KRVSA Newsletter for April 5th, 2018

General membership meeting this Thursday April 5th.  Dinner at 6:30, Meeting at 7:00.  First Choice BBQ, 712 S. Collins St., Plant City.  Please try to attend as we have a lot of events to finalize, new events to plan, and summer activities to announce.   
Your Board and Officers met last Thursday.  Highlights from that meeting will be presented this Thursday.  In attendance were:  Brad W, Brad S, Phil Griner, Dana W, Danny Brantley, Randy Dowd, Randy & Debra Woodall, Morrison Pryor, Jerry Bridges, Wayne Bradbury, Steve Boser.  Capt. Markett & Brian Krug had called earlier in the week that they would not make it. 
Frog Legs needed for VETERANS—Barrett Chandley and Family at Grape Hammock are hosting a Veterans Fishing event 5/19/2018.  We need frog legs!!   Last year when the Chandley’s reached out club members donated an amazing 15lbs of frog legs.  Much like this organization, Grape Hammock’s events are increasing.  We need 15-20 pounds of frog legs as part of a fish/frog leg/gator/etc., cook out for these Veterans after their day on the water.  Please either “reply all” or call Barrett Chandley at 863.528.1547.  The Grape Hammock Family have always been large supporters of KRVSA and this club certainly loves and appreciates our Veterans.  This is a perfect match.  We need frog legs to Barrett by 5/17.  Please consider jumping in and making this another special event for these amazing Veterans who offered to give it all……..Thanks to the Chandley Family for supporting the Toby Pope Fund Raiser.  Grape Hammock donated a free cabin weekend to raffle off in order for KRVSA to construct something in Toby’s memory.
Raffle Boat–Great looking boat.  Thank you to the Boser Family and Sensenich for taking the boat to West Palm.  Thank you to Terry & April Farkus for taking the boat to Broward.  And recently the boat went to The Tampa Boat show–thank you to Loadmaster Custom Trailers, Randy/Jenny Dowd, Pat/Patricia Cochran, Randy/Debra Woodall, Jerry Bridges.  This is a club fund raiser.  Please consider hosting the boat at an event.  Wayne Bradbury has the event schedule.  (wayne@dixiejet.net)  We have events that need hosts, flyers, business cards, and tickets.  There are multiple ways for everyone to get involved.  Donnie Harp has singly sold over $700 by himself by just carrying tickets around in his console.  We need every member to make this work out as we have A LOT of money on the line here. 
Toby Pope & Leroy Knowles Donations–There memorials are almost wrapped up.  As most know, the Knowles and Pope families each suffered a loss recently.  The families supported donations to KRVSA in lieu of flowers or memorials.  At the April meeting the Board discussed ideas on how to best use these gifts to better the KCOL.  If you would like to participate in the planning, please see a Board member this week.  All the pledged funds will be collected by the April 26th Board Meeting.  The decision on what to do–will be made at the 4/26 Board Meeting.  We will meet at 7PM at Dixie Jet in Lakeland.  Item #1 on the agenda will be this topic.  If you plan to present an idea please get with Brad W prior to the 4/26 meeting so we can allot enough time for everyone.  The general plan on how to invest these funds will be submitted to membership at the 5/3/2018 general meeting. 
 
FR 2019-Planned February 15, 16, 17 2019.  Book your rooms now.  Camp Mack is filling up all ready. 
 
Memberships-  It is renewal time.  PLEASE, this is about retention and your support to this organization.  This size organization must have active membership to continue at this level.  We are trend setters in the sportsman community.  You can renew easily at   www.krvsa.com.  Click the membership icon and fill in the blanks.  Your membership card and decal will be mailed back to you.  Membership reminders will also go out in the mail in the next week. 
 
FAA Quarterly Meeting–The FAA quarterly is this Saturday.  Members are encouraged to attend.
FAA Unity Weekend– This event is July 13,14,15, 2018.  Okeechobee KOA.  Airboat ride during the day.  Dinner, awards, and a great evening on Saturday.  KRVSA has a table.  Seats are limited.  Please call Danny Brantley 863.632.0618 if you like to sit at the club table.  This is always a great evening and helps raise funds for the Florida Airboat Association. 
 

Airboaters for Autism—April 14, 2018 at Coleman Landing at Shady Oaks.–More information to follow.  Please come out and support this fund raiser for autism.  Reserve the date.  There will be a lot going on at Shady Oaks that day.  Another fine example of Polk County Parks & Rec coming together with the airboat community.  If you remember a few years back KRVSA held our trash clean up at this facility.  KRVSA and several members are the reason this park exists.  Come out and embrace the autism community.  If you don’t know the Shady Oaks story: ask a Board member, it is pretty cool 

3/24/2018 Toby Pope FundRaiser-This event was amazing.  We will have an update this Thursday with general projections on the budget available for KCOL improvements.   
R3 Fun Shoot 5/19-Indian River Public Shooting Sports Park.  Sebastian, Fl. This is the shoot/fund raiser mentioned in the email geared specifically toward R3.  Brad W has all the information, sits on that committee to representKRVSA, and will be attending.  Any questions–please ask, email, call, etc….. We need to show support and attend.  Remember—-We are hosting one of the three shoots.  We want people to come to ours, we need to support the one they host also.  Rooms at Hirams are booking quickly.  We need to solidify some shooting teams this month and get out reservations in for the shoot.  IF you are even considering going, please see Brad W at the meeting (or call me).  There are lots of “families” going and certainly things to do with other members if you do not shoot and just want to relax at the resort. 
Peace River Airboat & Sportsman Assoc–The Peace River Club is hosting a Clean up on June 2nd from 7-3. You can get more information and RSVP with Steve Eggers, club Pres,   eggman35@gmail.com. 
FAA Tour Boat Bill–This bill was signed in to law by Gov. Scott and commonly referred to as “Ellie’s Law”.  We will update at the meeting.
Summer Splash– Dates have been chosen and will be announced at this meeting.   

 

January 2015

Welcome to the January 2015 edition of your KRVSA newsletter. Please note that this month’s meeting is Thursday, Jan 8th at 7:00 at First Choice BBQ–712 South Collins Street, Plant City, FL 33563. Most members come early to enjoy some great BBQ before the meeting.

Land: All the deeds are finalized on registering the land(s) purchased from the Jurnigan and Gilford families to KRVSA. Brad and Danny will now meet with Barrett Chandley and do the paperwork that will exchange the Jurnigan/Gilford lands for the Chandley parcel. The deeds came back just prior to Christmas and the officers simply felt it was in the professional interest not to bother Barrett Chandley with this until the New Year.

Raffle Boat and Charm: We are still WAY behind on fund raising with these two opportunities. The website has been a decent avenue for fund generation, but we can not rely on this. Please consider selling some tickets and taking the boat to an event.

Howl at The Moon: The Howl at The Moon was a great day. Capt. Dave Markett hosted airboats from around the state on Saturday the 3rd. Dave had a nice route laid out and everyone seemed to enjoy the ride and the water levels.

Opportunity: Our hearts go out to fellows airboaters anytime there is a tragic situation. There was a fatal accident just prior to the New Year’s weekend involving fellow airboaters and well known folks in the airboat community. The club typically does not get overly involved in these situations. Quite frankly if we accidentally missed mentioning a situation we could be seen as biased or favoritism. However, many of the officer’s cell phones have been ringing about Vickie Cruz, family, and passengers. Here’s where to find the information; Southern Airboat has information about what can be done for these families. Facebook also has information about benefits and GoFundMe opportunities. Involved were–Mark Cruz (deceased in the accident), Mark’s wife Leslie (recovering well), Joel Thomas (deceased in the accident), Vickie Cruz (FB-Victoria Lee Cruz, recovering, strong willed, still has obstacles in recovery, but a true southern lady of grit and fight), Rhonda Sylvia (FB-Rhonda Platt Sylvia, recovering, like Vickie full of fight and strong willed). We pray for peace and comfort for these families. The outpouring of support, both financial and emotional are amazing. For further information search the areas stated above.

DB 2Follow Up on Toys for Tots/Diamondback-give back: Diamondback, like many manufacturers has been a strong supporter of this club and our sport. At the Christmas party it was decided that instead of a 50/50 we would do donations toward buying toys for Diamondback’s Toys for Tots drive. Your generosity resulted in $620 being donated by club members at the Christmas Party. An anonymous company donated another $180 and the Board decided to donate $200 from the club’s general account. Dana Weihrauch went shopping–she bought 120 items for $1,012.00 Danny Brantley and Brad Weihrauch drove the toys to Diamond back on Friday, December 19th. Personal note–I have known Bobby and family at Diamondback a long time. I have never seen Bobby and more especially his Mother Ms. Fran more touched at any time. Ms. Fran had tears at one point. Coming from a very meager childhood, Fran is passionate about giving to kids. Diamondback had a box marked Toys for Tots with a few (probably 10-15) items when Danny and Brad got there. When KRVSA left Diamondback their official Toys for Tots box was overflowing and they had to improvise a make shift box for the rest. There are pictures attached to this email, I will also print them out and bring them to the meeting incase you can’t open the pictures. As President of your club, and speaking for Danny Brantley-past President and LifeTime Board Member of this club…..there is no way to properly convey the emotions that happened at 10AM that Friday morning, nor the sense of PRIDE for this organization as we pulled out of that parking lot at Diamondback. This was a huge “pay it forward” by the club and made a huge statement to Diamondback about our love and support for what is near and dear to them.

Freedom Ride: Freedom Ride is scheduled for February 21st. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS. We really need more people to get involved with events. There are continual inquiries about rides, activities, etc…but very little “I would like to see more activities, how can I help” Quite frankly the work load is overwhelming to those who constantly serve. Please look at your time and consider playing a leading role in Freedom Ride 2015 and the Annual Clean Up April 11th. We need a committee now to plan and see this event through.

CleanUp: April 11th is the Annual CleanUp. This year Thomas Landing will host the event. We will be forming a committee for this event and need volunteers.

Website: There will be an update at the meeting. Brad has a meeting 1/6/15 at 10:00AM to review a totally new website format that will propel this club to the next level on the internet.

Places to stay: Please look at Grape Hammock, Thomas Landing, and Camp Mack when looking for lodging for events. These facilities have supported your club and it is only fair we return the support. River Ranch Resort is also an option of these venues are full.

Please make an effort to attend the meeting this Thursday night at First Choice BBQ in Plant City. Most of us get there around 6:15-6:30 and eat before the meeting.

Respectfully submitted to the members of KRVSA by your Officers and Board.