The Leavenworth Bass Club (LBC) held its annual end of year banquet on January 10, 2009 at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Lodge #55 in Leavenworth, Kansas. The LBC was formed 24 years ago by a group of avid anglers as a means to improve their bass angling skills through fellowship and the friendly exchange of bass catching techniques and ideas. The club has grown significantly over the years into the largest BASS-affiliated club in the state. As the club grew, so did their civic responsibility. Although the LBC is a group of avid bass anglers their membership reflects a vast array of angling experience from successful regional tournament professionals to weekend recreational anglers. The LBC sees its core functions as being stimulating public awareness of bass fishing as a major sport, promoting a full adherence to all conservation codes and water standards, providing state conservation departments our organized moral, political, and physical support and promoting youth fishing by fostering the youngster’s appreciation of outdoor recreation activities.

Over the years the LBC has undertaken numerous conservation projects working directly with state conservation departments, such as emplacing fish habitat in Leavenworth County Lake and Lost 80 Lake. The LBC has organized and conducted BASS kid’s casting events and sponsored kid’s fishing derbies. The LBC recently became the adult club sponsor of the Bass Busters junior club in Olathe, Kansas. Additionally, the LBC has been instrumental in supporting the Kansas Bass Club Federation Nation (KBCFN). In 2008 the LBC conducted two BASS-sponsored Casting Kids’ events qualifying over 200 youth for state and regional competition. LBC members provided boats for a Bass Busters’ junior tournament and the Kansas state junior-qualifier tournament. Additionally, LBC volunteers assisted in the annual Cabela’s Kid’s fishing tournament in Kansas City. Though organizing and conducting competitive bass tournaments is only a part of the annual LBC activities, the club did conduct 11 competitive bass tournaments in 2008 in Missouri and Oklahoma on five different lakes catching and releasing over 622 pounds of bass.

The LBC banquet is an annual winter ritual where members, guest, and sponsors come together for an evening of fellowship and camaraderie to reflect on our blessing and freedoms, and to recognize members for their success and contributions throughout the year. At this year’s event the LBC president, Steve Clark, called the banquet to order at 7 p.m. after a social hour, welcoming all members and guests. After the invocation lead by Randy Kenton, everyone enjoyed a wonderful buffet style meal provided by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. After the meal, the LBC president introduced Don Leatherman, president of the KBCFN, who shared comments on some of his initiatives as the KBCFN president and thanked the LBC for all they are doing to support the state federation. Following Don’s comments Steve presented certificates of appreciation and thanked the 2008 Club Officers, committee members, and club sponsors. The LBC president then turned over the banquet to the club’s 2008 tournament director, Bob Greene. Bob recognized the 2008 awardees for their accomplishments during the season with a custom club jacket donated by Bass Pro Shops embroidered by Cathy’s Creations.

If anyone is interested in joining the Leavenworth Bass Club you can contact any of our club officers listed on our webpage www.theleavenworthbassclub.org for additional information.


 

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