Dear WBC,

The year of club fishing has come close to an end… all except for the Freeze-Ins. Freeze-Ins are just like the Fish-Ins, but colder. This new year will be run by our club's new AmBASSador Director (to be announced), so don't stow away all of the gear just yet. It should be fun. I don't know if this will be my last newsletter article for a while or if I get one more (Note from Ed: You get two more!)... and by the way anybody can put an article in the newsletter.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the faithful for putting up with me and my forgetfulness and scatterbrainness. Are those words? I've had fun doing this job, and it has helped keep my mind busy these past couple of years while going through my divorce, heart attack, and many trials. When it really comes down to it, like others here, the club is the majority of my friends. Thanks, friends, for being there. The next Fish-In will be at Lake Sammamish On Saturday, October 18th. We will meet  at the launch at 6:30. For breakfast, let's meet at the Gilman Boulevard Denny's at 5:00. If it's raining like it is as I type we can just keep the coffee coming. Free refills right?

One of my duties as AmBASSador Director is to watch the club and pick out a member I feel has earned the respect of the club by being a positive voice or by demonstrating to others what it means to be a productive WBC member. I have picked that person out, and it will be announced at the annual awards banquet in January.

Speaking of that, now is the time to hit up anybody and everybody for raffle table items. At this month's General Membership meeting, the raffle table will be just a little different, so read this part to your wife or girlfriend (or both). There will be things on the table specifically for the ladies. When your number gets called, your wife might want you to get that girly thing there instead of that guy thing over there. Or you may want to get the girly thing to take home just for her to let her know that you were thinking of her at the meeting. There will be at least one item that will cost you two tickets. I will have more details on that at the meeting. So bring the wife and some extra cash, let's have some fun, and support the club.

A photo contest will be held at the annual banquet. I will judge the photo for: originality, content, and quality. It could be of a family event in the outdoors, club event, fishing photo of your buddy, or your buddy frantically trying to get back in the boat after falling in. Give it your best shot! You can enter two pictures. The photo must be entered by the person that took the picture. The picture can be no larger than an 8x10. The picture doesn't have to be taken this year. For the winning picture, the person in the picture must give permission for us to display it at the Puyallup Sportsman's Show as WBC 2003 photo of the year. The winner will also receive a blue ribbon. Bring the photos in unmarked, separate envelopes to the banquet and look for a box to drop them in when you come through the door. Come to the meeting and be a proactive member!

Sincerely,
Virgil Wilbur
tigger357a@hotmail.com
H  (253) 854-8911
W (425) 656-5020