We are coming up to our two year anniversary since the current BOD was established and our membership roster continues to grow and presently we are well over 190 members. Membership renewals and new sign-ups were held at the Fall Derby. The Spring Derby of 2012 was also a huge success.

I hate to beat an old horse (so to say) but there truly is ‘Power in Numbers’. The Ontario Steelheaders success is directly related to the strength of its membership, so I urge you all to continue to support our efforts by renewing your membership. I can assure you all that, your Board of Directors has been working diligently over the past two years to restore this organization to what it once was Your membership support has, and will continue to make this work possible.

Please keep in mind that all membership dollars received are 100% directed to the Ontario Steelheaders and their goals and objectives. The money received from the actual membership fees is relatively small compared to the donations, grants and bursaries from businesses, government organizations and other community groups. However, to be considered relevant by many of these organizations it is beneficial for our organization to show a wealth of members within its membership roster. The power is in the numbers, as it demonstrates to these various organizations that we have a committed (and large) group of people who continue to support our objectives and efforts through a spirit of volunteerism.

On a somber note, it is with great sadness to report the passing of one of our long standing members, Mr. Jim McIntyre (Mac). Mac passed away suddenly in June. On behalf of the Ontario Steelheaders, I express our condolences to his family and friends.

Also with a heavy heart, I report the passing of another long time Ontario Steelheaders member, Mr. Keith Berkley. Keith succumbed to cancer after a courageous fight. Mr. and Mrs. Dave Munro organized the procurement of a granite memorial and many of our members donated money to help cover the cost. Again on behalf of the Ontario Steelheaders we wish to express our condolences to Keith’s friends and family for their loss.

I continue to view my role as Membership Director as being an interactive role. I have the responsibility to ensure that our members receive the information, handouts, memos, updates etc. that our directors prepare for us. You should note that the most recent membership application form provided an option for those of you who wish to opt out of receiving mail through Canada Post and only receive email communications. I realize that for some of our members continue to depend on receiving our communications through Canada Post and this will continue. However for those of you who have selected to opt out and receive email communications only, I thank you, as this does reduce our overall operating costs. However, regardless of how you wish to receive your communications please ensure that I have received your most up to date contact information.

I continue to ask for any and all of your input regarding any suggestions that you may have, as this is YOUR organization and your input is valued. Please send your comments to: membership@ontariosteelheaders.ca, or include them with your membership renewal.

I enjoyed seeing many of you at the fall derby on October 13, 2012. I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead of us in the coming year. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions regarding your membership or club communications, and I would be only too happy to assist.

Madeline Walker
Membership Director

190 + STRONG!

Well, here it is officially spring, and considering the weather we have received lately it is feeling like an early summer. Our membership roster continues to grow and presently we are well over 190 members
strong and growing every day! Things have been relatively quiet over the winter but we are gearing up
for the Spring/Opening season and expect to be quite busy over the ensuing months. We will be
offering Membership renewals at the upcoming Spring Derby so please see me for your renewals. The
Ontario Steelheaders success is directly related to the strength of its membership, so I urge you all to
continue to support our efforts by renewing your membership. Let’s see if we can top 200 members
this year!

I have received many comments from the membership applauding all the efforts from the volunteers. Some have even taken the time to write a letter and I would like to share with you all the comments
received from one such member. He writes:

“I’m a fly fisher and this past year has been the first that I’ve gone outand really worked at trying to consistently catch steelhead. By all accounts, the Bighead and Saugeen have been great this year and I’ve been able to catch and release more steelhead than all my other years put together. This is undoubtedly due in large part to the efforts the Ontario Steelheaders have put forth…Congratulations, on what has obviously been a job well done”. 

As always, you are more than welcome to contact any one of us on the Board of Directors with your questions, comments, suggestions, concerns and of course praise is always welcomed 🙂


Madeline Walker
Membership Director
Ontario Steelheaders
membership@ontariosteelheaders.ca

Some of you may or may not know my wife Madeline is the Membership Director for the Ontario Steelheaders. I have been a member of the Ontario Steelheaders for many years and was very proud of my wife for stepping up to the plate to help out an organization that I actively enjoy taking part in. When Madeline started her role as Membership Director, they had special commerative crests made that were provided to all who signed up as members. I was pretty excited, as it was a very nice crest and I wanted to have it proudly displayed on my fishing vest for all to see when I’m on the river – screaming FISH ON!     When she first started her role with the Ontario Steelheaders, they had, at the time, less than 40 members, and as such they weren’t sure how many crests to order. Well the support from the angling community was huge to put it mildly, and sure enough there weren’t enough crests to go around. Every time a new member signed up, she would go and take my crest so that she could send it to the new member. They would keep ordering more crests but like I said, these things were going faster than a spawning steelhead trying to get up the ladder!     You would think that with my wife being the Membership Director, I would at least get my own crest when I signed up for my membership – NOT! Too make a long story short; I finally got my crest with a new batch that was ordered later that season. As soon as I got my hands on it, I didn’t wait for my wife to sew it onto my vest, as I knew that I would run the risk of never getting the crest onto my vest. Instead I left with my vest and crest tight in hand, and went to a seamstress and had her sew it on the back of my vest.     I’m proud to be part of the Ontario Steelheaders and want to show my support to all my fellow fishermen and women wherever I fish. Join the Ontario Steelheaders campaign to make this fishery awesome!     Oh, and If you happen to receive a vest in the mail with a nice new O.S crest on it… I want it back!

I am sure many of you have heard the old adage ‘There’s Power in Numbers’, well this also holds true for us. It has been a year now since The Ontario Steelheaders elected its current Board of Directors. I can assure you all, that your Directors have been working hard over the past year on many projects to move this club and the fisheries in a forward direction. Your membership support has, and will continue to make this work possible.   Please keep in mind that all membership revenue is 100% directed to the Ontario Steelheaders to fulfill their goals and objectives. The revenue generated from membership fees, combined with donations, grants and bursaries from businesses, government organizations, as well as, other community group funds gives us the ability to really make a difference in this fishery. It is also in our best interest as concerned anglers, for our organization to show a wealth of supporting members on the roster. The power is in the numbers, as it demonstrates to government agencies and various organizations that we have a committed (and large) group of people who continue to renew their commitment, and support the objectives of the Ontario Steelheaders. In other words, it’s not just about money. The OS needs your support in many ways.   In the spring of this year, we had many members renew their memberships and also had the additional support of new members. There are still several memberships that are due for renewal, so please check with me to determine your renewal period. Please note that our membership dates run from May to May. As a special offer to new supporters, and in an effort to streamline renewal dates, any memberships received after September 1st 2011 will not be due for renewal until May 1, 2013. Please take advantage of this one time offer, and show your support. Join, or renew your membership with the Ontario Steelheaders and help us reach our goals! Our membership roster is well over 145 members, but could easily top 200 if we could get everyone to renew. Please take advantage of this renewal offer, it will permit you to continue to support the organization as you have in the past, and increase our active member list tremendously! I would also like to point out that Rob Heal owner and operator of “The Home Pool” Guiding and Fly Fishing Center, www.thehomepool.ca is offering a membership drive on our behalf. Rob is offering to include in his daily fee, the cost of a single Ontario Steelheaders membership for anyone that books with him for the months of October and November and again for April of 2012. Thanks again Rob for believing in and supporting this organization!!   I take the responsibility of Membership Director very seriously. I share the role of ensuring our members receive the information, handouts, memos, updates etc. that our directors prepare for us. You should note that the most recent membership application form provides an option for those of you who wish to opt -out of receiving mail through Canada Post and only receive email communications. I realize that for some of our members continue to depend on receiving our communications through Canada Post and this will continue. However for those of you who have selected to opt out and receive email communications only, I thank you, as this does reduce our overall operating costs. However, regardless of how you wish to receive your communications please ensure that I have received your most up to date contact information including valid E-mail addresses.   I continue to ask for any and all of your input regarding any suggestions that you may have, as this is YOUR organization and YOUR input is valued. Please send your comments to: membership@ontariosteelheaders.ca, or include them with your membership renewal.   I am looking forward to seeing all of you again at the fall derby on October 15, 2011. I would like to thank everyone for their ongoing support and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead of us in the coming year. Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions regarding your membership or club communications, and I would be only too happy to assist.