Counting Our Blessings
By Tim Loomis
As the 2006 calendar year draws to an end, I am inclined to reflect on the many blessings that have come my way. As our December guest speaker, Rich Rubin advised, "make those fishing points with your partner." So I want to start off by giving thanks for my beautiful wife Sheryl, who has allowed me those many chances to leave her side in order that I might go fishing. To be honest, she isn't very happy when I go on extended outings.
Concerning club affairs, I would like to give thanks to all of my fellow board members who have given of themselves and their valuable time to help make this such a unique club.
If you read our newsletter you must give thanks to Kent Hull and Pat Steele for all of the dogging they have had to do to get that copy to print.
Thanks to Mike White for coming in during his harried work week to make sure our monthly meeting runs smoothly.
If you have ever attended one of our many fishouts, you can appreciate the kind of work behind the scenes that it takes to pull them off. To all those who sponsored fish outs this past year, I thank you and thank Harry Petrakis for coordinating the efforts.
The annual fundraiser is coming up next month and that brings to mind the Cooks and Steeles and all the work they have done to make our club some money. Want an inspiration? If you happen to be at the Elk's club the day of the event, try and sneak a peak at Elaine's note book that she uses to prepare for the party. I want to have Elaine bequeath that note book to the club for posterity. Thanks to all of the annual fund raiser helpers.
Thanks to Tom Donovan, our monthly raffles have raised more money than ever before (and keep that to yourselves, as we are a non-profit).
While I am writing about our money affairs, I thank Norm Bedell for keeping the books in order.
Whenever I happen to be close to a particularly beautiful run of fresh water I think of our intrepid Dougald Scott, who drives all over Northern California attending environmental meetings on our behalf to ensure that the waters we are fishing in remain clear, clean and full of wild, native fish. Don't get too smug, Dougald. I haven't forgotten the telling of your version of the Pyramid fishout to our membership. Where did I put that coal for your Christmas? Yes, I am even thankful for Dougald, for where can I share my big fish stories if not with my magnificent Santa Cruz Fly Fishermen friends?
Happy New Year, friends.