NW Steelheaders 2025 Annual Board Meeting
August 5, 2025
Community Is Our Strength
August 6, 2025
This event was an opportunity for our community to make connections across our chapters, spend quality time with friends and connect with policy makers and agency leaders.
Members of NW Steelheaders gathered at Avidity Wines to enjoy beautiful summer weather, promote the Association’s mission of enhancing and protecting fish and their habitats for today and tomorrow, and raise critical funding for the Association’s operations.
The Steelheaders were honored to host Director of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Debbie Colbert, and Representative Hai Pham, who serves Hillsboro and West Beaverton in the Oregon Legislature.
The evening’s fund-raising program included a live auction featuring 5 fishing trips with NW Steelheaders presidents(Bob Rees, Norm Richie, Jeff Hernandez, Tom VanderPlaat, and Bill Kremers), assorted homemade baked goods provided by Linda Lavender, and delicious local wines procured by Bob Oleson. Additionally, there was a very successful paddle raise. Attendees also enjoyed a BBQ dinner, yard games, Avidity wines, and the first ever Smoked Fish Competition. Despite tough competition, Tom VanderPlaat took first place in the inaugural event.
In total, the event raised more than $7,300.00 for the Steelheaders.
We are so grateful to everyone who attended the event, to those who donated items and experiences for the auction, and in particular to the Steelheaders who planned and coordinated the event: Linda Lavender, Curt Ward, Bob Oleson, Jeff Hernandez, Ken Johnson, Mark Hutchinson, Norm Richie, Rob Bitney, Brad Garrett, Sue and Tom VanderPlaat, Bill Kremers and Bob Rees, and Shannon and Jason Fornelli.
If you didn’t make it to this year’s event, we hope to see you at the Hall of Fame Dinner on November 15th, and at next year’s Summer Fun-Raiser.
