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Greensboro, North
Carolina The Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA), the nation's oldest professional organization for outdoor communicators, honored member Michael Furtman with the Jade of Chiefs Award during its closing night banquet at its annual convention in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Jade of Chiefs Award was established in 1958 as the OWAA's top conservation award. Though only OWAA members are eligible, the award is not presented by OWAA, but by members of the current Circle of Chiefs. Tenure and position in, or service to, OWAA are not criteria for the award. The Jade Award represents an affirmation of OWAA adherence to, and support of, the principles of conservation. In 1963 the Circle of Chiefs was designated as OWAA's Conservation Council. As such, it is OWAA's conservation policy spokesman. In making the presentation, past Jade of Chiefs winner Joel Vance said: "The Circle of Chiefs was started by my friend and OWAA pioneer Werner Nagel, a wisp of a man with the heart of a lion. Maybe he was the epitome of the conservation conscience--quiet, but unyielding. He envisioned the Circle as the conservation conscience of OWAA, recognizing that without wise use of natural resources, outdoor communicators soon wouldn't have much to write about. If you look around at the living Chiefs, it's quickly apparent that most of us are antiquities. The Circle has gotten gray and gimpy and that's not a good thing. It's never a good thing when your conscience shows its age and becomes forgetful. You need young blood to kick ass and take names. Our newest Chief is just that. In some circles in his native state he's about as popular as the governor...which in his case more than most means that you either love him or you hate him. If you care about natural resources, you love him, because he is a fierce and tireless champion for them. If you are an exploiter, a land gutter, a resource wastrel, you hope the wolves get him. He has written 14 books, contributed to several others and edited still more. He's been a columnist for several magazines and has contributed countless articles to most of the major outdoor magazines, often on conservation issues. He's racked up a number of writing awards, including two major ones for conservation writing, one from the Izaak Walton League and the other -- and here's where you might begin to know whom we're talking about -- from the Sig Olson Environmental Institute...and if you don't know who Sig Olson was and where he came from, you should. Our newest Chief also has won the state book award for nature writing, maybe more by now. To give you a further hint about being as popular as the governor, the gov in question is that well-known assistant high school football coach and part time wrestler, Jesse Ventura. Our new Chief does far more than write about the environment -- he has gotten politically active. He has testified in the state house and at congressional field hearings on topics from wolves to wilderness. He is a chapter president for the Izaak Walton League, been on their state Board, and represented them at several tedious natural resource debates. He also has been a member of OWAA for 15 years and a loyal attendee at conferences. On his web site, he writes, "I'm an unabashed environmentalist, angler, hunter, wilderness canoeist and, well, just an all around outdoor bum." He's Minnesota's answer to an attack dog when it comes to tackling the environmental intruders. He's the best friend the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area ever has had and he's a welcome addition to the Circle of Chiefs. Make welcome our newest Jade of Chiefs recipient, Michael Furtman...."
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