The Association currently has 11 active chapters with over 1,100 members, each belonging to one chapter whose meeting place is located near the residence or workplace of its members.  These chapters are located essentially in three geographic regions of Oregon: West, Central and Metro.  A new region called East may be created in the future should anglers in Central Oregon form a chapter based in Bend and anglers in Idaho form a chapter based in Boise.  Interest to form a new chapter is also being expressed by anglers in towns along the Washington side of the Columbia River.

In order to address issues facing fisheries and their habitats, the mission of the organization is largely carried out by its chapters.  The individual chapters are community based groups and are part of a network of like-minded groups seeking balanced solutions to issues affecting the achievement of the Association’s mission while providing angling, habitat restoration and educational opportunities for its membership and their communities.  The grassroots character of the Chapters enables anglers in the same community to meet and share common interests as they educate and advocate for fisheries by conducting local meetings, events, restoration and enhancement, hatchery work, and river keeper activities. They also teach and mentor the future of our fisheries - Kids!

Association chapters are community-based groups established to form a cohesive statewide core of influential angling leaders and activists who work together for fisheries and their habitats.  Experience has demonstrated that the prestige of a local chapter is enhanced by affiliation with a larger statewide organization such as the Association.  Having the support of local chapters throughout the Pacific Northwest increases the Association’s impact to the benefit of angling. 

Benefits of the Association to Chapters

Once a chapter is formed, the group can look to the Association to provide the following benefits:

Umbrella 501(c)(3) nonprofit designation
The Association is the holder of this important designation on behalf of all the Chapters. Without this status, each Chapter would have to go through the time-consuming and costly process to apply to the Internal Revenue Service for their nonprofit designation and assume the administrative burdens of being an autonomous entity.

Advocacy
The Association pays and manages an independent contractor who acts as the Northwest Steelheaders Legislative Advocate.  This person not only interfaces with government agencies and elected officials on issues directly impacting our mission but also provides important advice advice and counsel on public policy statements being considered by the Board of Directors. Considerable reporting requirements to the State Ethics Commission are also required when organizations employ a lobbyist. The Association office is the body that follows up on these reports each quarter. Other Advocacy actions undertaken by the Association involves monitoring and exploring legal action on current events that precisely relate to issues affecting fish, fisheries, climate change, river access, wildlife conservation, angler education and many others affecting the interests of our members.

Liability, Directors and Officers Insurance
The Association pays the annual insurance premiums for these important policies to protect all chapters and their leadership.

Raffle Ticket Sales
The Association also pays for the raffle license, printing of the tickets and submitting reports to the State Department of Justice on this annual fundraiser which Chapters receive 50 percent of the total gross income.

Grant writing and solicitation of individual donors
The Association staff is responsible for preparing and submitting fundraising grants to foundations and corporations and meeting with donor prospects to raise money to support some Chapter programs and events.
 
Communication materials
The design and production of some of our membership and informational brochures, signs and banners are coordinated from the Association office.  This also applies to website management.

If you are interested in helping to form a new Association chapter in your area, contact us and we’ll send you a New Chapter Guide and other materials to help you form a new chapter.