Despite heat indexes over 105 degrees, attendees claimed POMA’s 5th Anniversary Business Conference in LaPorte, Ind., was the “best ever” and “an incredible investment.”

Approximately 175 individuals descended on LaPorte and the Best Western for for the event. Representing 58 journalists, 61 corporate entities and several colleges, attendees enjoyed high-level business eduction, hands-on opportunities to test and review outdoor equipment, and a beach bash along the Southern shore of Lake Michigan.

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Download Conference Session PDF’s

Despite heat indexes over 105 degrees, attendees claimed POMA’s 5th Anniversary Business Conference in LaPorte, Ind., was the “best ever” and “an incredible investment.”

Approximately 175 individuals descended on LaPorte and the Best Western for for the event. Representing 58 journalists, 61 corporate entities and several colleges, attendees enjoyed high-level business eduction, hands-on opportunities to test and review outdoor equipment, and a beach bash along the Southern shore of Lake Michigan.

Review the Photo Gallery

Download Conference Session PDF’s

  • “I’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars promoting several businesses over the years,” said Russell Lynch, CEO Muzzleloading Accuracy Xperts. “Coming to the POMA conference is, by far, the best investment I’ve ever made. Shortly after arriving in LaPorte, I already had recouped my investment several times over.”
  • Mary Jane Williamson, communications director for the American Sportfishing Association said, “I would have had to spend several thousand dollars to access the information and business advice speaker Blake Discher provided. Add to that the other experts who presented here, and this was just an amazing event.”
  • “The presenters were unbelievable,” said media member and videographer Tron Peterson. “For a videographer, being able to learn from Douglas Spotted Eagle is like learning from a creative god.”
  • “I am new to the industry, and I know there is a lot of water left to tread before I find my own sweet little island,” admitted Andrew Chamberlain, ballistition and author of Cartridge Comparison Guide. “However, because of POMA and the commitment and conviction of its founding members, I now have more confidence and better tools than I could have imagined receiving from any other source. For any new or struggling outdoor writer, photographer or outdoor content provider, I rely on what someone told me. The best advice I can give is to join up with POMA. There is nothing else I can tell you that will help you more than that.

CONFERENCE RAFFLES AND AUCTIONS NET $28K FOR POMA

In an incredible and unified show of support for traditional outdoor sports journalism, more than 75 outdoor industry companies and individuals donated to the Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) annual fund-raising auction. And, the generosity of conference attendees, who bid on items and who purchased raffle tickets, resulted in the donations netting POMA more than $28,000.

“We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of the donors and bidders,” said Bill Miller, POMA president and auction chairman. “These folks understand the critical role the media plays in ensuring the future of the traditional outdoor sports and educating outdoorsmen and women about the sports and wildlife conservation. The importance of these donations and auction purchases can’t be overstated.”
 
The funds generated by the raffles and auctions, held Aug. 13, 2010, at POMA’s 5th Annual Business Conference in LaPorte, Ind., will be used to support and enhance membership benefits and services.

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L to R: Tim Anderson, Steve Pennaz, Dennis Dunn, Kendal Hemphill, Bill Konway, John Jefferson

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Board Member of the Year Honored

“POMA’s board of directors is one of the hardest working and most caring boards I’ve even seen in action,” said Bill Miller, POMA chairman of the board. “Each director gives POMA dozens of hours of time and offers incredible expertise and deep passion to POMA. However, from time to time, the efforts of one director are so selfless, the person must be recognized for going beyond the call.”

POMA’s inaugural Board Member of the Year Award was presented to Tammy Sapp for her leadership on the Money Line Committee and other important work during the 2009 – 2010 board term.


Conference Partners Offer Incredible Support

More than 25 Corporate Partners selected to support the conference by hosting events, including meals, registration, sessions, reception, conference programs and more. Those partners are:

Meal & Beverage Hosts
  • A&A (Hardware and) Lobster
  • Aimpoint
  • Budweiser
  • Columbia Sportswear
  • HuntnFishRegs.com
  • Michigan City LaPorte CVB
  • National Rifle Association
  • National Shooting Sports Foundation
  • RAM Trucks
  • Remington Outdoor Foundation / Outdoor RoadMap
  • U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
Registration Partner
  • Realtree
Program Partners
  • Archery Trade Association
  • Otis
  • SHE Apparel
Shooting Day Target/Rest Partner
  • Caldwell
Session Partners
  • ATK/Federal Ammunition
  • Brownells
  • Yamaha
Bugs-Off Partner
  • ThermaCELL

Plenty of Room to Grow

“As terrific as the POMA conference was, there’s still plenty of room for us to grow,” said Kevin Howard, president of Howard Communications, which represents POMA Corporate Partners Mossy Oak, Browning and Winchester firearms, Bushnell, Hunter’s Specialties, Birchwood Casey and other firms.”

Howard concurs with the POMA Board of Directors’ assessment that it’s time for POMA to bring in more visual content providers, bloggers and young communicators.

“I don’t think television, Web video providers, broadcast show hosts, producers or individual videographers know how much POMA has to offer them,” said Tony Smotherman, who attended his first conference this year. “I learned so much at this event, especially about social networking and how critical it is to my business. Every broadcast professional should join POMA and tell the organization how it can help provide business-building services. POMA will respond and will help us grow our businesses if we tell the organization leadership what we need.”

POMA President Michael D. Faw challenged each conference attendee to reach out to and bring a new member or guest to the 2011 Odgen Business Conference.

“When outdoor business professionals takes a few days to attend a POMA conference and sees how much the organization has to offer, most become members and immediately start reaping benefits,” Faw said. “The key for POMA is to connect and educate more communications and industry professionals about the myriad of benefits and services the organization provides. There is no better advertising than word of mouth.”

Review the Photo Gallery

Download Conference Session PDFs


Save the DateS for upcoming conferences

 

 

 

POMA’s 6th Annual Business Conference

Ogden, Utah — Marriott Ogden, Aug. 11 – 14, 2011

Marriott Ogden representative Dan Turner spent the week with POMA members and staff at the LaPorte, Ind. conference observing and seeing how conference can run more smoothly. Lot’s of great upgrades to the event and schedule are being planned and POMA is working closely with the CVB on the Welcome Event, Interactive Day (Shooting, Water, etc.) and on pre- and post-conference trips. So, save the dates!

 

 

 

 

POMA’s 7th Annual Business Conference

Tunica, Mississippi — Veranda Hotel (at Harrah’s Resort), Early August Dates to be Annnounced

After listening to detailed presentations by Baton Rouge, La., Columbia, S.C., and Tunica, Miss., and visiting with conference attendees about their choice of locations for the 2012 conference, the board selected Tunica, Miss. Harrah’s Resort, the Tunica CVB and the State of Mississippi, were all involved in making one of the best bids for the POMA conference in recent years.

The beauty of the Tunica site is all events, sessions, Product Showcase and interactive shooting and water events, can all be held on site. In addition, Harrah’s offers shuttle service across the property and is working with POMA on airport transportation from Memphis, Tenn., just 30 minutes away, to conference.

You’ll be hearing more about Ogden in the coming weeks and more about Tunica early next year at SHOT Show.


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