Good Ole Boys

Junior Bassmasters

Home of the 2009-2010 CLUB TEAM Champions, the 2010 Connecticut Divisional Qualifier & 2009 Divisional Qualifier

The Good Ole Boys Junior Bassmasters is a certified 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Club

2010 Connecticut Div. Qualifier                 2009 / 2010 CLUB TEAM Champions                 2009 Canadian Div. Qualifier

We're training for the 2011 Mountain Goat Run as well!

           Good Ole Boys Bass Club

Date:  Tuesday evening, March 31, 2009.

Time: The meeting was opened at 7PM by our Youth Director Jeff Edgarton who filled in for missing club president, Mitchell Jones.

President's Report: Mitchell Jones did not report as he was tied up with after-school activities.

Secretary’s Report: Matthew Mitchell reported on the minutes of the February meeting.  After the minutes were read, they were approved and accepted by the members.

Treasurer’s Report: Dustin Robinson reported that a few more members had signed for 2009 and that our treasury had a total of $1,933.40 in the bank.

Tournament Director’s Report: Our TD, Ryan Friscia did not report as he was tied up with after-school activities.

Youth Director’s Report:  Jeff Edgarton reported that members who did not complete their medical forms must do so and turn them in.  He asked new members or existing members who had changes in their health programs to pick up a medical form from him, if they needed one.

Jeff also discussed our current 2009 tournament schedule.  He stated that the schedule was released early enough so that all the participants including senior boaters could set those dates aside and plan accordingly.  Therefore, no club tournament dates can be re-scheduled or moved around in order to meet recent modified school games or functions for our junior members.

Jeff then discussed the senior clubs concerns over the cost of fishing out of a senior members bass boat.  These issues circulated over the continual slumping economy, rising prices, job losses, etc.  Jeff added that it is also a major reason to raise more money individually so as to remove the burden of getting the needed dollars from parents.  In many cases, the adult/boaters do not and did not feel comfortable accepting money from the juniors therefore they refused it, even though they, in all probability wanted to accept it.  Jeff has decided that in order to maintain our boater pool and remove any stigma in the minds of the adult/boaters, the club will issue checks directly to each boater on behalf of each participating junior ... as long as the junior has a "bottle & can" or funding available in his/her account that will allow us to do so.

Jeff also explained the need for each junior to participate or volunteer to work at places such as Bass Pro, fund-raising activities, or community projects along with the bottle & can drive in order to raise additional money in each members account.  ONLY the members who participate in the events will share in the benefits.  Jeff mentioned that we will also be involved in a raffle at Bass Pro for a tackle box and lures in an effort to raise additional money.

BOATER SAFETY COURSE was again discussed and everyone 10 year old or older must be certified as early as possible in 2009.  Jeff announced additional sites that were giving the courses.

Fund-Raising Committee:  Jeff asked for members to sign-up for the fund- raising committee for 2009.  Junior members that volunteered for the committee are Bill Easterly, Trevor Parker, Dustin Elsner, Guy Cromp, Jr.,  Matthew Mitchell, Dustin Robinson and Ryan Friscia.

Sponsorship Committee:  Jeff also asked other junior members to consider volunteering for this committee.  Club sponsors and their donations are needed and we need some new club members to join Ryan Friscia and Dustin Robinson so that this specific group can go out and begin soliciting local businesses in the area.

Vern Robinson reviewed the "Fund-Raising" and "Bottle & Can" dollars pertaining to each individual member and their personal account based on their activities.  These sheets are now finalized based on their discussions and will be available for the April meeting.  These sheets should be reviewed by each junior and their parents and the results and comments should be returned to Mr. Robinson for the club file. 

Vern also has a “Fund-Raising” board that will be shown at each meeting.  This board will highlight which members are participating in these programs and contributing dollars.  This board will show who is eligible to receive money towards their fishing entry fees for 2009.

An organized Bottle & Can drive is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009.  Everyone participating will be meeting at Kinney's parking lot at 10AM.  We will collect from 10AM until noon.  Guy Cromp Sr., will bring his pick-up truck and trailer.

A community project has been planned for the Canal Clean Sweep project in conjunction with Earth Day.  The dates are Saturday, April 18th and Sunday, April 19th from 10AM until 2PM.  Junior's and parents who are able to participate will gather at Good Golly's Restaurant each morning at 9:45AM.  We expect to clean up any debris found along the canal sites at the Three Rivers launch area under Route 481 and also at Lock E-1 on Phoenix, NY.

Meeting adjourned:  8PM.