Sorry Joe!

[Scott McKee]

Jon MacSwan, our president for eleven of the club’s seventeen years of existence, was guilty of taking hard working members for granted and so am I.  I remember a board meeting years ago when Jon asked Tony Scime to accomplish some task and then capped off his request by saying, “that’s easy right?”  Tony replied with a resounding, “No!  It’s not!”  Tony was at the end of his rope.  He may have been a bit burned out with the club at the time and he gave the impression that he was going to quit the club.  That night I told Tony I would take over the vast responsibility of the newsletter.  I had to.  I didn’t want Tony to quit.  Not having him as a member would be bad, very bad, for the club.

I am guilty of taking Joe Wilczewski for granted.  I have written about, and thanked Joe for years for all his fine work at cook-outs, the picnic and Pig-Outs as well as his Monthly Tournament, leader making, island clean-up, etc duties.  “Written about”, it’s easy to write about hard work.  It’s another thing to actually do it.

There was some help last night at the post TWMT cook-out, particularly by Alan Hoerl, but there wasn’t enough and there almost never is.  We all take Joe for granted and I feel we are less thankful for his hard work and are more expecting of it. Sadly, I get the feeling that members feel they are entitled to it.  I am as guilty of this as any other member.  During the clean-up process last night, help was nowhere to be found other than Alan.

One member, who didn’t like the bill of fare, actually wanted to cook burgers when the grill and equipment was put away.  He have had problems in the past with cook-out late-comers, and members who needed their hot dogs cooked just so.  You have got to be kidding me.

Our $20 membership does not include in-house catering.   Joe is not here to feed and serve us.  He does not work for us.  We should not appear annoyed when he’s cleaning up, while we are telling stories and drinking.

Last night when he finally got home, Joe almost called me to resign from the board of directors and the club itself.

I was stunned when he told me this, but harsh reality always hits you hard when you take something for granted.

Post tournament cook-outs by Joe are done, over, and finished.  If we want Joe to continue them, we can book Claudette’s Catering and I wouldn’t even consider asking for a discount.  With everything else Joe has and does for the club, asking him to cook for us for as long as he has is already ludicrous enough.  Any future requests would even be more absurd.  Joe is one of the most important members our club has ever had.  You and I are going to stop treating him like a servant.

Not having Joe as a member would be bad, very bad for the club.  Sorry buddy.

[Mike "the facilities" Fortunate]

I must say ever since I have been a member I have been totally shocked at the work and time that jojo and you Scott put into the club!!! I found myself talking to a few people in the club about the same thing.....its time that everyone "helps" and "put in time" for the club and its members instead of just expecting someone else to do it!!!!! It's always the same group of people helping and the same group watching!!! With that being said THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YEARS OF AMAZING FOOD AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS YOU DO FOR US THAT GO UNMENTIONED!!!!

[Jay Nannen]

Jojo and Scott are awesome. We are so lucky to have these guys leading the way and exhibiting so much enthusiasm and passion. Thanks for all you do

[Frank Stachowiak]

What's the big deal? All he has to do is buy the ingredients, mix 'em up, cook them, put them in a big container, get dishes, forks, spoons and napkins. Park his truck at Sheridan. Get propane for the grill. Set it up.  Quit fishing early to have everything ready. Put up with complaints that it may not be hot enough. Throw in some hot dogs, burgers and buns. etc. etc. etc.  Take a financial bath. Then clean up by himself. Anybody could do all that. THE PROBLEM IS TOO MANY SO-CALLED MEMBERS HAVE JUST THAT ATTITUDE.  THE CLUB IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A WAKE UP CALL.