Passion. This is what unites us all as TU members. We are passionate anglers, passionate about conserving the outdoors, and passionate when sharing our experiences with others. 
There are many ways we express that passion:
- At the most basic level, we simply get out on the water, literally immerse ourselves in the cold liquid truth of nature, and viscerally exude the passion through fluid casting and dynamic reeling – adrenaline pumping through our veins as we catch a piece of the wild
- Many of us also then become TU members because we want to unite with others who share the love both of fishing and of the places we need to protect for ourselves and future generations
- Beyond that, we get together to share experiences whether over a beer, at a chapter meeting, coming together to restore a stream, online through facebook, or at fun events like Surface Film led by the Greenbacks and the Fly Fishing Film Tour
- At times we can be too busy, so know that we can still express our passion by giving back financially. Whether it is the thousands who have become lifetime members or those who have helped us meet and exceed the TU Board Challenge this year – no matter if it was $5 or $1,000 it all made a huge difference
But what inspired me to finally sit down and write my thoughts was seeing committed TU members and others coming together to: Express our passion and shout it from the roof tops for others to hear. Although the goal for our Colorado TU leaders was very targeted to getting the EPA to finally understand that Colorado’s mountain streams are loved by many outdoor enthusiasts (basically 90% of people who live in Colorado) and should be protected, I believe it had much greater meaning. I believe that it is events like this that ultimately bind us together for common purpose. They allow us to celebrate. They allow us to get mad. They allow us to see that our passion for angling has greater meaning. They allow us to be bold. They allow us to have fun. They allow us to lead. They allow us to be proud and announce who we are. They show us that we are an army that can mobilize to make a difference. And they help us reach out to others to join us in something powerful. What an amazing membership-volunteer-family-leader-army we have. Great work CTU.
What is that? It is TU. It is passion.
By Sinjin Eberle January 28, 2012 - 3:06 pm
Great thoughts, Dietmar…thank you so much for writing this, and for sharing your support of what we all have going on here. It means a ton and we are making great progress, with help from leaders like you.
By Erica Stock January 30, 2012 - 7:43 pm
Great post, Dietmar! Thanks for highlighting the hard work of our hardworking volunteers here in Colorado. As a Colorado TU staffer, I’m inspired every day by the unrelenting passion of our members. It’s truly remarkable to witness our grassroots leaders in action – mobilizing local communities across Colorado to take on challenges like the Windy Gap Firming Project that threaten the very places we love to fish. Onward!
By steve January 31, 2012 - 8:34 pm
Dietmar,
This is right on. The big picture-you got it! T.U + all of us that love the outdoors, the river systems we have in Colorado…= a strong voice that the EPA will listen too.
By Randy Scholfield February 1, 2012 - 11:32 am
Well said, Dietmar! We can’t be passionate about our sport and not also be passionate about protecting our home waters and the places we love. That’s what TU is all about. . .