The North Carolina VIP Fishing T

VIP participants arrive on the Outer Banks on a Monday, are housed in local motels, have six meals, go fishing on two head boats and four ocean fishing piers for a day of recreation; they participate in seminars and independent living training, and visit with vendors. The closing awards banquet on Wednesday night offers motivation and awards. More than 250 Lions and volunteers follow the same schedule as they assist the VIPs throughout the three-day annual event. The project has grown from a local tournament serving 12 blind children to the 525 participants of today.

two solo albums under his own label and three albums for an independent label. He has appeared in major club and concert venues across the country and his songs have been featured on a number of television shows and series. His music has also been recorded by such artists as Patti Labelle and he is also the author of the critically acclaimed memoir "A Search for the Perfect Dog".

World's Greatest Fishing Band

The World's Greatest Fishing Band has entertained the VIPs attending the North Carolina Lions VIP Fishing Tournament since 2004. Born in East Patchogue, Long Island, WGFB founder Gary Shiebler spent his summers fishing and sailing with his family on the Great South Bay. They often fished with cane poles and bobbers for snappers and blowfish from an old beached barge on the south shore. The son of a disk jockey, Shiebler's childhood was filled with music, primarily the sounds of the Big Bands of the 30's and 40's, and it was not uncommon for him to come home from school and find Count Basie or Benny Goodman sitting on the living room couch. His musical credits include

Photographs By

Ken Bucher, Penny Rummel & Michael H. Schwartz