Click here for list of Annual Bill Goodman Sportsmanship Award Recipients
The
Association of the Surf Angling Clubs was founded in 1915 by a dedicated
group of surf anglers who were primarily interested in perfecting and
improving the art of surfcasting. Several of those who were instrumental
in its founding were H. W. Shanner who was
Secretary-Treasurer for 50 years, Harry Stelwagon and many others. Those
who carried on the tradition in more recent years were Roland Gilpin,
Victor Galgano, George Hill, Judy Claudius, Bob Egles, Bob Pond and
Larry Christiansen. There should be special tribute paid to Roland
Gilpin, Victor Galgano and Larry Christiansen for outstanding leadership
in recent years as past presidents. Judy Claudius, George Hill, Bob Pond
and Herb Blackwell excellently performed the difficult and most
encompassing job of secretary. John Gaykowski, Bob Egles, and Larry
Christiansen performed the duties of the most concerned treasurer.
Special recognition should be given to Bob Corso, Vic Galgano, Bill Fodi,
Larry Christiansen and Herb Blackwell for their continued hard work and
dedication to the H. W. Shanner Annual Association Striped Bass
Tournament. A well deserved doff of the hat to Larry Christiansen for
his tireless work on behalf of the tournament casting and in particular
the Ocean City Cup Event.
For many years tournaments were the prime
consideration and function of the Association. Although one of the
original concepts of the Association during its formation was the
conservation of the marine resources, no active role was played by this
Association in this field until the original press for striped bass
legislation was made in New Jersey in 1948. At that time the Association
played a very active role in the passage of laws now in effect. Since
that period, the Association has played a major leadership role in the
conservation field, especially in the state of New Jersey where the
majority of its member clubs are located.
The Association approves and acts as a clearing
house for the following tournaments each year:
H. W.
Shaner Striped Bass Tournament
North
Philadelphia Surf Club Tournament
South
Jersey Anglers Association Tournament
Brigantine Sportsman's Association Tournament
Double
Dipper Tournament of the Fishing Mermaid's of Atlantic City, N.J.
Ocean
City fishing Club Tournament
Long
Beach Island Fishing Club Tournament
Nagshead Surf Fishing Club Tournament
Pennsauken Surf Fishing Club Tournament
Cape Hatteras
Surf Fishing Club Tournament
Brunswick
Surf Fishing Club Tournament
Tri-State
Tournaments sponsored by Stripers Unlimited Club
The Association acts as a clearinghouse for the
following Casting Tournaments each year:
Beachcomber
Surf & Gun Club Tournament
North
Philadelphia Surf Club Tournament
Outcasts
Tournament
Farragut
Tournament
Ocean City
Cup and Spinning Plaque Tournament
MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Association of Surf Angling
Clubs shall be open to any club with not less than 25 active members and
which includes surf angling and/or surf casting in its recreation.
Application for membership shall be submitted to
the Secretary of the Association in writing. It shall enclose an
agreement to abide by the Constitution and By-laws of the Association
and also a list of the officers and number of members. Initiation fee
and annual dues shall a company such application.
After the officers of the Association have
favorably screened the club application, the club shall be accepted as a
provisional member with all the rights and privileges of a regular
member, until the next annual meeting of the Association, at which time
the club shall be eligible for regular membership and may be admitted
upon majority vote.
The initiation fee shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00).
The annual dues shall
be thirty-five dollars ($35.00) payable in advance on or before the annual
meeting.
A provisional club, not being accepted at the
Annual Meeting will be entitled to the refund of prepaid dues and
initiation fee.
If the dues of any club are in arrears for sixty
days after the annual meeting, the privileges of this Association may be
withdrawn at the recommendation of the Executive Board.
Any clubs seeking reinstatement, who have
voluntarily dropped from the Association through proper notification to
the Secretary will not be required to pay an initiation fee. All others
will have to pay a new initiation fee.
REGIONAL DIRECTORS
Each Regional Director shall be responsible for
activities in his respective state, which deal with conservation of
natural resources as they may affect member clubs and legislation for
the same. He shall be responsible to the Vice-President of this
Association for the reporting of such activities as they occur. He shall
also be empowered to appoint an Advisory Committee consisting of members
from member clubs of this Association, within his jurisdiction to aid
him in the exercise of his duties. He shall endeavor to enlist new clubs
into the Association in order to strengthen the Association's ability to
operate within his jurisdiction.
DELEGATES
The delegates shall consist of three members from
each club. This senior delegate will cast the single vote for his club.
Each club shall file with the Secretary of this
Association on or before the Annual Meeting each year, the names and
addresses of club officers chosen to represent it in this Association.
The delegates shall be members of clubs in good
standing.
GRASS ROOT PROGRAM
The Association is now in the process of creating
a grass root program with the Big Brothers Association to develop future
surf fishermen and future tournament casters.
BILL GOODMAN SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Bill Goodman acted as both the secretary and the recording secretary during a period in ASAC history when there was no standardization of tournament rules. The hosting clubs up until this time generally established their own tournament rules which led to confusion and accusations of unfairness. Bill wanted to improve the current system to make it a fair and level playing field for all. He asked then President McGirl, to authorize him with the authority to pressure the host clubs into a standard of common fishing rules for each tournament. It was met with great resistance, but Bill was persistent. Bill was a stickler fair play and for every body to have a chance at winning. He was against calcuttas as he felt that money prizes tempted cheating. Many of the By-law rules regarding cheating were instituted by him. Bill supported getting the first insurance coverage for ASAC to protect the association and the hosting clubs. Bill pressured tournaments that were headquarters in bars to move and risked losing those tournaments rather than give in. Bill Goodman was champion of the little man, and wanted only fairness and sportsmanship in our tournaments. Bill died of cancer only a couple of years after Walt Llewyllen became ASAC President.
| 1994 | Tom Fote |
| 1995 | Jerry Dilks |
| 1996 | Henry Twardus |
| 1997 | Florence Pancoast |
| 1998 | Walter Llewellyn III |
| 1999 | James "Sonny" Gatto |
| 2000 | George Foreman |
| 2001 | Mike Stefanowicz |
| 2002 | Jim Jefferys |
| 2003 | Kurt Reinart |
| 2004 | Sol Weinstein |
| 2005 | Dot Foreman |
| 2006 | Rich Bergman |
| 2007 | Jane Jefferys |
| 2008 | Charmaine Wishart |
| 2009 | Richard 'Doc' McGirl |
| 2010 |