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Initiative Overview

A major priority for TU National is to diversify our membership, our leadership and to generally create a more welcoming and inclusive community, which begins with our chapters and councils. A more diverse membership and leadership profile will better enable the organization to more effectively represent the angling community and to do the best possible, most complete conservation work.  

East Jersey Trout Unlimited shares the same vision and passion for extending our mission of cold-water conservation to those that have been traditionally underrepresented in our chapter.  

​What is EJTU's Diversity Initiative? In short: we’re trying to expand our chapter's membership to better reflect the angling public – to be more diverse. The broader and more diverse our membership is, the stronger it is, and the more we can do to protect our cool, clean, fishable waters. That’s why we need to get the word out to as many people as possible. 
​A Few Fast Facts:  Did you know….
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  • TU offers family memberships where you can sign up spouses and kids?
  • That there’s a special quarterly publication from TU specifically geared to kids called Stream Explorers?
  • That if a new member joins through our chapter link/handout it costs only $17 for a year and $15 of that comes directly back to OUR CHAPTER?!
  • That 34% of fresh water anglers are women?
  • That only 3% of TU members are women?
  • That Kelly Buchta, TU’s national head of the Diversity Initiative, is a member of our very own EJTU chapter?
  • That EJTU’s chapter meetings are the second Wednesday of every month? (ejtu.org) – Okay, a lot of you probably knew that one…
  • That we’re planning a couple of exciting events for the coming months – including a family fishing/BBQ day, a women-only fly fishing course, and a pub gathering.
  • That we’re looking for help with the Diversity Initiative efforts – any amount of help goes a long way
One thing that you can do to help your TU National and your chapter East Jersey Trout today is to share this information with a friend. Maybe invite them to our next meeting. Bring a friend, a spouse, a kid, let’s make our chapter a welcome place for all anglers to meet and talk about fishing and conservation.
Additional Resources About How Fly Fishing and Coldwater Conservation is Diversifying

Trout Unlimited National's Diversity Initiative Site

Orvis 50/50 on the Water

Costa Five Rivers College Fishing Program

Dun Magazine

Sisters on the Fly

TU Stream Explorers