So after coming off a great night with the ASWF Theresa and I invited ourselves to the Bayshore Saltwater Flyrodders Annual Christmas meeting and party. Some of the guys who we were with in Seaside thew other night are dual members of both clubs so we were just kind of following the crowd.
The Bayshore club calls the VFW in Port Monmouth home. Years ago I did a talk there and will be doing one sometime in 2024 as well. This would be a dangerous place for me to come and hang out with the boys because like other VFW's this one has a bar attached to the meeting space. While our
party was happening another gathering was happening across the divider on the bar side. The party started with the meeting and some old and new business was discussed. Tom Hayden, one of the
early or founding members of the club, gave a nice speech and that was followed by a changing of the guard as a new President was sworn in. The leadership thanked Gerry for organizing the party and
making sure everything that could be needed was there down to the to-go containers for the attendees to take with them. The food and bread was great and I think it came from Joey Leone's down in Point
Pleasant Beach. While the food and drink is always great at any party, like the ASWF's party, the door prizes, raffles and 50/50's are a big draw. Theresa and I brought a gift to throw in the mix and she helped Anthony with the ticket sales. As the lone female amongst the beasts they had her pull the winners.
Some of the gifts were fishing and non-fishing related. I had this book lying around so we gave it up as a gift and the below lucky winner was able to take a copy of Bob's book home. Brad one a nice popcorn assortment that he gave to Theresa. Gerry hit the 50/50 and a real lucky ticket holder won a trip for a half a day charter out with Joe "Maz" Mustari.
The best line of the night caught me off guard as it happened during Anthony's, at times confusing ticket and cash exchange. While explaining what you get for how much money, and the jokes flew in about his height and arm length, Kenny Says, "Well you could use my arm's length". To which Scotty says from the other end of the table, "Ken, please, I'm eating". It was really funny and could only have
come from Ken himself. If you don't know Ken Eukland he is a great fly tier and fisherman. Period. He does it better with one hand better than most of us can do with two. It's amazing to watch him at work.
After dinner and the prize drawings it was time for Anthony's deserts which came from he and his girlfriends kitchen. They were a big hit and there wasn't much left for the to-to containers but we scored a few treats to enjoy at a later time.
It was a real nice nice and Theresa and I were welcomed with open arms. Again, if you're a saltwater fly tier or rodder you should consider joining a club near you. They are always looking for new members and fresh blood in a club, especially young fresh blood, can breathe life and help continue the mission of sharing and enjoying the sport we love. I'm not sure when the Coastal Flyrodder's or the South Jersey Fly Fisher's are having their Christmas party but maybe Theresa and I can crash those as well.
It was some day for gluttony for me as I started it off with Cultural Day at the college to end the semester. The kids. who come from, like literally just a few years ago, from countries around the globe. They hail from places like Nigeria, Haiti, Guyana, Philippines, Jamaica, and Poland just to name a few.
They did a great job and most of my plate was filled with unknown dishes that mostly warmed my stomach and left my eyes tearing and my mucous membranes burning. They just like it hot. After a long semester it's great to break bread and share each others cultural dishes. I'm just to sure how all that food together during the day and then backed up with Italian food and deserts at night will do to my innards in the morning.
