Tiffin-Seneca Izaak Walton hosts state convention

The Tiffin-Seneca County Chapter of the Izaak-Walton League of America hosted the organization's Ohio Division Convention Saturday. Steve Wright, president of the Tiffin-Seneca County IWLA, said speakers at the event included: Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Mary Merz; Scott Kovarovics, national director of the IWLA; Christina Kuchle, the Ohio Scenic Rivers Coordinator of Northwest Ohio, and Elaine Graham, president of the Ohio Division of the IWLA. He said it was "really, really nice" getting to hear the different speakers at the event. Wright added that Graham grew up in the area and her father was a founding member of the local chapter and he was excited to have her there. Wright said the IWLA Ohio State Convention is an annual meeting held at a different chapter each year. The Tiffin-Seneca chapter last hosted the convention about seven years ago, he said. "It's an honor being able to have it here," Wright said. During the convention, speakers and members discussed different things going on with the organization as well as new ideas to get youths and adults more involved in the club and the outdoors, he said. They also go over various reports and items from the year. Wright said he hopes hosting the event gets the chapter some publicity within the division as to what they do. He said it's nice getting to hear suggestions and ideas, and what works and what doesn't from other officers at other Ohio chapters. "It's a chance to show what all we're doing at the club…," he said. "It's a chance for people to know what we are and see what we do." Wright said the club is to have family rifle nights on Mondays and family archery nights on Thursdays that are to start at the end of May. They are also planning a family camp out and fish fry for sometime this summer, he said. "Families can fish during the day and then campout and have a fish fry at night," Wright said. With Tiffin Park & Recreation Department, the chapter is to have a city fishing day and a kids day camp, he said. Wright said there is also to be an adult and youth pheasant hunt in the fall. He said the programs are free to the public. "We have a lot of programs aimed at getting kids off their cell phones and providing opportunities to get them outside," Wright said. Tiffin-Seneca County chapter is the largest Izaak Walton chapter in Ohio and is one of the largest chapters in the nation with around 450 members. For more information about the chapter or to learn more about upcoming events, people can visit sites.google.com/site/tiffinsenecacountychapter/