Minutes – 4/24/06 Board Mtg.
Hickory VFW / Hickory Pa.

A. Monroe, J. Mondok, N. Loprire, J. Kremis, R. Natoli, R. Riechart, R. Shuey, W. Fay, and P. Anthony
Special Guest: Shawn Cunningham from Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

• 4-Wheeler Letter – Aaron wrote a letter to the landowners around Cool Spring Creek to alert them about the walking trail damage that the 4-Wheelers have done. In the letter he asked them for suggestions on how to correct the situation.
• CREP – Shawn Cunningham from the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) gave us a presentation on eliminating fertilizer runoff from farmer’s pastures and fields into nearby streams. Farmers would put up the money to place riparian buffers and fences adjacent to the streams, and then get reimbursed by CREP. Some of the land that poses the biggest problem with nutrient runoff is North of Lake Latonka in Mercer. That runoff goes into the Lake, then into Cool Spring Creek.

• Minutes were accepted as written

• Budget Report – Jeff reviewed the budget Report ending March 31st 2006
• Banquet Proceeds – Jeff reviewed the Cash Inflows and Disbursements for our April 8th Banquet. It was a success; the profit this year was similar to that for 2005.
• The Budget Report will be filed for future audit.

• Wolf Creek Rock – Jeff said that one of our TU members who is very active donating his time and energies to our chapter activities offered a suggestion to improve fish habitat in Wolf Creek. Rich Knauff has some bushel basket size rock on his property in Volant that he would donate for Wolf Creek. Large rocks in the central portion of the stream would give the Trout a resting place from the stream current. We would need a Front End Loader to put them in a Dump Truck to haul them to Wolf Creek. Once there, we would need the Front End Loader again to place the rocks in the stream.
  
  Pete Anthony will contact Roger Hoffman to see if Roger would help us out with his equipment to load and transport the rock.

B. Nursery – Pete Anthony

• Pa Angler Magazine – Spring Gerhardt, a writer from the magazine, visited the nursery and will write an article for an upcoming issue.
• Trout Stocking – Pete reviewed past and future fish stocking plans for Munnell Run Nursery. Pine Run, Deer Creek, Cool Spring, Neshannock, and Yellow Creek were discussed. Pete said he would appreciate some extra help from our Board Members with the Cool Spring float stocking scheduled for Saturday May 20th. That will be the last stocking for the Trout Class of 2005 / 2006.
• Fish Commission Grant – Pete asked the board to approve expenditures for improvements to the nursery for a backup aerator and new windows. The total cost for the grant would be $1700, and our chapters share would be half that amount or $850. Jim Mondok made a motion to approve spending the $850, Bob Shuey seconded it, and the motion carried. Pete will submit a grant for renovations to the nursery prior to the June 1st deadline.

C. Cabin Fever - Dick Natoli

• Tabled until the May meeting

D. Banquet / Newsletter - Nick Loprire

• Newsletter – Nick is trying to get the next edition out prior to the Oil Creek Outing on May 13th. He sent the information to the printer, and the mailing labels will be ready within the week.
• Banquet – Nick talked with Bob Zikmund, the Hickory VFW coordinator, and they chose a date of March 24th for next year’s banquet. Bob Shuey requested we send a Thank You card to Ron Kissler for donating all of the beautiful framed artwork at our April 8th banquet. Everyone agreed it was a good idea, and R. Natoli will send out a card.

E. Membership – Tom Jochman

• Tabled as Tom was absent

E. Youth Coordinator – Dick Rickert

• Wolf Creek Fishing Derby –Dick reported a good turnout; 49 kids came out to the Derby, and a good time was had by everyone
• 2006 Rivers & Fly Fishing Camp – A $270 check was requested for J. Kightlinger who will be sponsored by our Neshannock chapter this year. The second youth that Dick had submit an application was turned down due to the large number of applicants this year.
• Mercer County Federation of Sportsman Youth Activities – Dick made a motion we sponsor two youth this year. Dick Natoli seconded it, and the motion carried.
• Sharon High School – Bob Shuey reported that the high school is trying to establish a conservation club, and we should help them out. After some discussion, the board agreed, and Dick Rickert will write them a letter to tell them that we would be glad to give the fly fishing instructions using our 6 youth outfits.

• Nothing important to discuss

• Chapter Credit Card – Jeff Kremis explained the need for a chapter credit card, and the various times that it would come in handy to use it. After some discussion, it was decided to apply for an Orvis card since that company donates so many products to Trout Unlimited, and other conservation organizations in the USA.