|
2019 TBF President First
Address to all TBF Members:
HAPPY 2019 Everyone !!
I am wishing all TBF members and Family a
very safe and blessed year
I mainly just wanted to
sit down today and take the time to send out
some content to all of our TBF members as to
what The TBF Board has been up to thus far and our plans for 2019 .
I was recently invited
down to Nixon Marine to speak to the Mt
Saint Helen Bass club group regarding reestablishing their clubs membership with
the WSBF. They haven’t been members of the
TBF for over 4 years now and a few of their
members expressed that maybe the time is now
to rebuild those relations with the WSBF.
We had a great in depth discussion that
revealed some minor concerns and
miscommunications that derived from dealings
with the previous TBF Boards .
The overall consensus felt that being a part
of an organization like the WSBF would help
both groups in having a louder voice in our
Bass fishing community. Therefore,
after a healthy, informative, and positive
discussion with the group we concluded with
the vast majority (99%) of the club members
wanting to become WSBF members again. I
would like to thank their club President
Philip Martin for stepping up and
reaching out to us.
As I have expressed
from day one of my role as the WSBF
President
our efforts and actions are centered around
supporting those that make it a point to
support the WSBF. I honestly feel like 2019
will be the year of increasing TBF
memberships at the club level and lessening the
requirements for qualifier events requirements from
the members. The 2019 Jamboree is expected
to yield one the biggest turnouts compared
to previous years due to the New TBF
Semifinal advancement opportunity that will
be offered at the Jamboree this year.
I hope that your club
reps that have attended our WSBF meetings
have explained and communicated our game
plan for elevating our State Qualifier
Series events that typically take place in
our state each year. For those TBF members
that haven’t made it to a WSBF meeting
lately: The National TBF office is pushing
all states to end “ THE 12 MAN STATE
TEAM STATE MENTALITY” approach . The
Semi Finals events are designed to get the
full advancement from the state TBF members
from State Held Events and also by direct
advancement from all TBF Bass Clubs.
Therefore they don’t want us to limit this
opportunity on state levels by only
establishing a capped 12 man state team.
We feel that because
the Jamboree draws the majority of our state
TBF Club participation along with friends
and family, that this event will allow the
WSBF to advance between 30-40 teams directly
the Semi Finals. Even the anglers that are
not TBF members will be counted as
“participation anglers” in which would allow
us advance many teams this year.
This year the Semi
Finals is taking place on the Hood River in
the state of Oregon in October on the Hood
River. (Hosted by the Oregon TBF group for
2019)
The pros:
| 1. |
Lessen
the expense of anglers fishing
multiple events like (State
qualifiers)
|
| 2. |
Lessen
the travel for all Tourney
anglers though out the fishing
season
|
| 3. |
More TBF
members from our state will have
a chance to be Crowned Top
Boater & Co-Angler from our
state
. |
| 4. |
The Funds
that the WSBF generates each
year will allow our bank account
to easily stay within our annual
budget projections.
For the past two years our state
has “lost Money” by having state
qualifiers due to low turnout
/support.
|
| 5. |
With not
having the state qualifiers ,
Tourney anglers have an
oppertunnity to fish other
completing events around the
state with the worries of
conflicts with other tourney
Groups. |
1)
The cons:
| 1. |
There will
not much state support for the
anglers advancing the semi
finals in October. We typically
pay for Rooms, State team
Jerseys , Trophies, Banquets ,
ect. Every advancing Boater
will have to pay your own entry
fee of $200 and Co-angler
& $100 to complete in this
event.
|
| 2. |
I made a
promise to Bob Steiner that our
current board will not stop our
having our Annual Year End
Banquet. We simply just need
redefine what will take place at
the banquet. Some of my
thoughts center around
acknowledging the TBF
clubs/Sponsors that have made
some major contributiions and
support for the WSBF thoughout
the year . |
1)
In Review:
I have asked all
TBF members and Clubs to help us spread the
word of the changes coming in 2019 . However
I would like to see as many TBF members come
out to our First WSBF Meeting on March 16th
(LOCATION
AND EXACT TIMES WILL BE POSTED ON THE WSBF WEB SITE SOON ( I AM STILL WORKING ON
SECURING A SOLID LOCATION))
We are in the process of changing the
culture of our WSBF organization. I think it
is necessary that you the TBF members are
present to express your feedback and
Concerns with our Board. I personally have
the responsibity of making important
decisions that directly impacts all of our
members statewide therefore I would
appreciate TBF members being present as we
continue to move forward with our business
affairs. I plan on visiting a few more
clubs over the next couple of months to
discuss the new changes coming from the WSBF.
I also will seek to gain feedback from TBF
clubs by discussing ways in which they can
help support the growth and support of our
state TBF Memberships.
New 2019 topics thus far:
I would like to
wish the very best of luck to DAVE KROM &
DUSTIN KINLEY as they will be
representing our State at the 2019 TBF
Nationals event taking place on Kentucky
Lake. Both anglers are super excited about
attending the event and they are making it a
point to as prepared as possible for a
strong finish.
Here is the updated Factsheet for the CAST
for Kids NW Gala on February 23. Thanks for
spreading the word!
Jay Yelas
Executive Director
C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation
PO Box 317, Lincoln City, OR 97367
541-602-9823
“Enriching the lives of children with
special needs, supporting their families,
and strengthening communities through the
sport of fishing.”
This is a great opportunity to come out a
do some good in the our community!!
In Closing:
I wish everyone the Best of luck this
fishing season. Thank you for helping keep
our organization strong and healthy. We are
nothing without our members. Every TBF
members’ voice counts in WASHINGTON STATE .
Also Thank you to our awesome state TBF
Board Members for the ongoing support in
2019.
Dez Ruffin (WSBF President)
|
