Minutes – 4/27/09 Board Mtg.
Sharon Hall / Penn State Shenango Campus / Sharon, Pa

• Jeff talked about the need to confirm himself as the new President and Carol Jochman as the new Treasurer for Neshannock Chapter of Trout Unlimited. 
• Jim Mondok MADE A MOTION that we elect Jeff as President and Carol as our Treasurer.  The motion was SECONDED by nick Loprire, and it passed.

• The minutes were approved as written.

• Receipts & Disbursements Report – Jeff reviewed his report ending March 31^st
• 2009 Banquet Report – The profits made from our banquet held April 4^th  were reviewed and compared to the 2008 proceeds.
• FNB Documents - Jeff brought the banking documents to the meeting for Carol to sign.  Carol chose the Brookfield Branch of First National Bank to do the banking because it would be closer to her home.
• The Treasurers Report will be filed for future audit

A. Watershed Coordinator – Jeff Kremis/Jim Mondok

•  Workday April 25^th – There was a good turnout for the chapter’s spring workday.  Maple trees were planted along the stream banks, and a large fallen tree was secured to a standing tree to provide for good fish habitat.
• Abandoned Junk Boat in TU Parking Lot – Our Mercer County WCO, Jeff Giardina, tracked down the owners of the boat and had them remove it.  Many thanks go to Jeff for his prompt assistance with this matter.
• National TU Cleanup Day – Saturday, June 13 is the date for Trout Unlimited to hold a nation wide cleanup day.  Jeff discussed various ways for our chapter to participate that day, and suggested we clean up the Neshannock Creek area near the Fly Shop.  We will meet at the parking lot at 9:00 AM.
• Youth Field Day – Grove City Sportsman’s Club – The youth field day will be held the same day, June 13^th, and several members will be volunteering with an instructional booth featuring Fly Fishing Tips and Techniques, and including fish cleaning.
• Deer Creek Consortium – Jerry Przybylek and Gayle Hillkirk gave us an update on the plans for stream improvement at Deer Creek:

1. August 29^th Work Day – They plan on building a 30 foot long mudsill with 2 deflectors upstream from the mudsill.  Committees are working to procure the logs, rocks, and other equipment necessary to complete the project.  Mark Sausser, Pa Fish & Boat Commission Habitat Staff, will supervise the work.
2. Children’s Fishing Area – Gayle has been actively promoting a children’s fishing area with the Custaloga Town Boy Scout Camp, WCO John Hopkins, and Mark Sausser from the Pa Fish & Boat Commission.  John Hopkins volunteered to provide the paperwork necessary to get the project started.  Gayle also talked with Brad Stallsmith, a Deer Creek Landowner, about using a parcel of his land for the site of the Children’s Fishing Area.
3. DC Consortium’s Organization going forward – They are actively seeking additional younger members to ensure the Deer Creek effort will continue for years to come.  They asked us for our recommendations on how to formally organize with the sponsorship of Neshannock Chapter of TU.

• We discussed ways to create a sub-committee with a DC Consortium member being a board member of Neshannock Chapter, with reporting responsibility on Deer Creek group activities.  The discussion was tabled until the May 18^th chapter meeting.

B. Nursery – Pete Anthony & Ken Tarczy

• Trout Stocking – Pete reported that the Pa Fish Commission would stock Cool Spring Creek on Thursday, April 30th.  Munnell Run Nursery will also stock it on Monday, May 4^th with fish from our nursery.
• TU Hats sold at the Banquet – Pete reported the hat fundraising idea was a success; they sold half of the 4-dozen hats ordered at the banquet on April 4th.

C. Banquet / Newsletter - Nick Loprire

• Banquet Bucket Raffle - Nick reviewed the number of tickets deposited in the buckets for some of the raffle items.  The Bamboo Fly Rod was the most popular with 239 tickets, the Damascus Knife had 154, the two reels had 140, and the Tom-Tom GPS unit had 98.  The Neshannock Creek Shopping Spree was also very popular again this year.
• Sites possible for our 2010 Banquet – Carol Jochman reviewed prices and facilities for the Hickory VFW in Hermitage, and the Radisson Hotel Sharon in West Middlesex, Pa.  After talking about her information, it was decided to use the Radisson next year.
• Jim Mondok made a motion to use the Radisson on March 20, 2010 for the banquet.  Ken Tarczy seconded the motion and it passed.

D. Membership – Tom Jochman

• Newsletter Labels – Labels for the April/May newsletter are completed.  Tom also said he will e-mail the “PDF Format” version of the newsletter to all of the recipients on his list.  This effort will help to defray the cost of sending the news through the US Mail.

E. Youth Coordinator – Aaron Monroe

• No Report

• Nothing to Discuss

• Thank You Letter - Pete Anthony suggested we write a letter to Bob Nespor, supervisor of WCO Jeff Giardina, commending Jeff for helping us get rid of the large abandoned boat in our parking lot.  The board members all agreed that was a great idea.
• Sharpsville Beagle Club (SBC) Fall Cookout – Pete Anthony ate dinner at the banquet with Jim Smith, an SBC Member representing our Beagle Club landowners.  Jim invited our chapter to participate in a fall outing / cookout at the club to promote camaraderie between our two groups.  The landowners from Cool Spring Creek would also be invited.
• Jim Mondok made a motion to hold a fall outing at the SBC clubhouse located near Cool Spring Creek on Saturday October 3^rd.  Tom Jochman seconded the motion and it passed.
• New Club President – SBC – Pete also told us that Doug Pears is the new SBC Club President, and we should send the free banquet tickets to Doug and his wife next year.
   
  It was suggested that for the 2010 Banquet we send out cards inviting the landowners to come with an RSVP to let us know they are coming.  Also, we should hold the tickets at the door for them rather than mailing them out.