Sportsperson of the Year

On Sunday, November 8th, we held our annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year dinner. This year’s honoree was Bill Mackintosh. Bill was nominated by the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association. Bill has been an active member of the NBBA for 35 years and currently is a lifetime member. During his 35 years he has been involved in the following activities:

• Bill has volunteered for 25 plus years at National Hunting & Fishing Day, a day at the beach for special needs children. He has also participated in the New Egypt School district’s annual fishing trip for challenged kids at Island Beach State Park for 12 years.
• For the past five years, he has volunteered weekly at the IBSP beginner’s surf fishing clinic. Also, as a disabled vet himself, Bill has been privileged to volunteer at the NJBBA’s (2) fishing trips each year for the men and women from the NJ Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland.
• For the past 22 years he has shared his knowledge at the NJBBA Children’s Surf Fishing tournament as a teacher of knots, casting and water safety. He has also volunteered as a judge for the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament for 17 years.
• Bill has served on the Board of Directors of the NJBBA, holding multiple positions of director and corresponding secretary over his 12 year tenure. He is a member of the Courtesy Patrol for 15 years as well as coordinating the President’s Fishing Club Tournament and annual NJBBA fishing contest.
• Bill has also volunteered for three years to help clean up Holgate. He has also qualified for certification as a Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs instructor. He has also been a critical participant in helping to restore the NJBBA Model “A” mascot. Bill has also helped represent the NJBBA in the Pots Off the Reefs campaign. He has also for 12 plus years helped to preserve an area for the Piping Plover and helped to keep access to the Brigantine northern beach open for fishing.
• Bill is also an instructor for the NJBBA Beach Driving Clinic. He was also instrumental in the rebuild of Island Beach State Park after Hurricane Sandy, and also helped in the recovery of the civilian devastation of homes after the storm.

Because of his many years of prolonged volunteer work that Bill has selflessly given to both the environment and as an instructor, the NJBBA proudly nominated Bill Mackintosh for the prestigious JCAA Sportsperson-of-the-Year award.

Again, congratulations to Bill on being elected this year’s JCAA sportsperson of the year. In addition to Bill receiving the JCAA Sportsperson of the Year award, Tim Burden received the JCAA Youth Education Award. Congratulations to Tim also.

There were 157 attendees this year. There were over 50 door prizes handed out, over 50 Chinese auction prizes, and 11 silent auction prizes. There were items not only for the men to try and win but also for the ladies.

I’d like to thank Pat Donnelly again for another great job this year as our Master of Ceremonies. He always does a terrific job. I’d also like to thank those JCAA members who helped me make the dinner a success. Many thanks to Paul Haertel, Mark Taylor, Don & Al Marantz, John Toth, Frank Richetti, co-chairman Dan Miller and his wife Heather Miller, Tom Fote, Greg Kucharewski.

I’d also like to thank our many sponsors for the donations they made to make the dinner a success. And, remember, these sponsors support you, the recreational fisherman, and in return we should support them. The following is a list of our sponsors this year:

Atlantic Bait & Tackle Bimini Bay Butch's Bait & Tackle Canyon Reels Carol Magnatta Fred Bogue Captain Seagull's Nautical Charts Chuck Santoro (San Del Insurance) Costa Sunglasses Captain Cal Creekside Outfitters Dave Arnold Dock Outfitters Fisherman's Den Fisherman's Headquarters Guy Harvey Grumpy's Bait & Tackle Hoffman's Marina JCAA J.R. Smith Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Jersey Hooker Jigging World Johnny's Tackle Key Harbor Marina Lacey Marine Miss Belmar Ocean Explorer Paul & Linda Haertel Pell’s Fish & Sport Pete & Elda's Restaurant Pure Fishing Saltwater Anglers of Bergen County Tica Fishing Tackle Tim Burden Tony Maja Underwater Green Fishing Lights Yamaha Motors

I’d also like to thank those clubs and individuals who took a table of 10 or more:

Newark Bait & Fly Casters Berkley Striper Forked river Tuna Club Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association Sandy Hook Bay Anglers Jersey Coast Shark Anglers Mark Taylor Saltwater Anglers of Bergen County NJ Beach Buggy Association (3 tables) Tim Burden Manasquan Fishing club Hi-Mar Striper Club

And as always, I hope I haven’t missed anyone. Donations don’t always come to me the way I would like them to come to me. People hand me things at meetings or drop things off at the office and don’t tell me or bring them to the dinner and hand them to me or someone else and in the confusion of the day things don’t get recorded. If I have missed anyone I apologize in advance. Thank you one and all for all your help. Without your support and the support of our many sponsors the dinner would not be a success.