Oh, The Places I Went in 2021
Here's the last dispatch of 2021.
Good afternoon and Happy New Year’s Eve!
Welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
If you’re just discovering my musings, here’s a backgrounder.
Here’s what I have for you today:
Oh, The Places I Went in 2021
Online and offline, I ventured near and far for business—and leisure—in 2021.
While it wasn’t my best year in business - thanks, COVID! - I grew a lot by undertaking three fellowships. I also had several speaking engagements - both virtual and in-person. And I got my fill of travel and craved more in the process—adding Michigan and Montana to my list. Hello 35 of 50 states visited!
I grew as a fly angler and spent more time on the water, bringing friends along for the ride. Alas, I didn’t spend much time in the field hunting as I’d like, save for upland hunting in central Michigan. But I hope some spring 2022 opportunities materialize.
Where I Excelled
Digital Reach: 24 million Twitter impressions. 102,000 YouTube views. Dozens of columns printed in Townhall.com and elsewhere. Tens of thousands of views on “Conservation Nation.” 20,000+ podcast downloads on District of Conservation. Thanks for listening/watching and engaging with my content!
Client Work: Despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 and slow start to 2021, my business managed okay. It was no where near 2020’s success—my highest grossing year yet. But considering the dismal economic conditions we currently face, I’m grateful to have a steady client workload. Contracts were restored in full, extended, and new ones added for 2022. Blessed and thankful.
Completed Three Fellowships: I supplemented my client load with three fellowships. Confession: I felt I was severely lacking in this department so I wanted to these experiences under my belt. That led me to become a Visiting Fellow with Independent Women’s Forum, a Young Voices Contributor, and Generation Liberty Fellow with State Policy Network at their Annual Meeting. I’ll be continuing on with two fellowships into 2022 and can’t wait to grow more as a young professional.
Elected to POMA BOD: I won a competitive race to serve a three-year term on the Professional Outdoor Media Association Board of Directors. My term expires in 2024. In addition to securing a spot, I was elected to serve as Secretary for the year. Next year, I hope to recruit more outdoor communicators to join our organization. I also intend to work with fellow board members and our membership to expand our reach.
Where I Fell Short
Lackluster Reading Goals: I fell short of my 2021 Goodreads challenge. I didn’t read anywhere near the 36 books I set to read. In fact, this was my worst year of reading on record. Grrr. In 2022, I plan to exceed this goal.
Wasted Time on Social Media: Admittedly, I wasted a lot of time on social media in the last 365 days. Shame on me. I plan to be more judicious with my time by reading, exercising, traveling, and spending time outdoors more.
Workout Regimen: While I’m healthy, I didn’t follow through with intensive workouts I planned to incorporate. I got a lot of steps in, but I wanted to tone more. In 2022, I will follow through with a more concrete plan and be more accountable.
Where did you excel and/or fall short? Let me know!
Ghost Gun Op-Eds
Find my musings on the subject at Washington Examiner and Reno Gazette Journal.
With D.C. Mandate Imminent, VA Is Safe Harbor for DMV Residents
Our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is joining fellow cities NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston in mandating vaccine requirements for indoor spaces.
Come January 15th, the District of Columbia will adopt this draconian measure—one that will ultimately drive a deeper wedge between Washingtonians. Lest The District’s policy makers forget: this effort won’t mitigate the spread of the omicron variant. But they’ll proceed with it anyway.
Who will be adversely impacted by this new policy? Sadly, the city’s black residents—who comprise 46 percent of the population— will be disproportionately targeted. Fox News reporter Houston Keene noted just 39 percent of its black residents are fully vaccinated.
In a city atrophying from high crime and residents fleeing for freer pastures— the nation’s capital lost 20,000 residents in the last year — instituting a vaccine mandate will only drive more people out. Where will they escape to? It’s highly probable they’ll cross the Potomac River into the Commonwealth of Virginia. Here’s why.
Podcasts You May Have Missed
Here are District of Conservation podcasts you may have glossed over.
Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts and encourage your friends to subscribe to the newsletter too.
—Gabriella