The virtual weigh-in process which began last year, involves equipping each participant with a measuring board and a Samsung Rugby™, a wireless device donated by Samsung Mobile and certified to military standard MIL-STD-810F to withstand dust, shock, vibration, rain, humidity, solar radiation, altitude and temperature extremes. The tournament participants will take pictures with the Rugby™ of the fish caught and then submit the photos and measurements to a central coordinator via multi-media message over AT&T's 3G mobile broadband network. Ideal for use in outdoor environments, the Rugby comes equipped with Push-to-Talk capabilities, a 1.3 megapixel camera, GPS and AT&T Navigator applications for navigation, all protected by a rugged design that's highly durable and damage resistant.
All participants will receive real-time lists of tournament standings via mobile emails and text messages throughout the course of the competition. A winner will be determined by analysis of the pictures and measurements of their catches for the day.
"Technology has already begun to change the sporting world, so naturally we are thrilled about being able to utilize this technology to aid conservation efforts," said Steve Sitton, Southeast region president for AT&T's Mobility and Consumer Markets unit and member of the Lanier Striper Club. "We are very appreciative of Lake Lanier Islands Resort and all event sponsors for their dedication to help us make this event a success."
This year's Fun Fest was made possible through event sponsors that include: Presenting Sponsors - AT&T, Samsung, Pantech and ZTE; Hosting Sponsor - Huawei; and Supporting Sponsors - Nokia, LG, Motorola, Palm, RIM, Sony Ericsson and HTC.
The Fun Fest weekend kicks off with a Captain's Party on Friday evening and the fishing begins at 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The participation fee is $200 per boat, with a four person maximum for each boat. Children under 10 years old are free. The cash payout for the top 15 anglers ranges from $100 to $900.
In addition to the conservation and awareness efforts as part of the Fun Fest event, the Lanier Striper Club is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to rejuvenate a special fishing pond for children and the elderly. This pond, which is owned by the Corps of Engineers, received 30 rods and reels, tackle and an annual supply of fish food from the Striper Club and will be available for mini-fishing trips during the event. The Lanier Striper Club also provide captains and boats for an annual fishing outing that pair members of the Atlanta Falcons with Purple Heart recipients, as well as another outings for children living with diabetes and their parents.
The Lanier Striper Club is also working with the North Georgia Striper Club on a "wish list" for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources fish biologists. The 2010 Fun Fest directly funds this project.
For more information about participation or sponsorship for the Second Annual Striper Club Fun Fest can be found at http://www.lanierstriperclub.com/funFest.html.
