Banquet Review
Banquet Review
Even though attendance was down again this year, our Annual Banquet was indeed a success!! Over 450 sportsmen & women gathered at American Croatian Lodge in Eastlake, Ohio on Feb. 28, 2006 for an evening of fun & fellowship.
Our congratulations to this year’s Person of the Year award recipient, past president Cathy Kowalczyk & to Chris Fassnacht, 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. New games and offerings included the interactive “Spin the Wheel” game and the “Go Fish” game. In addition a Knife Raffle was offered with great prizes. More fishing items were included in the prize offerings this year. In addition, a new “Mystery Gun” attraction was added. The Silent Auction offered 34 items to the highest bidders. Items featured were several beautiful wildlife prints and unique and useful items.
The” Members Only” raffle consisted of many spectacular items including shooting events, fishing charters, fishing rods and a great gun. Early Bird and New Member prizes were included as well. Newly added this year was the “New Member” raffle. The “Members Only” Grand Prize winner was Jerry Mandel. He took home a beautiful Traditions 12ga. O/U Shotgun. Another great benefit of being a member of the club!! A total of 17 new members signed up at this year’s banquet. Congratulations to Dave Shimko the winner of the New Member prize.
Our Main Raffle once again featured the “Players Club” and “High Roller” options. A chance at additional high quality prizes were offered to those who purchased the special $50, $100 or $300 ticket packages. A specially made Woods and Waters computer mouse pad was given as a gift to the High Roller ticket package purchasers. Players Club purchasers had their choice of a beautiful Remington Knife, a Woods and Waters luggage bag or a Club sweatshirt. High Roller winner Anthony Jelinic won a Benelli Nova Camo Shotgun and Chairman Paul Karla was lucky too, winning a Browning BAR with his Players Club ticket.
The Grand Prize Raffle winner this year was Dan Piscura. Dan and three of his friends will enjoy a 5 day Fly-In fishing trip to Lake Dumoine in Quebec! The trip was purchased in cooperation with Kipawa Outfitters. Daryl and Eric Vallincourt attended the banquet all the way from Canada and participated in the awarding of the Grand Prize to Piscura.
Some of the other big prize winners in our games & raffles were: Scott Opal, Bill Greaney, Ken Ball, Wayne LeClair, Thomas Banyas, Al Uthe, Lester Beitel, Eric King, Mile Gilles,Ward Parker, Michael Bulger, Ray DeVito, Fred Bangerman, Larry Kaczmarek, Chris Heslin, Mark Detrick, George Sell, Mike Jach John Schubert, Lidio Collecchi, Bob Collins, Dan Forrester, Jin Senick, Mike Bulgel and Jack Gregg.
The Sponsor Program went well this year. 18 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. Ray Smiley was the winner & took home a Stoeger Camo Pump Shotgun.Browning. Thanks to Sponsor Bill Skaryd of American Culinary Concepts for providing table favors for all in attendance.
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. Special thanks are in order for Cathy Kowalczyk and Jim Faddoul and John Schubert who helped me throughout the past months. In addition, Greg Beappler, Jay Reda and Joe DiGiacomo contributed greatly to the successful outcome of our 55 th banquet. All of the volunteers did a magnificent job setting up the banquet and running the games and raffles. 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!!