Banquet Recap

[Scott McKee]

I would like to thank everyone who attended our 18th Annual Awards Banquet tonight.  Our new digs at the Pearl at the Webb were fantastic.  It is a really nice place.  Thanks to Josh and Julie Ketry, and the staff at Pearl for running such a wonderful event. The food was great, the drinks were just as good or better, or so I've been told.

We had about eighty or so in attendance and everyone seemed to enjoy the Musky Prom just fine.  I think next year we get a balloon arch, some streamers and a cheesy 80's cover band.  What do you think?  We can even name a King and Queen for the Prom!  Idiocy aside, this year’s Queen was certainly Hope Melnyk, who was overcome with joy and was a little misty eyed when she won our most prestigious award, the Memorial Award.  Hope you really deserved this honor.  Congratulations  Sweetheart, and I'm sorry I made you cry!  It reminded me a lot of when I won the award, although I don't think Gary minded as much when you kissed him on the cheek as he did when I smooched him.  My left orbital bone still hurts from where he punched me.  Just kidding Gary!

 

I'd like to congratulate the other four nominees for the Memorial as well.  Congratulations and thank you to Adam Kazmark, Scott Kitchen, Carrie Keane and Rich Sandig.  All five nominees were very deserving.  I really appreciate everything you guys do for our little fishing club.

 

It was a big night indeed for the Melnyk's with Hope taking home the Memorial and Gary and Mac both receiving Top Ten awards.  Congratulations Melnyk's.  You guys are the best!

 

The other Top Ten Recipients were: John Miller, who also received the Mr. Toothy Award, Dave Martin, who also received the John Henning Memorial Award, myself (thanks Ray!), T.J,. Clark, who is the youngest recipient of a Top Ten in our history, Scott Kitchen, Jay Nannen, Daniel Lacko, Travis Colwell and Adam Kazmark.

 

Each year I present two President's Awards named in honor of two outstanding members who have passed.  The Bill Mendel Memorial Award went to our Tournament Director, Adam Kazmark.  I presented the Tim Wittek Memorial Award to a non-member, Dave "Turk" Reed.  I'll go into detail why I presented Adam and Turk with these awards in my Newsletter re-cap of the Banquet.

 

We also presented Jay Nannen with a special recognition award.  I'll go into detail on this award in the newsletter as well.

 

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the raffle tables or helped out, with special thanks to Red October Baits and Mr. Toothy for their very, very generous donations (wow guys!), Mark Wozniak for another masterpiece of a measuring board, Carrie Keane, Hope & Gary Melnyk, Scott & Veronica Kitchen, Allah Bala Bala (or Jiggin' Joe as you know him), Mike and Jamie Fortunate, Brook and Andy Wypior, Capt. Larry Jones for a full day guided trip, Dick's Sporting Goods, Power Pro, Camillo's Sloan Super Market, Pooner (or Poonet as he known in Quebec), Brobeil Marine, Kentucky Greg's, Panos Restaurant, the Pearl Street Grill, Musky Hunter Magazine, Rapala, Storm, Shmo Lures, T.J, Clark (raffle ticket drawer extraordinaire) and anyone else I'm missing.  Thank you all so much.

 

More details and pictures (lots of pictures) to come in the May Newsletter.  Thanks again everyone.  I love the Banquet (when it's over)!