FFI is giving awards this year to five members who have made notable contributions to the sport and our organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaron Culley is being inducted into the Washington Fly Tying Hall of Fame for his outstanding ability creating and tying flies and his willingness to share his ability with others.

Molly Semenik is receiving the Jimmy Green Memorial Fly Casting Instructor Award for her long commitment to the craft and the leadership she has provided the Washington Council and FFI nationwide as it works to make casting instruction a doorway to FFI membership.

Neal Hoffberg is receiving the Fly Fisher of the Year Award for his steady effort over the last three years organizing casting instruction for our annual Fly Casting Fairs at Ballinger Park. Neal has been the patient organizer who has put together teams of Certified Instructors to create a truly new FFI event.

Randy Allen and John Wendt are both receiving the Pat Herd Education Award for their long commitment to teaching fly fishing in their fly fishing clubs. Randy is a member of South Sound Fly Fishers in Olympia. John Wendt is a member of Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds.

FFI gives awards because we appreciate commitment. It’s that simple. We enjoy our sport and we want to share it, but there is no way FFI can be in Olympia week after week teaching middle schoolers how to fly fish like Randy is doing. However, we can help by making clear to Randy that we appreciate the patience, organization, knowledge and determination it takes to pull it off. And by “pull it off,” what I mean is after all the work in the classroom he led an outing in June where more than 40 of his middle school students got the chance to catch a fish on a fly. Give me a minute to think about that.

Another thing about our recipients this year is that we are recognizing a diverse range of contributions, not just those that are most visible or easily quantifiable. Anyone who watches Molly toss a double-haul recognizes her casting skill. What they don’t see is the hours she spends on the phone, on Zoom, on her computer, on the road helping create FFI’s new effort to make casting instruction an invitation into FFI. The new approach to Fly Casting Skills Development is revitalizing our organization in Washington and nationwide and Molly is at the center of it.

In all honesty, we hope these awards have a ripple effect too. Awards inspire others, foster a culture of excellence, spur organizations in new directors. We want all of that for FFI and we hope these award winners help lead us there.

And one final tip of the hat goes to Washington State Council FFI director Sam Matalone who conducts the award nomination and judging process. During pandemic, our recognition program was dormant. Sam led its revival by putting the award nominations online with a streamlined form and quick submissions. An awards committee made up of three directors make the selections, not the council president. The consideration is sincere and based on genuine achievements. Go to our website at WSCFFI.ORG and click on the “About Us” tab to find awards. The nomination function is always live, so you can view award criteria and nominate someone at any time.

I’m happy our award winners are part of FFI. I wish them all the best. And did I mention Randy Allen took more than 40 middle schoolers fishing in June all on the same day? It took school busses to get all the kids to the pond. I’m exhausted just thinking about it. Well done Randy.

President Steve Jones