Post by IlliniDoug on Feb 8, 2006 23:13:56 GMT -5
Well guys, I never got a chance to sit down and start writing about my experience with the club and give some sort of an exit interview, if you will. I was so busy toward the end of the semester there that I never got a chance to really address my leaving. So here goes a my long winded account:
I first off want to say how much fun I had with the club over the past four years and the friendships I created will be with me forever. Paper tournaments, Pro-Am tournaments (which we didn't have enough of), and especially intercollegiate competition were a really special thing that I think are really hard to come by. Surely there will be many more tournaments ahead of me, and hopefully many more that will make a much bigger impact on my fishing career, but the "one of a kind" nature of college bass fishing is something that is hard to duplicate. You guys should feel lucky to be apart of it as I know I always did. I'm really thankful I got to be a part of it all.
The bass club, however, was not all fun. Early on, my interest in the club led me to an officer position and a lot of responsibility. Before I knew it I was the president of the club. I faced a lot of challenges as the officers of this club do today, but as a club we overcame them and moved forward. I learned many valuable lessons in professionalism and life in general in my experience with the bass club and I can honestly say that I got where I am now because of the Fighting Illini Bass Club and I'm thankful for that (Ill tell you exactly "where I am now" is in a minute).
The thing that I'm most thankful for is that the bass club has given me something that I am passionate about and at the very least something fun to do for the rest of my life. I never would be the angler I am today if I hadn't joined the club. I never would have fished my first tournament and I never would have seen the awe and wonder that is competitive bass fishing. Its given me some BIG goals to shoot for that are not all that unrealistic and I'm excited as hell about it.
This club is SO MUCH different than the club I joined four years ago and I cant be more proud of what we have accomplished. We have made steps forward in many different areas. Our membership has increased significantly, and these new members are also extremely active and vested in the club. The club has gained much credibility in the outside world with such organizations as the American Bass Anglers, ESPN Outdoors, Bassfan.com, and Fox College Sports. Guys, those are some pretty big names. I want you all to try and think outside yourselves for a minute and see the HUGE potential opportunity that college bass fishing has and is starting to live up to. Everyday bass fisherman don't get emails from Jay Kumar and they aren't helping plan tournaments for ESPN Outdoors. This is a tremendous opportunity for your club and I just want to pound into your heads how you need to seize everything you can from the resources at your disposal. I am envisioning that in the not too distant future there will be a definite and direct link between college anglers and professional fisherman and a way to go from one to the other by some official means, but who knows, I could be out of my mind...
So I challenge the club President, the Exec Board, and the entire club to strive to be the best college bass club in the world. Exemplify leadership and set a good example while participating with other schools in competition. But more importantly, ensure that the cohesiveness of the club endures. This I see as a future challenge. The club is being afforded many exciting opportunities, with some being limited in participation. The club members responsible for regulating these opportunities, be them boat usage, tournament participation, or other, need to ensure that they are not a hindrance to the advancement and inclusion of all members of the club. Be realistic with rules and procedures and remember that one of the goals of our club is to promote bass fishing on campus and to increase the angling knowledge and experience of anyone interested. On the other hand, club members that do not have direct responsibility in some matters should understand the obligation, effort, and time that officers afford to this club to ensure that great opportunities exist, and try to get more involved in the club in order for more opportunities to be had.
You guys are going to be faced with some even greater challenges than our club as ever seen and you will need to step up and take advantage of them. Work hard, but of course, dont fail you classes! (I suggest you take a light load, get good grades, AND fish a lot!). As I have said before to Rob and to all of you: this club is your own, make of it what you want, its only going to go as far as you guys want to take it.
Okay, so now that Ive written way to much (though it feels like I haven't said nearly all I want to say) I finally get to the conclusion and "where I am today". Well, I'm living in Kenosha, WI and working at Rehrig Pacific Company in Pleasant Prairie, WI as their Plant Engineer. Rehrig makes "quality containers for industry" including milk crates, beverage tray, and recycle bins by a process called injection molded. I work on various engineering projects and work with very excited and enthusiastic people. I really enjoy my job and the double good news is that it is going to enable me to purchase my first bass boat ;D Who HOO! I haven't made the decision yet, but Rusty's boat is in the running as is a few others. I'm am planning on fishing the Great Lake division of the BFL as a Co-Angler and will fish local tournaments as a boater. I am excited about the future with my job and with my fishing career. I will soon look into sponsorship for myself and start building my resume as an accomplished tournament angler!
I am renting a spacious one bedroom unit that is the lower of a house. I have a HUGE two car garage that is just waiting for a boat to be put in it and I have more than enough room to have a bunch of you all come up by me during the spring/summer/fall and we can fish the hell out of the lakes up here. I'm sure I will be seeing you all sooner than you think as I have already been summonsed to appear as a boated at some FIBC events and I dont even own a boat yet!! Also, my company will possibly be doing some recruiting on campus there and I may be coming down for that.
I will surely be in touch. My new email is listed on my profile and the address you should use from now on.
Thanks again for everything the club had done for me!
Go Illini,
Doug Macchia
Fighting Illini Bass Club Alumni Adviser (one of several
)
I first off want to say how much fun I had with the club over the past four years and the friendships I created will be with me forever. Paper tournaments, Pro-Am tournaments (which we didn't have enough of), and especially intercollegiate competition were a really special thing that I think are really hard to come by. Surely there will be many more tournaments ahead of me, and hopefully many more that will make a much bigger impact on my fishing career, but the "one of a kind" nature of college bass fishing is something that is hard to duplicate. You guys should feel lucky to be apart of it as I know I always did. I'm really thankful I got to be a part of it all.
The bass club, however, was not all fun. Early on, my interest in the club led me to an officer position and a lot of responsibility. Before I knew it I was the president of the club. I faced a lot of challenges as the officers of this club do today, but as a club we overcame them and moved forward. I learned many valuable lessons in professionalism and life in general in my experience with the bass club and I can honestly say that I got where I am now because of the Fighting Illini Bass Club and I'm thankful for that (Ill tell you exactly "where I am now" is in a minute).
The thing that I'm most thankful for is that the bass club has given me something that I am passionate about and at the very least something fun to do for the rest of my life. I never would be the angler I am today if I hadn't joined the club. I never would have fished my first tournament and I never would have seen the awe and wonder that is competitive bass fishing. Its given me some BIG goals to shoot for that are not all that unrealistic and I'm excited as hell about it.
This club is SO MUCH different than the club I joined four years ago and I cant be more proud of what we have accomplished. We have made steps forward in many different areas. Our membership has increased significantly, and these new members are also extremely active and vested in the club. The club has gained much credibility in the outside world with such organizations as the American Bass Anglers, ESPN Outdoors, Bassfan.com, and Fox College Sports. Guys, those are some pretty big names. I want you all to try and think outside yourselves for a minute and see the HUGE potential opportunity that college bass fishing has and is starting to live up to. Everyday bass fisherman don't get emails from Jay Kumar and they aren't helping plan tournaments for ESPN Outdoors. This is a tremendous opportunity for your club and I just want to pound into your heads how you need to seize everything you can from the resources at your disposal. I am envisioning that in the not too distant future there will be a definite and direct link between college anglers and professional fisherman and a way to go from one to the other by some official means, but who knows, I could be out of my mind...
So I challenge the club President, the Exec Board, and the entire club to strive to be the best college bass club in the world. Exemplify leadership and set a good example while participating with other schools in competition. But more importantly, ensure that the cohesiveness of the club endures. This I see as a future challenge. The club is being afforded many exciting opportunities, with some being limited in participation. The club members responsible for regulating these opportunities, be them boat usage, tournament participation, or other, need to ensure that they are not a hindrance to the advancement and inclusion of all members of the club. Be realistic with rules and procedures and remember that one of the goals of our club is to promote bass fishing on campus and to increase the angling knowledge and experience of anyone interested. On the other hand, club members that do not have direct responsibility in some matters should understand the obligation, effort, and time that officers afford to this club to ensure that great opportunities exist, and try to get more involved in the club in order for more opportunities to be had.
You guys are going to be faced with some even greater challenges than our club as ever seen and you will need to step up and take advantage of them. Work hard, but of course, dont fail you classes! (I suggest you take a light load, get good grades, AND fish a lot!). As I have said before to Rob and to all of you: this club is your own, make of it what you want, its only going to go as far as you guys want to take it.
Okay, so now that Ive written way to much (though it feels like I haven't said nearly all I want to say) I finally get to the conclusion and "where I am today". Well, I'm living in Kenosha, WI and working at Rehrig Pacific Company in Pleasant Prairie, WI as their Plant Engineer. Rehrig makes "quality containers for industry" including milk crates, beverage tray, and recycle bins by a process called injection molded. I work on various engineering projects and work with very excited and enthusiastic people. I really enjoy my job and the double good news is that it is going to enable me to purchase my first bass boat ;D Who HOO! I haven't made the decision yet, but Rusty's boat is in the running as is a few others. I'm am planning on fishing the Great Lake division of the BFL as a Co-Angler and will fish local tournaments as a boater. I am excited about the future with my job and with my fishing career. I will soon look into sponsorship for myself and start building my resume as an accomplished tournament angler!
I am renting a spacious one bedroom unit that is the lower of a house. I have a HUGE two car garage that is just waiting for a boat to be put in it and I have more than enough room to have a bunch of you all come up by me during the spring/summer/fall and we can fish the hell out of the lakes up here. I'm sure I will be seeing you all sooner than you think as I have already been summonsed to appear as a boated at some FIBC events and I dont even own a boat yet!! Also, my company will possibly be doing some recruiting on campus there and I may be coming down for that.
I will surely be in touch. My new email is listed on my profile and the address you should use from now on.
Thanks again for everything the club had done for me!
Go Illini,
Doug Macchia
Fighting Illini Bass Club Alumni Adviser (one of several
)
