Banquet Review

52^nd ANNUAL BANQUET

 FEB. 25, 2003

By Cathy Kowalczyk, Banquet Chairwoman

Our Annual Banquet was indeed a success, even though attendance was down a bit this year !!  580 sportsmen & women gathered at American Croatian Lodge in Eastlake, Ohio on Feb. 25, 2003 for an evening of fun & fellowship.

 Our congratulations to this year’s Man of the Year award recipient, Senator George Voinovich & to Jack Gregg, recipient of the President’s  Award.

We were pleased to have many representatives from ODNR in attendance as well as exhibitors from various companies showing their services and wares.

Again this year we offered an expanded selection of games & prizes to our guests.  The Silent Auction offered 33 items to the highest bidders.  Items featured were several beautiful wildlife prints, autographed sports articles, a Pen of Live Pheasants and Quail and more.

The” Members Only” raffle consisted of many spectacular items including hunts, fishing charters,  fishing rods and prints.  Newly added this year was the “New Member” raffle.  Those who signed up as a new member of Woods & Waters at the banquet had a chance to win a beautiful wildlife print as well as having an entry in the traditional Members Only drawing.   The “Members Only” Grand Prize winner was Paul Karla who won a Baretta 20ga. Model 391.  Another great benefit of being a member of the club!! A total of 23 new members signed up at this year’s banquet.

Our Main Raffle once again featured the “High Roller” option.  A chance at additional high quality prizes were offered to those who purchased a $50 or $100 ticket package. A Woods and Waters soft side cooler was given as a gift to the ticket package purchasers also.   Two of the High Roller winners were Ray Koller who won a Browning 20 ga. and Ed Egan who took home a Thompson Center Classic 22 Rifle.

The Grand Prize Raffle winner this year was Kirk Roessler.  Kirk will have “the time of his life” on his $3000 Shopping Spree at the Gander Mountain Sheffield Village store.  Many thanks to Gander Mountain for sponsoring this year’s Grand Prize and also for their continued support of Woods & Waters Club.

Some of the other winners in our games & raffles were, Larry Kuschmeider, Merrick Murphy, Branden Baynes, Wayne LeClaire, Larry Fielder, John Pohl, Joseph Scaglione, Matt Mitchell, Kevin Kearney, Mike Flanagan, Keith Krall, Chris Heslin, Margaret Double, Frank Takacs, Jeff Porterfield, Dale Crawford and Anne Benedict.

Our newly implemented Sponsor Program went well this year.  14 companies & individuals supported our efforts in this program managed by Jim Faddoul.  In addition to receiving a Sponsor Plaque, all sponsors were eligible to win the Sponsor gun.  Mike Marchant – “Mr. Gasket” was the winner & took home a Browning A Bolt 223.

This year we honored our active & retired military servicemen & women.  After a moment of silence for those now serving our country in active duty, Past-President Tony Smeraldi lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Dan Galbencia from “Erie Dearie” followed with singing the Star Spangled Banner.  A feeling of patriotism filled the room!!

Many thanks to Dan from “Erie Dearie” also for the fishing lures for our table favors.

Proceeds form the banquet will go to the Woods and Waters Club of Cleveland President’s Scholarship Foundation and to Community Outreach Programs that promote education & activities in outdoor sports such as fishing & hunting.

A GREAT TEAM EFFORT was put forth in planning & executing this years banquet.  My many thanks to Dan Forrester & Jim Faddoul for serving as my co-chairmen.  They both took on many important roles in this year banquet.  Also to Paul Karla & John Schubert who served as the “Prizemasters”.  Their countless hours of securing prizes and organizing the games & raffles is very much appreciated.  Well over 50 Woods and Waters members were involved with the year-long planning and actual presentation of this years banquet.  My many thanks to all of you for your help & continued support of the Club!!