One of the intangible benefits of being a member of Trout Unlimited is establishing lifelong relationships with other like-minded individuals. I spent the past week fishing in Montana with some folks I would have never known if it weren’t for the volunteer work of the Little River Chapter. Little did I know at the time but the foundation for this trip started six years earlier when I was standing in Little River at the KOA Campground on a frigid December morning participating in a Trout in the Classroom release. This was my first volunteer experience with the LRCTU and the person standing next to me was a longtime Chapter member. My first volunteer experience grew into a week of great fishing and camaraderie.
When I returned home, I looked at the Little River Clean-Up group picture and noticed the diversity of the participants. What an outstanding group of volunteers. Take a look at the group picture, shown later in the newsletter, and you’ll notice long time members, new members, young and old members, Tennessee natives and transplants from all regions of the country working together for a common cause. Our Chapter has added sixteen (16) new members since the first of the year and we have members residing in twelve (12) states. Thank you to all of our members who have done an outstanding job of assimilating new members into the LRCTU.
The 4th Annual LRCTU On-Line Auction will be held from November 23 through December 08. At least 80% of the auction proceeds will be donated to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) Fisheries Department. Additional details regarding donating auction items are provided later in this newsletter.
Bob Bishop
President
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