Save Our Native Species Inc.
S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie Fishing Club
(A 501 C (3) not for profit organization)

S.O.N.S. VOLUNTEERS' PICNIC

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PICNIC AUGUST 4, 2025  

Our SONS Volunteer Appreciation picnic was held on Monday August 4^th, 2025 at Shade’s Beach. This picnic is our way of thanking the over 100 volunteers for volunteering over a total of  1000 times at 50 separate activities that we have organized and sponsored since July of 2024.  If you consider that each volunteer donates about four hours’ time at each event, that’s 4000 hours total which according to standards is worth $25.00/hr. calculates equivalent to $100,000 worth of volunteer effort. All of these efforts by all of our volunteers who make our club a success that it is.

The weather was ideal. Only 110 of our invited guests attended and each was given a new SONS of Lake Erie long sleeve T-shirt.

. There was our usual door prize raffle with over 30 door prizes for the winners. Thanks to all of our SONS directors and officers that spent hours planning, preparing and executing a great event.

THANK YOU TEAM LUBAK

Team Lubak under the direction of SONS director Kevin Lubak followed the tradition started by his father,  Ron Lubak,  who acted as the caterers again this year, their planning and efforts again made for plenty of good food which was supplied by the Odis 12 restaurant. It was outstanding. For dessert we had cake and cupcakes.

Sadly, Leslie Lubak, Kevin’s wife passed away this year. She will is highly missed.

OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS RECOGNIZED

Every year there is a core group of SONS volunteers that consistently continue to help out and keep things going. This year there were about 100 active volunteers.  As there is in every group, there are a few individuals that go above and beyond the rest. This year we would like to recognize Jim Christensen who volunteered at 52 SONS activities, also chosen to get top gun recognition was given to our treasurer John Krupinski who not only helps keep track of our funds, but is a volunteer on the hatchery committee and a frequent event volunteer. Don Tombaugh our former secretary was recognized for his ten years of service as club secretary. He too is a member of our hatchery committee and also a frequent volunteer. 

We would like to also recognize Jack Bock and Joe Springer, who each spent nearly hundreds of ,hours each in their capacity as part of our hatchery crew. Jack is our hatchery manager and Joe is the jack of all trades that keeps the hatchery running in addition to their time they spend working at our many activities. Also we would like to recognize  Larry Lipinski who has spent countless hours refurbishing hundreds of donated fishing rods and reels which were distributed free of charge to different agencies as well as always being at our other activities. 

From July 7, 2024 to July 6, 2025 one hundred and thirty three individuals answered the call to help out at our events. Of that number forty nine were frequent volunteers and they too were presented with a special appreciation gift.  

We would like to thank Jack Klapthor and Tom Nichols for all their work organizing the volunteer recognition awards.

Top Gun John Krupinski

Top Gun Jim Christensen