Dear AFS Members,
As your President, I am committed to advancing our members, the fisheries profession, and AFS as an organization. My plan of work, shaped by years of interacting with our membership, identifies priorities we must address in order to be successful, now and in the future.
During my presidency, I’m working with our community and members like you to address gaps in professional development and training, increase the accessibility of fisheries science to broader audiences, and make sure the next generation of fisheries professionals is prepared for success.
The good news:
- We are uniquely positioned to close the professional development gap so that young and early career professionals are primed to assume their roles as stewards of aquatic resources. A successful career in fisheries takes more than the technical skills provided by formal education and on-the-job training. AFS can help our members hone ‘soft skills’ and develop the leadership potential to excel in our profession.
- Diversity is as critical to the resilience of the fisheries workforce as it is to the ecosystems we work to understand and conserve. AFS is taking action to champion diversity, meaningful representation, and inclusion in our community and the profession at-large.
- Thriving fisheries matter to everyone—not just biologists and anglers. We are uniquely positioned to increase the relevance of fisheries science, and AFS is working to make fisheries conservation a part of the public consciousness and dialogue.
The catch:
It takes all of us to bring this vision of AFS and the fisheries profession to life. Investing my time, energy, and resources in AFS is part of how I fulfill my responsibility as a conservation leader. This is the one investment I can always count on to perform and pay for itself many times over! As a fellow fisheries leader, I’m asking you to consider doing the same. We’ve set a goal to raise $20,000 by December 31 for funds needed to achieve outcomes like those I’ve mentioned. Can I count on you to help us do more for aquatic resources and fisheries professionals in 2019?
Help us strengthen, advance, and protect fisheries, fisheries science, and fisheries professionals. This call to action is ambitious, but the good news is that none of us is expected do it alone. Share this message with your colleagues; challenge your peers to make a donation. Every dollar counts towards achieving our goal.
Thank you for considering this challenge and for all you do for AFS. Go fish!
Sincerely,
Jesse Trushenski, President, (@AFS_President)
American Fisheries Society