Finally a "member" of the TU community

By Brett Prettyman

My first experience with Trout Unlimited came in the early 1990s while attending a local chapter banquet in Salt Lake City with a friend. He had an extra ticket and thought I might like to see what TU was about.

The food was typical of a fund-raiser banquet and the auction items out of my league, but it quickly became apparent that these were my people.

Fishing stories stretched from Alaska to Russia to my backyard and I listened intently to every one.

At some point during the evening one of the local volunteers walked around asking if people who were not members of TU wanted to join.

I politely, and somewhat begrudgingly, declined pointing out that, as the outdoor reporter with the Salt Lake Tribune, it would be seen as a conflict of interest.

Through the years I covered many stories on Trout Unlimited projects not only in Utah, but throughout the West. Each time I felt the urge to join TU.

I’m proud to say the wait is over and, since it took me so long, I decided to become more than a member.

I took a new position with TU as the Intermountain Region communications director, covering Wyoming, Nevada and Utah earlier this week.

To say I am thrilled to be part of a team so passionate about working in partnership with all stakeholders on protecting, restoring and conserving coldwater fisheries is an understatement.

Thanks TU for having me. Let’s get to work.

Brett Prettyman is TU's Intermountain Region (Wyoming, Utah, Nevada) communications director. He works from Salt Lake City.