Newsletter Number 6
(Registered)
501c(7) & Tax ID
Vol 1 – No. 6 June 29, 2008
June 29, 2008M o n t h l y N e w s l e t t e r
Our Motto:
Rod and Reel, Catch and Release, Alive and Well
Our Decal (for auto or boat):
From the: Design Group mlrdesigns@sbcglobal.net
Be sure to “check-out” Randy Naylor’s boat by MLR Design’s Group Tony Wickliffe at the next tournament. The decals are available to purchase at-cost of only $3.00 from Randy or Lee. The decal’s design pattern from the Design Group belongs to the ACA, and the Design Group will be producing the decals for us.
(Page Setup – Text Body: Word 03,1 inch. Top, bottom, left & right margins body w/ Courier New, 12 pitch with Bold Print as 14)
Our Motto:
Rod and Reel, Catch and Release, Alive and Well
NOTE: Your patch may also be sewed onto a pennant and therefore be our burgee and flown on the boat possibly on the bow denoting our association, or the association steering committee may order a burgee pennant at minimal cost from a known source (more later). Your feedback is solicited. The patch is a little large for a cap, but may be sewed-on. We recommend a blue cap ‘without a logo.’ The at below cost is $6.00 and may be added to your membership application and one will be sent to you postage free separately by Lee Fields, or they will also be available at tournaments.
President’s Message: Earlier this month on June 20th, we notified you that our website is now online, and this is a major milestone: /projects/8/4/1/0/841049/Home_Page.html . The website’s (and our name) is www.ArkCats.Org and hosted by http://godaddy.com . Lee and I will endeavor to constantly update the website initially then once we have learned how to manage the site effectively, we intend to allow all members to be able to input data too. Members’ personal information will require a username/password to access. In the interim, your suggestions are welcomed: There is a button “Contact Us” at our website or just email us at big_vato98@yahoo.com or leefields@centurytel.net . We have made several recent changes based on your recommendations, and to reiterate:
a. We have changed to five (5) fish weigh-in at all tournaments instead of two (2) fish.
b. We are also going to seven (7) sectors to reduce fuel cost.
c. The Classic Rules have been changed accordingly and are indicated at the website, but as follows too:
1. Members must fish at least five (5) ACA association tournaments and/or finish in the top ten (10) in points to qualify for the classic, or
2. Members that fish 100% of the ACA association tournaments will qualify for the classic, and also those that take
3. Entry fee for the tournament will be $50.00. Entry fee money will be paid back 100 percent (minus $100.00 payable to the State Park for their facility, attendant and catfish release) divided for the first four (4) places: 1-40%, 2-30%, 3-20%, 4-10%.
4. The optional Big Fish (by weight) tournament fee will be $25.00 and is in addition to the regular tournament if you desire to enter, with the winner taking all. The Big Fish is of course, counted-in too with the classic tournament five (5) fish maximum.
5. Launching and weigh-in order numbers will be drawn for this year’s initial tournament. (Future years’ launching and weigh-in order will be in the highest order that you finished in the year-to-date standings attesting to your achievement.)
6. Each boat can weigh-in five (5) fish for each regular entry-paid member that fishes, and total weight for each will be the deciding factor.
- Most important now, is that we have a good turn-out for our next tournament at Bull Shoals on Saturday, July 26. “Asking for advance registration!” We have included six (6) hours from 3 to 9 p.m. for you to launch and discover/familiarize the lake in preparation for the night fishing. We really need for all members to turn-out for the tournament to be successful, and as a prelude to the charitable tournament on August 23 and 24.
- We’re hoping that all will be proactive and provide us your thoughts as to any improvement what-so-ever, remembering we are here to serve you as a “we” and not an “I” association. Rules are “mostly” fluid and can be changed anytime to suit the need.
- Excerpts from previous newsletter to reiterate what’s important such as “we are an I association” and rules are “mostly” fluid and can be changed anytime to suit the need.
- Remember that Associate Memberships are available, and all you have to do is send-in the application, or, if the supplemental information is the same as yours, then just provide me with the name and I’ll send-out the Associate Membership Card.
- See you all at Bull Shoals!
James Freeman, President, 2008/9, 870 810-3294, big_vato98@yahoo.com
Associate Membership Information: Excerpt from the Constitution (Purpose) and Bylaws (Article III – Member, Section 2, B.): “Associate members shall be spouses, children under the age of 16, legally common-law, significant others, relatives or prospective members. They shall pay no dues. They may attend meetings as observers, and accompany their regular members in tournament boats as observers if meeting all legal requirements but without fishing or assisting, or, perception of impropriety. They shall have no other membership rights but may join a committee as an ad hoc committee member and support the association in that capacity.”
“Planned” Tournaments (in brief by dates):
(Added: AGFC’s Keith Stephens’ weekly
July 26 – Bull Shoals (night)
Aug 23 & 24 – Lakes Millwood and Earling in
Sep 13 - AR River, Cherokee Landing, Morrilton (day)
Oct 18 - AR River, Ozark Taylor Lock & Dam (day)
Nov 1 -
Keith “Catfish” Sutton’s book-signing session.
Dec 6 - Annual General Membership Meeting, Awards Ceremony and Banquet probably in the
Pre-registration is allowed and encouraged (see 2008 Rules). Registration will normally begin one hour prior to starting time and run for 45 minutes. Launching time will be determined by the earliest time possible commensurate with the local tournament location and conditions. Check-in times will also be determined at different locations primarily due to circumstances at those locations.
Tournaments with all the available information at this newsletter release date and time:
July 26 – Bull Shoals (night). Hosted by the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock, Steve and Ricky Eastward, 870 445-4422 or 870 445-4166, boatdock@bullshoals.net website www.bullshoalsboatdock.com Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock,
Billeting Facilities: The Driftwood Resort is owned and operated by Karl and Vivian Kastendieck. They have 13 cabins and we can have them all at $704.00 that includes tax; $54.00 a cabin. At that price Karl and Vivian are giving us a 12 percent discount even if we only wanted two cabins for example. They have plenty of parking and outlets for charging. As ACA card carrying members, Karl will also give you the same 12 percent discount at anytime; tournament or not. Karl and Vivian want to spoil us, and to encourage us to return for future tournaments as ACA members. Apparently he has long term contracts with many other fishing associations as well. Reservations 1-800-424-1129 and email driftwood@bullshoals.net . If you are an individual and want to consolidate in a cabin with someone else, notify me and I’ll pass-on to others looking for consolidation.
August 23 & 24 – Lakes Millwood and Earling:
We have been invited to have a tournament at
Contact Information : 1564 Highway 32 East,
2008 Date: August 23.
Directions: From Ashdown on U.S. Hwy 59&71, take Hwy 32E towards Saratoga, and turn left (North) on Farm Road 317 straight into Yarborough Landing.
From I-30 at Hope take the exit U.S. 278 and an immediate left on State 73 towards Saratoga and 32 west and right (north on Farm Road 317 straight into Yarborough Landing.
Launch sites: Yarborough Landing (is not part of the park)
Times: 6:00 A.M. local until 3:00 P.M.
Facilities: Various motels, RV park, tents, camps. Ashdown.
The landing has a new pavilion and will serve
breakfast all day plus meals, ice, and “lots of
baits” specially ordered for our tournament.
Bait shops: Yarborough Landing Marina, Dave Meredith
870 898-2346, will open for us at 4:30 A.M. to sell
all baits that we request for those of you that
need, especially when you run-out of bait with all
those catfish that you’ll be catching!
Catfish consignment of gear to the
NOTE: Understand that
2008 Date: August 24
Directions: From Magnolia, take
to
Launch sites:
Times: 6:00 A.M. local until 3:00 P.M.
Facilities: Public ramp
Bait Shop: A-1 Sporting Goods, 7250 Hwy 53,
870 859-2277. About 4 miles past the park with the
above directions. Will open for us at 4:30 A.M. to
sell all baits that we request for those of you
that need, especially when you run-out of bait with
all those catfish that you’ll be catching!
Shad 3 pounds for $3.00 (about 50). Night crawlers, silver and orange minnows, and, goldfish.
Catfishing gear available for those that require.
More information will be provided in the July issue of our newsletter.
September 13 –
Launching from
October 18 – Arkansas River, Ozark Taylor Lock and Dam street, 5400 Lock and
Registration at 5:00 A.M. and launching at 5:40 A.M. Check-in time is 3:00 P.M. Sponsored in part by Bill’s Bait & Tackle,
Dir: I-40 West from and between Russellville and
November 1 -
We have already developed a form for the After Action Report following each tournament for planning purposes in future tournaments.
We are still in the process of obtaining sufficient shad “at just above cost” to have available at tournament locations whereas it is impracticable to otherwise obtain them with difficulty.
Future years’ regular monthly tournaments will be nine a year from February-October with the Classic again in November followed by the General Membership Meeting-Awards Ceremony-Banquet. We have learned a valuable lesson as to tournaments on the
The ACA steering committee will obtain all relative information to a tournament as it becomes available. Therefore, each monthly newsletter will be constantly updated to include any learned information to facilitate convenience to our members.
December 6 – Combined Annual General Membership Meeting, Awards Ceremony, and Banquet. The Guest of Honor will be Keith “Catfish” Sutton, and he will have a book signing session as well. This combined and important general membership meeting is set early in December to preclude a possible conflict with other festivities later on during the holiday season. This year we will cater or satellite but hopefully in the future years we’ll have our own facility with a barbecue grill, smoker, and of course, a catfish deep fat fryer! The Arkansas Queen River Boat docked behind the
Robert’s Rules of Order will prevail to the extent of orderliness, but not to the extent of losing our sense of harmoniousness. Notwithstanding, should a meeting go askew, there is a provision whereas a regular/corporate member may call for a “Point of Order” and that stops the meeting from furthering getting out of order. The president will render his/her decision based on parliamentarian procedures.
We still have vacancies for chairs of some sectors, Membership, Publications (newsletter), Research/Historian, Building and Grounds, and Public Relations committees as well as members of those committees. Also, the Nominating Committee is available with that committee electing their committee chair.
Years’ end activities: Angler of the Year will be awarded $100.00. Big Fish will also be awarded $100.00. Prize money may be increased providing funds are available.
CLASSIFIED/SWAP SHOP:
- Wanted – Someone that overhauls outboard motors: Name, Address, Telephone Number and/or email address.
- Wanted – Catfishing boat and motor, trailer a plus.
Submit items to:
Lee Fields
Coordinator/Parliamentarian
479 331-0399 (home) - 870 577-7289 (cell)
leefields@centurytel.net or lee_fields_1999@yahoo.com
