Competition Heats Up in East Versus West Save the TaTas Fish-Off
OutdoorHub 09.27.11
Minneapolis, Minn. September 27, 2011 – The October 6 Save the TaTas™ fishing competition is quickly approaching. The women of Stillwater and Excelsior are getting their game on, but this fight isn’t just an on-the-water battle. The hosts of their respective “Ladies Night Out” community-wide events are teaming up to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research. Partnered with both Twin Cities fringe suburbs (one on the St. Croix River on the eastern edge of the metro, the other on the shores of Lake Minnetonka, the west-side edge), the Save the TaTas™ professional fishing team of Dean Kaminski and Kevin Kerkvliet will take the co-anglers out for a four-hour fishing sprint. But this isn’t just about the weight of the fish. A formula takes into consideration how much money the community raised.
“They can improve their weight at different thresholds of fundraising,” shared Kevin Kerkvliet, while standing next to his Save the TaTas™ pink-wrapped Ranger Boat. Kaminski boasts a matching wrapped boat. Both were on display on Main Street in Stillwater for their Ladies Night Out event held September 16th. The local gals raised $632 that evening. With an additional $100 contribution from the Ranger Boats Midwest sales organization and team sponsor Liddle Marketing Company, the tally is currently $732. That gives the east-side girls a 1.3 multiplier for the weight of the fish. Like this:
Money Raised Multiplier
Less than $500 1.0
$500-$599 1.1
$600-$699 1.2
$700-$799 1.3
$800-$899 1.4
$900-$999 1.5
$1,000 or more 1.6
“We had a lot of fun that night for a cause that’s close to all of our hearts,” shared Vienette Olson of Tradewinds Spice, located in downtown Stillwater. The Main street merchants host the Ladies Night Out special events throughout the year. “And we aren’t done yet.”
The Excelsior girls are working on their fundraising, too, with $650 raised so far plus $100 from Liddle Marketing Company for a total of $750. Their Girls Night Out comes after the event weigh-in—so they have to do their work on the phone or calling in the donations within the community ahead of time. “We’ve received a ton of support from businesses – especially mom.com,” shared Natalie Hagemo, part of the Girls Night Out in Excelsior. “We’ve got some great gals going fishing for us. Should be a fun time on Lake Minnetonka.” The weigh-in will be at 4:00 at Maynard’s in Excelsior. Team Excelsior is composed of professional soccer player and Executive Director of The Sanneh Foundation, Tony Sanneh, entertainment reporter, radio personality and writer, Melinda Jacobs and Shop NBC host, image and media consultant, Wendi Russ.
“We’ll still have to get the fish in the boat,” shared Dean Kaminski. The two teams launch at 11:30 a.m. that day. “I may not be a math whiz, but I know that 1.6 of nothing is still nothing. So we’ve got to get the teams on fish.” Team Stillwater will send out Deanna Getschel, a resident of Stillwater and owner of Jazz Hair Salon. Deanna is a breast cancer survivor. Also in the boat will be Darcy and Jeff Markus. Darcy owns Maison Galleria and is the co-chair with Olson on the Ladies Night Out Committee.
The Save the TaTas™ Fishing Team sponsors include: Save the TaTas™, Voyagaire Lodge and Houseboats, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Liddle Marketing Company, Walleye Central, Frankie’s Live Bait and Marine, Twin City Lawmen, Straightline Construction, Vados Bait and JRs Tackle.
