Consistency the Key to Long Term Success

Here it is June and although hard to believe, my first year as club President is half way over.  While the tournament season is just getting under way, now with two events in the books, I wanted to reflect on the overall "State of the Club."  Our treasury is healthy and stable but we do operate on a slim margin and so much keep an eye on costs.  We've reintroduced regular buddy tournaments and added a few other fun non-fishing related activities.  For the first time in the past 17 years we are not at full membership, but that should not be construed as a negative.  Over the past few years, we've maintained a reasonably small number of observers and with little turnover, there seemed no reason to go out and recruit for more.

We've only had 1 or 2 openings per year for the past few but this year we turned over 5 positions.  With a 36 man membership, that is still a pretty small number of available spots.  That consistency in our membership leads me to the main point of article this month.

If asked why I think the Bergen Bassmastesr have been such a successful club as we enter our 22nd year, I'd say the key is simply consistency.  While some things have changed over the years and we're sporadically tried a few new ideas, so many other aspects of the club have remained our long-standing foundation that we build upon.  We're maintained a tournament schedule consisting of 7 points events for the past 19 years and conducted a weekend club classic for 18 years.  We've run the Outing for the Disabled for 19 years as well.  Our points system has remained constant for the past 12 and despite and prior to a 1 year trial of something different, used a very similar method of awarding points.  Before the days of a website, which the Bergen site has been running for 9 years, we religiously mailed out our monthly newsletter for over 10 years.  This year will be the 7th open buddy tournament and 21st Awards Banquet.  Our membership dues structure has remaining consistent for 10 years or so.  It's these functions that build

the base but the most important part of any club is it's membership.    

It's an amazing statistic but 23 of our 35 members have been with the club for at least 10 years and 15 members have been with Bergen for 15 years and

5 for 20 years or more!  That long-standing bond creates a cohesiveness

within a club and establishes stability throughout the membership.   Six

past Presidents and seven past Tournament Directors are still with the club to share their knowledge. No, we're not a bunch of old farts, well, maybe a few of us are, but so many of us have matured with the Bergen Bassmasters a part of our lives.  There are some newer members that have jumped right in and are the club's future.  Guys like Kris Lechman and John Hayden are the new blood that can serve to rejuvenate a club and help keep us from getting stagnant, however, we can thank many of the folks listed below in helping to shape this club into the fantastic organization that it is. 

I'd like to recognize those long standing members below and thank them for their contributions over the years.  Congratulations to many years with the club for these anglers!

Alan Goldman - 18 years, missed only 9 tournaments in 18 years.        

Alvin Walters - 17 years, tournament committee and official weigh-master.

Brian Mahoney - 20+ years, 5 years as club president and Chairman of the Handicapped Outing.

Doug Giachino     - 17 years, club officer.

Ed Schickman - 16 years, club officer.

Eric Lehmann - 17 years, tournament committee.

Frank Freguletti - 19 years, tournament committee.

Jim Logan - 20+ years, the "Ironman."  What more can we say.

John Williams - 16 years, club photographer Kirk Stober - 20+ years, Past President, Tournament Chairman, board officer, and TC member.

Mark Scocco - 18 years, Past President, Tournament Chairman, board officer, webmaster, and TC member.

Nick Albano - 19 years, Past President, Tournament Chairman, Editor, board officer, and TC member.

Rich Gerken - 20+ years, Past Tournament Chairman, club officer and

tournament committee member.                   

Scott Mitchell - 15 years, Past President, board officer, and tournament committee member.

Steve Schilling - 20+ years, Past tournament director, long time tournament committee member.

Respectfully submitted,Mark Scocco
President - Bergen Bassmasters

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