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Jim Schommer steps down as WFT President

By Mike Arrowood

                                                                                                                              
After six years as Walleyes For Tomorrow President, Jim Schommer decided to pass the fate of the organization to another member at the September 2007 Annual Meeting.  Jim became President in September. 2001 and has been a very energetic and enthusiastic leader.

Those of you that know Jim personally know that he has a passion for fish and fishing.  He never thought that fishing thirty walleye tournaments a summer was anything out of the ordinary.  Just as he never thought working for WFT 24-7 was much of an imposition either.

Jim was very much a hands on President.  There were few WFT activities that he did not take part in.  He traveled extensively and often in support new chapters, the sauger program, river habitat projects, WFT promotion, hatchery operations and still had time to check the WFT mail every day.  There was no task to trivial for him to tackle with his normal get-it-done-now style.

Lucky for WFT he will still be active with the Fond du Lac Chapter and keeping the office running smoothly.  He is our first Official Past President.  The WFT Bylaws were amended to create the position of Past President on the Board of Directors.

When you meet Jim be sure to thank him for his years of dedication to WFT.  He turns 72 this spring and should have more time to fish than he had as President.

Thanks Jim.

NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED

By Mike Arrowood

WFT has a new President. Jim Coon of Appleton was elected at the Annual Meeting in September to succeed outgoing president Jim Schommer.

Jim is one of the founding members of the Fox Valley Chapter in Appleton and is a WFT Life Member.  He has served on the WFT Board of Directors as the Vise President Chapter Development for the past six years

Jim and his wife Jean, who is also a WFT Life Member, have been sponsors of the Fox Valley Chapter for the past ----years.  As chapter members for the past fourteen years they have been active in every aspect of organizing the largest banquet that WFT sponsors.  

Jim has been a WFT corporate sponsor as well.  He has donated equipment for outfitting the boats used for the WFT Boat Raffle for the past three years.

Hunting and fishing have long been right at the top of Jims list of favorite activities.  Lately though a new passion has arrived.  Jim is the proud grandfather of -----.  Grandpa sitting for his granddaughter is a event that Jim will never tire of.

Jim and Jean have been active supporters of chapters besides the Appleton Chapter.  As new chapters have formed, Jim and Jean have helped the new chapters by working at their banquets and sharing their many organizing talents to make the events a success.

Some of you may know Jim as the head honcho of numerous walleye tournaments in the mid-west. Jim is the organizer of The Midwest Walleye Series of tournaments. His tournament company, TFM, is the backbone of the Mercury Marine National Walleye Tournament in Fond du Lac.  Seldom one to seek the spotlight, Jim has been active in every aspect or running one of the finest walleye tournaments in the nation.

Some years ago Jim came up with the idea of having a 50/50 cash raffle for tournament contestants in the tournaments he organizes.  Those raffles have raised thousands of dollars for WFT habitat projects over the years.  

Jim’s years of organizing experience will be of great value to WFT and the organization is in good hands with him as President

©2008 Walleyes for Tomorrow
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