Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

For various reasons beyond our control, the first two Candlewood Lake Benefit Tournaments (10-11-08 and 5-3-09) had to be cancelled. The 3^rd time is a charm and the Hudson River Challenge  benefiting the USO of Metropolitan New York will be held on the Hudson River (Catskill – Dutchman’s Landing) on Sunday, September 27, 2009. Pat Austin (Greene County Tourism) has the site reserved for Saturday and Sunday (Park fee has been waived).

The event will be managed by a special committee composed of Bergen Bassmaster (NJBF-TBF) members. To draw a large field, the payouts and value of prizes at over 110% will be quite generous, but not too top heavy. Let’s face it – with a 15” black bass minimum, the Hudson is tough and a good number of teams will have a chance at a decent payout.

I am pleased to announce that Orange County Choppers have agreed to be one of our event sponsors.

The format is simple:

$200 per boat – 80% payback

Paybacks increased via two lunker awards by Orange County Choppers

(LMB and SMB at $1,000 each)

Projected payouts based on 75 boats

• $12,000 from entry fees
• $2,000 for lunker awards
• Approx $3,000 in quality gift certificates/prize values from other sponsors given out to next top finishers

Total of $17,000 = 113% actual payback value (could be more)

How the USO of Metropolitan New York makes money:

A portion of the entry fee and most of the proceeds from our $1 per raffle for “A Day on the Water with a Pro” will contribute to our donation to the USO.

“A Day on the Water with a Pro”

• Mike Iaconelli, Terry Baksay, Pete Gluszek and ‘Big Fred’ Contaoi have agreed to donate a day on the water
• These are not guided tours and the winners will simply go fishing with the Pro when he pre-fishes in the Northeast
• This item will generate the most income so let me know if you can assist in selling these tickets.
• Four winners will be drawn on 8/20/09
• Raffle sales kicked-off this past weekend at a USO fundraising table c/o Gander Mountain, Middletown NY. We sold 617 tickets and collected an additional $227 in straight donations! Next up – Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expo, New Jersey Bass Federation booth, March 5 to 8.
• During planned raffle ticket sales, we of course will accept straight USO of Metropolitan New York donations

Additional Notes:

• The Bergen Bassmasters will be managing this event as a benefit for the USO of Metropolitan New York
• Per USO legal issues, this event cannot be called the USO Open Benefit Tournament (they are not running it)

• USO Volunteers (coordinated by the USO) may assist with early AM traffic support and boat check.
• For a separate LUNKERVILLE WFN production, Pete Gluszek may fish the event with Mike de Avila (and cameraman)
• I need a qualified volunteer to drive Pete & his rig from Lake Erie to Catskill on 9/26/09 (contact me)
• Tournament flyer/application will soon be posted on the NJBF, CT Outdoors, NY Forum and Bergen Bassmaster websites
• We are asking other Clubs/Feds (TBF and BASS-ESPN)  to post our attached flyer/application to their websites (Thanks)
• Hard copy flyer/applications will be available at various Tri-State outdoors shops, boat dealers and marinas
• We need quality Sponsor prizes for our tournament anglers – to be given out after cash awards (contact me)
• Sponsors may exhibit their banners at the weigh-in site (the Point inside Catskill Creek)
• If you need to reply to me via e-mail, please do not copy all of the folks on this original notice
• Six Bass at 15 inch minimum per boat
• Complete tournament rules will be handed out at boat check
• Special Rule: DOA bass, no matter how heavy, do not count for auxiliary OCC lunker awards
• Ranger Boats and Cabela’s are also sponsoring our event
• I have attached our raffle signage (Cabela’s edition). We have similar signs for Gander Mountain, Dick’s, Ramsey, Franks, etc.
• The USO of Metropolitan New York supports active service members and their families in southern NY, northern NJ and all of CT.
• First Place Team receives two wood and glass enclosed US Flags that have flown over the WTC site c/o the USO of Metropolitan New York

Special Thanks:

• To Joe Benevenia for creating raffle signage (there were many drafts)
• To Mike Kozub (the Copy Center, Vernon NJ) for creating flyer/application (too many drafts to remember) and in donated signage printing
• To the NJBF for funding raffle ticket printing and the two special 1^st Place Awards
• To Pat Austin from Greene County Tourism
• To Jason from OCC
• To Bill Vella for maintaining a ‘Top 100 Bass Site’ Bergen Bassmaster website
• For avoiding the date and for her support in general, special thanks go out to Diane Nadeau with CT Outdoors
• To Terry Eckel (Frank’s Tackle), Bob Murphy (Ramsey Outdoors), John Hayden and John Williams (my Bergen Core Committee) and all 36 Bergen members
• To all of our sponsors and supporters (and we can use more) not listed on the flyer
• All sponsors, major and minor, will receive thank you letters from the USO of Metropolitan New York
• To ‘Ike’, Terry, Pete and Big Fred – the raffle will make the most money
• To my wife Sylvia who assists with administration and puts up with all the time I spend on this project
• To our primary Sponsors, Joey P with OCC. Sherry W with Ranger Boats and Mark B with Cabela’s (Nebraska)
• To Brian, Colin, Christine, Tom, Cristina, and Amy of the USO of Metropolitan New York       
• AND THANK YOU FOR FORWARDING THIS E-MAIL TO YOUR BASS FISHING BUDDIES & CLUB MEMBERS

“The USO has provided unparallel support to our troopers, in countless ways large and small. Our troopers feel that support when they enter a USO Center, when they watch their favorite entertainers on USO entertainment tours and when they receive clothing, DVD’s, CD’s, gift packages and other items. Using USO E-Mail access, web cams and pre-paid phone cards, USO Centers enable our troopers to stay connected with those they love at home.”                                                       

General David Howell Petraeus, 2008

"It's very important that we give back to these volunteers who serve our nation because they're on the front lines for us, and they need to know we care." Perhaps one of the reasons that I've jumped on board so strongly for the USO, and for supporting the service members in this time of war, is that I do remember how our Vietnam veterans were treated when they came home, and we can never let that happen again. I think we do owe our troops a huge debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make. This is an all-volunteer service, and they're around the world defending our country or helping others defend themselves."                  

Gary Sinise 2008

Thanks,

Nick

Hudson River Challenge - Tournament Chairman

USO Volunteer

Bergen Bassmasters – NJBF – TBF

Nick Albano

PO Box 674

Union City, NJ

07087

Cell 917-217-9350

nsalbano@optonline.net