Mar-Apr. 2013

March/April, 2013 Newsletter

HORRAY WE HAD ICE!

Well, Mother Nature was kind to us this year. We had ice for our 53rd Annual Chain 0′ Lakes Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Festival. Even the rain on Sunday couldn’t dampen the spirit and dedication of NICC members, fishermen and those who attended the two day event.

The team that organized the event included: Mary Humpa, Ken and Laura Golonka, Bonnie and Don Letich, Dale Miller, Ross Musumeci, Marguerite O’Connell, Scott Stranczek and Cindy Yelden.

The officers, directors and members of N.I.C.C. would like to thank the Thirsty Turtle for their continued support. They obtained the event permits and put extra personnel on duty for our yearly fundraiser.

Chairman of the ticket sales this year were Mary Humpa and Dale Miller. Ticket sales are a very important part of pre-Derby and the day of the Derby. Thank you NICC members who sold more than 42 tickets as you played an important role in the success of ticket sales. This year, Mary’s volunteers for ticket sales at headquarters were Don and Bonnie Letich, Scott Stranczek and Tom Geisler.

We had wonderful raffle items this year which were headed up by Ken Golonka and Ross Musumeci. Selling raffle tickets for these items for the weekend were; Laura Golonka, Tim Glover, Christine Hartley, Ross Musumeci and Leonard Dane. Okay you blue ticket raffle sellers…us orange raffle ticket sellers will beat you in sales next year!

A new venture for us this year was our Fishing Supply Store headed up by Ken Golonka and Fred Scollay. There were several fishermen who appreciated having the ability to purchase a few things they may have forgotten. Of course while they were visiting the store, Fred and Ken were selling them 50/50 raffle tickets.

Being outside all day increased your appetite, sending you inside the tent to the Conservation Cafe where you could place your order for hot dogs, hamburgers and chili and something to drink. Thank you Marguerite O’Connell and your team; Cindy Yelden, Dale Miller, Pattie Schroff and Steve Mors for a job well done!

Like the Conservation Cafe, fish judging was held in the tent with head fish judge Mike Venet and his assistant Tony Wos. Every year the state regulations change a bit which keeps our fishermen and judges following the rules. This is not always an easy task when you have a fisherman whose big catch is just an 1/8 of an inch shy of being legal.

Children playing games outside with their friends and parents was fun for all and made for some wonderful pictures. We even made the newspaper with the sack races. Go to our website to see pictures of the egg toss and the sack races. Look carefully, you occasionally see an egg in mid air. Thanks to Dale Miller for organizing the games and her helpers Cindy Yelden and Marguerite O’Connell for running this event for the kids and families.

Bob Humpa did a terrific job as derby announcer and DJ this year. Listening to music kept us in the festival atmosphere all day especially with music during the Beer Walk. He not only entertained us all weekend with a variety of music, he also announced hourly fish winners, derby sponsors and donors.

Our derby wrapped up with the live auction, which again, was a success this year. Ross Musumeci organized the auction and did a terrific job with the groupings, order and display of items. Having each item numbered with the description and donor on a placement card made an excellent presentation. But that’s not all – now it is time for the LIVE auction where Ross’ team included; Children’s Auctioneer, Bob Humpa and Adult’s Auctioneer, Jack Fields with helpers Ken Golonka and Tim Glover. Then there are the runners Dale Miller and Margueritte O’Connell who made sure the bidders had their winning bid sheets. Tracking the winning bid prices and accepting payment for auction items were Sue Musumeci and Laura Golonka. Now these auction items just don’t magically appear. There was a small group of members who worked very, very hard to obtain these wonderful items. Thank you to Ken and Laura Golonka, Mary Humpa, Bonnie and Don Letich, and Dale Miller.

Thank you to our treasurers, Mary Humpa for tracking monies coming in during the derby and Laura and Ken Golonka for paying the Derby bills, preparing the banks needed for the weekend, balancing and making the deposits.

The success of the derby is largely due to the continued support or our sponsors – local and national businesses and the many volunteers who worked on committees.

Thank you everyone for making this a wonderful fun and successful derby. The laughter, jokes and smiles on your faces and the faces of our guests were priceless and are what makes me look forward to next year’s derby. Hopefully again with ice!

SPONSORS AND DONORS

MAIN RAFFLE TICKET WINNERS

• $1500 Jim Nikolai
• $500 Linda Krusmark
• $300 Joe Craft

ADULT BUCKET RAFFLE WINNERS

• Fish Camera: unclaimed-ticket number 198618
• Wilderness Package: The Fishing Goddenss – Gillengerten
• Cutting Board: Ken Golonka
• Two Man Portable Soft Sided Ice Shanty: The Fishing Goddess: Gillengerten
• Daisy Air Rifle claimed: ticket 198718
• Ice Augar: claimed – ticket 198997
• Rod and Reel Combo: Rhonda Seibert
• Mino Life Aerated Bucket: claimed – ticket 218556
• United Canvas: claimed – ticket 198897
• Richmond Hunt Club Paintball Membership: claimed: ticket 198864
• Ice Fishing Package: claimed – ticket 218578
• Richmond Hunt Club-round of sporting clays for 2: Ken Golonka
• 50/50 Raffle Winner: Gary Miller

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING DERBY VOLUNTEERS

FISH JUDGING WINNERS

Musky——No legal caught
Northern Pike

• Large 29 1/8 Steve Schmidt Fox Lake
• Small none caught

Walleye

• Large none caught
• Small none caught

Bass-large and small mouth

• Large 18.0 Gary Miller Antioch
• Small 14 1/4 Steve Schmidt Fox Lake

Catfish

• Large 40 1/8 Steve Harrington Ingleside
• Small 2 1/4 Ed Krapf McHenry

Crappie

• Large 12 3/4 Rich Cheterbok Spring Grove
• Small 4 1/2 Mitch Yucus Antioch

Striped/bass

• Large 11 1/2 Lincoln Buchanan Lake Villa
• Small 5 3/8 Josh Beyer Fox Lake

Perch

• Large 10 1/4 Jeff Parsons Oregon, IL
• Small 3.0 Kaylee Kiesgen Antioch

Sheepshead

• Large 12 3.4 Josh Beyer Fox Lake
• Small 11 7/8 Josh Beyer Fox Lake

Bluegill/sunfish/rock bass

• Large 8 3/8 Gary Miller Antioch
• Small 3 1/8 Steve Jeffer Ingleside

OVERALL LARGE FISH

• 40 1/8 Flathead Catfish Steve Harrington of Ingleside

MAY 20 ELECTION NOTICE

Elections will be held on May 20st at the combined board/general meeting at 7 p.m. Nominations are now open until April 22, for President, Vice President, Secretary treasurer and two director’s positions. The director positions are 3 year terms and responsibilities include, serving on at least one committee, provide support for club programs and activities and assist any officer as needed. Please contact Marguerite O’Connell at 847-838-3539 if you would like to take over one of the above positions.

The months of May, June, July & August we will have a combined board/general meeting

• March 11 Board meeting———————————–7 p.m.
• March 25 General meeting———————————7 p.m.
• April 8 Board meeting———————————–7 p.m.
• April 22 General meeting———————————-7 p.m.
• May 20 Board/General & Elections——————–7 p.m.