Here is your outdoor reminder. Monday, Feb. 14, is Valentine’s Day — one day before my Mom’s birthday. I’m told she has been reading my columns online, so we will see if she is paying attention by wishing her both Happy Valentine’s and Happy Birthday through my column.

Let me give her a little credit, too. My mom, Shirley Snyder of New Bedford, Pa., was pretty much on her own raising me and my younger brother, Greg. She didn’t have a lot of time for the outdoors, so her father, my Grandpa, passed his love on to me.

My mom sewed, did the census and has been the Pulaski Township tax collector going on 40 years; voters elected her and re-elected her 10 times. We got to stay in the house we had always lived in, but I’m not sure how.

We raised vegetables that were canned for winter. We caught fish and ate a lot of beans. I remember going to camp fishing, and she went to sew, to work. While my brother and I fished, she continued to work, but she was there and we were there, so she made it happen. Thanks, Mom, and Happy Birthday! I’ll bet she thought she would never see the day!

Three Rivers Bass Club

I have been talking to Doug Williams this week. He is one of the two founding members of Three Rivers Bass Club in Franklin. Doug and his good friend started the club seven years ago. In addition to organizing competitive fishing events, the club promotes parent-child team building.

Doug is looking to grow the membership and add sponsors. Becoming a member is easy, and yearly dues are very reasonable. More information can be found on the club’s website, www.threeriversclub.com, or by calling Doug at 757-651-8430.

If you want to join, I would recommend doing so prior to March 20, the first day of fishing in the tournament series for 2011.

The Tidewater News will continue to follow this club throughout the 2011 bass fishing season and report on tournament results. We are looking forward to an exciting year.

If there are any other clubs wanting coverage, let me know. The Tidewater News is well aware of the importance of outdoor recreation and will make every effort to cover activities.

Until next week, please be safe, treat your Valentine to a great day on Monday and make sure those loved ones come home with all their fingers and toes. See you on the river soon.

BOB RUDZIK is a Newsoms resident. He can be reached at outdoors@tidewaternews.com.