Wisconsin Trappers Association Board of Directors Meeting Jan. 17, 2015 Stage Stop Restaurant, Mosinee, Wi.

Transcription

1 Wisconsin Trappers Association Board of Directors Meeting Jan. 17, 2015 Stage Stop Restaurant, Mosinee, Wi. The meeting was called to order by Pres. Scott Z. at 9:0AM. The pledge to the flag was recited by all present. Those present were Pres. Scott Z, V. Pres. Jr. P., Sec. Rich K., NTA Rep., Scott M., Jared K., Dave C., Jim G., Maynard B., Russ W., John B., and Arnold G. Those with proxies were Judy F. for Stan H., Dan C. for Patrice R., and Larry M., for Brian H. Absent was Dave L. Also in attendance were Lee Sillars, Brooklyn Bennett (FTW Pres.), Bryce Larson (Trapper ed. Cord.), and Mike Widner (Corr. Trapper Ed.) Sec. Rich K. asked that the minutes from the Oct. 11, 2014 minutes be approved as previously printed in the Wisconsin Trappers magazine. Motion made by Jim G. to accept minutes as previously printed. A second to the motion was made by Jared K. Motion carried. Pres. Scott Z. gave the financial status of the WTA. Steve V. asked that all purchases that are bought by individual districts of the WTA be noted with Steve so they are inventoried and covered by the WTA insurance. There were a few questions but nothing to change any financial numbers. Motion to accept the financial report as given was made by Maynard B. A second to the motion was made by Jim G. Motion carried. Pres. Scott Z gave the Presidents report. The WTA needs an official treasurer and a new FTW coordinator. A BIG THANK YOU to Mark and Tammy Loka for their past dedication to the FTW coordinator position. V. Pres. Report: V. P. Jr. P. stated the WTA districts have to keep better track of what they buy and own and all this should be reported to Steve V. so we can be more accountable to the DNR, to the WTA, and to our districts. Districts can write checks to the WTA, a district treas. must write what particular function they are donating money to and must identify that on the information line, because all districts and the WTA share the same bank Steve then does a money transfer from the district account to the account that the district is contributing to, in this way it doesn t show that the money was income to the WTA. Some items that need to be kept track of by district treasurers and reported to Steve (state treasurer when the WTA has one) to be covered by the WTA insurance. District inventories 1) Large assets (need serial # for computers, video equip. etc) 2) Small items (cords, videos, etc) 3) Merchandise (clothing patches, etc.) 4) Educational items (traps, furs, and other aides for trapper ed. classes) Odd WTA districts have director elections this year. All district Treas. need to keep in touch with Steve V. to keep our financial books in order. Deb Koltis is the new FTW treas. Welcome aboard Deb.

2 Scott M. gave the NTA report. The annual rondy for the NTA will be held in Niagara Falls on July 30th, 31st and Aug. 1st and 2 nd. The NTA is and has been involved many battles through out the U.S. We won a big battle in Maine this past fall. Bryce L. gave an update on the trapper education program. There were 73 classes given in 2014 in 66 counties, with 1475 students being certified. He is in the process of updating the instructor roster trying to figure out who is active, inactive, or no longer able to teach a class. There are 182 trapper ed. instructors that are certified that Bryce knows of because they replied to a survey that was sent to them. There is a need to hold refresher/recertifying classes throughout the state in the near future and also to help certify assistant instructors. The first news letter pertaining to the Trapper Ed. program will be available in late Jan. There is no free membership to trapper ed. graduates. Since there has been no free membership given away for graduates we have actually increased the amount of graduates that are signing up as members of the WTA which means more clout for the WTA and more money. Rich K asked if there is an official list for each county, district and for the state naming all instructors. This info would be useful to me because being the WTA sec. I get a few calls on who they can contact in their area to be able to take a trapper ed. class. Scott M. commented that the number one question he gets asked at the WTA booth is when and where can I take a trapper ed. class. Mike W. gave an update on the correspondence course. In 2014 there were 561 graduates and so far there have been 22 in the month of Jan Average course time it takes people to do the correspondence course is 4 weeks, some have done it as little time as one week. The subject of online courses was discussed at some length. The following is some of the comments and some of the discussion. Could the field test be done at each districts rondy for on line course finals. Would there have to be different certification for on line course instructors like there is for the fire arm classes. How would you be able to test out in person or by computer. Some people in the DNR are pushing hard for online trapper ed. courses. Rich K. commented that we need to be proactive on the requirements and for requiring a physical final test for online students. A motion was made by Rich K. that the WTA BOD take the position that we recommend that all online trapper ed. students must participate in a field test and pass it to be a certified trapper ed. graduate. Jared K. made the second to the motion. Scott M. stated that if it comes down to a money need for the cost of the field test the DNR can find the money someplace. Jr. P. asked to make a friendly amendment to the original motion that would also add the correspondence course. A second to the motion was made by Larry M. Rich K. and Jared K. accepted the friendly amendment. Motion carried with the friendly amendment.

3 Wolf trapper ed. classes; (John Irwin) Pres. Scott Z. stated that there were 5 classes given through out the state with 190 people attending. All classes were well attended and very informative for those attending. Iron River 28 Grantsburg 28 Madison 40 Miladore 49 Rhinelander 45 FTW report; Brooklyn Bennett Brooklyn would like to have a pizza party for the youth attending the spring banquette, she wondered if the WTA would help support the event. She is hoping to get youth representing all districts of the WTA and really would like to in the long term increase the membership in the FTW. She is in the process of formatting and setting rules for holding a photo contest which would have the judging done at the fall rondy. In the future she would like to hold 4 youth camps in the state one in each corner of the state. Bryce L. told us about the LTT events which could take the place of a one day camp. The winner of Brooks photo contest possibly could grace the cover of the WTA official magazine. Russ W. wondered if it would be easier to hold weekend camps with parents involved, it also could mean less logistics. Jim G. asked what age the youth needed to be to be a member of the FTW. (8-17 years old). Rich K. wondered why the FTW needed money when the balance sheet showed they have plenty of money, we also need to decide who can authorize to donate money for the pizza party. Dan C. stated that the amount on the financial paper is not correct. M. Clark has resigned the position of treasure of the FTW so at this point we don t really know exactly what is in the account. Pres. Scott Z. will try to straightened this out and if need be will make sure the money is available for the pizza party. We do have a booklet describing the job description of the FTW coordinator and the P&F committee will review them to see if there needs to be any additions or corrections P&F comm. report; Arnie G. started out explaining portions of the whistle blower policy but at this time because some wording was changed no action was taken. We will review it at the March meeting. Documents policy was next item discussed. The WTA needs a safe and central place to safely store all documents. Arnie G. made a motion to purchase a fire safe cabinet to be at this time stored by the Pres., when the WTA has a state treas. it will be housed at that facility, this will centralize all documents. Scott M. seconded the motion. Motion carried. Scott M. does have a big fire safe that he will donate but would need help getting it out of his basement if the WTA wants it. Maynard said his son and him will digitalize all documents so the space needed may be reduced and can be accessed with out going through a lot of work. A by-law change to allow the immediate past Pres. to be a part of the WTA BOD is getting closer to a finished product. This by-law change will first need to be approved by the BOD, then by the membership. There was some research in the availability of having director insurance. Pam Mathers was approved to be the 2015 events coordinator, in the future we will post the position to see if any one else is interested. Raffle report (Dave L. Not present) Pres. Scott Z told the BOD that Dave would like more money to help with the membership appreciation party. A motion was made by Maynard B. seconded by Dave C. to approve $ as the amount that can be spent for food and other goodies for the fall rondy membership appreciation party. Motion carried.

4 Banquet report: Russ W. will need people to help operate the raffle tables. If any district wants to sponsor or support a table they need to contact a vendor, do not send money to Russ W. or Steve V. If any one has picture they need to be sent to Russ W. so they can make a digital presentation for the banquette. Old Business: Unapproved minutes- Once the secretary process the minutes from a BOD meeting/membership meeting they are considered unapproved, the minutes can be published but it must be stated that they are unapproved. Minutes are not officially approved until the BOD/ membership votes to approve them. The WTA is in need of a publishing coordinator. This person would help in collecting reports from the Pres., V. Pres. Sec. and districts for the magazine. Pres. Scott Z thinks that the BOD needs to meet with or get some help with media training. There are times when some one needs to talk to the press and that person needs to talk appropriately, represent trappers appropriately, and answer questions with concise answers. Arnie G. will be attending a training session later in the year and he will gather as much information to help train WTA members on how to represent the WTA properly. Dan C. made a motion to remove Virgil Schroeder as a person who can request checks for the WTA. A second to the motion was made by Russ W. Motion carried. Dave Hastings(WTA Mag. Editor) is in need of help proof reading articles that are submitted to be published. Judy F. volunteered to help Dave Hastings. FTW position; This position requires a back round check Arrange FTW events Work with FTW President P&F comm. will come up with a job description. Will this position need to be a paid position. P&F comm. will come up with a job description and responsibilities for the position of raffle coordinator like all other positions that have responsibilities that affect the WTA. Road right of way trapping; You need to receive permission from the state or the adjacent land owner to be able to trap on any road way, we all need to know the logistics involved. The WTA needs to educate trappers about this trespass problem, it causes a bad image for trappers when conflicts occur or citations are written. This needs to be in trapper ed. classes and amongst our trapping groups. Wolf delisting: The Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Wisconsin Cattlemen s association are taking the lead roles in the federal legislature. The WTA supports the delisting of the Eastern Timber wolf. Jim G. made a motion to give Pres. Scott Z. the financial support he needs to be able to attend meetings in Washington D.C. Second to the motion was made by Judy F. Motion carried. The wolf management plan is on hold at this time along with

5 all hearings associated with it. Because of the listing of wolves as an endangered species all expenses for depredation and other expenditures will now fall on the feds., but it also means that you now cannot protect your cattle or dogs from wolves if they are in danger of being maimed or killed. Merchandise trailer; The trailer had hail damage but does not leak. Fall rondy: Should we pay some people to give demos. This may upset who have and do give demos for free. Pres. Spending: Rich K asked how much can the Pres. spend without first getting BOD approval. Scott M. made a motion that the President be able to spend up to $5, with out first getting BOD approval if the need be. Maynard B. made the second to the motion. Motion carried. Jim Gordon made a motion to donate $ to the 2015 NTA rondy for a gun. The motion was seconded by Dave C. Motion carried. V. Pres. Jr. P made a motion to donate $ towards the 2015 Youth Expo Dave C. seconded the motion. Motion Carreid. Jim G. made a motion to raise the maximum amount that a district may be reimbursed from the WTA that is sponsoring a BOD meeting go from $ to $ , Jared K. made the second to the motion. Motion carried. Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Jared K. at 2:55 pm. A second was made by Jim G. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted by; Richard Kirchmeyer WTA Sec.