From The President's Boat
12-09-04
Written By Teddy Reim - President

Hello Hawg Hawlers,

Well, I guess it's technically only been a few months since we finished up
the 2004 season...in dramatic Ozarks fashion I might add, but it seems like an
eternity between seasons. To keep you all up to date, the officer group has
been working, meeting, emailing, calling, and emailing even more to get things
set for our 2005 season.

The work is finally starting to pay off and we have completed the tournament
schedule. This year will take Hawg Hawlers back to some familiar locations as
well as some new spots on familiar lakes. Working with some resorts we are
finding some deals and working on club member lodging discounts. In some cases we have procured "One Free Night" donations from our resort hosts to be given
away as attendance prizes. We even manage to add a first to the schedule by
including Kinkaid Lake in Illinois for the free fishing weekend when no license
is required. We'll have more information about Kinkaid as it approaches.
Notably, some lakes have been omitted this year. After either a light turnout of
fish or anglers ... in some cases both, we have opted to let those waters recover
for the year. Regarding fishing hours, as everyone that attended the banquet
knows, there was a substantial call for some longer tournament hours. To
accommodate this without leaving our members out to fry in the summer sun or
weather the cold of the earliest tourneys, we have added two Saturday hours to a
spring and fall outing. This year it will be early at Table Rock and at the final
competition at Ozarks. We ask everyone to remember this schedule is only
tentative and depends on Missouri Water Patrol approval. Special thanks go here to
Bob Treadway for the work he does every year getting the permits the keep us
all legal. Historically we haven't seen much in the way of alterations from
the water patrol so the dates should be correct. Only minor adjustments in take
off times are likely if anything.

Another area we have updated is the payout schedule. For 2005 we have adopted
a new payout formula that Rob Cook has spent a lot of time and work on.
Overall the change is minor but still allows the same amount of paid places and
also keeps our final paid place as break even. In other words, the final paid
place gets their entry fee back, a great idea that Terry Stanek came up with some
time ago. The goal was to help boost top position payouts in respect to the
increase in overall tournament participation costs (Gas, Food, and Lodging). In
other words, make it possible for a win to better cover weekend costs without
depleting other payouts or decreasing places paid. I think we have done it.
So where does the money come from? Well, the secret is in a new graduated
percentage award for Big Bass. The payouts for Big Bass is a little less depending
on the size of the tourney but the club is continuing the big bass side pot
which continues to help the club cover insurance costs and adds cash to the
pockets of those who Hawl in the Hawgs. The end result.... All you members get
rich or richer whichever the case may be.

Other updates are on the way. A new improved host for our web information is
on the way giving us some space for history and stats. Scale and weigh station
changes are being looked at also.

Lastly, Rob Cook is putting a lot of work into sponsorship this year. When I
say a lot folks, I mean it. I think this guy was born for this. Let's just say
that as the membership, you don't want miss being around for the attendance
prizes this year. We have some surprises for you.

Hope your all getting out to the lakes when you can. I want to hear some off
season hawg catching stories on the message board so get out there. We look
forward to sending more club updates your way soon.

Fish On

Teddy