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A letter from Matt Kayser, CCA PNW Executive Director

Hi. My name is a Matthew Kayser. I’ve recently been given the privilege of becoming the Executive Director of CCA for the Pacific Northwest (CCA PNW). I am excited to have this opportunity to serve CCA on a daily basis and look forward to the success we will have in conserving and protecting marine life here in the Pacific Northwest.

This opportunity was made possible through the winning efforts of several key members in gathering donations to create a "Regional Fund" enabling CCA to hire an executive director, secure an office and equipment, and fire up the administrative machine to support our conservation efforts.

Having been a fishing guide for salmon, steelhead and trout, and a salesman in the retail and wholesale sporting goods industries, I know what’s compelling our members to band together to fight for salmon, steelhead and other marine life. My experience in commercial real estate and financial analysis has honed my skills to handle the day-to-day operations of running an office. Most importantly, as a lifelong conservationist, my understanding of the dire situation that much of our marine life now faces solidifies my commitment to our cause.

It is that commitment that will allow us all to forge ourselves into a strong weapon for the protection of marine life. Being a local boy, I was surprised to hear the fact that I was selected from a national pool of over 675 applicants. I think that's less a testament to the strengths and skills that I bring to the organization than it is as a testament to the faith that the leaders of CCA-PNW have placed in me. I know that I am a newcomer to CCA, but I am already fully committed and working very hard every day for you, the members, and things are moving very fast.

We’ve established an office in downtown Vancouver, Washington and are fully operational right now. From this central office, we will provide support to all the chapters in Oregon and Washington. Feel free to stop in any time to say, "Hi."

I warn you though, don’t be surprised if I put you to work! Our main job is to make sure that your chapter officers and board of directors have the tools and the funds they need to be successful. We won’t be making policy, but we will be fully in support. We hope to become the hub around which the organization will rotate. From time to time, we’ll try being the engine too, but in reality, the engine is you. And so far, your engine is running very well. I’ll prove it!

It’s been more than a year since CCA was firmly established here in the Pacific Northwest with an initial membership of about 1,000 committed souls. Since then, Gary and Susan Loomis have been feverishly crisscrossing the region making their compelling presentations and gathering new members. Local chapter presidents have been bringing in new members and empowering new chapter officers. Banquet committee chairmen have been gathering up donations and volunteers.

Member upon member has taken it upon themselves to grab their friends and family by the arm to lead them to CCA meetings and presentations. Most important of all: all of you have taken it upon yourselves to grab a handful of membership applications and take them into your communities to encourage other like-minded individuals to "JOIN CCA."

Thanks to all your efforts, our membership ranks have swollen to over 3,000 members! Thanks to your drive and enthusiasm, you’ve established more than ten active chapters throughout Oregon and Washington. But now it’s time to kick it into overdrive. CCA PNW has a goal of being 50,000 members strong within a year. So there is a still lot of work to be done! So keep handing out those membership applications at boat ramps, in stores, at church and at work. Keep talking to all your friends and family until they are members. Invite them to your next chapter meeting. Literally everyone you know will be glad to have a chance to JOIN CCA.

If you continue to bring in new members, if you regularly attend chapter meetings, if you get involved in your local chapter, your voice WILL be heard and it will make a difference. Don’t forget that in every region that CCA has become organized, we have made real changes. We’ve enabled our coastal waters to recover resulting in more fish, better fish, better fisheries management practices and better habitat. The list is long and getting longer.

Now YOU have a chance to be part of the success CCA will have here in the Pacific Northwest. Your growing CCA voice and our strong CCA grassroots organization will change the fate of our precious marine life here in the Pacific Northwest. I am thrilled to be part of it! I am thrilled to have the chance to make a difference.

Join with us. JOIN CCA. Make a difference.