BASS Weekend Series press release - no Michigan division listed

[djkimmel]

I got this by email today from BASS/ESPN youth director Stacey Twiggs for Gary Jones (not sure why Gary didn't send it out himself?) - no Michigan division listed in this release. DJK

From:   Stacy.S.Twiggs@bassmaster.com
To:   djkimmel@greatlakesbass.com
Subject:   FW: Email
Date:   Tue, 28 Nov 2006 5:09 PM
Attachments:  bws_2007_announcement_rev1_(2)_(3).doc (46K)

SENT ON BEHALF OF GARY JONES:
I want to update you on additional information regarding the Weekend Series. As I mentioned last week the ABA is committed to providing weekend anglers unmatched opportunities under the BASS brand. In addition, Federation Nation members will receive a free first year ABA membership for members that 1) Own a Triton boat, or 2) sign up to fish all 5 tournaments within a division.

Attached you will find a press release that will go out later today, we just wanted to get it to you as quickly as possible. More specifics will be released soon regarding the dates and locations for next year. 

Happy Holidays!

PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, Nov. 28

BASSMASTER WEEKEND SERIES OPERATED BY AMERICAN BASS ANGLERS ANNOUNCES 2007 FORMAT
Registration for Select Anglers Begins Wednesday, Nov. 29

Athens, AL. ?During the 2007 season, anglers in the Bassmaster Weekend Series will compete for more than $6 million in cash and contingencies, plus the winner of the championship will have a berth in the most prestigious event in the sport of bass fishing: The 2008 Bassmaster Classic. 

The Bassmaster Weekend Series is not only affordable but also offers close?to-home tournaments for the true weekend angler.  In 2007, there will be 25 divisions with five tournaments each. There are four one-day tournaments plus one two-day divisional championship.  Entry fees for 2007 will be lowered to $200/$100 for boaters/non-boaters for one-day events and $300/$150 for the divisional championship.  The Bassmaster Weekend Series offers a potential $45,000 payout at divisional one-day events and a potential $67,500 payout at the divisional championship as well as a bonus program for divisional point champions.  The divisional-qualifying events will offer boaters as much as $6,000 first place in cash plus additional incentives with co-Anglers receiving as much as $3,000 for first place in cash. Any offered incentives will be in addition to and not part of the tournament winnings.

The 2007 Bassmaster Weekend Series is designed to reduce the cost and travel for the weekend angler vying to make the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship.  In keeping with this concept, there are three major and exciting changes. 
?   The shared weight rule will no longer be used. 
?   Anglers will now qualify from their home division for a slot in the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship 
?    The point structure will change to ensure a level playing field for all anglers.

In 2007 the series will offer the top eight boaters and top eight non-boaters (by points) from each division a berth directly into the National Championship. As a loyalty reward for anglers competing in all five divisional events, but for those who did not make the top eight, there will be a wildcard drawing after each Divisional Championship.  This drawing will offer one boater and one non-boater per division the opportunity to advance to the Weekend Series Championship.

Every angler who participates in the Bassmaster Weekend Series will have their own personal statistical Web page on American Bass Anglers Web site, access to American Bass Anglers? members-only buyer?s club, tournament coverage on BASS and the American Bass Anglers Web sites, coverage in Bass Times and American Bass Anglers magazines plus special signup allowances for Federation Nation members.  Federation Nation members who own a Triton Boat and register for events will receive a free one-year membership in ABA.  Other Federation Nation members who sign up for all five events in a division will also receive a free one-year membership in ABA.

The winning angler from the Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship will automatically advance to the greatest bass fishing event in the sport today, the Bassmaster Classic, and take home $100,000. The winning non-boater will pocket $50,000. 

The following are registration dates for the 2007 Bassmaster Weekend Series. 

Guaranteed Early Registration:
(Registration begins 8 a.m. CT Nov. 29, 2006)

Eligibility:
?   2006 Weekend Series National Qualifier
?   2006 Weekend Series Regional Qualifiers
?   2006 American Bass Anglers Championship finishers:  1-50th places
?   Divisional Points Leaders who received paid entries for 2007 (Call-in only)

Priority Registration
(Registration for all five divisional events)
(Registration begins 8 a.m. CT December 4, 2006)

Eligibility:
?   Federation Nation members, BASS Insider members, BASS Life members and current American Bass Anglers members
?   Triton & Mercury boat owners
?   2006 Weekend Series Regional finishers:  9-15th places (42 boaters/42 non-boaters)

Package Registration
(Signing up for all five divisional events)

Call-in entries for the divisions begin on the dates listed through Dec. 15, 2006

Online Entries for any division package registration begins Dec. 5 through Dec. 15, 2006 (this is online only for package registration)

Tuesday Dec. 5, 2006 ? Dec. 15, 2006
Florida South, Florida Central, GA East/SC West, Georgia Central, South Carolina

Wednesday Dec. 6, 2006 ? Dec. 15, 2006
Alabama North, Alabama South, Tennessee Central, Tennessee East, North Carolina

Thursday Dec. 7, 2006 ? Dec. 15, 2006
Texas Southeast, Texas Central, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma

Friday Dec. 8, 2006 ? Dec. 15, 2006
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky Western, Kansas, Missouri

Monday Dec. 11, 2006 ? Dec. 15, 2006
Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, New York Central, New York East

Open Registration:
Monday Dec. 18, 2006 through the cutoff date of each individual tournament

Guaranteed Boater/Non-Boater
To be guaranteed use of boat, boater must be linked to a non-boater prior to tournament registration cutoff date.

Registrations taken at www.americanbassanglers.com
or by calling (888)203-6222