The 2008' Open Championship' is now in the books.  Congratulations to the winners Brendan Cucinello and Joe Contrino on their outstanding performance.  This year has all the ear marks of a truly memorable season on the water.  I need to kick a bit of sand on the celebration however.  Once again there were issues surrounding the recovery of tournament boats at the ramp.  As I and the tournament committee have stated numerous times...."the Tournament Committee" must be allowed to pull their boats prior to any other competitors pulling theirs.

The membership has discussed and the board has taken under advisement a plan on how we can correct this.  For some it seems they either just don't care or their brain dead, I'm really not sure.  The plan involves a fifteen  (15) minute period between the tournaments completion and the time when competitors will be allowed to drop off riders to recover their boats.  This time can be used to put gear away and ready yourself for departure.  Presently most of this is done on land while waiting to weigh-in.  This should allow the tournament committee ample time to set up and prepare for the fish to be brought to the scales in a timely fashion.

For those of you who were sleeping, the membership and board amended the 'fishing between days' regulation.  You now will be allowed to fish between days of a two day tournament provided it is on a different body of water.  You are not allowed to fish waters of the same venue.  For waters that border or connect to tournament waters the "Tournament Director" has discretion as to what is and is not off limits.  This regulation is not a "By-Law"  and  will be reviewed on a yearly basis.  Changes will be made accordingly.

This year has already been dubbed....'who's on first".  Since the beginning of the new year we have had four (4) changes in 'Club Secretary', a change in Vice President and another in the position of "Executive Officer". For any organization to sustain these type of changes to its leadership, the organization must be flexible and patient as the new pieces are put into  place.   It is vital to any clubs success to maintain and nourish a pro-active "Executive Board" and to work with it not pull against it.  I cant emphasize this strongly enough.

The goal of an "Executive Board" is to work together for the common good.  Put quite simply,  the needs of the club MUST be placed above the individual or group of individuals.  I am indeed fortunate to have had members volunteer to help out when faced with this current dilemma.  When I asked Frank Mussara if he would be willing to switch positions from "Club Secretary" to Executive Officer" he told me......'Ray I will do whatever is in the clubs best interest'.  Thank you my friend, it wont be forgotten.  That gentleman reinforces my point quite nicely I think.

When replacing a member of the "Executive Board" we are faced with a mirad of problematical permutations. The process is not an easy one.  There is a need to move quickly so that the new members to the board may be brought up to speed in short order.  It is imperative that this decision is arrived at democratically.  For those of you who may have forgotten how the process works, I refer you to Article 3 Section 6 of our club "By Laws"

It is my opinion that the clubs two (2) "Members At Large" be made permanent voting members of the Executive Board.  At present these positions are 'vacant'. A By-Law revision would be necessary to approve this change.  The Board members  and I will discuss this further and report back to the membership in a timely manner. 

Hey, the 2008' Masters Championship' on the legendary "Lake Winnipesaukee" is just around the corner.  I believe we have twelve teams that will be competing on this 'smallmouth factory'.  It should be noted that the last two club events here were won with catches of those other fish, the green ones, old Mr. Largemouth.  While circumstances  have forced us to stay quite a distance away, I believe strongly this will be a wonderful experience for all who attends.  I for one cant wait......see you there I hope.

Brendan did what?............................22.08.  Woah!

Ray