2011 Fall
Captain Jim Fenner – Secretary MCBA
Carp Czar to be Keynote Speaker
The planning is done for our Annual Fall conference to be held at the Double Tree Hotel 650 E. 24th St. Holland MI ((616-394-0111) on the weekend of October 21, 22 and 23. The main program is on Saturday, October 22.
The conference begins on the evening of October 21, with our fabulous Hospitality Suite running from about 6 PM until ?? maybe midnight. Open bar, soft drinks, and snacks provided. A good opportunity to meet/greet and share conversations and information with friends, other Captains, and guests from all over the state.
Saturday morning begins at 8 AM with a full buffet breakfast, courtesy of the Association, check-in for pre-registrations, and late registrations.
The conference program begins promptly at 8:55 AM on Saturday, after breakfast, check-in and late registrations. We have planned an interesting and informative program.
This year we have the special privilege of having the Federal Carp Czar, John Goss for our Keynote speaker during the evening Dinner Program. Goss was previously executive director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation (a state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation), director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and vice chair of the Great Lakes Commission.
It should be most interesting to hear Mr. Goss discuss the Asian Carp Issue from his perspective.
We also a have a couple of very special guest speakers participating during the daytime part of the Saturday program, as well as DNR & MCBA updates, and a master fisherman seminar. After each of these sessions, there will be an opportunity for questions. The morning session will feature Dr. Guy Meadows from the U of M. Dr. Meadows is a world-renowned expert on Lake currents. That should be most interesting. Following a buffet lunch, courtesy of the association for all guests, members, and spouses, the afternoon session will include a presentation by Acting Assistant to the DNR Director, Kelley Smith and extra special guest Patty Berkholz, the Director of the Office of the Great Lakes for Michigan. Patty Berkholz was a State Senator from Holland region prior to accepting this position. As noted above, John Goss will be the featured speaker in our evening program, following a very nice buffet dinner, and preceding our annual great tackle raffle. Later you’ll have another opportunity to enjoy some friendly conversation at our hospitality suite.
The Sunday morning business meeting will follow an even more Deluxe Breakfast Buffet for all members and spouses who attend. The business meeting usually takes an hour or so, and so if you attend, you’ll be ‘on the road ready’ by 10:30 PM at the latest. We’re hoping for a good turn out for the business-meeting portion of the conference.
It’s a nice hotel. It’s a deductible business trip for you and your spouse. (Great shopping nearby, too)! We’ve planned a good program. It’s a great time to hear, meet with, and ask questions, of the folks who affect how you do your charter business. Plan now to attend the fall Conference in Holland the weekend of October 21st.
By now you have either received your membership application or soon will. It is a little different this year. Due to the revised drug program, some sections may seem a little unfamiliar. And there is something new for retiring Captains who would like to keep their connection to the MCBA alive.
As for the drug program changes first: Since we are a drug program consortium, we are a collection of drug “companies”. Each of us is either and individual “company” or an employee of a larger company. In either case, each of us must have a “DER”. That means a “Designated Employee Representative. The consortium reporting requirements mandate that we report the name of the “DER” for each member. If you are not your own DER, you will need to put your DER’s name on your application.
If you have any questions about how to fill in your application, contact MCBA Central.
We’ve added a new membership category for retired Captains (Captains who are retired from chartering, with or without a current license) who want to keep in touch with the Association. Members in this category will get all the newsletters, E-blasts and other Association information and news, but of course, will not appear on the active Captain’s roster, and of course, will not have to be in a random drug program.
We hope all our retired friends will choose to stay in the association to keep in touch with the Association’s activities, and will want to come to join us at our annual fall conference.
My final word: I want to say it again; we have planned a great program in a nice hotel, in an interesting location. Mark your calendar today, and plan to attend.
See you there.
