Sportsperson of the Year Dinner/Dance

On Sunday, November 15th, JCAA held its annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year award dinner at the beautiful Crystal Pt. Yacht Club in Pt. Pleasant. This year's honoree was Anthony Mauro, Chairman of the NJ Outdoor Alliance (NJOA). Anthony was nominated for this award by the Manasquan Fishing Club and was elected by JCAA member clubs at our general membership meeting in October. On behalf of the JCAA and its member clubs, I would like to congratulate Anthony Mauro on being elected this year's sportsperson-of-the-year. The mission of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance is to serve as a grassroots coalition of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen dedicated to environmental stewardship. They champion the intrinsic value of natural resource conservation, including fishing and hunting. Anthony has spent a lot of time and effort and made personal sacrifices on behalf of fishermen and hunters in New Jersey.

Our guest speaker this year was Congressman John Adler, Representative for New Jersey's Third Congressional District. Congressman Adler spoke about issues concerning recreational anglers in New Jersey and assured those in attendance that “he gets it.” He spoke highly of the efforts of Tom Fote and JCAA in educating him on the issues that are important to recreational anglers in New Jersey.

Also in attendance was Assemblyman John Rooney, New Jersey's longest serving assemblyman who is in his last term of office. Assemblyman Rooney spoke of the efforts of Anthony Mauro and the work the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance has done for anglers and hunters in New Jersey, and Congressman Rooney presented Anthony with a declaration from our state legislature recognizing those accomplishments.

JCAA's Youth Education Committee, represented by Greg Kucharewski, presented this year's Youth Education Award to the Berkeley Striper Club for their promotion of youth fishing. Congratulations, guys, for a job well done.

This affair is JCAA's second largest fundraiser, and as of this writing I can report that it was very successful. It should be noted that this event could not have taken place without the generosity of the many people and companies that donated the many different items that were auctioned off and given away as door prizes. I would be remiss if I did not mention each and every one of them because JCAA could not exist without their generosity and support.

The following is a listing of all our sponsors who donated prizes, and on behalf of JCAA, I would like to thank each and every one of them:

Albivi Brick Oven - Millstone Township, NJ
Jersey Coast Shark Anglers
Schuyler Tuna Club
NJ Beach Buggy Association
Bimini Bay, The Folsom Corp. - Mahway, NJ
Tru-Turn, Inc. - Wetumpka, Al.
Flying Fisherman - Islamorada, Fl.
Tom & Rosalie Siciliano
Bernadette Turi
Ed & Marilyn Cherry
Burford Books - Springfield, NJ
Carlson Machine & Tool Co. - Ham Lake, Mn.
FJ Neil Co. - Lindenhurst, NY
Bruce Freeman
Hi-Mar Striper Club
Greater Pt. Pleasant Charter Boat Assoc.
Don & Sue Marantz
Al Marantz
Julian’s Bait Co. - Atlantic Highlands 
Sandy Hook Bay Anglers
Fisherman’s Den – Belmar, NJ 
Dr. Pat Donnelly
Chambliss Marine - Forked River, NJ 
Sharon McKenna
Fisherman’s Headquarters - Ship Bottom, NJ 
Bayshore Anglers
Captain Cal - Belmar, NJ 
Ocean Explorer - Belmar, NJ 
Miss Belmar Princess -Belmar, NJ 
Schneider’s Restaurant - Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ 
Sun Harbor Bay Club
Rich Pasko
NJ Angler Magazine
Jim Roberts - Sarasota, Fl.
The Boat Shop – Manahawkin, NJ
Lacey Marine - South Forked River, NJ
Gene Nigro
Lou Grazioso
Blood Marine - Lanoka Harbor, NJ
Tom Fote
Bass Assassin - Mayo, Fl.
Lamiglas - Woodland, Wa.
Bullet Weights - Alda, Ne.
Pell's Fish and Sport -  Brick, NJ
Carol Ordemann Silver & Gold – Brick, NJ
The Greenhouse - Oakhurst, NJ
Profile Fishing Tackle Co. - Philadelphia, Pa.
Tony Maja’s bunker spoons
Hudson River Fishermen’s Association
Forked River Tuna Club
Berkeley Striper Club
                    

Special thanks to Dr. Pat Donnelly for the terrific job he did again this year as our Master of Ceremonies.

I would also like to thank the following fishing clubs that took a table: Barnegat Fishin’ Hole, Newark Bait & Fly Caster, Hudson River Fisherman’s Association, Jersey Coast Shark Anglers, 4 B’s, Sandy Hook Bay Anglers, Bayshore Anglers Association, Forked River Tuna Club, Village Harbour Fishing Club, Schuyler Tuna Fishing Club, Hi-Mar Striper Club, Berkeley Striper Club, Manasquan Fishing Club, Greater Point Pleasant Charter Boat Association. I would also like to thank the many individuals and organizations who also attended and who have shown their support of the JCAA.

Also, special thanks to Dan Miller who handled the ticket sales and Ed Cherry who helped me with the many donations that came in. I would also like to thank Don & Al Marantz, Tom Fote, Mark Taylor, Tom Siciliano, Rich Pasko, Phil Celmer, John Toth, Frank Richetti and Bruce Smith.

I hope I have gotten everyone and every company and organization that participated to make this event a successful one this year. If anyone has fallen through the cracks and I have neglected to mention them, I apologize in advance. I have made every effort to keep accurate records, but, unfortunately, not everything gets into my hands the way I would like it to.

Again, on behalf of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, thank you, everyone!

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