Reminder that the next meeting is June 4th. Ted Chivers of Southern Cross Expeditions will present information and slides about fishing in the Patagonia area of South America–in some ways like the American West 200 years ago.
Trout Unlimited – White Watershed Chapter #226
Monthly Chapter Meeting
Quechee (Ski) Base Lodge, Quechee, VT
May 7th, 2009
Attendance: 20 (18 members)
Meeting opened by President Chris Moore @ 7:20 PM
With the able assistance of Past President Ron Rhodes and Membership Officer Rhona Dallison, $50.00 in raffle tickets were purchased by attendees.
President Moore began the evening by bringing everyone up to date on the monetary and social success of our recent Banquet. The Coolidge Hotel has been fully paid, $200 in matching funds was sent to Casting For Recovery based on the winning bid for the Women Only Fishing Trip raffle, $120 was passed on to Joe Norton for the purchase of a second Data Recorder (see April Meeting minutes), and we have slightly over $10,000.00 in the bank. The Printer has yet to submit their bill but that is not expected to be very substantial. Chris, once again, thanked everyone who donated their time and efforts to make this event so successful.
June 13th the State Council will be meeting in Manchester, VT, and there will be some National representatives there to discuss re-chartering of all VT Chapters and to address concerns of TU in VT. Chris and Seth Dunn will be attending. All members are invited, so if you are interested in going please contact Chris or Seth.
The Chang Memorial Fishing Fest will be held on May 30th in conjunction with VINS at the Callens private stocked pond in West Hartford. TU members will be demonstrating Fly Tying and Casting to elementary age children and we need a few more volunteers to assist our expert tiers and casters. Mostly helping them rig a rod and keeping them at safe distances so no one gets hooked. The event is from 9 AM until 2 PM. If you can spare a few hours this is a great event. VINS will be bringing a demonstration bird or two and they might even have a mended raptor ready for release back into the wild. Please contact Ed Finley at finleyed@comcast.net or (802) 295-7231 if you can give us a hand.
Past President Ron Rhodes and crew will be conducting tying and casting instructions for the Phys/Ed classes from So. Royalton Elementary on May 11, 13 and 15 and then again on May 27th for the Sharon Elementary School. These events will take place at Paynes Beach on the White River in South Royalton. If you can lend a hand contact Ron at Hanover Outdoors or at rhodes@sover.net.
At a May date to be announced (watch your e-mail) there will be a tree planting on the Broad Brook around the disturbed areas from the culvert restoration project. The culvert work is already showing great signs of success and this tree planting can only help. So look for an update and come out to lend a hand.
Marty Banak reported that he and Don Hoyt have held meetings with the Rockefeller Foundation regarding stream bed improvement on the Ottaquechee just south of Woodstock just beyond the confluence with the Gulf Stream. Willow stakes and trees need to be planted to impede the erosion. The Willows will have to wait until next spring, but if the plans can be finalized with the Foundation, some tree planting may take place this Summer.
Member Loye Miller advised that the Macawee Fishing Club in Bridgewater will be conducting an open house at the club grounds from 1 ‘til 5 PM on Sunday, May 17th. All TU members are invited to attend and, weather permitting, do a little fishing in their private waters.
Pres Moore advised that he has been researching the Project Healing Waters. They work with disabled veterans in various fishing related activities. Chris asked that if anyone was interested in garnering more information about our possible involvement with Project Healing Waters to please contact him at whiterivertu@yahoo.com.
Past Pres David Eastman explained that he has organized a “River Studies Class” for Home Schooled students and has approximately 30 children signed up to attend. The classes will be conducted on May 19th and 26th in Hartland. Anyone available to lend a hand is requested to contact Dave at huski@comcast.net.
Dave also advised the State Biologist Ken Cox will be making a presentation on the aquatic life in Lulls Brook, a feeder stream to the Conn. River, to the Hartland Conservation Commission on May 13th, 7:00 PM at Damon Hall in Hartland. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend.
President Moore then asked that everyone give consideration of possible candidate waters that should be considered for an Embrace-A-Stream project. Please forward your suggestions to Chris.
Chris then introduced our Guest Presenter for the evening, Thomas Ames. Tom is a professional photographer extraordinaire and he has previously published two excellent books, Hatch Guide for New England Streams and Fishbugs. These Fly Fishing staples are now joined by his newest release Caddisflies: A Guide to Eastern Species for Anglers and Other Naturalist. He entertained and educated us with an excellent power-point slide presentation with stories from his newest book. This book is already so highly regarded that Curators from the Smithsonian Institute are using it as a course book for a class on the study of Caddisflies. The magnificent photography really enhanced both his presentation and his books. Following his wonderful presentation Tom stuck around and graciously autographed his books for those lucky enough to get a copy before they sold out. But if you would like to get your own copy it is available at Hanover Outdoors.
Meeting adjourned @ 9:05 PM
June meeting: June 4th, 7:00pm, Quechee Ski Base Lodge. Ted Chivers of Southern Cross Expeditions to present on fishing in Patagonia.
Respectfully submitted by Secretary Finley
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