Photo: by Carl Droms
Incoming President Brian Lux and newly Past President Chris Bowlen having a conversation about who caught the larger fish (ok, not really!).

Food, Fun, and Photos!
The Annual Meeting/Potluck was fun, interesting and, more importantly, delicious! Carl Droms took great shots and graciously uploaded them to a slideshow for everyone. Thank you, Carl!

Welcome, New Board Members!
Brian Lux, President
David Forrer, Projects Committee Chair
Elaine Smith, CE Committee Chair
Merrilee Lianez, Outreach Committee Chair
Peggy Plass, Basic Training Committee Chair
Kathy Whitten, Membership Committee Chair

Thank You to Continuing Board Members!
Vice President: Mary Gatling-Finks
Secretary: Andrea Dono
Treasurer: Carl Droms
Past President: Chris Bowlen
Historian/Parliamentarian: Stephanie Gardner
Newsletter and Website Committee: Elizabeth Pass

New Advisor: An Introduction
My name is Jason Hallacher. I am originally from Reading Pennsylvania and attended California University of Pennsylvania (I know it’s a confusing name). Ever since I can remember, I knew I wanted to work with wildlife. After finishing my bachelor’s degree I was lucky enough to get a job with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

For 15 years I have worked for DGIF as an Assistant Fisheries Biologist. I primarily work in the Shenandoah Valley assisting the biologists with managing our public aquatic resources. Although my core job duties involve working with game fish like bass, trout, catfish, and musky, I am also passionate about pollinator restoration, prescribed fire, and outreach. I like to be involved with a little bit of everything, which keeps me very busy. In my free time, I enjoy fishing, planting for pollinators, and beekeeping. I look forward to this opportunity to continue to work with Master Naturalists and can’t wait to get started.

Photo: by The Outdoor Report, VDGIF Blog

Jason Hallacher
Region 4 Assistant Fisheries Biologist
jason.hallacher [at] dgif.virginia.gov
540-248-9385
Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
517 Lee Highway, P.O. Box 996
Verona, VA 24482

Paul Bugas, Book Tour, & Beautiful Gift!
Author and HMN former Chapter Advisor, Paul Bugas, and coauthor Corbin Hilling were interviewed at WMRA’s Books & Brews on the evening of January 15 by Mary Katharine Froehlich. HMN member Andy Sale presented Paul with a gift, a spectacular wormy Chestnut fly fishing kit! Congratulations Paul on your new classic Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Virginia!

Photo: by Kate Guenther
Paul Bugas and  Corbin Hilling being interviewed at WMRA’s Books & Brews by WMRA’s Mary Katharine Froehlich.

Photo: by Kate Guenther
HMN member Andy Sale presents Paul with a beautiful wormy Chestnut fly fishing kit!

Photo: by Kate Guenther
Wormy Chestnut fly fishing kit made by HMN  member Andy Sale.