Mid-September found Susie and me at the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers (AGLOW) annual conference.

Every year around this time, this group has its yearly conference in some area in, or near, the Great Lakes.

I have been a member of this group for about 20 years and have missed only a couple of these events.

Last year, it was held in Bismark, North Dakota, and the previous one was in Baudette, Minnesoata. Others were held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Gaylord, Michigan; Ashland, Wisconsin; Niagara Falls, New York, and various other spots.

This year, we were located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

While there are usually hunting, fishing, boating, educational outings and other outdoor activities offered at these events, the only one we took advantage of this year was a paddleboat ride down the Mississippi River.

This three-hour tour included lunch and a tour guide to explain many details about the river and wildlife over, under and along the sides of the water.

They wouldn’t let me troll behind the boat, so I didn’t get to see any of the species of fish below us, but we did see a wide variety of turtles, herons, lots of eagles and one osprey.

After our boat ride, we went to a local cheese store to stock up on smoked string cheese and then visited a quilt shop for Susie to get some fabric and patterns.

Some of the other members elected to go on a tour, which included Lock & Dam 7 on the river. Then, they went through the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center and on to the Midwest Fisheries Center. From the conversations I heard from those taking this trip, I missed a good one.

The second day of the conference was Shooting Day. This annual event has many gun and optics manufacturers offering their products for the attendees to try. Targets, shooting glasses, hearing protection and ammunition are supplied, and almost any kind of new product was available with instructions. We anticipated cool (or cold) weather in Wisconsin in September, but the weather was hot and dry, except for a storm passing through the last morning.

Day 3 was full of assorted seminars for attendees to learn about fishing electronics, trail cameras, how to handle social media, hunting and fishing techniques, the science behind scent control and much more.

Of course, breakfast, lunch and dinner were supplied to keep us well fed.

From 9 p.m. to early morning, each night was hospitality time. A town, usually one having the next year’s conference, or others vying to win the bid for a future event, would supply drinks, snacks and free products from their area.

Several members bring their instruments and provide the music for our entertainment.

The last day was Breakout Day. This is my favorite day. It includes representatives from various tourism bureaus with information on their areas.

Of course, they are trying to get us writers to visit their city or state to write stories and get publicity for their areas. Sanibel, Florida, Branson, Missouri, Gaylord, Michigan, Chautauqua County and Niagara Falls, New York, Baudette, Minniesota, and several others were present, and we are planning trips to several of these locations.

Also on this day, many manufacturers were showing their wares. Leather goods, knives, binoculars, fishing lures, tents, scopes, air rifles, boat motors, kayaks and many more, plus a representative from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, were available for viewing and information.

The last evening included a pizza buffet and the much-awaited auction with tables full of donations from the manufacturers and trips from several of the tourism bureaus present going to the highest bidder.

Susie and I enjoy attending these events, not only for the activities (and food!), but also because we get to see friends we have known for a long time but only get to see once or twice a year.

Since I belong to two other writers’ organizations, we get to do this two other times each year. The Hoosier Outdoor Writers, of course, has its annual get-together in Indiana, while the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association (SEOPA) conducts its event in states from Missouri to Louisiana, over to Florida, up through the Carolinas, and Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Mississippi is the next SEOPA site.

I had always heard about southern hospitality but thought it was just a term until we started heading south. It’s real. The people down south go to great lengths to make us feel welcome and like we belong. And the food is outstanding!

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