Press Releases
ATLANTA, GA (December 6, 2018) – The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) welcomed state agency partners, industry stakeholders and sponsors to Atlanta, Georgia December 4-6 for its 2018 State Marketing Workshop, R3: Making Waves Towards 60 in 60. This year’s Workshop brings a record number of attendees enhanced content on how to recruit, retain and reactivate (R3) fishing and boating participants across the United States.
While in Atlanta, attendees are:
- Learning about diversity and inclusion with a keynote from Axie Navas of Outside Magazine and a panel of strong female leaders in the outdoor industry and beyond.
- Taking part in sessions that dive into:
- R3 planning
- Marketing & community outreach
- License system optimization
- R3 business best practices
- Getting information on new programs and initiatives being taken on by their peers at other state agencies
- Hearing from event sponsors and industry stakeholders on how they can help
- And much more
This year’s record attendance includes:
- 163 total attendees (most ever)
- 124 state agency attendees from 48 states and the District of Columbia
- 11 directors (most ever)
“In this our 11th year of State Marketing Workshops, I’m thrilled to say this is our biggest and best event yet,” says RBFF President & CEO Frank Peterson. “We’re bringing a record number of attendees, including key decision-makers, critical information that will allow our industry to continue on our push towards 60 in 60, making for a brighter future for generations of anglers and boaters, and aquatic conservation.”
A total of $97,500 in sponsorship dollars were reeled in to support the event - another record for the RBFF State Marketing Workshop. Supporting organizations are:
- Breakfast: Brandt Information Services and Fishbrain
- Director’s Session: American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Discover Boating
- Platinum: American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA)
- Gold: Bass Pro Shops, J.F. Griffin Publishing, U.S. Forest Service and Yamaha Marine Group
- Silver: Aspira, Brunswick Aluminum Fish Group, Colle McVoy & Exponent PR, Kalkomey and Southwick Associates
- Bronze: Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), Association of Marina Industries (AMI), Blast Analytics & Marketing, Discovery, Inc. and DJ Case & Associates, Info-Link
- Donation: Responsive Management and SourceLink
The State Marketing Workshop was established in 2008 to bring the participants of RBFF’s State Marketing Programs together to share successes, ideas and challenges to increase participation in fishing and boating. The Workshop was made available to all 50 states beginning in 2010, and has evolved to also include general marketing education and training.
Follow #RBFFWorkshop, @RecBoatFish and RBFF on LinkedIn for live updates. Resources, including presentations, from the 2018 State Marketing Workshop will soon be available in RBFF’s online Resource Center.
About the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF)
RBFF is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase participation in recreational angling and boating, thereby protecting and restoring the nation’s aquatic natural resources. RBFF developed the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ and Vamos A Pescar™ campaigns to create awareness around boating, fishing and conservation, and educate people about the benefits of participation. Take Me Fishing and Vamos A Pescar help boaters and anglers of all ages and experience levels learn, plan and equip for a day on the water. The campaign websites, TakeMeFishing.org, and VamosAPescar.org, feature how-to videos, information on how to get a fishing license and boat registration, and an interactive state-by-state map that allows visitors to find local boating and fishing spots.
