Poggie Christmas Party:

We hope to see you at our Poggie Christmas Party on Saturday 12/21/2024 at the new location VFW Bremerton Post 239 at 190 Dora Ave. Bremerton, WA 98312. Doors will open at 2pm, we will eat at 3pm. This is a potluck, so please bring your favorite side or dessert along with your own plates and silverware. Some turkey, ham and other goods will be available and refreshments will be available for purchase from the VFW concession stand. Santa will be there with gifts for kids and there will be a few raffles, including a bakery raffle. If you would like to donate items to the bakery raffle, please bring them along or contact Karen Fox.

Fly Tying and Rod Building Classes:

We are thrilled to announce the return of our fly tying and rod building classes this winter. Find all information on the flyer below and please spread the word! You can sign up using the details on the flyer below, or come to our January meeting where Randy and Jerry will give a preview of the classes and can accept sign ups then.

Salmon in the Classroom: 

Thanks to all of the Poggie volunteers, all 5 schools are up and running (S. Kitsap HS, Burley Glenwood, S. Colby, Sunnyslope and Manchester). Eggs are in the process of hatching and we are working with schools to ensure their classrooms have adequate food for their fish. There are still volunteering opportunities, contact Louie Morton for more information.

STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) night at Olalla Elementary:

We are planning to participate in Olalla Elementary’s STEAM night on January 31st. If you would like to get involved, join us at the January general meeting or contact Jerry Tomeo. 

2025 Board Elections: 

We have several board positions opening up in the 2025 election cycle including. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the board, please join us at the January general meeting:

• 2x 1 year terms
• 2x 3 year terms

Board Met:

December 11th 7 PM at Art Bruner Residence. The next board meeting is January 8th

Dues

2024 annual dues end on December 31st, 2024. 2025 dues are being accepted now and you can pay on the web at https://kitsappoggieclub.com/
about/membership-application/, you can pay by mail, you can pay at a meeting.

Please choose one and get caught up on your dues. Dues serve the community through camp scholarships, salmon in the classroom, Kid’s fishing party, etc., Per a recent internal audit the number of dues paying members has dropped below 100 members, which is not a sustainable number given our annual budget for programs like salmon in the classroom, Kid’s fishing party, conservation camp scholarships, etc. 

Don’t forget to invite your friends and family to our events and recruit them to join!

Club needs:

• We need a new Poggie to operate the Summer Picnic Auction. This involves accepting and holding donations through the year and setting up with help the auction display and being the auctioneer at the picnic. We all thank Glen Jurges who has coordinated the summer auction for several years and congratulate him on his retirement from the role.
• Salmon in the Classroom volunteers (contact Louie Morton)
• 2024 Christmas Party committee volunteers (contact Karen Fox)
• Salmon Derby volunteers: In the past we have put on winter blackmouth and summer salmon derbies. In order to continue this great traditions, we need volunteers to help with things like weigh-in station, obtaining sponsors / prizes, selling tickets, etc.
• 2025 Poggie Budget reviewers: Each year we assemble a panel of Poggies to review the annual budget. This process will begin in January 2025, so please join us at the January general meeting if you’d like to be involved.

Upcoming events:

• 12/21/2024: Kitsap Poggie Christmas Party
• 1/21/2025: Kitsap Poggie January General Meeting
• 3/31/2025 – 4/4/2025: Tentative release dates for Salmon in the Classroom at Otto Jarstad Park
• 8/24/2025: Tentative date for Poggie Summer Picnic