1 REGION 4 FALL BOARD MEETING SATURDAY NOVEMBER 07, 2015 Drury Inn and Suites 3180 S. Dirksen Parkway SPRINGFIELD, IL 62703 PHONE: 217-529-3900 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
4 Regional Representatives Earle Hammond SRR (Expires Fall 2015) Chapter #5 Pomme De Terre Route 71 Box 2010 Urbana, MO 65767 (417) 993-0035 Earle2@missourimuskies.org Frank A. Walter-RR(Expires Fall 2016) Chapter # 14 South of the Border 1307 Park Avenue North Chicago, IL 60064-1424 (847) 689-2133 fawalter@gmail.com Kimberly Cates RR (Expires Fall 2017) Chapter # 49 Webster Lake Musky Club PO Box 38 Syracuse, IN 46567 (574) 529-0228 beachin64@yahoo.com 2
REGION 4 MEETING MINUTES Meeting call to order -------Time: 0830 Senior Regional Representative pro tem Appointments: (1) Recording Secretary - Kimberly Cates (2) Acting Parliamentarian Frank A. Walter (3) Sergeant at Arms Jack Pertz Roll Call RR s: 1) SRR Earle Hammond Present Yes No 2) RR Frank A. Walter Present Yes No 3) RR ` Kimberly Cates Present Yes No Roll Call/ Introductions Chapter 3 5 7 11 14 17 28 Chapter Name Chicagoland Muskie Hunters Pomme de Terre South Side Muskie Hawks Mississippi Valley South of the Border Quad County Shawnee Muskie Hunters 32 Flatlanders 39 42 49 Fox River Valley Hoosier Muskie Hunters Webster Lake Musky Club Chapter President Chapter Representative Yes No Greg Denny gdenny@emt.com 847-566-8368 George Donner Concretewallscop.yahoo.com 816-678-1623 Greg Denny gdenny@emt.com 773-581-8650 Sonny Stephens Mimv11@aol.com 309-797-1803 Len Szulc muskyteer@aol.com 815-385-9026 Duane Landmeier dlandleier@frontier.com 815-385-2133 Jim Beaty beatyjh@msn.com 618-971-7806 Steve Knoll steve.knoll@thealdennetwork.com 773-724-6305 Philip Andrew Amrhein P_andrew_amrhein@yahoo.com 317-503-8617 Bill Bennett onemuskynut@embarqmail.com 574-457-3879 Frank Loye muskyfrank@hotmail.com 773-486-1422 Wayne Humphrey wehumphrey@hotmail.com 314-440-2173 Lynn Polyak Lpolyak42@sbcglobal.net 708-334-1733 Richard Narske richardnarske@augustana.edu 309-786-7839 Sally Jo Walter fawalter@gmail.com 847-689-2133 Dana Smith danaws@msn.com 815-695-1494 Walter Krause wk1039198@aol.com 618-389-8996 Jack Pertz putembackjack2@aol.com 815-629-2562 Hugh Flack hughflack@sbcglobal.net Cell 847-826-7850 Jeff Wines Jwines911@yahoo.com 317-430-3320 David Cates Davidcates@hotmail.com 574-528-1373 3
Guests present: _Lorin Nevling Chapter 28 Nominations for RR: Candidates: (1) Earle Hammond (2) (None) Nominated by: Walter Krause; Seconded by Jack Pertz Discussion : None Vote: 6 Yes & 0 No. Term to expire Fall 2018. Oath of Office: Administered by RR Frank A. Walter. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that in the performance of the duties of the Regional Office to which you have been elected you will faithfully comply with the Muskies Inc. Bylaws and Muskies, Inc. Policies, Resolutions, Procedures, and Guidelines (PRPAG) to the best of your ability The following information concerning the 2016 Board Meeting and Anniversary was received from Carl Phillips, M.I. President: March 12, 2016 is the M.I. Annual Board Meeting date. Note: They will have something on the evening of Friday March 11, 2016 (Fundraiser?) Also the Hugh C. Becker Muskie Symposium will be Sunday March 13 to Tuesday March 15, 2016. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-325-3535. If you are attending both the ABM & Symposium you must register separately for each one of them. Best Practices Chapter Reports: Chapter 28 Best Practice by CR Walter Krause: We hold 3 formal meetings a year. First one is in January at Cabela s, the second one is our awards dinner in February and third one is in November for election of officers and planning meeting for 2016. We have a newsletter that we put out each month with all the high lights of past month s activities and any information that is needed to inform our members and the next two months activities. We man two booths in sports show in Southern Illinois. One in January at Collinsville and one in February in Marion. We hold two Guide for the Day events. One in the spring and one in the fall. The one in the spring is a two day event do to the large number of clients. We rent a Farm house (bunk house) for our members to stay free of charge to our members at most of our events. We hold a lake clean up on Lake Kinkaid every April. We hold an Iron man Tournament for our members on Kinkaid from 1 pm to noon the following day after the lake clean up. We hold two day tournaments twice a year. One in May and one on October. 4
We take part in a chapter challenge with chapter 5 every year. The Challenge is rotated between Kinkaid and lake Pomme de Terre. We hold two outing on Prairie Lake each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. We hold a Kids Fishing Day on Lake Murphysboro every June We hold a two day outing on Lake St Clair every year. We send teams to the Chapter Challenge each year. Hold a salmon fishing outing on Lake Michigan every September Hold a high school Muskie tournament in October. First year we had 2 teams from 1 school. This year we had 7 teams from 6 schools. Hold a Veterans Day outing each November. We take veterans out fishing for the day and we have a cook out after the outing. We hold a winter trolling outing on Kinkaid in December. Chapter 42 Best Practices by CR Jeff Wines: 1. Communication to club members via a monthly news and notes (email) should (at a minimum) be done. 2. Club facebook page for knowledge sharing, event notification and in-time communication, and member collaboration has worked well. 3. The Indiana Muskie Classic is a premier tournament event, primarily planned and executed by Jeremy Sivis and Scott Law. The feedback from participants and sponsors, validate the extraordinary time and effort that these 2 put in. If anyone has designs on putting on a tournament event, they should sign-up to participate in next year's event. 4. Partnering with Indiana DNR has worked well and should continue to be fostered via collaboration, outreach, volunteering, and financial methods (if possible); all through a strong professional relationship. Chapter 32 Best Practices by CR Jack Pertz; Their Chapter is having troubles with getting Chapter Officers They do some stocking of Muskies in area lakes Chapter 03 Best Practies by CR Frank Loye Recruitment/Retention Added focus on Facebook page and social media outlets (twitter, you tube): o Over 300 Page likes o Members Only Fishing Contest standings o Pictures of member s catches o Meeting reminders 5
o Event reminders Constant Contact Email Marketing o Newsletter (save on paper/printing/mailing) o Event/Meeting reminders Monthly Club article in Outdoor Notebook Club events, meeting recaps and upcoming meeting speakers Business Cards all our members are provided Club business cards to hand out to potential members. Cards have contact & meeting info Fund Raising Annual Raffle: We typically raffle off Muskie related art (carvings, paintings, sculptures, etc) + fishing equipment Indoor Fishing Flea Market: An indoor flea market of fishing gear. Co-sponsor with a local High School. o Rent tables o Charge admission Chapter 49 Best Practices by CR David Cates: Chapter is struggling for Officers Chapter 17 Best Practices sent in by CP Duane Landmeier: We put the members expiration date in the newsletter and send them out. Chapter 14 Best Practices by CR Sally Jo Walter: Booth at the All Canada Show January 8,9,10, & 11, 2015. Booth at the Bass Pro February 6,7 & 9 2015. These were manned by South of the Border members. Held a Fundraiser on March 25, 2015 which netted a profit of about $12,000. Had a Youth outing on May 17,2015 with around 300 youths attending. The youths & parents/guardians were served free hot dogs, chips, sodas & cookies. We had gifts for every youth attending. Awards were given out to all the youth s who caught fish. We spent around $9,000.00 for this youth event. The cost was done by the Chapter, Family s, & local communities business s. Veteran s day outing by the local Walleyes Club we helped out with. We took 32 veterans out fishing. Every veteran did catch a fish too. We teamed up with the Illinois Bass Association and 30 high schools for a fishing tournament. Each youth was given a new lure for attending. Chapter 39 Best Practices sent in by CR Hugh Flack: Jan: This month brings us the Chicago Muskie Show. FRV has a booth there and we raffled off a nice rod and reel combination that raised $1300 for our clubs treasury. Feb.: This month is when we took 20 + underprivileged youth ice fishing on Deep Lake in Lake Villa, IL. To say these kids look forward to this would be a big understatement. We get as much enjoyment out of this as they do. We bring the Shanties, rods, bait etc. for a fun day on the water. Mar.: This is the month when we have the FRV awards banquet which is our biggest fund raiser of the year. In 2015 we netted almost $20,000.00 for our treasury. It is because of this event that we are able to fund the 6
youth, stocking, and research programs which are so important to this organization. We were also able to donate $1000.00 to Take a Vet because of this. May: This month is when we have our FRV Challunge on the Chain Tournament. The largest Muskie tournament in Illinois. We had approx. 65-70 boats in this years tourney. June: We had two events. The first was the Hoffman Estates Fishing Derby which we assist on along with our partner Cabela s. We also brought our boats to Deep Lake and took the kids out once again for some soft water angling. Fishing was fantastic this year with many fish caught. July: There were 3 outings in July. Two that went to Lake of the Woods and one to Lake St. Clair. 2015 was a good year for our anglers on these bodies of water. August: This month was our 11th year working the Bartlett Fishing Derby. Even though the numbers are slowly declining, probably because of over saturation, this was still attended by approx. 150 kids and there families. Sept.: This month brings us back to Lake of the Woods where we had a very good showing. To say our members look forward to this is an understatement. Oct.: In October we stocked the Fox Chain as well as donated $350 for Shabbona lake improvements. Chapter 05 Best Practices given by SRR Earle Hammond: Selected Past Projects and Contributions of the Pomme de Terre Chapter Habitat Projects A. Installed brush piles in Lake Pomme de Terre almost every spring for the past 20+ years. Project is done in conjunction with the Corp of Engineers and Missouri Department of Conservation. B. Installed and maintained vegetation beds in an attempt to re-establish vegetation in Lake Pomme de Terre. The chapter donated funds and received matching funds from Muskies, Inc. Chapter members donated hundreds of man-hours of labor to help the MDC install the vegetation beds. The project started in 2004 and is being continued by the Missouri Department of Conservation. C. Chapter requested and received funds from Muskies Inc to place brush piles along side a handicap accessible fishing dock to provide habitat to improve the fishing experience for those using the dock. Fish Stocking A. Provided funds to the West Virginia chapter of Muskies Inc in 2006 to help re-stock a lake that lost its Muskie population. Provide Fishing Opportunities A. Donated $3,500.00 to the Missouri Department of Conservation in 2007 to help pay for a handicap accessible dock to be installed on Lake Pomme de Terre. Provide Materials to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) 7
A. Multiple times in the past the chapter has donated fiche nets to the MDC to be used in their spring netting projects. Nets are used to capture breeding Muskies and to do census studies. B. In 2006 the chapter donated nets to cover the rearing pools used to raise Muskies at the MDC s Lost Valley Hatchery in Warsaw, MO. C. In 2010 the chapter donated four nets to the MDC to cover rearing ponds to increase yield. Funding for two of the nets came from the Hugh C. Becker Foundation. D. In 2012 the chapter donated two nets to the MDC to cover rearing ponds to increase yield. Funding for one of the nets came from the Hugh C. Becker Foundation. E. In 2014 the chapter donated two nets to the MDC to cover rearing ponds to increase yield. Funding for one of the nets came from the Hugh C Becker Foundation. F. In 2014 the chapter received funds from the Hugh C Becker Foundation to purchase four picnic style tables for the Busch Wildlife Area to be used at their angler educational lakes. The chapter provided four additional tables for this facility in 2015. G. In 2015 the chapter donated one net to the MDC to cover rearing ponds to increase yields. Outreach A. The chapter participates in 2-4 sports shows per year to promote Muskie fishing. B. The chapter provides at least one day per year to take non-members Muskies fishing. C. The chapter holds at least one Kid s Day outing per year. D. The chapter holds at least one tournament per year that is open to non-members as well as members. Support Fishing Education for Children 8 A. In 2009 the chapter donated $1,000 to the Go Fish! program of the Missouri Department of Conservation. This program provides fishing education and opportunities to inner city children and provides them with all the basic equipment they will need to continue fishing after the program is completed. B. In 2010 the chapter donated $1,000 to the Go Fish! Program of the Missouri Department of Conservation. C. In 2011 the chapter received a $1,150 grant from the Conservation Federation of Missouri and a $2,000 grant from the Hugh C Becker Foundation to help build an education shelter at Busch Wildlife Area in St. Charles, Missouri. Due to a lack of funding from other sources, the project did not proceed and the grant money was returned. D. In 2012 the chapter received a $3,100 grant from the Hugh C. Becker Foundation to help build a shelter at Busch Wildlife Area in St. Charles, MO. The shelter will be used for fishing education programs. E. In 2013 the chapter donated $200 to the Youth Conservation Alliance to support their outdoors programs. Fishing Education for Adults A. Twice a year the chapter runs a six to eight hour program for members to educate those that are new to musky fishing and to allow experienced fishermen to trade tips. These are held on the water at Pomme de Terre Lake with members volunteering their pontoon boats for transportation. B. In 2016 we will be working with the Missouri Department of Conservation to provide up to seven muskie seminars at locations around the state.
Other Projects Donated $250 to Conservation Federation of Missouri to support the Share the Harvest program. Donated a guided fishing trip to a fund raiser for the Wounded Warrior organization. (2013) Donated $200 to support the MI Muskie Symposium in 2016. Funding of Regional Board Meeting. Earle Hammond: Regional Representative Fund has been funded by contributions of $100.00 per Chapter in our Region. This helps cover the cost of the fall meeting. It was collected three (3) years ago and this year we collected it once again. This has proven to be very wise decision. No one Chapter is ever burden with the total cost of a Regional Meeting. The fund is set up in Pomme de Terre Chapter special savings account with a report and audit given at each Regional Meeting. This covers the cost of the meeting and expenses of the Regional Representatives attending the meetings. We believe that holding the meeting with everyone in attendance is the best way to represent our Region. It has worked outstanding for us. We have all our Chapters funding the Chapter Representatives attendance to the Regional meetings. Membership Questions: Question by CR Walter Krause --- Does Keyes Outdoors or the Teuteberg program verifiable data regarding cost per membership generated? If so, is this considered effective? Question by CR Jack Pertz -- In our monthly Chapter reports where does the term Inactive come from? It takes at least 8/9 members of officers to be a Chapter. Some are in report that the Board voted for Dissolution. This gives a wrong number of Chapters in Muskies, Inc. All CR s Report every one having trouble keeping membership; no real reason why. Bylaws/Policies Questions: Question by CR Sally Walter -- What are the six Fly Fishing Awards? Question by RR Kimberly Cates -- Wording for Independent Consulting Personnel needs to be tweaked in the Policies. Question by CR Walter Krause -- All Regional Meeting are to be held in October or November according to the Bylaws 4.03 (2) B - So why is Region 3 holding their meeting in Jan. 2016? Our Region has no knowledge of when or if Regions 1 & 2 in Oct. or Nov. held a meeting. Website/ Communications: Website: The forum seems to be used very little. Questions go unanswered for extended periods. Chapter Officers names & their contact information should be readily available on the website. 9
Management/Financial: Question by RR Kimberly Cates -- Progress of hiring the Executive Director Why is no action being taken on this important matter? Question of Budget Concerns 1) EC/ Finance Committee found $ 3,000.00 for an Assistance Administrative Secretary but no expiation where the funds are coming from. In Bylaws 3.01 (2) Definitions Authority (B) Only the Board can decide matters of significant financial importance, so how did the EC do this? 2) Encourage the FC to know the Federal Laws on making their decisions. This is mainly in regard to our Independent Consulting Services Personnel. Comment: Too often Executive Committee meetings fail to meet the required quorum. 2016 Board Meeting & Symposium: Progress of the Symposium ----- Region 4 has $ 600.00 to give to the Symposium - Earle Hammond to follow up on this as we want to make sure it is going only to the Symposium Fund. Motions for 2016 Board Meeting: -- Region 4 has none at this time. SRR Change: Frank A. Walter moves into the position of SRR at the conclusion of the meeting. Date & Location for 2016 Regional Meeting: November 12, 2016 at the Drury Inn & Suites 3180 S. Dirksen Parkway -- Springfield, IL 62703 Phone 217-529-3900 -- Start time 0800 Springfield time. Adjourned; 1510; 11-07 - 2015. Kimberly Cates, Secretary Approved: Earle Hammond SRR 10