Colchester, VT — The American Sportfishing Association selected James Ehlers, executive director of Lake Champlain International, Inc. (LCI), to serve on their Government Affairs Committee, and its Freshwater Subcommittee, as well as its FishAmerica Foundation Committee.

Based in Alexandria, VA, the 75-year-old American Sportfishing Association (ASA) is the sportfishing industry's trade association. They unite more than 650 members of the sportfishing and boating industries with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal land and water management agencies, conservation organizations, angler advocacy groups and outdoor journalists. They safeguard and promote the enduring social, economic and conservation values of sportfishing. ASA also advocates on behalf of its members, keeping watch on existing and potential laws and polices that significantly affect their members’ business and sportfishing itself. In addition to monitoring emerging polices, ASA’s Government Affairs staff fosters strong relationships with Members of Congress, other conservation and recreation agencies and organizations and state and federal government leaders to ensure that sportfishing interests are represented when policy decisions are made.

ASA’s FishAmerica Foundation unites the sportfishing industry with conservation groups, government natural resource agencies, corporations, and charitable foundations to invest in fish and habitat conservation and research across the country. They support fisheries conservation and research in the best way by providing matching grants that empower citizen conservationists in their own communities. The grants are an important part of broader efforts to conserve the outdoors and ensure millions of Americans will be able to enjoy fishing in the future. Over the last 20 years, the FishAmerica Foundation has provided over $8 million for more than 750 grassroots conservation and research projects all across the country.

ASA President Jeff Pontius stated, on selecting Ehlers, “Your committee membership is one of the most important contributions you can make on behalf of our industry. Only through the dedication of caring professionals like you can we help ensure the future of the sportfishing industry. I look forward to working with you.”

More information on ASA can be found on the internet at www.asafishing.org.

The 39-year-old Ehlers, upon learning of his appointment, said, “I am pleased and proud to work with ASA. I am eager to make whatever small contribution I may to the positive policy work ASA effects in Washington, D.C., and the incredible conservation work it does in restoring our waters across the country. I am extremely proud to be associated with an organization having the record of accomplishment that ASA does.”

Ehlers, a successful entrepreneur, now leads the federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation Lake Champlain International, Inc. (LCI), located in Colchester, VT. LCI’s mission is the conservation, restoration and revitalization of the Lake Champlain watershed and its communities. It hosts the nearly 30-year old LCI Father's Day Fishing Derby, which draws more than 5,500 people from more than 30 states to enjoy Lake Champlain for the weekend. Through that marquee fundraising event and other fishing-related fundraisers, LCI is able to finance their conservation and education programs. They include the Champlain Fisheries Recovery Initiative, the Fishing For Friends mentoring partnership, After-School Fishing Clubs, and the Fish and Flowers Rain Garden program. These programs encourage the current 21,000-plus LCI anglers to actively engage the next generation in carrying on the angling heritage and the conservation ethic it embodies. LCI is on the web at mychamplain.net.

For more information on either ASA or LCI, call 802.879.3466 or email info@mychamplain.net.