FFI Presents 2021 Board Awards of Achievement
Ceremony to be Held Online
The Fly Fishers International (FFI) Board of Directors is proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 FFI Board Awards of Achievement.
Awards presented by Fly Fishers International acknowledge those individuals and organizations who demonstrate the highest levels of achievement, dedication and contribution to preserving the legacy of fly fishing for all fish in all waters. Recipients of the Board Awards of Achievement are recognized at the Annual Board Awards Ceremony. FFI congratulates this year’s award recipients.
The organization is honored to bestow their highest award, the FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service, to Gary Borger from Wausau, Wisconsin and Tom Logan from Tallahassee, Florida. Patty Lueken from Mountain Home, Arkansas will receive the FFI Flyfisher of the Year. Fly fishing clubs, Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers and Sierra Pacific Fly Fishers, will receive the FFI McKenzie Cup. See below for a full list of recipients.
This year’s ceremony will be held online via Zoom on October 12, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. You can view the ceremony by clicking the link below:
Click to Join the Online Ceremony
October 12 at 8:00 p.m. EDT
Recipients of the
2021 Fly Fishers International Board Awards of Achievement
FFI Award of Distinction for Leadership and Service
This award is the ultimate award of Fly Fishers International. Thus, the consideration for individual achievement is extremely strict. Services and contribution to FFI must be prominent, extraordinary and significantly above the criteria that would merit consideration for any other award.
Gary Borger
Gary has been recognized both inside and outside FFI as an important and influential contributor to our sport.
He was honored to be named one of the 50 most influential fly fishers of the last 50 years by Fly Fisherman magazine, and he was named one of the seven most influential fly fishers of the last 50 years by Fly Fusion magazine (Canada’s premier fly-fishing magazine). Lifetime contributions as a fly-fishing educator have earned him these accolades.
Tom Logan
Once in a great while, an individual stands out who not only contributes in meaningful ways, but in fact, embodies FFI’s mission. Tom Logan, who recently stepped down as Chairman of FFI’s Board of Directors, is just such a person.
Tom assumed the Chairmanship in August 2016 and began charting the course for FFI’s transformation. After four years as Chairman of the Board, Tom completed his tenure at the Annual Board Meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020. During the time Tom served as Board Chair, he strategically guided FFI’s renaming and rebranding and led us in the development of many new programs that have increased FFI’s relevance and impact in the fly fishing community.
FFI Fly Fisher of the Year
An award presented annually to that individual or director who has demonstrated unusual devotion to the FFI and through outstanding contributions has benefited FFI as a national organization or international organization.
Patty Lueken
Patty was a founder of FFI Women Connect. When Patty became Chair of the program, FFI Women Connect really elevated to new levels. Under Patty's direction, Women Connect coalesced a team of dedicated team of Women Connect volunteers to develop a strategic plan for Women Connect. After the endorsement of the strategic plan by the Board of Directors, Patty was selected and seated as a member of the FFI Board.
Patty is also serving as the Chair of the FFI Virtual Expo, the first online Expo Fly Fishers International has ever produced.
FFI McKenzie Cup
An award, given annually to that FFI Club which has made the most outstanding contribution on behalf of the FFI.
Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers
The Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers has been a club since 1987. They are one of the largest FFI-associated clubs in the nation. They work hard to grow their Club and even through the pandemic saw record growth. They are the epitome of what a fly fishing club should look like. They strive to have 50% women on their board have a Women's Corner on their website.
Sierra Pacific Flyfishers
Sierra Pacific Flyfishers, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has been an outstanding supporter of FFI’s Southwest Council for the past several years. Nine of the twenty-one Southwest Council directors and two of the three immediate past presidents of the Council have come from this club. The club also has been a strong promoter of the FFI Casting Instructor Certification program. Two of its members manage and operate the Southern California Speaker Circuit, which provides both local and nationally known speakers for 7 fly fishing clubs in the greater Los Angeles area.
Other awards being given are as follows:
FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Awards
Celebrating Women in Fly Fishing – Mary Ann Dozer and Corie Berrigan
An award is based upon a single extraordinary contribution or on a continuous prominent effort promoting comprehensive fly fishing education. Extraordinary contributions are those that are superior and conspicuous in relation to others and consistent with the philosophies of the FFI.
FFI Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award
Fred Dupré
An award presented to the person who has made significant contributions to the arts of fly tying.
FFI Darwin Atkin Fly Tying Achievement Award
Henry Hoffman
This award was created in Darwin Atkin’s honor to recognize an FFI member whose long-term contribution to fly tying is widely recognized and respected. The award is for outstanding achievement, demonstrated commitment and significant advancement of the craft and art of fly tying.
FFI Dick Nelson Fly Tying Teaching Award
Michael Peratis
An award presented to an individual who excels in teaching the art of fly tying to tiers at all skill levels.
FFI International Ambassador
Kuni Masuda
This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to expand Fly Fishers International world-wide furthering the mission and vision of the organization. Contributions, including development organizationally, member engagement, program growth and delivery of benefits and opportunities should have been made over a period of years.
FFI Roderick Haig-Brown Award
Ann Miller
An award presented to a fly fishing author whose work embodies the philosophy and spirit of Roderick Haig-Brown, particularly a respect for the ethics and traditions of fly fishing and an understanding of rivers, the inhabitants and their environments.
FFI Conservation Award
Andrew T Taylor, Timothy W Birdsong, James M Long, Michael S Allen, Michael D Trinagli, Brandon L Barthel
An award presented to a person, group or organization which has made extraordinary contributions to the conservation of our fisheries resources in the past year.
FFI Council Leadership Award
AJ Rosenbohm
An award presented to that council president who has demonstrated unusual devotion to FFI and through outstanding contributions has benefited FFI as a national or international organization. It is not expected that this will be an annual award.
FFI Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructor Award
Mac Brown, John C Till
An award given by the Casting Board of Governors (CBOG) in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to FFI Casting Instructor Certification Program, have dedicated themselves to fly casting instruction and have shared their knowledge with others.
FFI Women’s Community Development Award
Ann Miller
An award is presented to an individual, group, or organization who has demonstrated unusual devotion to increasing the diversity of the FFI community by expanding the involvement of women. This award is to recognize leadership and service on the regional, national, and/or international level.