Welcome to 1996! It has started out to be a cold, snowy year, but hopefully it is giving us time to get our tackle boxes ready for the spring season! I talked with Carol Boykin in Indiana who has been house-bound due to all the snow, and she has got all her closets cleaned out, and she and Sue Parrish are going to have a garage-sale for all the tackle and "stuff" they don't use anymore. When my husband, Bobby Murray started organizing his tackle recently, I asked him to save me the tackle that he doesn't need for goodie bags. Bobby (who has enough tackle to supply a fishing store) said "I don't have any tackle that I don't need." He did clarify that he has tackle that he doesn't USE, however, he still NEEDS it! Sounds like a fishing addict, huh?

I met with Sugar Ferris in mid-January in San Angelo, Texas while attending the Texas Outdoor Writers Association convention. It gave me the opportunity to visit with some dear friends such as Pamela Dountas, Linda Jones, and Barbara Arrington of Dallas Bass'n Gals who were busy working registration and events logistics. Due to the strong, positive influence that Sugar has as Bass'n Gal founder, many Texas writers support Bass'n Gal activities and tournaments by providing coverage in their magazines or newspapers. I know that trying to get coverage of Bass'n Gal tournaments, etc., in other states is not as easy -- even when they are sent press releases, articles, etc! Sugar recommended that Bass'n Gals meet with their local outdoor reporters, and demonstrate the positive things that Bass'n Gal is doing for women and fishing, and spotlight their local youth, community, and conservation projects. Consider putting the local outdoor writers on your club's mailing list. South Texas Bass'n Gals send "sponsors" their club newsletter as a way of saying "Thank you." If possible, attend the state Outdoor Writers convention to meet several writers on a one-to-one basis! Lyla Foggia, editor of "REEL WOMEN: The World of Women Who Fish" recommends that we take the outdoor writers to lunch! If these writers have young children, maybe we could invite them to youth fishing clinics? Never underestimate the POWER of a WOMAN to get her point across, even though:

FOR MOST OF HISTORY, "ANONYMOUS" WAS A WOMAN!

Let's get in the NEWS! Another way to get in the news is by accessing CYBERSPACE -- otherwise known as the computer web. I plan to get connected on the WEB by March, and Bass'n Gal is going to have its own address! Our address on the world wide fish net will be:
http://mgfx.com/bassngal/
Presently, Larry Thompson from Tournament Angler News will print tournament schedules, information, etc. on his web address:
http://www.fishingworld.com
Tournament Headquarters. His e-mail is: fishnews@rapidramp.com

This is the 20th Anniversary of Bass'n Gal and it's Time to Celebrate!

We want Bass'n Gal Affiliate Clubs to celebrate this year by having their own Birthday Party! It is time to pat yourself on the back for personal and group accomplishments. Our theme for this year is "Opening Doors", and we want to demonstrate how Bass'n Gals has and IS opening doors for women and tournament bass fishing. Did you know?

• Bass'n Gal was the first national tournament bass-fishing organization to establish the 5-fish limit. Five fish is easier to keep alive in a boat's live-well, and it is also considered one of the kindness we owe fish for allowing us to "use" them for a win. Now everyone else is following the lower creel limit!
• Bass'n Gal ALWAYShad CATCH & RELEASE.
• Bass'n Gal initiated and established "Paper-Fish" tournaments on lakes with slot limits. More and more tournament circuits are utilizing this weigh-in and conservation concept.
• Bass'n Gal was one of the first organizations to get federal and state agencies to work together when affiliate clubs in Texas and South Carolina initiated conservation projects on area lakes.
• Bass'n Gal won 1st Place in T.V. Series category, and we won Honorable Mention in writing for the Affiliate Club Handbook in the 1995 Texas Outdoor Writers Awards!

Bass'n Gal is a great organization that keeps getting better thanks to members like you! Be proud of your legacy!