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VSSA NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

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Seeking Volunteers

VSSA needs volunteers.  We desperately need new board members willing to serve and volunteer their time.  We are powered by anglers donating their time and energy to make recreational saltwater fishing more enjoyable for anglers, family members, children, and hopefully for our children’s children.  Please consider volunteering to assist us.  We have only begun to chip away at our goals. Here is a partial list:

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• Significantly improve artificial reefs in the bay, nearshore, and offshore, even if it means we do it ourselves.

• License money only for angler programs, not salaries of state agencies.

• Public hearings are held in the evenings, allowing the public to attend, rather than during the middle of the day when we are at work.

• Responsible menhaden commercial fishing.

• Get menhaden commercial fishing out of the Chesapeake Bay and allow only fishing outside the Bay.

• Term limits for the Virginia Menhaden Board representatives.  Current reps have been there way too long.

• Reasonable limits for fish that balance conservation with bag limits based on sound science.

• Fishery management plans that the public can understand, without requiring degrees in fishery management.

• Oh, and the fish, cobia, striped bass, flounder, BSB, tilefish, trout, drum, tog, and even the lowly croaker and spot.  We love our fish, but the way things are going, we won’t be able to keep anything in the near future.

• How can we help the charter industry, tackle shops, boat dealers, and the entire marine industry that is needed to keep our fishing strong for us and our children?

• Continue online live fishing seminars.

• Support and strengthen our local fishing clubs.

• And much, much more, but can’t do much with just a handful of volunteers.  We need help.

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​No experience necessary, just a drive and passion for Sportfishing in Virginia.  We need the following:

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Board members and Officers.  All positions are currently open, including officer roles.  These positions must be voted in by members in April 2021.  Members vote for general board members.  Then, at the first meeting after the elections, the board members decided on who would be the officers and who would remain as general board members.  The VSSA board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month via teleconference, so there is no need to travel.

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Charter Captain Representative Board Member.  The Virginia Charter Boat Association (VCBA) folded and disbanded.  VSSA assumed the role of the members of VCBA and now represents the charter industry.  We need a charter captain volunteer to serve on the board to represent the charter industry's concerns.

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Public Affairs Officer.  We are seeking an individual who can write good articles and liaise with the press, newspapers, TV news, magazines, and other online publications.  If you have a knack for writing, please consider volunteering for this position.  

 

General Admin Work.  Just plain old help out with general housekeeping tasks to keep the place running smoothly.

 

Fundraising Committee.  We need a handful of volunteers to help out with fundraising activities.

 

Calendar.  We need a dedicated calendar volunteer to ensure the VSSA calendar is completely up to date.

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Government Affairs.  One of the standing committees, which will be permanent for the VSSA, will be the Government Affairs Advisory Committee. This standing committee is envisioned as the heart and soul of the VSSA, tasked with staying on top of all fishery management-related issues. We are currently seeking volunteers for this standing committee. The chair and co-chairs’ responsibilities will be to stay informed about all government actions that affect the species, attend meetings, brief the board, prepare position papers, present VSSA positions at meetings, solicit positions/polls from VSSA members, and keep all VSSA members updated on all issues relating to the species. The way VSSA intends to function is that this committee develops a draft position on various species by soliciting input from VSSA members after gathering all available information on each species. The VSSA position on any given species will be that of the majority of its members, ensuring no minority personal agendas are pushed through. These positions may require increased, decreased, or no change in bag limits. These are not elected positions but must be approved by the VSSA board.

 

If you are interested in serving in one of these positions, please do so by email to ifishva@gmail.com or fill out the form below.  The board will consider all volunteers and let you know if you have been selected. If you don’t desire to volunteer, please forward this email to anyone you think might be a good fit for these positions. We want to have elections and committees filled by March 15, 2025.  Please fill out this form today, and a VSSA rep will be in contact with you. Or you can email us directly at ifishva@gmail.com.