newsletter.htm

The Bucket
S.O.N.S. PHONE NUMBER 814-453-2270 (ALSO FAX NUMBER) Email sonslakeri@aol.com
Volume 9 Issue 1

NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2012 7:30 PM at the Polish Falcon’s Club, 431 East 3^rd St.

Fishing Report: As this newsletter goes to press, there is still no ice. There were reports of good perch fishing in the bay. Some burbot are being caught on the North and lsouth Piers.

January General Meeting program: Presentation by Jerry Skrypzak and SONS Director, Joe Bruno on the launching of Donjon Shipbuilding vessel “The “Lakes Contender”

Thanks to the Friends of Fish Foundation, which has again made a sizable donation to the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie, the Liberty Park fishing pier project is another step closer to reality. The funds from the foundation will be added to the funding of the project. It has been eight years in a row that the Friends of Fish Foundation has shared their generosity with us. The Friends of Fish Foundation is headquartered in Philadelphia. The foundation’s goals parallel those of the S.O.N.S. that is, to enhance fishing and the fishery.

THIS IS YOUR LAST ISSUE OF THE BUCKET if you haven’t sent in your membership dues for 2012. Please rejoin again. Our goal is to grow to 2200 members.

You should have received raffle tickets with your 2012 membership package. We will draw the winning tickets for the 5-$100.00 prizes at our General Membership Meeting. If you have not yet turned them in, you can do so at the meeting.

An election was held at our December meeting and the following members were chosen to serve a three-year term on the board of directors, Jack Klapthor, Ken Plonski, Jim Mattson and Gerry Vollentine. In an unusual twist Gerry Vollentine and Bill Henderson both received the same amount of votes. A coin toss was necessary to determine the winner. Gerry Vollentine won the toss. The officers, who were unopposed, will continue to serve a one year term, Jerry Skrypzak as President, Ed Kissell as Vice President, Ralph Corvaglia as Secretary and Terry Pfeffer as Treasurer.

At the January 9, 2012 SONS board meeting, Bob Gibbs announced that he would like to retire from his current director’s position. Bob has served in that position for 7 years and his leaving will be a loss to the club. He has promised to remain active in SONS activities.

The board members appointed Bill Henderson to finish serving the two years that Bob has left in his current term.

S.O.N.S 2012 Officers and Directors
Jerry Skrypzak Pres	Ed Kissell VP	Ralph Corvaglia Sec	Terry Pfeffer Tres
S.O.N.S. 2012 Directors
Joe Bruno	Mike Felege	Bill Henderson	Gary Heubel
Jack Klapthor	Frank Kuzma	Kevin Lubak	Ron Lubak
Jim Mattson	Ken Plonski	Gerry Vollentine	Bob Zawadzki

SONS member Casey Nowakowski (Center) was presented with a cake by Jim Mattson (left) and Ed Kissell (Right) in honor of his 91st birthday at our December meeting

The Erie Pennsylvania Sport Fishing Association will be holding their annual Fishing Tackle Swap meet at the Holy Trinity Social Center, 2220 Reed St. Erie, PA on Saturday January 28^th from 11:00 to 4:00. Admission is $3.00 for Adults, Kids 13-18 $1.00, under 12 Free. If you would like to have a table to sell your stuff, call Shawn Jones at 814- 452-0648. There will be seminars and kids activities throughout the day.

In case Mother Nature provides us with some ice, we are providing a chart to remind us of what is considered recommended ice thickness for various activities.

As stated last month in a Port Authority news release, the Donjon Shipbuilding and Repair Co. will be servicing 5 to 7 vessels this winter. They will be moved in and out of the dry-dock by tugboats. They will be breaking ice (if it ever forms) between the Public Dock and the repair facility. The ice will be unsafe during and after these moves so be careful.

Thanks to the generous hospitality and kindness of many of the Erie Area gun raffle sponsors the S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie receive a spin-off benefit from the events. The gun raffle sponsors have permitted our volunteers to display our ATV and sell raffle tickets for our “Fantastic Fin and Fur” raffle. As you know this raffle is our primary funding source for all of our annual activities.

These raffles gives us exposure to hundreds of sportsmen who have purchased thousands of dollars worth of tickets every year

The gun raffles usually take place during the low fishing activity times of the year. They offer a diversion to the winter blahs.

Below is a list of upcoming gun raffles whose sponsors have permitted our participation. If you are looking for some fun , please go to these raffles to support the organizations that sponsor them, thereby supporting us. On hand washes the other!

Saturday Feb. 4 1:00-? Erepa Grotto Gun raffle at the Erie Shrine Club
Saturday Feb 11 1 til ? Lake Erie Fanfare Gun Raffle at Waldemeer’s Rainbow Gardens
Saturday Feb 25 1 til ? Elk’s Club Gun Raffle at Waldemeer’s Rainbow Gardens
Saturday Mar 10 1 til ? FOP Swanson Memorial Lodge Gun Raffle at Rainbow Gardens
Saturday Mar 17 5-11 Waterford Lions Gun Raffle at Waldemeer’s Rainbow Gardens

Monday Jan. 23 General Membership meeting at the Polish Falcons Club
Saturday Jan. 28 11-4 EPSFA Tackle Swap & Meet Holy Trinity Center 2220 Reed St.
Saturday Feb. 11 10-2 Ice fishing clinic at Waterworks Pond on Presque Isle State Park,
Volunteers needed.
Sunday Feb 19 12-4 Winterfest at Frontier Park West 8^th Street Side. Volunteers needed.
Thursday Mar 1 9-8 Bayfront Convention Center, Set up for Erie Sport and Travel Expo. Volunteers Needed
Friday March 2 8- 12 Bayfront Convention Center, Set up for Erie Sport and Travel Expo. Volunteers Needed
Friday March 2 12-8, Saturday March 3 10-8, and Sunday March 4 10-5 Bayfront Convention Center Erie Sport and Travel Expo. Volunteers needed
Sunday April 1 1-5 S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Ice Out Party

Wanted: Old photographs of Erie’s Waterfront-Ships, Boats, Buildings, Fishing, and Fishermen, Railroads etc. call Jerry at 814-452-6291 I would like to borrow and scan them for my slide presentations

NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2012 7:30 PM at the Polish Falcon’s Club, 431 East 3rd St.

Fishing Report: As this newsletter goes to press, there is still no ice. There were reports of good perch fishing in the bay. Some burbot are being caught on the North and lsouth Piers.

NEXT GENERAL MEETING: Monday, January 23, 2012 7:30 PM at the Polish Falcon’s Club, 431 East 3^rd St.