The Association's Changing Image

A month ago, on May 1, the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies experienced a few changes when it opted for a name change, logo update, new brochure, press kit, and a new website. Although some changes, for the website in particular, will be evolving throughout coming months, the change brings new energy to the Association.
The final vote on the name change took place in Columbus, Ohio during the annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Meeting in March. April was spent preparing for the change, and spreading the word to our membership base.

“The name change is intended to more directly reflect the Association's membership,” says Executive Vice President, John Baughman. “Our voting members are really only found in North America , and are made up mainly of state fish and wildlife agencies. Dropping the word ‘International' allows for a shorter, less confusing name.”

The Association's name change does not affect the strategic mission of the organization, which includes an International Relations Program and both Canadian and Mexican members. In fact, the Association is hopeful that the increased visibility will allow new opportunities to show the collaboration of efforts between all of North America 's fish and Wildlife Agencies.

“As we have been since the 1930's, we're still very involved in working with Canada and Mexico ,” says Baughman. “In today's world, everything is so globally connected; it would be a mistake for us to change our mission. Wildlife knows no boundaries, and it is important that we work collaboratively for conservation.”

According to the staff, our partners and members, and judging by the influx of phone calls from the media, the Association's new name seems to be better received than first anticipated.

"The Association's recent brand change illustrates the importance of using a best practices based approach," says Bruce Matthews, Executive Director of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. "Applying the same rigor we'd use in any resource management decision-making context the Association has simplified and clarified its mission and purpose through this brand change. Communicating who we are and why we're important to legislators, decision-makers and partners is a critical part of an organization's name and logo. The research told us it needed a change; the organization responded very effectively."

For more information about these and other changes, please visit, www.fishwildlife.org.

The new website features a password protected Members Only section where all of the Association's members can post meeting minutes, share documents, and find all the contact information (Excel Spreadsheets) imaginable. To find out how you can become a member, or if you are a member and need the login to access the Members Only information, email us at info@fishwildlife.org.

“For more than a century the Association has been part of some of the nation's most important conservation actions. We are hopeful the new name will continue to increase the visibility of the great work by the collective fish and wildlife agencies we represent,” says Baughman.