Outdoor: Did you hear?…

For the week of May 17-23

>> The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and SGMA are rallying support for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) on the heels of the House Appropriations Committee’s vote to eliminate funding for both state and federal LWCF grants in the FY 2006 Interior Appropriations bill. Since its inception in 1964, LWCF has contributed $4 billion in matching grants to 98 percent of the counties in America — money that, among other things, has been used to purchase land for parks and trails. A vote could occur any day in the House and the SGMA is encouraging the industry to send an urgent letter to your congress person to reinstate funding. For more information, click here. OIA last week issued an Action Alert asking House members to state their support for LWCF during debate of the bill on the House floor. It is also focusing its attention on the Senate and sending joint letters to governors and the Senate Interior Appropriations Committee urging them to support LWCF. OIA said it needs more signatures for the following targeted states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The letters are being tailored specifically for each state, so email Alexander Boian, OIA’s legislative affairs associate, at aboian@outdoorindustry.org to find out how you can participate.

>> A hearty congratulations from the SNEWS® team to Jonathan Dorn, who has recently been promoted to editor-in-chief of Backpacker magazine — but you have our permission to call him Big Fromage for short. Dorn has held the position of executive editor of Backpacker since 2002, and during that time led a complete redesign of the magazine that included the creation of six regional editions — California, Northwest, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and Mountain West — to go along with the national edition and the positioning of Backpacker as the “world’s first GPS-enabled magazine.” According to Rodale, the redesign and repositioning have resulted in double-digit sales increases at newsstand, and have enabled Backpacker to raise its 2005 rate base to 310,000, up more than 5 percent over the past two years. The high quality of the service content, storytelling and visuals have also helped drive an increase of more than 18 percent in ad dollars over the past two years. Not bad for a guy who joined Backpacker as a humble assistant editor in 1997.

>> Glen Bernard has left the building, though not by choice. After nearly 20 years at Canoe & Kayak Magazine, Bernard’s end came suddenly when Primedia executives Don Meek and Al Crolius flew up to C&K headquarters on May 12 to inform Bernard that his services were not longer needed at the magazine. His position, we are told, will not be replaced. This follows on the heels of a similar move months earlier when Climbing magazine’s new publisher found his position eliminated. We are being told by insiders that both terminations were simply cost-cutting measures. Crolius will operate as the group publisher over four titles: Canoe & Kayak, Climbing, Powder and Bike, which are all informally grouped under the working group name of Adventure Sports Network. SNEWS® View: The staff at all four magazines, including Canoe & Kayak, are very talented, and it is unlikely that not having a publisher will affect the overall performance of either Climbing or C&K. At Climbing, Jeff Achey is leading the magazine as editor and he’s exactly who that magazine needs at the helm. Ross Prather is leading C&K, and he too, will provide consistency and excellence. However, it is still hard for us to imagine C&K without Bernard. He’s been a fixture for so long. True, change can be good, and perhaps it was warranted here from Primedia’s perspective, but we can’t help wondering if this could have been handled better — like giving Glen a chance for a more dignified exit by resigning?

>> Woolrich has been busy of late. First, it is expanding the scope of its international brand licensing business and has signed an agreement with Newman International Group of Melbourne, Australia, to be its agent for Australia and New Zealand. Woolrich currently has licensing agreements in place covering the European and Japanese markets. Directing the Woolrich program for Newman International Group is Scott Munn, where he will explore a range of categories including apparel, footwear and fashion accessories. Second, Woolrich is forming a new division to develop its government business through R&D and bring new products to the military market. Bill Lilley, a 30-year Woolrich veteran, has been named director of government contracting and will head up the unit. Reporting to Lilley will be Joyce Raesner who has been named contract administrator, and Eileen Dougherty who will assume the position of program administrator and be a field instructor. Also, Marilyn Dawson has been named government contract liaison, and be responsible for assisting in the development and acquisition of government apparel contracting opportunities.

>> In related Woolrich news, the company is partnering with The Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education (PICE). It is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to advancing awareness, knowledge and skills in natural history and conservation of natural resources by building an ecologically literate and engaged public. Through arts, literature, history and sciences, the Institute inspires people to discover, enjoy, appreciate and protect the wildlife, fields, rivers, lakeshores, forests and wild landscapes of Pennsylvania. The comprehensive nature of PICE involves partnering with an array of leading conservation professionals, field naturalists, ecologists, biologists, authors and educators.

>> PowerBar Pria is telling ladies to “Psst…Pass It On” as part of a national consumer educational campaign and fund-raising effort designed to make it easy for individuals to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer. In collaboration with the National Philanthropic Trust, PowerBar Pria is offering to consumers Pria e-postcards (www.powerbarpria.com/passiton ) that provide relevant facts about breast cancer and helpful tips toward breast cancer prevention. For every e-postcard sent, PowerBar Pria will make a 5-cent donation to the Breast Cancer 3-Day, with a maximum donation of $20,000. It’s also bringing the “Psst … Pass It On” campaign to each of the 12 Breast Cancer 3-Day events by offering walkers the opportunity to reach out to loved ones and share valuable breast cancer information while en route. PowerBar Pria will provide 3-Day participants with prepaid postcards, which can be personalized with a message and sent from a 17-foot Pria mailbox set up at each event. The “Psst … Pass In On” program will bring PowerBar Pria’s 2005 contribution to the 3-Day to $220,000. PowerBar Pria has also signed on with the National Philanthropic Trust as a national series sponsor for the 2005 Breast Cancer 3-Day Series. PowerBar Pria will be the exclusive program sponsor in the nutrition, energy and snack bar category for the 2005 series of multi-day, 60-mile breast cancer education and fund-raising walks. www.powerbar.com

>> Outdoor Industry Association is looking for a few good men and women to fill open slots on its board of directors. The association said as a member-driven organization it is critical that its board accurately represent the varied companies that make up the association membership. OIA is looking for executive level candidates from its membership in the following categories: manufacturers (all sizes and channels); outdoor, sportsman, sporting goods and paddle retailers; national consumer publishers; and industry suppliers. It’s also interested in candidates with skill sets in finance, government affairs or marketing/communications. The deadline for nominations is June 10. To learn more about the election process, click here. Or if you have questions, call Frank Hugelmeyer at 303-444-3353, ext. 201, or Frank Whiting at 630-858-5149 or send an email to nominate@outdoorindustry.org

>> SGMA’s 2005 “Superstudy of Sports Participation,” offering detailed statistical and background information on sports participation, is available. The “Outdoor Activities Study,” which consists of 36 outdoor-related pursuits, reports on five categories — 12 in outdoors, seven in shooting sports, three in fishing, five in snowsports and nine in water sports. American Sports Data conducted the report for the SGMA. Click here for more information on how to buy the report.

>> The International Skiing History Association recently named six new directors to its board at its annual meeting in Stowe, Vt. Among the appointees are: Ian Ferguson, retired ski product and magazine marketing executive; David Ingemie, president, SnowSports Industries America; Debby McLenahan, a banking and marketing executive; Rick Moulton, award-winning independent film producer; Charles Sanders, author, music industry attorney and professor; and David Scott, director of business development, the Leisure Trends Group. The non-profit association said each brings extensive ski-related business and personal experience that support its mission to preserve and advance the knowledge of ski history, and to increase public awareness of the sport’s heritage. Officers of the ISHA board include Jim Spring, re-elected president; Alan Baker, newly elected treasurer; and Mort Lund, re-elected secretary. Returning to the ISHA board are: TJ Chase, Dean Ericson, John Fry, Kirby Gilbert, Jerry Groswold, Hugh Harley, Mary Kerr, Chuck Perkins, Einar Sunde, Rigomar Thurmar and Frida Waara. Retiring board members are Eddy Ancinas, Dick Goetzman, Liza Lee Beekley Kremer, Millie Merrill, Glenn Parkinson, and Bernie Weichsel. www.skiinghistory.org.

>> Last week, Save Our Wild Salmon (SOS) sent a delegation of outdoor industry members to Washington, D.C., to meet with House and Senate representatives abut salmon recovery in the Northwest. SOS is a nationwide coalition devoted to restoring the Pacific Northwest wild salmon population. The timing of the trip coincided with a bill — the Salmon Planning Act — in front of the U.S. House of Representatives. Outdoor industry members who went to D.C. included Gareth Martins of Osprey Packs, river guide Jim Norton, Dave Knutson of Chaco, John Sterling of the Conservation Alliance, Lisa Meyers of Patagonia, Mark Rockwell, Federation of Fly Fishers, Glen Spain of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association. They relayed to policymakers why their industry and their businesses care about salmon recovery in the Northwest, and its importance to the fishing and outdoor recreation communities. For more information on the Salmon Planning Act or on the Save Our Wild Salmon coalition, visit the SOS website at www.wildsalmon.org. We had a reporter along for the ride and will be bringing our readers a more detailed story from the event next week.

>> Wolverine Boots and Gear has signed on with Paramount Apparel International to develop and market Wolverine brand headwear for men. Wolverine said the idea behind the design is to incorporate its heritage of work and rugged outdoor to provide the most comfortable headwear that functions for work and play. Product will be available at select retailers nation-wide beginning fall 2005.

>> For 2005, the National Parks America Tour is hosting 26 events across the country through November and is being aided by big supporters — Wal-Mart and Unilever, the longest standing corporate partner of the National Park Foundation. The National Parks America Tour service-to-the-land activities enable volunteers to earn service credits and aid the country’s 388 national parks. The National Parks America Tour is a volunteer-driven initiative designed to provide national parks with manpower resources to complete important projects and engage communities in the national parks experience. Community involvement in the tour helps supplement park resources, and results in the donation of over 100,000 volunteer hours valued at $1.7 million. Wal-Mart and Unilever employees and families have been volunteering at various projects including the revitalization of the Statue of Liberty National Monument/Ellis Island National Monument.

>> Carol Davidson has joined SmartWool as its new marketing director, responsible for development and implementation of tactics and marketing strategy to drive overall brand communications and key seasonal initiatives. She has 20 years of marketing experience and was most recently a creative director at DDB-Seattle, an award-winning advertising agency. She has also worked with Nordstrom, K2, The North Face and McDonald’s.

>> Royal Robbins has hired marketing veteran Erika Borges as its new marketing manager. She brings more than 12 years of marketing and advertising experience, working with major national and international brands, and be responsible for managing all of Royal Robbins’ marketing efforts including advertising, public relations and special events. Formerly with Safeway, she has also worked for Graphics Atlanta, Walt Disney Company, Interscope Records and the Santa Cruz City Attorney’s office.

>> VNU Expositions recently announced two new team members for the Laguna Beach-based Sports Group: Jim Palmer and Malia Alani. Palmer is the new group marketing director for the VNU Sports Group which produces the Outdoor Retailer, Health & Fitness Business, Fly-Fishing Retailer, ASR and Interbike trade shows. He most recently served as senior manager of direct and interactive marketing at California-based Viewsonic Corp. Alani has been hired as the East Coast account executive for the Outdoor Retailer and Fly-Fishing Retailer trade shows. She has an extensive background in account management, advertising sales and brand marketing and most recently served as the marketing manager for O’Neill clothing.

>> ProTech has signed on as a 7 Summits Circle sponsor of the fourth annual HERA Ovarian Cancer Climb for Life, and is the exclusive skin care sponsor for HERA. It will provide sunscreen to climbers and volunteers at all events. The mission of the HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation is to empower women to take control of their health, scientists to seek new directions in ovarian cancer research and communities to provide support. Last year’s HERA events raised over $120,000, benefiting research for early detection and new treatments of ovarian cancer. This year ProTech also began supporting the American Mountain Guides Association and the Outdoor Industry Women’s Coalition.

>> Vibram has hired CerconeBrownCurtis to produce a series of print advertisements, scheduled to run from fall 2005 through 2006. In an ongoing effort to appeal to a younger broader audience, Vibram said the new humorous and irreverent ads are meant to drive home its core values.

>> Coghlan’s 5 LED Headlight has won the top camping accessory category from Reserve America’s 2005 Camping Gear Awards List. The editors of Reserve America’s publications, as well as its readers, who provide gear testimonials and feedback throughout the year, determine the recipients of this annual award. Reserve America (www.reserveamerica.com) processes over 3.5 million camping reservations per year, and services over 2.8 million members.

>> Carson Optical has opened its new state-of-the-art executive offices, product design center, showroom, and distribution center. The new address is 35 Gilpin Ave., Hauppauge, NY 11788; 800-967-8427 and 631-963-5000, or fax 631-427-6749. Also, Bill Martocci has been named director of special markets where he will manage the ASI and Premium businesses. Martocci previously served as national sales manager, retail division. Prior to joining Carson, he owned and operated an insurance agency for 10 years.

>> Randy Pribble has been named as Woolrich’s manager of product development. A third generation Woolrich employee, Pribble’s product specifications group will become part of the product development team.

>> David Hall, president and CEO of United Cutlery Brands, has named Jim Hamilton president of Arrowhead Manufacturing and Technologies LLC — United’s domestic manufacturing and OEM sales unit. Hamilton has been and will continue as COO and CFO of United Cutlery. He joined United Cutlery in 2000 as COO. Prior to joining United, he was the CFO (vice president finance) of National Seating Company in Tennessee. Also, United Cutlery has named Images Group as its marketing communications, where it will be responsible for increasing brand awareness in the outdoor market as well as others. In addition, Images Group will develop event partnerships for United, Rigid Knives and several of its licensed brands.