Słupsk, 20 April 2024
Working with children and young people: the key to the PZW’s development
On 20 April 2024, the Regional Executive Committee of the Polish Angling Association (PZW) held a scheduled meeting at its headquarters in Słupsk, chaired by Mr Teodor Rudnik, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. The meeting was attended by: the Regional Board Chair, Mr Marian Zabłocki, and the Local Board Chair, Mr Jerzy Lubieński.
Following the adoption of the minutes from the previous Regional Board meeting and the approval of the agenda, a wide-ranging discussion took place on the report on youth work in 2023, presented by Mieczysław Siwiec, Chair of the Youth Council.
According to an analysis of data for 2023 collected from the clubs in our district, the number of participating members is on the rise. We currently have 605 participating members in the district, representing an increase of 75 aspiring anglers. Among the adult members of the Polish Angling Association (PZW), there are 23 youth work inspectors and 65 instructors. Thanks to their work, 14 angling schools were run across 12 clubs. The PZW clubs in the district, mainly through the angling schools, organised 112 different events for children and young people, attended by 3,200 people. These events were made possible thanks to good cooperation with local authorities and schools, as well as the involvement of sponsors and parents.
‘Cooperation with the communities in which our branches operate, together with the authority and pedagogical skills of our instructors, is the surest way to nurture good, young anglers who are sensitive to environmental issues, who know and love our waters, and who care for the welfare of fish’ – said President Teodor Rudnik, expressing his thanks to all the clubs involved in this area of the association’s activities and to particularly outstanding instructors, such as Jerzy Wróż from Czarne, who works at three fishing schools, including, amongst others, the Youth Educational Centre in Debrzno.
During the discussion, it was emphasised that there has been considerable interest in working with young people, and numerous proposals were put forward, such as a competition for the best fishing school of the 24/25 season, the establishment of regional training centres for casting sports, and training for judges in this sport.
The District Executive Committee called on all PZW branches and schools to organise events by the water on Children’s Day, 1 June, under the slogan ‘I fish in the water, not on the internet’.
In the second part of the meeting, Marek Szczepański, Vice-President of the Regional Board and Chair of the Organisational Committee, presented a report on the work of the Badges Committee and proposed a list of outstanding anglers for the approval of applications for PZW badges. Those present unanimously approved the list of 18 badges and 14 medals.
Under ‘Any Other Business’, the meeting was informed of the new dates added to the sporting events calendar. As agreed, the Polish Fly Fishing Championships will now take place on the Łeba River from 17 to 20 October.
Press Officer Antoni Kustusz
Photo: Tomasz Borowiecki
