Sportsperson-of-the-Year Dinner/Dance

On Sunday, November 19th, JCAA held its annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year award dinner/dance at the beautiful Crystal Pt. Yacht Club in Pt. Pleasant. This year’s honoree was Dr. Eleanor Bochenek. Dr. Bochenek was nominated for this award by the Newark Bait & Flycaster’s Club and was elected by JCAA member clubs at our general membership meeting in October. On behalf of the JCAA and its member clubs, I would like to congratulate Dr. Bochenek on being elected this year’s sportsperson-of-the-year.

Our guest speaker this year was Lisa Jackson, Director of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Also in attendance was Governor Jon Corzine. The Governor spent a lot of time mingling with everyone during the cocktail hour and many in attendance got to speak with the Governor and voice their concerns about the fluke quota New Jersey is facing this year.

Greg Kucharewski, Chairman of JCAA’s Youth Education Committee, presented this year’s Youth Education Award to the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association.

This affair is JCAA’s second largest fundraiser, and as of this writing I can report that it was very successful. Having said that, it should be noted that this event could not have taken place without the generosity of the many people and companies that donated the many different items that were auctioned off and given away as door prizes. I would be remiss if I did not mention each and every one of them because JCAA could not exist without their generosity and support.

The following is a listing of all our sponsors who donated prizes, and on behalf of JCAA, I would like to thank each and everyone of them: Guy Harvey Publishing, Shakespeare Fishing Tackle Co., Rat-L-Trap, Van Patten Industries, Inc., Flying Fisherman, Innovative Textiles, G. Mustad & Son, Inc., American Rod & Gun, Jonathan Paul Eyewear, Angler’s Book Supply, Aftco Manufacturing Co., Inc., Carlson Machine & Tool, Inc., Lamiglas, Inc., Chambliss Marine, Jersey Coast Shark Anglers, Gateway Marina & Yacht Sales, Inc., Pier 47 Marina, Schneider’s German American Restaurant, Miss Belmar Princess, “Big Mohawk,” “Suzie Girl,” Fisherman’s Den, Captain Cal II, Ocean Explorer, Angler Magazine, Penn Reels, Fisherman’s Headquarters, Tom Siciliano, AA Worms, Frank Tenore, Roger & Janice Staib, Al Ristori, Forked River Tuna Club, Minn Kota, Belvedere Plumbing, Luick “E” Strike U.S.A., Profile Fishing Tackle.

Special thanks also to Dr. Pat Donnelly for the terrific job he did again this year as our Master of Ceremonies. I would also like to thank all the fishing clubs that took a table: Newark Bait & Fly Casters, Berkley Striper Club, Saltwater Anglers of Bergen County, Jersey Coast Shark Anglers, High-Mar Striper Club, Village Harbor Fishing Club, Hudson River Fishermen Association, Sandy Hook Bay Anglers, Manasquan Fishing, 4 B’s & Forked River Tuna Club.

I would also like to thank the many individuals and organizations who also attended and who have shown their support of the JCAA.

Also, special thanks to Dan & Heather Miller who handled the ticket sales and Ed Cherry who helped me with the many donations that came in. I would also like to thank Don & Al Marantz, Mark Taylor, Tom Fote, Tom Siciliano, Frank Richetti, Rich Pasko, Phil Celmer and Bruce Smith.

I hope I have gotten everyone and every company and organization that participated to make this event a successful one this year. If anyone has fallen through the cracks and I have neglected to mention them, I apologize in advance. I have made every effort to keep accurate records, but, unfortunately, not everything gets into my hands the way I would like it to.

Again, on behalf of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, thank you, everyone!

[News Contents] [Top]