SADLER: The gift of Christmas presence

Merry Christmas! I hope that you are enjoying this special day.

This year our family did something a little different for Christmas. We focused more on “presence” rather than “presents”.

What that means is we focused on being with family, friends or the community, rather than buying a lot of stuff. Of course with the economic times being what they are the idea was pretty good for the rest of the family.

This week we spent some time doing for others in the community. Little things we might not otherwise have done because we were too busy. We gave a little time and energy for others

We went out of our way to be more involved with our friends. We called, wrote, texted, twittered and just said Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

As a family, we will be cooking a big meal together. Everyone is either cooking with us or bringing a part of the meal.

Presence, it has been much better than presents already.

Thinking about Christmas presence also made me think about many of the “presents” I have received this year.

Looking back over the span of this column there were many “presents” that I was able to share with you in this column. Here are some of my favorites.

The gift of hunting and fishing education and conservation from groups active here in the Valley. The Valley has a rich hunting and fishing heritage. These groups help keep it alive and well.

The gift of Internet based information. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ Find Game Web site, funded by a grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, makes finding a place to hunt just a little easier these days.

For anglers there is the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s new online social networking site, Fishington, “the fishing and boating capital of the internet.” This Web-based community helps anglers and boaters share information.

The gift of your voice in the political process. As I talked to the candidates this year, sportsmen were recognized as an important constituency in the elections. Your engagement in the process means public policy will be better because of you.

The gift of scholarship. In the future we all will grapple with the consequence of climate change. Because of the good works done by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Wildlife Management Institute in the Season’s End report we have information from leading hunting and fishing organizations to help us better understand the challenge.

The gift of education. There are four really wonderful examples.

First is recognizing bass fishing as a high school sport. This idea makes so much sense. I hope to see it take hold here in the Valley in the future.

Then there is the Anglers’ Legacy program, where avid anglers share their passion for fishing and promise to take one new person fishing each year.

The VDGIF’s apprentice hunting license program allows someone who has not completed the hunter education course to get a hunting license and enjoy some time afield with a mentor.

Finally, and one of my favorites, is the Trout in the Classroom program. Elementary, middle and high school students are given a chance for some hands-on conservation and environmental lessons connected to their local watershed.

The gift of helping others. This is a special gift because it does so much.

For our service men and women Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing helps with the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly-fishing and fly-tying education and outings.

Then there is the Adaptive Anglers on the Fly program making fly-fishing accessible to people that have a physical or developmental disability, a chronic illness, or other special health needs.

Last but by no means least, the gift of having the opportunity to write this column which allowed me to fulfill a life long dream.

When it comes Christmas “presence” few things can compare to enjoying time afield with a family member or a friend.

My Christmas wish for you is that you have many enjoyable days afield in the year to come.