Friends of Wolf Creek National Fish Hatchery, Inc. members Barry & Tina Begley attended the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Fisheries Friends Group Conference held in Washington D.C., March 11-12, 2008. The national conference was an opportunity for Friends Groups (those related to the Fisheries Program) from across the country to network and share ideas. Some of the other Friends Groups represented included the following: Leavenworth NFH -Washington; DC Booth –SD; Gavins Point NFH – SD; Pendills Creek-MI; Genoa NFH –WI; Jordan River NFH –MI; Neosho NFH – MO; Norfork NFH –AR; White Sulpher Springs-WV; and Craig Brook NFH - ME.

During their time in D.C, the various Friends representatives began organizing and thinking from a national perspective, learned about the Fisheries Program budget for 2008 and 2009 along with future program priorities, discussed forming a national association, met with USFWS Director Dale Hall and Assistant Director-Fisheries Gary Frazer at the Department of Interior and spent an afternoon on the Hill with the various Senate and Congressional representatives to discuss important issues relating to the goals of the Fisheries Program and the overall mission of the Service.

While on Capitol Hill, the Begley’s met with staffers of Senator Mitch McConnell, Senator Jim Bunning and Congressman Hal Rogers. They also met personally with Congressman Ed Whitfield.