Bass Cat and the experience we share

[font=&AMP]Just Thoughts: [/font][font=&AMP]As we travel the thousands of miles on the boat show trail we come across many very nice Bass Cat owners. Thats the one thing that stands out when we hit these dealer shows. Each of you has a real inside almost heartfelt attraction to the camaraderie we all share. We have forged friendships through this Owners Board, watched tragedies unfold, seen gladness in successes and sorrow in loss. It is this bond that keeps Bass Cat from being the flavor of the month. A bond exists where we all must respect the strings that tie this group. [/font][font=&AMP]Its all the same whether we are in [/font][font=&AMP]North Carolina[/font][font=&AMP], or [/font][font=&AMP]Texas[/font][font=&AMP] and [/font][font=&AMP]Alabama[/font][font=&AMP] or [/font][font=&AMP]Virginia[/font][font=&AMP]. Its so nice to know that in need in [/font][font=&AMP]Mississippi[/font][font=&AMP], one of the “Family” would come to the aid of another owner in those situations. The open houses at a Greene Boats and Motors or a Sherms Marine become an annual get together and social atmosphere. Every boat show and every open house become meet and greets. [/font][font=&AMP]Here on the Owner’s Board we all share many aspects of our lives. Think about this one, each day around 4,000 individuals visit these pages just to see what each of you has to say. Your not talking to one person directly, your printing text read by thousands. You are a voice of this “Family”.[/font][font=&AMP] When my parents started this company I was a teenager, it was in the growth of the industry when bass boats and bass tournaments were new. Fishing was hot here in [/font][font=&AMP]North Arkansas[/font][font=&AMP]! The Winter Bass-O-Thon Series events on Norfork and Bull Shoals today remain the oldest organized tournament series in the [/font][font=&AMP]USA[/font][font=&AMP]. Yes, older than BASS. It’s that heritage I was a youngster in and sought to be a part of. [/font][font=&AMP] The industry had not developed then and who knew where it would go. My, it has changed in time. Up and down it has gone and we are sitting in a cycle yet to be defined. Each of you has been a part of that. [/font][font=&AMP]We started the Owner’s Appreciation events about 30 years ago, they were small and grew. In 1985 we stepped that up and hosted 247 boats in Mountain Home, over twice our expectation. The Family Reunion started there and continues in [/font][font=&AMP]Texas[/font][font=&AMP] this year. Dad sat visiting at that first registration table in awe as more and more registered above our estimated 110 to 125 boats, and 2013 will be no different. We still are in awe of those who come annually. [/font][font=&AMP][/font][font=&AMP]You see, Bass Cat has never set out as a company to try and appeal as more than we are. Its not about the latest and greatest pro staff member we added or the flexing the muscle of who we really are not. After many years of learning we know more now that it’s about us. Its about doing things the best way we know how and keeping that “family” involved through it all. It’s about a gathering playing “Fantasy Fishing” for a few nice trinkets. [/font][font=&AMP]Everything we do at Bass Cat is done to be here for the long haul as best we can. It’s has never been about being bigger than brand A or better known than brand B. It’s about customers, used boat owners, building and servicing a quality product, and all while treasuring these friendships made here. [/font][font=&AMP]If it were about gross profit we would have done the pump and dump scenarios that many other highlighted companies in this industry experienced. To us it is about much more than this and every day with one of you make us further understand this. We know who we are and we have no intent to change that perspective.[/font][font=&AMP] [/font] [font=&AMP]Which is why Quest is accessible to all Bass Cat Owners, and not a bonus program designed to demand a new boat. We know that your payment books are not for two (2) years and the average owner in a Bass Cat tends to keep them between 7 and 12 years. [/font][font=&AMP] [/font][font=&AMP]This is why Collegiate Quest is not glorifying those youth to expect the unattainable. We do not want parents to expend family funds in hopes a new boat will assist ‘Johnny’ into becoming the next KVD or Ike. It’s about learning to be what you are in this segment of life. [/font] [font=&AMP]Sure we have the Adrian Avena and Zach Birge crowds, and everyone here knows BR 200. Though we also have thousands of youngsters who should be able to use their Uncle’s boat so that they can “go Pro, in something other than sports”, to borrow an NCAA quote. It’s about preparing them for life’s journey and getting that education. [/font][font=&AMP]Everything we do at Bass Cat is about offering each of you what we feel you need. It is not done to appear as a crystal chandelier in a down home environment. We learned long ago that those who burn brightest have always burned out in this business and our business model has proven to sustain through it all. Only through each of you can we sustain this business model and we know that. [/font][font=&AMP]When we started this Owner’s Board, with Kevin Mc’s insistence as we held him off till we could arrange being an integral part of the board and it’s presence. We were not going to allow this to just be another monitored forum that we had no contact, communication or input on. We wanted something different in our own style. And today we are trying to bring Yar-Craft into that same model. [/font][font=&AMP]It’s a unique and fragile environment in many ways. In time and only in time will any of us know what all of this develops into. Though we all have a part in that development and the path it takes.[/font][font=&AMP] [/font] [font=&AMP]We just had the feeling that everyone on this board needed a little reminder of what this is all about. A little shot in the arm that says, that this is bigger than any one of us. That we are all a part of this and the course it takes. To tell everyone what it means would require a list of friends here that would lengthen these pages by many. [/font][font=&AMP]You see we are never going to be the ‘flavor of the month’ brand. It’s not who we are and not who we want to be. We accept who we are and what we are, and we just try to keep doing what we do. It’s about giving all of our children the option of being a part of this some day. Yours and ours! [/font][font=&AMP]We hope everyone here makes a valiant effort to grow the event and to attend the 26th Owner’s Invitational at Sam Rayburn, [/font][font=&AMP]Texas[/font][font=&AMP] and we look forward to seeing many of you in the hectic 2013 season.[/font][font=&AMP] [/font] [font=&AMP]Two weeks from the Bassmasters Classic we are sighted in on [/font][font=&AMP]Tulsa[/font][font=&AMP] and we will see many of you there. [/font][font=&AMP]My how that road time clears our heads on where things are.[/font][font=&AMP] [/font] [font=&AMP]Sincerely,[/font][font=&AMP][/font][font=&AMP]Rick Pierce[/font]Last edited by Rick Pierce on February 13th, 2013, 4:09 am, edited 2 times in total.