Minutes – 9/27/04 Board Mtg.
Hickory VFW / Hickory Pa.

P. Anthony, R. Natoli, R. Shuey, J. Mondok, A. Monroe, W. Fay, R. Rickert

• Coldwater Conservation Award – Joe Morris won the award for “Outstanding Coldwater Conservationist (Professional)” award from Pa Trout. We congratulate Joe for this outstanding award and deserved recognition of his hard work for the Trout Unlimited mission.

• The minutes for the board meeting were approved as read except for the spelling of Bob Shuey’s name, and the word “scrape” was miss-spelled in section A –“Watershed Coordinator”.

• Monthly Budget Report – No report because Jeff was absent
• Coolspring Fund – Aaron Monroe reported that $2670 was transferred from the Coolspring Fund to our checkbook as “reimbursement” for the work done on Neshannock Creek in 2004.

• Neshannock Creek Storm Damage – Bob Schuey reported that we lost the sign at the stream behind his Fly Shop; the high water from recent storms carried it away when a “downed tree” floated across it. The dam survived the storms. Bob said the water level was only two inches below the floor level of his shop; it was a close call.
• Coolspring Creek Storm Damage – The major damage done at Coolspring Creek was the washing out of the swinging bridge at the lower end on the Beagle Club property. Jeff Kremis outlined other damage in an e-mail on September 13th. The Beagle Club saved the bridge by dragging it out of the water and putting it up on the East Bank. They want to replace it or build a new one; Jim Mondok reminded us that they would need a permit to do that.
• October Work Day – A work date will be set for October to do repairs on Coolspring Creek. Aaron Monroe reported that he received a donation of Wolmanized Wood we can use to repair some of the footbridges along the stream.
• Later this month, a Work Date was set for Saturday, October 23rd
• Neshannock Creek Covered Bridge Area – Bob Shuey reported that Dennis Salmon completed the “entrance to the parking lot” gravel fill and the repairs to the roadway hole West of the storm water conduit on the Neshannock Creek access road. Dennis donated a truckload of gravel to fill in the low spots.
   
  Bob feels we should send him two free tickets (R. Natoli to be responsible) to next years banquet, and, also recognize him at the banquet for a job well done!
  

B. Nursery – Pete Anthony

• Tail Rot Disease – Some of the 1600 Rainbows have this problem. Nursery personnel have tried salt (no luck), Romet BE (no luck), and feed with Teramycin medication in it. The medicated feed is working the best, but approximately 100 Rainbow Trout have been lost.
• Cooperative Nurseries in Pa – Pete reported that these nurseries certainly do their share of the work in raising fish; they raise about 1.3 million out of the 5 million total for Pa.
• Stoneborough Fair – Nursery personnel worked a booth at the fair with a TU display, and answered questions for the visitors.
• Pa Fish & Boat Commission Fish Stockings – Coolspring Creek will be stocked the week of October 10th and Neshannock Creek the week of the 17th.
• Chapter 216 Electric Generator – The new generator is stored at the Nursery building and Pete tests it once a month; it is working very well.

C. Cabin Fever - Dick Natoli

• Tabled until this November

D. Banquet / Newsletter - Nick Loprire was absent

• No Report

E. Membership – Tom Jochman was absent

• No Report

E. Youth Coordinator – Dick Rickert reviewed his ideas to spark youth participation:

• Boy Scout Fly Fishing Merit Badge – A good way to interest teenagers, and an opportunity for teaching that badge is at the Boy Scout Summer Camp in Custaloga Town.
• Publicize the Merit Badge Offering – An opportunity exists at our Cabin Fever Symposium in January 2005.
• Mercer High School Conservation Club – Contact Bill Chess to see if students would be interested in helping out at the Nursery or with fish stocking activities.
• Youth Conservation Camp – Send some students to this or to the Field Day sponsored by the Mercer County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs.
  
  Pete Anthony made a motion to sponsor 2 youth at the next Sam Aubel Youth Conservation Camp. Jim Mondok seconded it and the motion carried.
   
  
• Wolf Creek Fishing Derby – Continue the tradition of the fishing derbies in Grove City.
  

F. Wolf Creek Project - Dick Natoli

• Sign for project –The final dimensions for the sponsor sign that will hang below the In-Ground Wolmanized Wood sign will be 18 inches wide x 12 inches high. The sponsor sign is being delayed because of the lateness of the order for the “triple laminate plastic” that will be used to engrave the names of the contributors. The sign will be completed as soon as we receive the plastic laminate

• No Old Business

• Recognition for Laurel High School Teachers – Bob Shuey said that the teachers deserve recognition for the outstanding job they are doing with the students at the school. They help Bob with all of the Neshannock Creek fish stockings, and the do an outstanding job with other student activities such as the “Sportsman’s Night Out” held every year at the school.
   
  Three teachers in particular are Bob Miles, Jason Levish, and Eric (last name?). Bob asked if Dick Rickert could present them with a “Certificate of Recognition” from Trout Unlimited at the Laurel Sportsman’s Banquet in 2005.
   
• Pa Trout Magazine Address – Nick needs this address, and the National address so he can forward his article on Wolf Creek.
   
• Get Well Flowers – Pete Anthony requested the board send Mrs. Kathleen Vogan a bouquet of flowers because she is ill. Pete also reminded the board that we forgot to send her Easter flowers. Mrs. Vogan is a landowner along Cool Spring Creek and a strong supporter of our Chapter 216.
   
• Stream Monitoring – Pete suggested we formulate a well-defined plan to resume stream monitoring on area streams, and enlist volunteers. The kits are available and they are being stored at the Nursery but nobody uses them.