware for you the members of M-DOWA. We hired an executive director to work for you all year long. We’ve got a new directory coming out, newsletters are on schedule and we’ve got a great conference planned for next March.  That’s what M-DOWA has done for you lately! Now you make the move and send a craft improvement article for the next newsletter, sign u a new active member or a new supporting member and plan to attend the next conference.  If you really want to take a bold leap for the cause, offer to fill the open seat on the M-DOWA board of directors.  Contact Ken Tidy, M-DOWA executive director or me. We’re not looking for a “body” to fill the vacancy; we are looking for someone who wants to be part of the bright future of M-DOWA.    

Alex Zidock, President, M-DOWA