FFI Fly Fishing Skills Education Award

Dick Erickson
Willoughby, Ohio

Dick has been a key member of the Education Committee for the last several years, consistently delivering a thorough effort that keeps the Education Committee moving forward both strategically and tactically. Using his vast experience in corporate and non-profit organizations, Dick contributes importantly to every conversation on many topics. Both from an educational content and organizational process point of view, Dick has provided leadership that is clearly recognized by everyone on the Education Committee. In his role as Grants Subcommittee Chair he has graciously worked with many grant applicants, often helping them revise their grant applications to reach a more successful outcome. In the cases where the Education Committee has not approved a grant, Dick has worked with many applicants to deliver that message in a way that both helps that organization in the future and preserves the good image and reputation of FFI. In addition, Dick took it upon himself to revise the grant application process and application to make them both more clear and easier to navigate by applicants.Dick has contributed significantly by almost single handedly revising and combining previous Learning Center content into what is now known as Fly Fishing Fundamentals. In the process, Dick has attempted many times to work across FFI to gain alignment on this program across many parts of FFI. Despite being routinely rebuffed in his efforts, Dick perseveres because of his belief that FFI should represent a unified perspective to our members and prospective members. Through his perseverance, Dick remains cheerful and dedicated to cross organizational collaboration that should set an example for how the parts of the organization should endeavor to work together to bring content and services to our members.Though Dick's creative, administrative, and writing skills have been an engine for the Education Committee, his skills and energy don't end there. Even as he approaches his 88th birthday, Dick continues to be an active member of the Ohio Council (and former President), delivering educational content regularly and gaining experience that he brings back to the Education Committee on the practical aspects of educating FFI members on many aspects of fly fishing.