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The club’s fiscal year will end on June 30^th and it would, therefore, be appropriate to recap what the club has done over the last 12 months.

Let’s start with the monthly meetings.  American society was coming out of its Covid-19 stupor last July.  Yes, it seems much longer – but the meeting attendance numbers tell a different story.  Check it out:  In July and August between 30 and 40 members would show up.   In September and October attendance moved up to 40 and 50 members.  The December potluck was modestly attended but then, wait for it, there was the swap meet.  Oh, yeah, it turns out the boys like their hot chili and sweet deals.  That event got ‘em out of the house and rubbing elbows!

Attendance at the January and February meetings started pushing 60 members but Annual Dinner ticket sales were slow, very slow.  Luckily, the atmospheric rivers subsided, ticket sales swelled and the rest was history.  A complete sell-out of this March event generated more than $27,000 in gross revenue and stimulated more interest in the monthly meetings.  For example, the attendance in both April and May exceeded 80 members, which was more than double where we started in July.

The increasing attendance indicates we must be doing something right.  Actually, we’re doing a lot of things right:  casting clinics, knot tying classes, monthly fly-tying jams; the list goes on and on.   And let’s not forget our conservation efforts.  Every autumn we put salmon and steelhead eggs into 35 elementary school classrooms.  And every June we donate money to environmental groups that preserve and protect our home waters.  In fact, the Conservation Committee will meet on June 12^th to divvy up the $10,000 generated by the Annual Dinner…. a generous farewell to efforts well made.

Upon reflection, it’s been a very good year.  The events conducted – or sponsored – by the club not only kept members involved, they also strengthened relationships frayed by the pandemic.

Enough about looking at life through the rear-view mirror, it’s time to hit the water.

Tight lines.

Kim Lloyd, GBF President