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Berrien Bass Busters
About Us
Berrien Bass Busters (BBB) was formed in Berrien County in 1979. The
club has members from most counties in Southwest Michigan including
Berrien, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren and Allegan counties and a
member from northern Indiana.
Purpose
In general, the BBB has the same purposes as other bass clubs, namely
enjoyment, fellowship, friendly competition, exchange of fishing ideas,
conservation, promotion of bass fishing as a major sport, and responding
to threats to the quality of bass fishing and bass fishing waters and
the future of the sport.
Members practice catch and release fishing, both during tournaments and
spare-time fishing. This approach maintains the population of
reproductive size bass and provides more fish for others to catch. All
members are expected to use proper methods of caring for and handling
bass from hooking to release.
Membership
General
The members of BBB have a wide variety of occupations and include
some retirees. Members can be boat owners or non-boat owners, but
all are interested in fishing for bass and protecting this great
game fish and its waters for fishermen of future generations.
Berrien Bass Busters provides equal opportunity for all persons
regardless of race, religion, sex, height, weight, marital status,
national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.
Dues
The annual dues for each BBB member is fifty dollars ($60.00). These
dues are payable by a new member at the time of joining BBB and at
the October meeting thereafter. To join the Lunker Club (Big Bass
for the Year), members pay five dollars ($10.00) at the time of
joining or by the April meeting thereafter. At the year-end Awards
Banquet, the total amount collected from members of the Lunker Club
is awarded to the member who catches the largest bass during a club
tournament.
Prospective Members
Prospective members are asked to read this “About Us” document, the
“BBB Constitution and By-Laws” and the “Tournament Rules” document
located on the Berrien Bass Busters website. If interested, reach
out to the contacts listed in the BBB website to discuss the process
of becoming a member. Typically, the process involves filling out an
application, which is on the BBB website and coming to one of our
General Membership Meetings. At the meeting, we get to know you and
you get to know us. A sponsor, which is a current club member in
good standing, is a plus, but is not required to join the club.
After this, if there is still interest in joining, the membership
will make its recommendation by motion on the floor followed by a
vote by the general membership on accepting or rejecting the
recommendation.
Organization
Meetings:
Regular meetings of the BBB are held on the second Monday of each
month at the Main Street Pub in Mattawan. The meetings are open to
the public and all are cordially invited to attend. The meetings
generally consist of old and new business, committee reports, safety
topics and discussion of club related topics and events. There shall
be at least six (6) meetings per year.
Officers:
The officers of the BBB include President, Vice President, Secretary
and Treasurer, who make up the Executive Board and are elected
annually.
Committees:
Committees within BBB may be formed to address membership, youth,
and social activities. Members may volunteer for any of these
committees or the President, who is an ex-official member of each
committee, may appoint them. Committees may be appointed as needed
by the President.
Activities:
Activities primarily consist of the monthly general membership
meetings, tournaments and the annual awards banquet which ends the
year. We have also given seminars and have held tackle swap meets in
the past. Tackle swap meets are normally attended by members and
friends. Tournaments (see “Tournament Rule” document) are the glue
that holds the club together. Tournament sites and dates are
selected by the membership and schedules prepared for review by the
club. At the meeting prior to each tournament, pairings of boaters
and non-boaters are made by blind draw. Many times, the boater and
non-boater usually travel together to the tournament site sharing
fuel, accommodations, and other expenses. The non-boater provides a
minimum fee paid directly to their boater. This fee is to defray the
costs associated with transport and operation (see the “Tournament
Rules” document for non-boater fees and costs). The tournament entry
fee and tournament big bass fee is determined by the membership on
an annual basis. The number and locations of tournaments for
the upcoming year are usually determined at the December meeting.
Typically, our tournament trail consists of a combination of “local”
and “away” lakes. “Away” lakes are usually within 4 hours drive of
Kalamazoo.
By-Laws and Tournaments
Berrien Bass
Busters By-Laws
Berrien Bass Busters
Tournament Rules
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