President's Message
by Stephen Shechtel
 

As I write you my first message as President, I am humbled that the membership placed their trust and confidence in me to lead the greatest chapter of the MSSA. I am truly honored. It is my hope and desire that at the end of my term, I proved worthy of your trust and confidence. My only request is that everyone remembers that without your help, effort, and participation, our Chapter cannot be as great as it is.

I take this opportunity to thank everyone who volunteered to be an Officer, Director, Committee Chair, or Committee Member. These are the people whose efforts and dedication will make all of our chapter experiences as educational, fun, and exciting as possible. Again, if you are asked to help, please say yes!

I cannot thank David Griffin enough for leaving me the reigns of such a great organization as our Chapter. For those who may not know the Frederick Chapter was started six years ago. Rick Etzler asked Dave Griffin to be President on the application. Dave, thereafter, presided over this fledgling group of sportsmen (sports-persons) who establish the Frederick Chapter of the MSSA.

As I look out my window, one cannot help but notice that the leaves are off the trees and the wind is cold. I have long since winterized, and left my beloved Reel Love on the hard under a green tarp tied tight. As I drove away, I was left with sad feeling that I had left the other woman in my life in the cold until the buds of spring appear. For me to obtain my winter fix of fishing, I must either travel to where it is warm (and not too windy), or be fortunate enough to be invited aboard the Crabby, Bite Me, Honkey Dory, or another member's boat who is insane enough to fish in the North during the winter.

But there is so much that must be done before the start of the new season. Tackle must be cleaned and organized. Rods and reels must be cleaned, oiled, and line replaced. Now is time that I have all the repairs that I put off during the season, new canvas, electronic charts updated, and whatever else that needs fixing.

President's Message Continued:

And of course, there are all of those great winter shows: the January Timmonium Fishing Show, the New York Boat Show (Jan 1-9, 2005), The Atlantic City Boat Show (Feb 02-6, 2005). My favorite is the Miami Boat Show (Feb 17-21, 2005). At the show, there are more than 2,300 of the world's leading marine industry manufacturers, tackle, electronics, and engine manufacturers, and boating accessories displayed over more than 2.5 million square feet of exhibition space and in three (3) marinas. Beginning March are the MSSA Fishing swap meets.

If you have not signed up for the January Dinner Meeting at Martin's Walkersville, you are making a big mistake. Martin's banquets are among the best anywhere. Everyone will have a great time. Dave Griffin wrote last January: "I look forward to seeing you there. In fact, I'm looking forward to the entire new year. As always, we've got some great fishing trips planned". Couldn't say it better myself Dave.

See you at the meeting.
Stephen Shechtel

Next Meeting

January 12th 2005:

Menu: Lots of good stuff to eat.

Speaker:
No speaker today: No speaker today.

January 12th Dinner Meeting: "Martin's at Walkersville"
Cocktails start at 6:30 P.M., & a buffet dinner will be served at 7:15 P.M. This meeting promises to be a great evening, which even your wife will enjoy.

Directions to Dinner Meeting

From Hagerstown, MD:
• Take I-70 East to Frederick, MD
• From Frederick take US 15 North
• Take MD 26 East off US 15 by   staying right as the highway   splits
• Take MD 194 North off MD 26,   1.5 miles to Walkersville
• Turn left on West Frederick   Street and left again into the   Walkersville Volunteer Fire   Company
• Drive around to the back and   enter through the double doors   into the glass entryway

From Baltimore, MD:
• Take I-70 West to Frederick, MD
• From Frederick take US 15 North
• Take MD 26 East off US 15 by   staying right as the highway splits
• Take MD 194 North off MD 26,   1.5 miles to Walkersville
• Turn left on West Frederick   Street and left again into the   Walkersville Volunteer Fire   Company
• Drive around to the back and   enter through the double doors   into the glass entryway

From Washington, DC
& Rockville, MD:
• Take I270 North to Frederick MD
• From Frederick take US 15 North
• Take MD 26 East off US 15 by   staying right as the highway splits
• Take MD 194 North off MD 26,   1.5 miles to Walkersville
• Turn left on West Frederick   Street and left again into the   Walkersville Volunteer Fire   Company
• Drive around to the back and   enter through the double doors   into the glass entryway

From Harrisburg, PA
& Gettysburg, PA
• From the Maryland State Line,    take US 15 South
• Turn left off US 15 onto Biggs   Ford Road
• Once in the town of Walkersville,   cross over the railroad tracks and   turn right onto Maple Avenue
• At the end of Maple Avenue, turn   right onto West Frederick Street.
• Go 0.4 miles and turn right into   the Walkersville Volunteer Fire   Company
• Drive around to the back and   enter through the double doors   into the glass entryway

Football Game Book Winners
 
Week 12: Denny Butts, Jeanna Wolf, Jeffery Wallace,Jerry Potter, J.R. Davies.

Week 13: Michael Washington, Nancy Ortiz, John F. Melvin, Emery Pritchett, Fred Zedler.

Week 14: Frank Holder, Dr. Bradford Kleinman, Laura White, Mark Rutledge , Jerry Doyle, Jr.

Week 15: Dave Griffin, Steven Sansone, Chuck Mullaney, Lee Pagne.

Week 16: Steve Trimble, Mary klinp, Gonzalo Ramirez.

Last Month's Raffle Winners
 
Chris Hafer: 50:50 $50.00

Newsletter & Notices Online The MSSA Frederick Chapter Newsletter is available online at: http://www.mssafrederick.com Hard copys are available by special request. To get on the "mail to only list", contact the MSSA Secretary or see me at a meeting.
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Newsletter Items: for January are due January 22, 2005
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