CT BASS FEDERATION MEETING MINUTES
click here for pdf version or word version


2008 Meeting Dates

January 24
February 21
March 20
April 17
May 22
June 19
July 24
August 21
September 18
October 23
November 20
December 18

Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation

Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation

 Meeting Minutes

December 20, 2007

The regular monthly meeting of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation was called to order

December 20, 2007, at 7:37 p.m. by the President.

Roll Call:  The following clubs were absent:  Bass Attack, CT Outdoors, CT Bass Worm Masters

Excused Absences from the previous month:   Litchfield County B/M, North Eastern CT B/M, Shoreline B/M, Wallingford B/M.

The minutes of previous month’s minutes where accepted as posted. 

Correspondence

None 

Reports of Officers

Treasurer’s Report:  Sue Weeks

Presented and accepted.

Scholarship Report:   Sylvia Morris

U-Conn requests specific criteria for scholarship candidates to qualify. Suggestions for additional criteria are due to Dave Santos within 1 week.

Conservation / Environmental Report:   

C.B.F.N. remains in the running for the B.A.S.S. Conservation Grant.

Motion Made to support Riverfront Recapture project with National Geographic project Summer Science       Program: Motion Accepted

Youth Committee:    Terry Backsay

Live Bait Father/Son event was held on Candlewood 11/25/07 was a success with four boats participating.

CELEBRATION, Fla. — BASS announced today enhancements to its youth program, putting its youth competition circuits on a track similar to the BASS Federation Nation tournament structure. As part of the announcement, BASS will move the 2008 Junior Bassmaster World Championship to coincide with the final 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series event, scheduled for Aug. 7-10 in Syracuse, N.Y., in what will serve as a transition year.

At the 2008 championship event, youth anglers will be guaranteed to fish with an Elite pro and will weigh in on the Elite stage. All previously invited contenders will compete in the age division in which they qualified as ages will be frozen. The competition waters are yet to be determined. In subsequent years, BASS will hold the premier youth championship at the Federation Nation Championship, as previously announced.

While the format of the JWC will stay intact, BASS will augment the experience for the youth participants. Elite pros will conduct seminars for all competitors and BASS will work with sponsors to provide JWC qualifiers with fishing equipment.

"We understand the difficulties for those involved in a time of transition and we appreciate their patience," said Don Corkran, director of the BASS Federation Nation. "We recognize that our youth membership is vital to growing the sport of bass fishing."

Central to the enhancements is the exposure of youth anglers to all levels of Federation Nation competition. Youth competitors will be mentored by Federation Nation anglers and will learn the elements that are central to the passionate Federation Nation membership.

The qualifying ladders for the JWC and the Bassmaster CastingKids program, which will mirror the Federation Nation structure, will provide youth with a firsthand look at competition venues they can pursue when they reach competition age. The junior competitor who emerges as the top-performing angler in his or her state will advance to one of six Federation Nation divisionals, based on geographic criteria.

The integration will begin with the first BASS Federation Nation divisional in 2008 set for April on South Carolina's Santee Cooper Reservoir. Junior competitors will remain paired into two age groups, 11-14 and 15-18.

The top-performing anglers from each of six divisionals will then qualify for the JWC Championship, to be held in conjunction with the BASS Federation Nation Championship. The championship contenders will continue to fish for $23,000 in scholarship money, with the winners earning the distinction as the top youth anglers in the sport in their respective division.

In addition to the seminars, BASS will encourage its Elite Series pros to serve in varying capacities at both youth competitions, including the CastingKids, at the Federation Nation Championship.

The CastingKids competitions will be staged in a similar fashion to the JWC path. The top CastingKids competitors in their state will qualify from the Federation Nation Divisionals and the anglers who emerge as the top performers in their Divisionals will move on to their season-ending event, also staged at the FNC Championship.

"We received feedback from all of our constituencies and feel that these enhancements are in the best interest of all concerned," said Corkran. "We are excited about the direction of all of our youth programs and the chance for our youth competitors to grow into successful Federation Nation anglers."

For more information, contact BASS Communications at 407-566-2208.

Tournament Committee:   Guite - No Report

Fishing Advisory Report:  Santos - No Report

Boating Advisory Report:  No Report

State Team Report:  No Report

Raffle Report:   Malloy

Raffle tickets will be handed out at next meeting

Financial Committee:   No Report

Audit Committee:  Lewis Schaler

Volunteers for committee are Dean Beckstein & Vinnie Mucci.

Membership Committee:  No Report

Sponsors Committee:  Ed Weeks – No Report

All Reports approved as given.

Old Business

By-Law changes were submitted to the clubs for review in Oct, to be voted on in December.  A Vote was conducted and all changes where accepted.  The updated By-Laws will be available at the January meeting.

These are the proposed changes that were voted on this evening;

Proposed Bylaw changes and additions

ARTICLE VI

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

C. Attendance

It shall be required that all of the Chapters in the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation shall have a representative in attendance at least ten (10) out of twelve (12) meetings each calendar year

1.  Proposed change:

It shall be required that all of the Chapters in the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation shall have a representative in attendance at least ten (10) out of twelve (12) consecutive meetings.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.  Proposed  addition:

Excused absences shall be limited to (2) in any consecutive (12) month period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE VIII

MEMBERSHIP

C. Affiliation

Membership in this Federation shall be acquired only by B.A.S.S. chapters who meet the following prerequisites:

1. One hundred percent (100%) of the chapter's individual membership shall be members in good standing of B.A.S.S.

3.  Proposed change:

1. One hundred percent (100%) of the CBFN membership shall be members in good standing of B.A.S.S. and the National B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. Forfeiture of Membership

2. Chapters who absent themselves (fail to have bona fide representation) from four (4) regular Board of Director's meetings (not necessarily consecutive) without acceptable cause being given, shall be considered at the Board of Director's next meeting following the fourth such absence for forfeiture or retention of membership.

4.  Proposed Change:

2. Chapters who absent themselves (fail to have bona fide representation) from four (4) regular Board of Director's meetings within a consecutive twelve (12) month period without acceptable cause being given, shall be considered at the Board of Director's next meeting following the fourth such absence for forfeiture or retention of membership.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE IX

COMMITTEES

A. Standing Committees

            3. Tournament Director

Shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the regularly scheduled August Federation meeting. The term of office shall begin at the conclusion of the current year's tournament schedule and end at the conclusion of the following year's tournament schedule. The Tournament Director would then be mandated to produce a proposed tournament trail and tournament rules to be voted upon by the January meeting.

5.  Proposed change: 

            3. Tournament Director

The Tournament Director shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the regularly scheduled August Federation meeting. The term of office shall begin at the conclusion of the current year's tournament schedule and end at the conclusion of the following year's tournament schedule. The Tournament Director would then be mandated to produce a proposed tournament trail and tournament rules to be voted upon by the October meeting.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.  Proposed addition:

The Tournament Director, in conjunction with the CBFN Executive Board, has the right to refuse entry, in any C.B.F.N. sanctioned event, to any member whose previous actions are thought to be detrimental to the C.B.F.N.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE XII

7.  Proposed addition:

TOURNAMENTS

A. CONNECTICUT B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION TOURNAMENT TRAIL

1.  Location(s) and Dates

The annual tournament trail shall consist of (4) qualifying events and the CBFN Classic. Tournament dates and locations shall be selected by the Tournament Director and approved by the Board of Directors. 

2. Eligibility

a. It shall be required that all of the Chapters in the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation must have fulfilled their Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation obligations; such as not missing more than two (2) Federation meetings within the twelve months preceding the scheduled event.  All dues and rosters must be current. If a chapter does not comply with this rule, said chapter shall not be eligible to participate in the Annual Tournament Trail.

b. Chapters and members who are in good standing with B.A.S.S., the B.A.S.S. National Federation Nation and the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

3.  Rules and Regulations

The Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation official tournament rules shall govern the Tournament Trail.  The official tournament rules shall be established by the Tournament Director and are subject to approval by the CBFN Board of Directors. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. CONNECTICUT B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

2. Eligibility

a. It shall be required that all of the Chapters in the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation must have fulfilled their Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation obligations; such as not missing more than two (2) Federation meetings of the twelve months preceding the Federation State Championship. All dues and rosters must be current and are members in good standing of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society. Chapters shall be questioned after their representative has missed the previous meeting of the Board of Directors. If a chapter does not comply with this rule, said chapter shall not be eligible to participate in any Federation activity; (including the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State Championship Tournament). The Executive Board shall determine eligibility of clubs affiliated less than twelve months.

b. Chapters and members who are members in good standing of B.A.S.S. and are also members in good standing of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

8.  Proposed change:

a. It shall be required that all of the Chapters in the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation must have fulfilled their Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation obligations; such as not missing more than two (2) Federation meetings of the twelve months preceding the Federation State Championship. All dues and rosters must be current.  If a chapter does not comply with this rule, said chapter shall not be eligible to participate the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation State Championship Tournament. The Executive Board shall determine eligibility of clubs affiliated less than twelve months.

b. Chapters and members who are in good standing with B.A.S.S., the B.A.S.S. National Federation Nation and the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.  Proposed addition:

e. Members who have qualified to participate in the CBFN Classic Tournament.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Bryan Kerchal Tournament of Club Champions

One tournament will be held each year inviting all of last year’s club champions or a designated member of that club. This tournament will be a qualifying tournament.

4. Invitations will only be sent to those clubs that have been a member of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation for at least six months prior to the mailing of the invitations.

5. These clubs must also have fulfilled their Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation obligations; such as not missing more than two Federation meetings of the twelve months preceding the Bryan Kerchal Tournament of Club Champions, all dues and rosters must be current and are members in good standing of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society.

6. The invitees will be paired by blind draw. The time and place of the drawing will be announced by the Tournament Director.

7. The invitees or an agent MUST BE PRESENT at the drawing/pairing so as to be able to decide whose boat will be used.  The purpose of the pairings is so not to eliminate the non-boater.

10.  Proposed change:

C. Bryan Kerchal Tournament of Club Champions

This tournament will consist of the Angler of the Year in each club from the previous calendar year.  If the Angler of the Year from said club is unable to represent their club a designated member will be allowed to participate.  This tournament will be a qualifying tournament. 

4. Invitations will only be sent to those clubs that have been a member of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation for a minimum of six months during the previous calendar year.

5. These clubs must also have fulfilled their Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation obligations; such as not missing more than two Federation meetings of the twelve months preceding the Bryan Kerchal Tournament of Club Champions. All dues and rosters must be current. The club must be in good standing with B.A.S.S., The B.A.S.S. National Federation Nation and The Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation.

6. Tournament rules and format will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director and will be announced at the Tournament Meeting. 

7. Club presidents will be notified via mail as to the time and place in which the tournament meeting will be held.  Club presidents are responsible to notify the Angler of the Year or designee.

8. The invitees or a representative MUST BE PRESENT at the tournament meeting.

9. Tournament location will be announced at the tournament meeting.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE XV

DEFINITIONS

The following are explanations of words or phrases used throughout these Bylaws that are not otherwise defined. These definitions shall only be revised in accordance with Article II, Amendments to Bylaws

11.  Proposed addition:

Attendance Requirements – are based on a consecutive (12) month period not by calendar year.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Voting Results

Upcoming shows:

CT Marine Trade – January 2008

Dodge Hunting & Fishing – February 2008

Toys-4-Tots drives (2) were very successful.

TR186 Triton with set-up available to any member. Information is available on message board.

New Business

Motion was made to support the Connecticut DEP’s Marine All Water License proposal: Motion Approved.

Executive Board elections for the positions of: Treasurer – Sue Weeks, Secretary – Jack Vinyard

They were re-elected.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm.

Announcements

Next Meeting:  January 24, 2007

Jamie Vinyard

CBFN Secretary



Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sept 2007
Aug 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
2006 Archive