BERRIEN BASS BUSTERS
Begun in 1979, Berrien Bass Busters (BBB) is located in Berrien County.
PURPOSE
In general, the BBB has the same purposes as the other bass fishing clubs enjoyment; fellowship; competition; exchange of bass fishing ideas; conservation; conducting youth and handicap fishing programs; promotion of bass fishing as a major sport; and most importantly, responding to the 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 “exercising the fish” approach maintains the population of reproductive size bass and provides more fish for others to catch. All members are instructed in the proper methods of caring for and handling bass from the hooking to the release.
MEMBERSHIP
GENERAL
The membership of BBB represents a wide variety of occupations and includes some retirees. Members are either 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. The Berrien Bass Busters provide equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, religion, color, sex, height, weight, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.
Dues
The annual dues for BBB are Fifty-five ($55.00) per year. Payable by the new member at the time of joining BBB and at the October meeting thereafter. To join the Lunker Club, a member must pay Five dollars ($5.00) at the time of joining or by the April meeting thereafter.
At the year-end Annual Awards Banquet, the total amount collected from members of the Lunker Club is awarded to the member catching the largest bass during a club tournament.
PROSPECTIVE MEMBER
The prospective BBB member is asked to read this booklet and, if interested, fill out the enclosed membership application completely and return it to the next meeting of the Membership Committee. The application will be reviewed and the prospective member interviewed by the Membership Committee. The Committee will make its recommendation to the General Membership at the following regular meeting. The General Membership will then vote on accepting or rejecting the recommendation of the committee.
ORGANIZATION
MEETINGS
Regular meetings of BBB are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Tryon School building at the corner of John Beers Rd and Scottstale Rd. in Bainbridge township (see map below). 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, and a program (speaker, film, etc.)
OFFICERS
The officer of BBB consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, who make up the Executive Board and are elected annually.
COMMITTEES
The Standing Committees within BBB are Membership, Youth, and Social Activities. Members may volunteer for any of these committees or the President, who is an ex-officio member of each committee, may appoint them. Other committees may be appointed, as required by the President.
ACTIVITIES
The activities of BBB are diversified in an attempt to involve both the member and the member’s family. Activities may include: clean-up and structuring of fishing waters, garage sales, youth fishing days, picnics, tournaments, and the Annual Awards Banquet which ends the year.
The clean up and structuring of fishing waters may include work done at lake and river fishing sites and launch ramps. Such work may include picking up trash, placing fish attracting structure in the water and other fishing related community service projects. Garage sales, baseball and volleyball games, etc. are primarily conducted to raise needed funds for programs to be conducted by the club during the year. Articles for the garage sales are donated by the members or their neighbors. Tackle swaps are also held but are usually attended by members and friends
Picnics are designed to involve all members of each family in fellowship and contests. They may be held in conjunction with a fun fishing tournament.
Tournaments are the “glue” that holds the club together. Tournament sites and dates are selected by the general 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. The boater and non-boater usually travel together to the tournament site sharing fuel, food and motel or camping expenses. The non-boater is requested to provide a minimum of $25.00. The tournament entry fees are determined by the general membership on an annual basis.
Map to Meeting Building
=