The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock Inc
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The BOJC Vol. 19 Winter 2013 News The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock Inc. Newsletter - Published by Maryland — the Parent Chapter President’s Message Helping leads to friendship, good times By Henry Krotee BOJC President ollowing the great men who have been presidents of the Brotherhood of the Jungle CockF is true honor and I am glad for the opportunity to be in such esteemed company. Going back to 1970, Edward T. Little, father of the current BOJC secretary Ed Little, sponsored my son Dale, and the following year I attended as Dale’s sponsor. In those years, we would always come up in the morn- ings of the first day of camp and fix a streamside breakfast for the boys we sponsored. We rarely fished the ponds at Camp Airy, mostly sticking to the Please release me: creeks in the area, especially Friends Providing sport for another day Creek. Time passes and boys have grown up. My son Dale these days is Photo courtesy of John Waldron, from Fishing With the Masters 2012 pastor at St. Matthew United Church of Christ in Taneytown, not all that far There’s nothing wrong with keeping fish if you’re going to eat from Camp Airy. Some of the boys them, but there’s a real satisfaction that comes when a trout that in my group from those early days are has been brought to the bank is then released to fight again anoth- themselves sponsors or leaders in the er day. More thoughts on the subject from Camp Conservationist BOJC. Steve Weinstein can be found on Pages 8 and 9. Continued on page 3 The Creed of the Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock he name of the organization comes from the waxed neck Now these men were fly fishermen. They shared common feather of the Indian Jungle Fowl which was worn as a feelings about their sport. They wanted to protect it and ensure that symbol of the group. This chicken-like bird is on the en- future generations of anglers would be able to enjoy fishing as they T had. They determined to pass on the knowledge, skill, and ideals dangered species list now. Every time I mention the name of our organization, I see raised eyebrows, but their interest is evident. A of conservation to the youth of their generation. How best to do brief history goes like this ... In the late ’30s a group of men had so was the topic of conversation on that Friday night. Finally they formed a tradition of a Spring outing to fish Maryland’s Hunting determined to compose a CREED to define the goals and guide their Creek. They would stay in a small cabin on the upper portion of the organization into the future. stream. In 1939 the meeting was set for mid April, but on Friday CLARK VENABLE wrote the CREED on Saturday Morning, the 21st a snowstorm hit keeping the men indoors. it was accepted and remains unchanged today. It reads: WE WHO LOVE ANGLING, in order that it may enjoy practice and reward in the later generations, mutually move together towards a common goal - the conservation and restoration of American game fishes. TOWARDS THIS END we pledge that our creel limits shall always be less that the legal restric- tions and always well within the bounty of Nature herself. ENJOYING, AS WE DO, only a life estate in the out of doors, and morally charged in our time with the responsibility of handing it down unspoiled to tomorrow’s in- heritors, we individually undertake annually to take at least one boy a-fishing, instructing him, as best ecades later the tradition continues A seven year instructional program is with boys like Angus, sponsored in currently being used. It begins with a boy we know, in the responsibilities that D2012 by Craig Simms. The conclu- 8 or older, starting with the basics of begin- are soon to be wholly his. sion of the letter of thanks from the young ning angling and taking them through an angler encapsulates why, after so many opportunity to fish with “the masters.” HOLDING THAT MORAL generations, the Brotherhood of the Jungle Conservation, reading the water, Cock still meets near Hunting Creek in the stream side instruction, entomology, termi- LAW transcends the legal statutes, Catoctin Mountains of Central Maryland the nal tackle, equipment maintenance, knots, always beyond the needs of any one weekend after Mothers Day. That reason: “I fly tying, rod building, and net making are man, and holding that example had a really fun time.” just some of the classes being taught. alone is the one certain teacher, we While the three day weekend is de- Attendance is by invitation only, but signed to pass on to the youth of today the a man can only attend when he sponsors a pledge always to conduct ourselves knowledge, skills, and love of our sport, boy. Each year, hundreds of men and boys in such a fashion on the stream as the spirit of having fun is just as much a fill the woods of the Catoctin highlands with to make safe for others the heritage part of it. the sounds made when people are having a which is ours and theirs. “really fun time.” Page 2 BOJC News 2013 Henry Krotee shows a nice brown trout he caught on a fly during a float trip in Vermont, a trip he says he’d never have had the occasion to take if not for his involvement in the BOJC. Giving time, getting friendship, good times From Page 1 were for having been a part of it and re- Zimmer in the Panera Bread restaurant in Steve Wilcox is a trustee; way back member what a good time they had. Aberdeen and looking at the schematic when, he attended with Jeremy and Nathan Eventually, I would become involved drawings for the building, and Bosley Wilcox. with teaching the third year boys how to Wright asking for volunteers to help with Also part of our crowd from those days make shad darts, which drew me more the building. Being an electrician by trade, were my nephews Patrick and Matthew Ca- deeply into the organization and brought I volunteered to do the electrical work. vanaugh, as well as Wesley Cator. more friendships. Carl Marshall coordinated the work, While some are not active in the BOJC Speaking of Steve Wilcox, as I was a and Carl Miller was my biggest helper. I these days for a variety of reasons, I hear few paragraphs ago, it was he who drew remember Carl Miller just didn’t know from many from time to time. One who one of the first rough sketches of a BOJC how there could be so much wire in one comes to mind is Duane Schmidt, who project that I am proud to have been in- building. moved to Utah in 2003 and established a volved with, the building of Bentz Hall. Before that project, I didn’t know how Humpty Dumpsters business in the town of My involvement was mostly with the much coffee could be consumed or jokes Coalville. He went on to be elected to serve first round of trying to get it built. For those be told. two terms as mayor of Coalville and has who don’t remember or weren’t able to be Unfortunately, that attempt to get the since pursued other public offices. closely involved, it came about as a few building completed would end up grinding In addition, it is always a pleasure to guys were talking about how nice it would to a halt, and when the project was rekin- be wearing a BOJC jacket or hat and be be to have a place to meet, and, important- dled a few years later, I wasn’t able to do approached by a stranger who remembers ly, a library where we could store books, the kind of physical labor because of knee pictures and other memorabilia. operations I had undergone. having attended Campfire Weekends as a Continued on Page 4 kid. They always say how thankful they I remember sitting down with John BOJC News 2013 Page 3 Casting call The rod-wielding champs of 2012 By Chris Gearhart lowed to pick prizes.Prizes are given out in For young men wishing to compete, Casting contest coordinator the order of how each contestant placed. now is the time to start practicing! So prac- ne of the most anticipated events of Of the 19 young men who compet- tice those over hand casts! our annual Campfire is the Satur- ed, the top five places went to: Spencer Bring your skills to show off in front day Casting Competition. Open to Shenking, fifth; Michael Imbierowicz, of your peers! Oyoung men in our third through sixth year fourth; Devin Angelberger, third; Kalvin I encourage all boys to compete. Re- programs, it is a fantastic way for them to Thrasher, second; and our winner Hayden member, the pressure is great but to the show off their casting prowess. Spalding, first. winners go the prizes! I look forward to To the winners go the prizes! The priz- Honorable mention goes out to Jack seeing each of you in the new year at our es are a plenty to those boys who cast the Kelly, William Wrobel, Andreas Cuellar Campfire. best. This past year we had a showing of 19 and Nick Grunewald. If any of you are looking for tips, young men who competed. When you see these gentlemen around pointers, or some casting instruction please Each did a fantastic job! camp, congratulate them on a job well done.