To say that 2009 has been a challenging year would be a gargantuan understatement.  For those who wonder why it has taken so long to update our web page it is because along with a little personal angst we were wondering whether we would be able to find a premier sponsor for our CastingKids program in time to start the New Year.  We had also hoped to sell our Skeeter boat before the end of the year.  We have also been working on getting a match for the Joseph Thomson Memorial Scholarship fund. Add to that the coldest year in I do not know how long and trying to stay warm and off the ice has taken considerable time. 

    Well, getting one of three wishes isn’t too bad.  Here is the really good news!  Thanks to the effort of Bert Seymour our CastingKids Director, Settle Tire of Charlottesville, VA has contributed enough for us to give savings bonds to our state champions this year. The champion in each age group will receive one.   This will make it worth while for clubs to continue to hold CastingKids events during the entire year with the championship to be held in November.  The bonds will be for their future education and held in trust by their parents.  For more information you can contact Bert directly and if you are in the Charlottesville area please stop in and tell the staff at Settle Tire how much you appreciate their generosity and support for 2010.  Pictured below is the picture of Bert Seymour accepting the check from Wayne Burton, manager of Settle Tire Company for the CastingKids program 2010. 



   Some more really good news to start the next decade is that thanks to the generosity of Paul and Sara Thomson we now have the official Joseph Thomson Memorial Scholarship fund.  Joseph died in an auto accident. This fund is to be used to provide college scholarships for aspiring junior anglers who seek a career in a field related to fishing and the preservation of the environment for future generations.  The fund is being managed by Sid and Abby Ryan who also lost their son Stephen to cancer.  Contributions to the Scholarship fund can be sent to Sid Ryan; 505 Woodglen Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23322-4149.  Criteria for the scholarship and the application will be on line.  Applications will be accepted beginning in April with the first award being made in August 2010.  The application and criteria will be available on-line by the end of January 2010 and can be sent to Joan Blankenship, President; 3461 Lee Ford Camp Road, Ridgeway, VA 24148.  Pictured below is Joseph Thomson with one of his more impressive catches. 

    Since the Skeeter boat did not sell prior to the certificate expiration date, a Skeeter is on order and is available for the very low price of $29,950 plus tax, title, batteries and rigging if needed.  The boat will arrive almost ready for the water.  If anyone is interested they need to let me know before the boat goes into production if they want to make any upgrades or changes. 



State Team Boat.  The boat is a Skeeter ZX190 with a Yamaha VZ150, Skeeter Single Axle Trailer, Minn Kota Fortrex80 45 inch trolling motor and Lowrance HDS-5 plus a prop is included.  Price as ordered is $29,950.This package can be upgraded by the purchaser at their expense if they place order before boat goes into production.  The boat is blue and silver. If interested please call Joan Blankenship at 276-252-2133.

   Anyone else wanting to contribute to the CastingKids program can contact Bert or the president as this is where the next generation of anglers begins.  Rods and reels are always a welcome gift and make a good club project. 

   Even though the year has been one of concerns and challenges we have a lot to be grateful for and one is our win in West Virginia.  This makes three out of four years and we are all looking forward to 2010.  Anyone who likes river fishing will like the Nanticoke River as it has bass that are easy to measure. 



   In addition, Jeff Freeman is headed for the Bassmaster Classic again and with some of the lessons learned from his last trip he feels more confident this time.  Jeff is also promoting our Triton Alliance program and will be using his 2010 Triton.  As we all know it is expensive to compete in an event like the classic so it is my hope that our membership will increase enough for 2010 to be able to offer Jeff some additional support.  If anyone wants to help out they may send the contributions to the state president.

   This was also the first year that our junior anglers became part of the state team.  This was also the year that they had to deal with one of the toughest fisheries on the tournament trail.  Nicholas Bodsford and Cody Pike worked with Jeff Lugar, the team captain and caught a lot of fish but none that measured.  Next years junior anglers should not have such a tough time.  Just making it to the Mid-Atlantic through the Virginia junior angler trail is tough enough and there are a lot of good junior anglers of Virginia with dreams of being the next “Ike” or “Kevin”. 

   As we prepare to defend out title again this year, we can look forward to an increase in competition from other states.  In addition, the stress on our junior anglers will increase as our program is huge by comparison to other states and it brings to mind a question that was asked at the president’s meeting in Florida this year and that was “What can we do about states that do not want to grow their membership or their programs.”  This is a good question and one that I hope is addressed in 2010. 

   Our thanks go to our boat captains for 2009 and hope that there will be more mentors for 2010.  Without this program there would be no new competition and little growth. 
      The Children’s Miracle Network benefit was a success again this year and we are already planning 2010.  We give 100% of the proceeds after payback to the local region and all of the funds raised stay in Virginia.  If there is anyone who wants to donate product that can be auctioned for additional funds we will be grateful to have it so that we can raise additional funds this year.  As a matter of fact, we would entertain contributions for any of our events this year. 

   We have reached the point where we are starting to split some of the conservation responsibilities.  Will Seymour attended the legislative update in Richmond for us in December and has submitted a report that will be presented at the board meeting in January.  As Will learns more about all of the political issues in Virginia he hopes to be able to take on more conservation projects. 

   Will is a former junior angler who has become an adult angler.   He graduated from Shenandoah University in 2008 and has aspirations of a future in conservation.  Unfortunately, this economy has made finding something in his major a challenge so it is his hope that by making himself visible through the federation someone will recognize his talents and give him an opportunity in his chosen field.

   Finally, we have to be really grateful for our sponsors as they are the financial support that keeps us going forward each year.  First, our members who are our foundation and who contribute much more than just dues each year. 

   Second our national sponsors that include the Triton Alliance with Lowrance, Mercury, and Motorguide.  Toyota and Evan Williams have continued to be very generous and will continue in 2010. 

   Third our state sponsors, that include Ivan Morris and the Glass Baron, Anglers Choice Marine and new for 2010 Settle Tires.  Without them we would have an even more difficult time. 

   2010 marks year five of our journey forward as a nation united with BASS and our thirty-eighth consecutive year as an affiliate of the Bass Master organization.  We are still strong, showing continued growth and the least expensive path to the Bass Master Classic. 

   As we begin another decade lets take time to reconnect with our environment, appreciate the beauty of Virginia’s state and national parks and protect our streams, rivers and lakes for the next generation.   With this final thought we will all have our work cut out for us this year and beyond.