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| FishTails |
Letter From Divisional Representatives To Gary Jones
And Federation Presidents
[Tuesday, November 01, 2005 9:40 PM]
An Open Letter to BASS Federation Members (From Don Rucks)
After much feedback today from the Presidents\states today, we do not know where to start. I thought we agreed
not to blindside each other with information.
Just to make it clear to all, we the Reps had no conversations, or communications with BASS about this proposed
dues increase. Nor do we support it in this fashion.
The Federation dues have always been there to benefit the member. A breakdown of the dues has been published many
times, in Bassmaster and Bass Times, Chapter handbooks, and mailed out with chapter updates. It is well documented.
It is, $6 to insurance, $6 to the divisional prize purse and $3 to the Federation National Championship expense.
While it is true that dues have not been raised in many years, the last time it was raised from $12 to $15, it
was plainly communicated that the extra $3 would go toward making a bigger better Federation National Championship.
That's the same championship that still pays out $50,000 total prize money with $15,000 to 1st place as it did
then.
Even still, the increase was proposed, discussed, planned and voted into place by the Federation presidents. It's
their decision to make. Where does BASS find the nerve to mandate to the states that they are raising the dues
(for) state Federation members? And the arrogance to raise dues on an organization you don't even own?
Many states and many more clubs have the $15 dues outlined in their constitution and bylaws. That cannot just be
changed on a whim by BASS. This change cannot take place this year, in our opinion.
BASS (also) has put it in writing, plainly and widely publicized, that there would be no mandates to the Federations.
Yet here it is.
We do not know how to make it any more clear than the presidents did at the Classic: The rank and file members
and most state Federations do not see the value compared to the "cost" of being a Federation member now,
under current circumstances, much less with a dues increase designed to do nothing more than make BASS some money
to offset their costs. What about the state's costs?
We were very candid with you in our last reps meeting about the issues and concerns over BASS's handling of the
Federation dues money, insurance and other items. We laid out a plan to fix it, and you agreed to meet with us
again to resolve those issues.
We have a meeting scheduled for Nov. 18 that we just set up on Monday, Oct. 31! Robert talked to you (Gary Jones)
on the phone for nearly an hour, over several Federation issues needing attention just last Friday yet you never
mentioned anything about a dues increase.
It is our position as the Federation representatives, and as the officers of TBF Inc., that we have been very open
and honest with BASS about all plans and objectives. We wish we could say the same for BASS.
It is also our position as those whom the presidents have elected to represent them, that it is the state Presidents
that are the ultimate decision-makers concerning items of the Federation business. It is further our suggestion
and request to the state Presidents as of now, to refuse to pay any increase in dues at this time.
(Presidents) please contact each of your clubs in your state and have them ignore the notice of increase from BASS
and mail their rosters and the $15 dues money to the state Federation, not to BASS. Then the Presidents can decide
at our meeting in January a final path forward for the Federation as a whole.
In Unity,
The Federation Representatives and Officers of TBF Inc. |
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