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BASS FEDERATION NATION: 20,000 MEMBERS AND GROWING
March 24, 2006
For immediate release
March 24, 2006
BASS FEDERATION NATION: 20,000 MEMBERS AND GROWING
Federation Nation Establishes Leadership in all Member States, Six Countries
CELEBRATION, Fla. - The recently announced Federation Nation has grown to more than 20,000 members just months after its inception and leadership is now established in 47 states and six international countries, BASS announced today.
Building on the heritage and prestige associated with BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, the Federation Nation has evolved into a membership organization that provides its members with the most tangible benefits anglers are interested in.
“The new Federation Nation is full of members that have diverse interests and are dedicated to achieving goals and milestones in the areas of conservation, youth initiatives and tournament opportunities,” said Tom Bowler, president of the Iowa Federation Nation. “The new format has awoken a sleeping giant and those with deep-rooted interests in BASS are getting involved to the highest level.”
When BASS recently restructured its Federation Nation, the organization listened to its members and greatly increased benefits as well as began building a top-notch customer service program and upped its premium tournament angling opportunities. BASS has a directory of Federation Nation leadership on its Web site, http://www.Bassmaster.com.
Since the restructuring, more than 1,600 clubs have affiliated with the Federation Nation, providing an active base of members. “BASS is listening to our feedback and providing us with what we ask for,” said Kevin Gaubert, president of the Louisiana Federation Nation. “With the tools BASS recently provided for members, I expect to see a very engaged membership that will take advantage of all of the opportunities afforded by BASS.”
Perhaps the biggest opportunity for Federation Nation members is the chance to compete with the pros in the annual CITGO Bassmaster Classic, bass fishing’s most major event. BASS reserves six spots for those anglers and in 2006, Jimmy Johnson of LaCrosse, Wis., was one Federation Nation member to compete. He finished ninth and walked away with $20,500.
“Appearing in the Classic is a dream for a lot of anglers involved in the Federation Nation,” said Johnson, who also qualified through the Federation in the 2001 Classic. “This is the backbone of what the Federation Nation is all about and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
An added bonus for members is the newly introduced Triton Federation Nation BASS Club World Championship presented by Mercury. This new format allows each state to qualify a six-angler club team for a national championship event. The team that wins takes home a fully-rigged Triton/Mercury package for each member, for a total value of $250,000.
“The new Club Championship is very intriguing,” said Charles Harkless, the newly-elected president of the Texas Federation Nation. “I know tons of members that are very excited to compete in this format.”
Although BASS has always led in conservation and youth efforts, there are plans to take that investment further. BASS Conservation is beginning the 2006 Federation Nation Stewardship Program, providing a minimum of a $1,000 endowment to each state Federation Nation for fish habitat work. In 2007, BASS will launch a Federation Nation Conservation College Scholarship program, awarding a four-year undergraduate scholarship of $2,000 per year in each of the six Federation Nation divisions for fisheries and biology study. There will also be one nationwide, two-year scholarship of $5,000 per year awarded for graduate study.
Plus, the Junior World Bassmaster Championship and CastingKids – which began in 1991 – continue to be the industry-setting standard for youth tournament angling.
“I’m most proud of the progress the Federation Nation has made in the areas of conservation and youth,” Harkless of Texas said. “Combine that with the new tournament opportunities that the Federation Nation has created and I see it as a three-legged stool that is as strong as oak.”
Sponsors of the Federation Nation include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide and Evan Williams.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 550,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit http://www.bassmaster.com.
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