Brent Watson
04-13-2009, 02:27 PM
Banquet Review
PHENOMENOL!!! This was the biggest banquet ever – 300 in attendance. We crammed a lot of things into a fast paced program. We presented the 3D Sanctioned Shoot winners with their awards. Ryk did a great tribute to the late Fred Walker – Fred was one of the pioneers of archery and bowhunting in Alberta and served on the executive of the ABAA and ABA for years. Fred’s son and daughters were on hand. We also announced that the youth award will now be called the “Fred Walker Youth Award.”
The ABA presented Kelly Semple with the “ABA President’s Award” – this award is given to an individual who has dedicated themselves to promoting and volunteering with the ABA. No one is more deserving than Kelly and we all appreciate her efforts!! A huge thank you to Ryk and Bob Gruszecki for putting together the power point recognizing Kelly and her many accomplishments.
Ryk passed out the many annual game awards (for each species) and we had some great animals entered. Some were present in the game display and a huge thank you to everyone who brought their trophies and to Joey Busetto for bringing some extras. We passed out the Small Game and Big Game award winners, the winners of the Warren Witherspoon Traditional Award, the Ladies of the ABA, the Fred Walker Youth Award and the Game Management Award winners. Russell Hillis and Greg Sutley got their Master Bowhunter buckles and three members got their Grandmaster custom portraits – Cody Tomke, Gary Gillette and Stephan Titley. Congratulations to all the winners!!
After doing some door prize draws, we life auctioned the first two “ABA Jackets” ever in existence. Fred Eichler was our model and thanks to everyone for getting involved in the action!!
Finally, we got to our featured guest. Fred Eichler has taken all 28 species of North American big game with his recurve. More than that, he is one of the best ambassadors for bowhunting there is. Fred entertained us at the Friday night “Meet & Greet” and at the Saturday luncheon with video and stories. He continued at the banquet and had everyone in stitches. We could have kept going until breakfast!!! We presented Fred with an engraved buckle in appreciation for coming to Canada for the first time and being part of our event. We’ll definitely have to have him back for all those who missed him this time and for those of us who want more.
We wrapped up the evening with the draw for the 4th Annual Spring Fever Raffle. The winners were Al Keeler (Ultimate Optics package), Al Collins (Video camera), Dusty Boyko (GPS and Bushmap software) and Mark Campling (Double Bull blind and Gorilla treestand). Thanks for everyone for buying tickets and especially to the sponsors – Bob Gruszecki, Sandy Hrycyk, Skybase Geomatic Solutions and the ABA.
Finally, a huge thank you to Mike Walliser and Terry Brew for doing much of the leg work in putting this banquet together on behalf of the executive, to Sandy Hrycyk for getting many of the donation items, to all those who helped out before, during and after the event. Wouldn’t have been possible without their efforts.
See you next year!!
PHENOMENOL!!! This was the biggest banquet ever – 300 in attendance. We crammed a lot of things into a fast paced program. We presented the 3D Sanctioned Shoot winners with their awards. Ryk did a great tribute to the late Fred Walker – Fred was one of the pioneers of archery and bowhunting in Alberta and served on the executive of the ABAA and ABA for years. Fred’s son and daughters were on hand. We also announced that the youth award will now be called the “Fred Walker Youth Award.”
The ABA presented Kelly Semple with the “ABA President’s Award” – this award is given to an individual who has dedicated themselves to promoting and volunteering with the ABA. No one is more deserving than Kelly and we all appreciate her efforts!! A huge thank you to Ryk and Bob Gruszecki for putting together the power point recognizing Kelly and her many accomplishments.
Ryk passed out the many annual game awards (for each species) and we had some great animals entered. Some were present in the game display and a huge thank you to everyone who brought their trophies and to Joey Busetto for bringing some extras. We passed out the Small Game and Big Game award winners, the winners of the Warren Witherspoon Traditional Award, the Ladies of the ABA, the Fred Walker Youth Award and the Game Management Award winners. Russell Hillis and Greg Sutley got their Master Bowhunter buckles and three members got their Grandmaster custom portraits – Cody Tomke, Gary Gillette and Stephan Titley. Congratulations to all the winners!!
After doing some door prize draws, we life auctioned the first two “ABA Jackets” ever in existence. Fred Eichler was our model and thanks to everyone for getting involved in the action!!
Finally, we got to our featured guest. Fred Eichler has taken all 28 species of North American big game with his recurve. More than that, he is one of the best ambassadors for bowhunting there is. Fred entertained us at the Friday night “Meet & Greet” and at the Saturday luncheon with video and stories. He continued at the banquet and had everyone in stitches. We could have kept going until breakfast!!! We presented Fred with an engraved buckle in appreciation for coming to Canada for the first time and being part of our event. We’ll definitely have to have him back for all those who missed him this time and for those of us who want more.
We wrapped up the evening with the draw for the 4th Annual Spring Fever Raffle. The winners were Al Keeler (Ultimate Optics package), Al Collins (Video camera), Dusty Boyko (GPS and Bushmap software) and Mark Campling (Double Bull blind and Gorilla treestand). Thanks for everyone for buying tickets and especially to the sponsors – Bob Gruszecki, Sandy Hrycyk, Skybase Geomatic Solutions and the ABA.
Finally, a huge thank you to Mike Walliser and Terry Brew for doing much of the leg work in putting this banquet together on behalf of the executive, to Sandy Hrycyk for getting many of the donation items, to all those who helped out before, during and after the event. Wouldn’t have been possible without their efforts.
See you next year!!