My apologies for the delay in posting these to our website. Our next Board meeting is scheduled for 16th September in Bridgewater, VT.
Trout Unlimited
White River Watershed Chapter #226
Woodstock, VT
06/18/09
Board of Directors Meeting
Attending: President Chris Moore, V. Pres. Greg Russ, Treasurer Scott Knapp, Secretary Ed Finley, P/Pres. Ron Rhodes, P/Pres. David Eastman, Directors Don Hoyt, Howard Trachtenberg, Marty Banak, Seth Dunn, Curt Peterson
Guests: Ken Grecsek and Dan McKinley
Absent: Rhona Dallison (Out of town on business)
Meeting opened by Pres. Moore @ 7:15PM
President Moore opened the meeting by offering congratulations to Seth Dunn for catching and releasing the best fish of the day, a 14” Rainbow.
The President then handed out Membership Charts showing the member status of the Chapters throughout the State. We are clearly the largest Chapter in VT with 406 members. This is a slight increase over last year. Two areas where we are lacking members are Student Membership and Female Members.
A graph was also passed out showing the number of members and where they fell in the years of continuous membership.
President Moore will be working with Membership Officer Dallison to address the issue of Female and Student membership.
Chris reported that we currently have $9,055.66 in our checking account. This is not an interest earning account and ways will be explored to have this money earn interest.
Director Curt Peterson was given the floor and he explained the details of the Chapter’s Canoe Raffle. This is a chance to win a 14’ Aluminum Sport Canoe that was donated to the Chapter by member Loye Miller. Tickets will be sold throughout the Summer and the drawing will be held at our September Meeting.
The State Council met in Arlington, VT on Sunday June 7th and Chris Moore, State Council President and Seth Dunn, State Council V. President represented our Chapter. The State Council meeting was attended by all but two Chapters. There were also four National Council representatives and two members of Casting for Recovery in attendance.
Re-chartering of the local Chapters was the main topic of this meeting and it was learned that our Chapter was in good standing to easily complete the re-chartering process. Our activities over the past year had us meeting or exceeding all of the required elements. The Council voted to de-charter the North-East Kingdom Chapter, some of whose members may accrue to our Chapter by choice or direction.
The Council touched on Strategic Planning in an abbreviated session. All of the Chapters expressed very similar issues. Several topics were highlighted for future discussion and action.
At this point President Moore advised that Secretary Finley and Treasurer Knapp would not be seeking re-election to those positions. Scott Knapp would like to remain a member of the Board and Ed Finley was stepping down from the Board.
President Moore and Past President Rhodes then presented Finley with a beautiful engraved wooden fly box made by the Vermont Fly Box Company noting his service to the Chapter. The box was loaded with flies tied by members of the Board. A certificate of appreciation, signed by all of the Board Members was also presented. Finley expressed his deep appreciation for these gifts and for the friendship he has enjoyed with our Board, noting that he intends to remain an active general member.
President Moore then asked for nominations for the Executive offices.
David Eastman nominated Chris Moore for the office of President.
Ron Rhodes nominated Gregg Russ for the office of Vice President.
Ed Finley nominated Ken Grecsek for the office of Secretary.
Howard Trachtenberg nominated Seth Dunn for the office of Treasurer.
Chris Moore nominated Rhona Dallison for the office of Membership Officer.
No other nominations were made and therefore all were elected by acclamation.
As the new Secretary, Ken Grecsek will assume Finley’s position on the Board.
Prior to appointing Committee Chairmen Chris brought up the topic of scattered proposals being aired and how they should receive prior screening by the appropriate committee before being brought to the floor. Ron Rhodes explained that the White River Partnership had experienced similar problems and now has an oversight committee who had the final say in what is or is not a “pet” project.
Ron then announced that the Conservation Committee will meet before September to establish criteria to be ready for the September Regular meeting.
Pres. Moore then re-appointed Ron Rhodes Chairman of the Conservation Committee. He also appointed Curt Peterson Chairman of the Activities Committee and he established a new Budget Committee to be chaired by V.P. Russ with Treasurer Dunn and established a Membership Development Committee to be chaired by Rhona Dallison.
The topic of needed expenditures that crop up between Board Meetings was discussed and it was established that those expenditures would be reviewed by the Executive Officers for payment authorization and, if significant, brought to the Board for approval.
The recent tree planting on the Billings Farm land along the Ottauquechee River was discussed and a motion was made by Curt Peterson and seconded by David Eastman to donate $250.00 to the Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District (ONRCD) to help defray the cost of the trees. The motion carried.
(At this point Ed Finley turned the recording duties over to Secretary Grecsek)
Chris Moore then asked each of the Directors to provide possible ideas of where we can focus our efforts for the coming year:
- Increased membership
- Fish passage project on the White River and Chateauguy
- Casting for Recovery
- Increased focus in NH
- Activities that would entice greater attendance from the general membership and the public
- Fund raising efforts
- Better membership communication
- Increase meeting attendance
- Outreach to members who do not reside in the ‘core area’ of the chapter – especially women and children
- Work in the Chataguay area as it is undeveloped, a wild fishery, and a tributary of the White River
- Greater “Basin 10” meeting attendance from our chapter
- Have a presence in the pending Lull’s Brook project in Hartford
Ron Rhodes made a motion to invite Ed Finley to the September Board meeting. Motion seconded by Dave Eastman. Motion passed.
A suggestion was made for consideration that we may want to have designated attendees to regular meetings, such as the Basin 10 meeting, so that we can 1) keep tabs on what is happening with those groups and 2) be sure that the ‘fish’ opinion is voiced.
The next planning meeting for the Lull’s Brook Project (Hartland Conservation Meeting) will take place on 7 July convening at the library parking lot for a site/project walk along the stream and litter pick-up.
A round of applause was provided for the wait/kitchen staff for the wonderful job they did.
Motion made by Scott Knapp to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Chris Moore. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 9:20 pm.
