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Keith Bates

Life is precious. Take it one day at a time.

Hiking, Bicycling, Trekking, Climbing, Walking Tours, Back Packing more
  • Location: Chicago, Illinois
  • Birthday: May 18th, 2009
Brigitte Slaker
David Ormesher
John Stone
Trey Flemer Enjoys: Hiking, Bicycling, Trekking, Walking Tours, Back Packing, Camping
Erika Woldman
Jon Sabel
6/21/2009 Outdoor Writers are a SPECIAL BREED…here’s why.
Grand Rapids, MI, June 13, 2009. Unlike many of the world’s writers who work in relatively mild surroundings outdoor writers often write, or at least take notes, in less than ideal environments…like from the top of a mountain, deep in a jungle, struggling to stay on deck in a storm, or dragging a monster fish from the deep.

How do I know all this? I just returned from the four day conference held in Grand Rapids by the OWAA (Outdoor Writers Assn. of America). The show was magnificently managed by Robin Giner and her team mates from OWAA. And I met some awesome people there. Like Jim Ferguson, host of Great American Outdoor Trails radio programs, Tom Opre of Tahoe Films, John Beath of Salmon News, Jim Foster of JimFosterOutdoors, and dozens of others…plus John Otterbacher whose presentation of his book Sailing Grace drew a standing ovation.

Why the standing ovation? Because John’s book “Sailing Grace” is about his account of drowning in heart disease, fighting back to the surface, and sailing on. A gritty chronicle of his family’s struggle to do better than simply survive, “Sailing Grace” is also a commentary on how love heals, dreams energize and trauma can be a wake-up call.

The weekend was one of the pleasantest I’ve had in many a year, and as a marketing guy I attend a lot of conventions. I just recently rejoined OWAA because of the many great writers it puts me in touch with now that I’m struggling to get my outdoor enthusiast website up and running. I was an OWAA member once before, back in the mid 70s, when I launched Safari magazine which I sold many years later to Safari Club International. SCI has done a magnificent job with the magazine and recently won a bunch of awards.

In the course of the four days, in addition to fabulous meals and inspiring presentations, the OWAA offered very nice side trips. One was to the West Walker Sportsman’s Club for archery practice and shooting (there was a handgun course for women). I got to shoot an ancient black powder flintlock pistol which I had never done before. From there we went to Riverside Park for more equipment exhibits, and the fascinating trailer display put on by the Michigan Chapter of SCI. And one evening was spend in the elegant Grand Rapids Public Museum were we were served a great dinner (loved the cherries jubilee desert).

For those members of MyAdventures.com who are outdoor writers, or aspire to be, you need to know about the OWAA. You can visit www.owaa.org, or call Robin Giner in their Missoula, MT headquarters at 406-728-7434. Tell Robin that Keith Bates sent you.

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