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Projects |
December 2002 Youth Update
[December, 2002] - By Dion Bright, Youth Director, West Virginia BASS Federation
I would like to start my first column off by thanking a person who built a foundation in the youth program for
the WV B.A.S.S. Federation. That person would be "Sarge" Travis. I couldn't count the endless hours that
Sarge has put forth with just the Kids Casting competitions and the annual Jim Catherman Youth Tournament. When
I first started helping Sarge five or six years ago I was able to see and experience the extra time spent preparing
for the Kids Casting and youth tournament and the time spent after the events cleaning up. There is also the task
of preparing the paperwork from the competition to forward them to B.A.S.S. headquarters.
As long as I have been volunteering with the WV B.A.S.S. Federation with various events, I have seen a shift in
focus for the youth. Along with Kids Casting competitions, the annual Jim Catherman Youth Tournament has grown
from just over 20 boats to over 50 boats this past June. We, as a federation, have taken on more projects over
the past couple years such as the annual Governor's Youth Spring Challenge. This past July, we sent a youth state
team to Delaware to compete in the Junior National Championship, which this year we will be sending a team to compete
at Kerr Reservoir in Virginia. During the Bass Festival at St. Mary's while the tournament is going on, we hold
a two-day women and children's fishing derby. If that's not all, this past February, we held the first annual WV
B.A.S.S. Federation Outdoor show, which was a three-day event.
With all of that said, let me go to my next subject, "Volunteering". It seems since I have been involved
with the federation, the same faces appear time after time at all the events. I know I have sat down on many occasions
at home at grabbed the phone book or phone list and just started calling people to see if they could spare some
time to help out with a Kids Casting event. I posted a message on the federation web page for help at RCB High
School and at Stonewall Jackson Hunting and Fishing Days in September twice. The first posting had 123 hits; the
second posting had 194 hits. Guess how many e-mails and/or phone calls I received, (3)! Yes, out of 317 people
who viewed the message, only 3 volunteered their services. Now I know that not everyone that viewed the board may
even be in West Virginia or their geographic location made it impossible to travel that far, but my point is with
the more involved the federation is getting with our youth, we need to have some more help with the events. While
on the subject, I do want to thank Roadhouse Bassmasters, Mike Moore, Brian Closson, Ryan Harmon, Jimmy Davis,
Larry and Shelly Perry, John Burdette, Jim Summers, Steve Jackson, and Kenneth Jackson for help the weekend of
Stonewall Jackson Hunting and Fishing Days and RCB High School.
There will be some new changes to the WV B.A.S.S. Federation website which is being worked on as I write this column.
The Youth Projects section is being changed to Kids Corner. Within Kids Corner, the kids will have their own sections
for photos, tournaments, Kids Casting, etc. Hopefully, this new section will be up and running when you receive
the newsletter.
As of right now, the federation has only one junior club. I would like to echo John Burdette's words in his June
column that I too would like to see a fish-off against clubs to determine the top six to represent West Virginia
in the Junior National Championship. If your club is interested in starting a junior club or if you have any questions,
call or e-mail me.
In the coming year, I would like to see some new volunteers helping out with the many events, which involve our
youth. With the world as it is today, I'm sure a little will go a long way. In the meantime, I wish you and your
family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. |
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