Minutes – 3/10/08 Board Mtg.
Sharon Hall / Penn State Shenango Campus / Sharon, Pa

• Sharon Public Library – Aaron talked with Nancy Rendl from the library who wants to put on a two-hour presentation on Fly Fishing.  It would be a part of her “Youth Education Series” program, and she expects about fifteen youth to attend.  Aaron will ask for one other board member to assist in putting on the presentation. All board members agreed it would be a worthwhile effort.

• The minutes were approved as written.

• Budget - Jeff reviewed his budget report for the period ending February 29th.
• Cool Spring CD Renewal – Jeff will put the $95 in funds donated in honor of member Stanley Wojtowiatcz into the Coolspring Fund when he renews the CD this month.

A. Watershed Coordinator – Jeff Kremis/Jim Mondok

• TU Parking Lot Trash – Pete Anthony reported that some dumped a couch and chair in the area of the TU parking lot.  He requested permission to hire a truck to have it hauled away, and the board approved.
• Springfield Gulch Surface Mining – P. Anthony will report on this next month.
• Spring Workday – The date is set for March 29^th at Cool Spring Creek (rainout date is April 26^th).  We will do some stream repairs plus conduct an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup if enough members show up.

B. Nursery – Pete Anthony

• Trout Stocking – Pete reported that the Pa Fish & Boat Commission stocked Cool Spring Creek today.  The volunteers had to carry the fish quite far with buckets because the fish truck could not navigate through the heavy snow.

C. Reverse Raffle – Tom and Carole Jochman

• No Report

D. Banquet / Newsletter - Nick Loprire

• Nick Loprire discussed various items about our April 5th banquet to be held at the Shenango Valley Civic Center in down town Sharon, Pa including:
• 1. Sponsor Tables – We have sold four or five sponsor tables so far.  This refers to the reservation of a table with special raffle ticket offerings going to the company or person purchasing the table reservation.  The chapter is selling “Silver” and “Gold” Corporate Table Packages, and also “Rainbow”, “Brown”, and Brook Trout” Individual Sponsorships.
  2. Chapter Advertising – Aaron Monroe will contact Ohio newspapers and Jeff Kremis will contact the Pa newspapers.
  3. Banquet Jobs List:
     1. Setup & Layout Review – Board Members starting at 1:00 PM
     2. Silent Auction – Set up items – Board Members
     3. Master of Ceremonies & Verbal Auction – Nick Loprire
     4. Front Door / Tickets & Accounting – Jeff Kremis & Reg McClelland
     5. Card & Meat Raffle – Terry Williams
     6. Rod Raffle – Jim Brown
     7. Bucket Raffle – Dick Natoli & Jim Mondok
     8. 50 / 50 Ticket Sales – Jim Mondok & Bill Fay
     9. Bag the Trout – Dick Rickert
     10. Scale the Trout – Aaron Monroe
     11. TU Membership Information – Tom Jochman
     12. Nursery Table / T-Shirt Sales - Ken Tarczy & Pete Anthony
     13. Direct Sponsors to their Tables – Carol Jochman
     14. T-Shirts & Hats – Dick Natoli to get quotes on more T-Shirts & Hats
  4. Bucket Raffle & Nursery Table Raffle Prizes
     • Damascus knife
     • Stainless Steel Outdoor Grille
     • Remington Shotgun
     • Neshannock Creek Fly Shop Shopping Spree
     • 3-Pc American Tourister Luggage Set
     • Orvis Kit Bag / Ross Cimarron Fly Reel
     • St Croix Fly Rod
  5. Ladies Prizes – There will be more ladies prizes this year including artificial flower arrangements, candy baskets, and some prizes that Bonnie Rickert will get from the Flower Basket store in Volant, Pa.

E. Membership – Tom Jochman

• No Report

F. Youth Coordinator – Dick Rickert

• 2008 Wolf Creek Fishing Derby – The April 19^th event will start with registration at 8:30 AM and fishing at 9:00 AM.  Dick reminded the members to help with:
• 1. Public Address System – Jim Mondok
  2. Fish Cleaning Demo – Nick Loprire
  3. Extra buckets for kids to carry fish – Pete Anthony
  4. Install Event Signs on Corner – Dick Natoli
  5. Advertising in Pa Newspapers – Jeff Kremis
  6. Flyers in 4 locations in Grove City – Dick Rickert
• Trout in the Classroom – Dick discussed the National TU program “Trout in the Classroom”.  Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is an environmental education program in which students in grades K-12 raise trout from eggs to fry, monitor tank water quality, engage in stream habitat study, learn to appreciate water resources, begin to foster a conservation ethic, and grow to understand ecosystems.  Most programs end the year by releasing their trout in a state-approved stream near the school or within a nearby watershed. 
• Approximate Cost for TIC – Dick said the program would cost between $1100 and $1300 to get it off the ground and working.  Grants are available, and if we get a grant it would reduce our cost to around $500.  We will know in June if we can get the grant.  Pete Anthony knows a teacher in the Mercer School District who would be willing to work on this program.  Pete recommends the program because if it is successful, it would encourage young people in the Mercer area to get involved in working at our Munnell Run Nursery.  Almost all of the volunteers at the nursery are retired, and they need some young people to take over when they quit.  The board members agreed to pursue the idea further.

• Nothing discussed

• Trout in the Classroom - See “Youth Coordinator Section”
• Shenango Riverwatcher’s Banquet March 29^th – Jeff Kremis proposed purchasing tickets to their banquet because 5 or 6 people from their organization always come to our banquet.  The board agreed; Jeff will order the tickets.  Since board member Jim Mondok is on the board of that group, he may want to use the tickets and attend the banquet.