President's Message
Steve Wilson - Feb. 2008
First I would like to introduce to you the members within this organization that work so hard to make fluid the annual operations of the Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation. This web site is one of if not the best site of all B.A.S.S. Federation Nation sites. John Volkernick, whom a handful of you have not even met, monitors, enhances and updates this site daily. He does not do this for any financial gain of his own and more than likely invests dollars of his own in making this site (your site, our site) a positive, functional and user friendly place to visit. John is working on our behalf every single day of the year, there is not a second individual in this organization that does that.
Another individual that works diligently to perpetuate this organizations ability to interact with members, local businesses, user groups with similar interests and the reading public, is Michael Bard. The MBFN’s annual publication (the Guide), is a direct result of this man’s selfless commitment to making this Federation Nation highly visible, viable and profitable. Our guide is the go to publication for bass fishermen within the State of Maine. Mike starts soon after our annual guide is published; setting up a contact data base, working to ensure that the needed documents are in hand and all is ready to initiate the following years guide activities. Please whenever you are in the presence of these two gentleman let them know how much appreciated their efforts are.
Your executive board members: Dave Barnes Sr., Vice President and Legislative liaison, Mark Patterson, Secretary and a champion of our organization, and Charlie Wilson, our phenomenal Treasurer, are all pleased at the opportunity to and looking forward to assisting in this organization in 2008. Each of these individuals has a long history of community service within the Maine Federation Nation. They work tirelessly promoting our sport and represent each of you very well.
Three other individuals that I feel the need to recognize are: Tournament Director, Ray Boies, Conservation Director, Keith Aucoin, and Youth Director, Eric Kuehne.
Ray, not without apprehension and a little resistance organized our States Divisional qualification process. He held in 2007 the first MBFN open tournament to be hosted by this organization in many years, a somewhat successful Messalonskee Lake event. Ray always works toward the betterment of this organization (often late into the night as seen in the emails he sends out), with his most recent achievement being a single point person sign-on at the National B.A.S.S. level.
Keith is the youngest individual listed here but certainly no less aggressive, competent or effective in the promotion of our organization amongst the like minded civic groups he interacts with. Keith takes his role very seriously and interacts with both State and National officials, in their place’s of business as needed, when needed.
Eric is incredible, he devotes many hours (days), promoting to all of Maine’s youth thus far introduced to our organization, the sport and benefits of participation in an activity such as fishing. Eric spends time developing & instilling positive memories, influences and character in the youth we have associated with this Federation Nation. The number of youths involved is only capped by the willingness of our membership to promote, encourage and assist in our States youth programs.
We all need to say thank you to these eight individuals whenever the opportunity presents itself. Please do not lose sight of the fact that they do what they do for you, the membership and could not continue to operate without your support and assistance. This is our organization and only we (all of us) can make it stronger, healthier and a more desirable outdoor sporting opportunity for Maine’s citizens (adults and youth alike), to participate within.
With 2007 coming to an end it is time for a new year and a renewed effort on the part of the Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation members to reach out to those within our communities that fish for bass inviting them to participate in our sport with us. Each of us (those currently MBFN members) have friends/acquaintances or knowledge of others that pursue bass for pleasure. I encourage each of us to invite another, into our organization. There is truly strength in numbers and if only one at a time, we can introduce others to and encourage them to pick up a fishing pole, relax and enjoy the sport we hold dear, then so be it.
Thank You!
Respectively,
Steven Wilson - President Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation