paul ilove you man and had to do it..lol

Yes I did resign due to a conflict that could have risen with me being on the board. I had a couple other reasons like a job, guiding, coaching a baseball team while trying to make another son's football games. I'm not retired and making it to your hous for board meetings would have been tough.
I didn't realize that only the board members had a say in this club. I know what the rules are but, IMHO you board members could ask for some input from the other members that fish the tournaments.
You started the "joe's vs. Pros" debate after the Lavon tournaments when you said that "it is hard to beat two pros on their home lake".
Well you have 4 tournaments on your home lakes so does that statement apply to you?
I hear that you have been getting e-mails from club members that don't like the fact that Paul and I are allowed to fish together. Does that apply to you and Guy?
We aren't even in the top 2 best fisherman in this club IMHO. We just have been lucky!
I've gone out of my way to tell the exact locations we have fished at both tournaments. The exact depth, lure and presentation. I said all that knowing that at some point we'll be back fishing those same lakes. I'm trying to help as much as possible. I've even told some before the tournament where to fish when they have asked.
That is the only way Paul or I will ever get a chance to speak to the club about fishing.

You didn't give me the chance to help anyone on Lavon at the meeting. I might of had some info to share to those fishing. I told a few that asked. Seems like a couple of those boys drew a check.
Ask Dominick and Bill if we didn't go out of the way to show them something at Millwood. Most guys listened to you and stayed home.

I didn't know we had an advantage at RC nor last Saturday at LOP. I'm not scared to fish against anyone. I've been beat by better
Just don't think that the schedule should be changed to give someone that isn't doing well more chances at competing
I don't like Fork but there may be someone that has a better chance there then any other lake.

Not everyone is going to be happy no matter what decisions are made. Heck I've been winning so why would I complain

Now I have to go spit snuff on something.

Yes, I said all that laughing

your a funny guy jerry and its better out than in and hes right ...hes very lucky this year not to take anything away from him but them two boys aint ever started a year out like this but me and eric are having a great year to, hopefully everyone else is to.

ps: jerry dont aspit on me or in my lake i like long cut...

Jerry,

Tongue in cheek or not, you said some things that needed to be aired. Hopefully the board will really listen.

And oh by the way, because of a slip in club rules, there were no elections, nor were we given the opportunity to amend it at the meeting when announced. I was looking forward to the nominations. I'm not saying the board isn't doing a good job but if the membership had been 40 or some number south of 100, would we have had new elections?

I firmly believe the moving of tourney locations should have been discussed (openly). It may not have changed anything, but it would have relieved the board from criticism.

I don't care who fishes with whom. I kind of favor all 'draws', which I thought the club first favored when this was first considered. I rather enjoy the 'surprise' factor/challenge and level playing field.

Regardless, good job putting this on; just a few bumps in the road, no heavy maintenance needed.

For anybody that cares, the by laws are posted on the club website and they are really worth a read.

Borrowing from the words of Terrell Owens, "get your ".

Speaking of elections, it isn't too early to be thinking of who you want to add to the board for next year. As the by-laws state (and we are trying hard to follow them) two current members will go off the board and replacements elected at the end of this year. It is my intention to step down and at least one other will have to as well.

The meetings and programs will be presided over by a different board member each month. That member will conduct the meeting and arrange for or present a program.

May will be Jay Don,
June will be Paul,
July will be George,
August will be Sheldon,
Sept will be Terrance,
Oct will be Guy
Nov will be Ernest.

We may have to shuffle the order if schedules dictate.

We will take nominations for new board menbers in October and will vote in November. Be sure that, if you nominate someone, they are willing to serve. It's not a particularly good job and the salary sucks.

At the end of this year I'm going to join George and Bill and the other ex-presidents on the speaking circuit and make millions,....... or not.

PS: Remember this statement at the bottom of the Posted schedule of tournaments:

If your favorite Lake was left off or you don�t like a rule please be patient. This is a learning year and we can make changes at a later date as we grow and learn.

Well we are growing and the board is learning (all seven of us).
No more changes are anticipated.

I read this and I'm going to put my to cents in...I don't post a whole lot, I guess you can call me a lerker. I've been fishing tournaments since 1992, fished in a lot of states against the best crappie fishermen there is, this includes Capps & Coleman, all the boys from Missouri and even Wally Marshall. I think Texas has the best fishermen. We used to have tournaments in Texas but due to the lack of participation they won't come back unless we as a club can have 40-50 teams at tournaments and then they will want to come to Texas. They will read and see how strong of a club we have and will want to be a part of it. Look at all of the out of state people looking at the Texoma tournament that T. Steele is putting together. We have an opportunity to have something very special. I've wanted a club to fish for the last 20 years. This club is a trial and error until we see what works and doesn't work. The seven board members have tried hard to keep from upsetting the apple cart, it's hard to do but this is the direction we are going to go this year. We are open to suggestions for next year and hope that we don't turn people away from fishing the tournaments, we need them. You will learn more at tournaments than any meeting or seminar. We started this club to teach fishing and get people to participate and that's the focus that we have set out to accomplish this year. As far as fishing any lake I like the challenge of going to someones home lake and participating whether I win or lose I will learn something for next time. Fishing a tournament to me is what makes my adrenaline pump. It was pretty cool at RC when the bass guys did the national anthem. The nervousness before a tournament starts is what it's all about. I don't know if y'all will ever know what that means to me but that's why I fish hard at every tournament. I go to a tournament with goal of winning, since 1992 to date. As far as the club I think this club can be the best think that Texas can ever have but we have to work together and as far as what Ernest said about stepping down I will to if they want me to because being a board member is a lot of work but I am up for the challenge if you want me to stay on. As far as the bulls eye on my back I like that. It gives you something to shoot for and I hope you all win, that's what this club is all about.

I think you guys need to keep doing what you are doing...I don't think it's a general consensus that anything is loaded in anyones direction or home lake...All of these lakes we are fishing should be or will be all of our home lakes if we put in the work called fishing...The board and a few are doing a great job with this thing and soon it will be others job to help and plan it all...And take the criticism...

It's a great club and I look forward to the meetings and tournaments...It's the only short cut to learning this fish...

If you see a better way then get involved when the time comes...It's just around the corner and you will have some history to make your mark with...Just bring your helmet...

Looking forward to CC...

Paul said it all.

I enjoyed my first tournament which was on my "home lake" RC, even though Tod and I got our butt kicked. I really appreciated and will no doubt benefit from the winners telling all about where and how they caught their fish. Back when I fished Ball tournaments, they were for the fun of it too.
Thanks to all for making, putting together and running the club and tournaments.

Good insight in your post, Paul. Nicely done.

I think this whole topic is great though everyone is getting everything of there chest and thats a great thing as far as what paul said i think hes right as well no harm done but if you dont say it it wont be heard not trying to hurt a good thing cause the club is a great thing just think that in this learning curve we need to voice our thoughtas in this whole process maybe next year we should put ten local lakes in a hat and draw for lakes its worth thinking about? see you guys at cedar creek.......

I am a novice crappie fisherman. However, what Jerry, Paul and George taught us at Millwood should work on all lakes. They took the time and patience to educate us. I looked forward to fishing RC. We went down to prefish on Friday and Jerry and George helped us with very specific information. If it had not been for a busted transducer we would have had a better chance on Saturday. All in all you can't catch fish sitting home. I hope no one takes offence at these comments. I am grateful to Paul, Jerry, George and all the folks that got this club together. I hope to see a good turn out at the next meeting. But, as I was told on the water is where the rubber meets the road.

Thanks for posting, Paul. I appreciate the fact you are keeping the right perspective. Everyone has said (especially Ernest at nearly every meeting) that this is a learning process. Consider we have just finished out 6 months, we have grown to 155 members, we have had 3 tourneys, and 5 seminar meetings. Busy club. Several of you who know clubs and crappie fishing have made it happen by sharing what you know. That's truly appreciated by many of us club members.

Most of us understand the administration is not always going to "nail it". In order to be successful, there are times where they will have to press forward with what is believed to be the right decision at the moment. Sometimes it turns out differently than expected. Most of the time no one is injured unless they so choose (we are talking a fishing club here ).
I'll second what both you and Ernest said about the hard work. It will definitely take your time if you pull your weight. Jerry mentioned this above as well. Many folks do not have the extra time to devote to being an active member as well as being part of the leadership. This is another reason why the rest of us are grateful for the ones who can do this.

I've really enjoyed being a CAT member. Thanks again to all.