Few places are more beautiful in mid-September than northern Minnesota, so what better place to host a gathering of outdoor content creators and brands than on the shore of Lake Bemidji? Registration is now open for the 2023 AGLOW Annual Conference, September 17-21, at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Bemidji.
“It’s tough to think of a better location to host the conference than a facility that is right on the shore of one of the best fisheries in the upper Midwest. Bemidji is delivering exactly that. We aren’t close to the water, we are on the water at our host facility. We even have a boat launch, literally, in the parking lot. Outdoor opportunities abound in Bemidji, and we don’t have to go far to find them,” Mark Smith, AGLOW Executive Director, commented.
There will certainly be plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great fishing Lake Bemidji has to offer, but other outdoor activities will be available to attendees as well, with the Bemidji CVB working hard to show off all the area has to offer.
“One of the best things the AGLOW conference has going for it is the work-play balance. Sure, we’ll get all the hunting and fishing in that we can, but this conference is absolutely loaded with sessions and panels to benefit all our members,” Trent Marsh added, current AGLOW President and SPYPOINT Trail Camera Editorial Manager.
“We switched up the schedule quite a bit last year, and the membership response was overwhelmingly positive. There are a few more changes this year, but they’re minor compared to last year. A focus on sessions that can help our media, corporate, and CVB members be more efficient, immediate content generation opportunities, and of course, the networking and camaraderie that makes AGLOW the premier outdoor content creator organization in the country,” he added.
AGLOW may stand for Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, but the organization has grown well beyond just the Great Lakes and writers.
“We have members in almost 40 states and multiple Canadian provinces. Our immediate past president, Ken Perrotte, is from noted ‘great lakes state’ Virginia. We’ve long had awards categories for podcasts and YouTube content,” Smith said. “People see ‘Great Lakes’ and think we’re just a regional organization, or they see ‘writers’ and think a podcaster doesn’t fit in. These couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve long since grown beyond the boundaries of the Great Lakes and expanded our membership to include content creators of all stripes.”
The week kicks off with the President’s Reception Sunday Night and gets right into things on Monday, with presentations from the 2025 conference bidders before lunch and corporate break-out session that afternoon to show off all the latest products. Tuesday will feature a Lake Bemidji fishing tournament in the morning and targeted sessions on Tuesday afternoon to highlight hands-on use of products or business principles. Wednesday is packed with panels and sessions that benefit all the attendees, as well as the auction. Thursday is a full day afield for all attendees, media, corporate, and CVB, with exciting outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, before culminating in the Awards-In-Craft award ceremony to close out the conference.
There’s no shortage of content generation opportunities, networking events, and educational sessions to make your time at the AGLOW Annual Conference productive and worthwhile.
“AGLOW is all the way back,” continued Smith. “The pandemic took a toll in a lot of ways, but we made it through, and all facets of our membership are intact and strong. Last year’s conference was as well attended as any in recent memory, and we’re already seeing a lot of momentum from our membership about going to Bemidji. We’re not slowing down anytime soon. AGLOW is back, and here to stay.”
For more information on the conference or to register, visit https://aglowinfo.org/events/annual-aglow-conference/.
Any other questions or inquiries can be directed to AGLOW directly at aglowoutdoors@gmail.com
ABOUT AGLOW:
Since the first conference in 1956, AGLOW has grown into a premier organization for outdoor content creators of all types, outdoor brands, and the CVB and destinations that make our wild adventures possible. Founded as a regional organization, AGLOW has grown into a group with international impact and membership. AGLOW members represent almost 40 states and multiple Canadian providences, including writers, podcasters, YouTubers, and photographers, brands from the shooting, fishing, and hunting categories, and destinations across the country. AGLOW – Regional Name, Global Impact
