To our anglers, sponsors, and community, 

The Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce started the Savannah River Spring Classic Bass Tournament in 2007 to enhance the Stand Up for America Day festival which falls on the last Saturday in April every year. Our organization wanted to add to the event activities, draw in more people and awareness to the festival, and most importantly, raise funds for our beloved veterans in our community. Through the years we have gotten to know many of you very closely and you have become our friends and part of the chamber family. Your participation in the tournament and the generous support of our sponsors have been vital to growing this event to attract more than 100 anglers, and their families, who visit Port Wentworth every April to compete and support our military. Your participation has importantly supported our efforts to raise awareness for our wounded veterans and raise funds that go directly to these brave men and women who sacrificed so much for our country and served with pride. We are proud to take care of the people who took care of us.

The chamber was notified this week that the City of Port Wentworth is not renewing the tourism contract with the Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce. The city will no longer support the Savannah River Spring Classic Fishing tournament, an event that has given back to our wounded veterans since the tournament began in 2007. Chamber leadership is very disappointed that Mayor Norton and council, of the Stand Up for America City, are choosing to eliminate their support of this tournament which directly helps our veterans here in Chatham County. 

Chamber leadership plans to move forward with a new tournament format in 2021. Over the coming weeks, chamber staff will be reaching out to our anglers and local clubs to discuss options and work together to schedule a tournament date in 2021 that does not conflict with any other bass tournaments or events.

To our sponsors, our anglers, and our angler’s families – we want you to know that the chamber is still here. We are moving forward for the betterment of our community and we will continue to serve our community in any way that we can. While it is unfortunate that current city leadership does not support these efforts, there are many in this community that do.  

We look forward to an exciting year. We miss all of you and we cannot wait to come back bigger and better in 2021! Thank you for all you do for veterans.

Sincerely,

Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce