MINUTES
10/16/2021 BOD MEETING
Meeting began @ 9AM with the Pledge.
CONCERNS
A discussion was held to determine the best method of managing unruly vendors, other participants and visitors. A determination was made regarding an incident at this year’s convention which may serve as a precedent for similar incidents in the future.
Reading of Minutes
A motion was made by Charlie Lamb, seconded by Thom DeLisle to accept the 4/24/21 minutes as corrected. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Charlie Lamb, seconded by Bob Hughes to accept the 7/17 minutes as presented. Motion carried.
VACANCIES
Secretary: A motion was made to accept Shelley Johnson as a candidate for NYSTA Secretary by Bob Hughes, seconded by Walt Barker. Motion carried. Welcome Shelley!
Region1/2: A motion was made by Dick Leggett, seconded by Charlie Lamb to have President contact Craig Conway regarding Craig’s interest in this position. Motion carried
Region 3: The current Director, Mark Charpentier, has submitted his interest in continuing in the position. Motion by Bill Swagler, seconded by John Rockwood to accept the request. Motion carried.
Region 4E: Thom DeLisle has expressed his interest in continuing in this position. Motion by Bill Swagler, seconded by John Rockwood to accept. Motion carried.
Region 4W: Earl VanWormer has expressed an interest in remaining in this position. Motion by Bill Swagler, seconded by John Rockwood to accept. Motion carried.
Region 8S: Dave Miller is retiring from this position. There are three candidates; Walt Andrews, Dave Morse, Von Strahan. Motion by Bill Swagler, seconded by Don Hillman to have the President interview and recommend to the Board. Motion carried.
County Representatives: There were 11 candidates for this position. Motion by President to consider all after discussion. Motion carried. All 11 candidates were accepted. Victor “Butch” Jenks, Chenango; Von Strahan, Ontario; Bill Swagler, Tioga; Al West, Warren; Herm Flowers, Wayne; Dave Leibig, Delaware; Greg Coons, Schoharie; Roger Drake, Herkimer; Bob Shaut, Montgomery; Jeff Smith, Franklin; Linda Bates, Broome.
COMMITTEES
SCHOLARSHIPS: Bob Hughes has retired as chair. Walt Barker has accepted the chair and is selecting members for this committee. Bob will help Walt with the details of this effort.
A motion was made by Thom DeLisle, seconded by Bill Swagler, to add Graduate Students and Professors in Wildlife Management to be eligible for scholarships. Motion carried.
FINANCE: The Chair will conduct a meeting via use of e-mails to avoid asking committee members from making another trip in the face of rising fuel prices. There were no objections from the floor. This will be a first time effort with this type of meeting. Chair will report results to the Board.
FUND RAISING: Bill Swagler distributed his reports for the Rifle Raffle, 2021 Calendar sales and the 2021 Convention to all attendees. Any member wishing to see any of these reports may contact their Regional Director or County Representative.
There appears that there may be a problem acquiring Henry rifles for the next firearm raffle. Bill is assembling a committee to look into this and perhaps develop a set of options for different brand of firearms. Bill has requested $3000.00 for purchase of firearms for the next raffle. A motion by Thom DeLisle, seconded by Don Hillman to approve this request was carried.
Bill has also indicated that he needs a new cash register and money counter. The money counter will save considerable effort. A motion by Dick Leggett, seconded by Bob Hughes to approve these two purchases was carried.
JTI: Next meeting awaits the next set of proposals from NYSDEC.
PAT ARNOLD YOUTH TRAPPING CAMPS: The camp at Mandeville had 8 students. Five of the students were first timers and as such were awarded a one year membership in NYSTA. There were 9 mentors. Application for future camps will be directed to the Camp Directors. The State now requires mentors to be vetted annually, a change from the previous 5 year requirement. An effort will be made to return to the 5year requirement for repeat mentors. The goals of this camp were well met.
NTA: No report
FTA: No report
DIRECTORS & COUNTY REPS.:
REGION 6: Our affiliate, the Jefferson County Trappers, is an active group.
REGION 7S: Cortland County Trappers had a successful Fall Rondy; this in spite of a washed out bridge that caused a long detour through the hills surrounding the Rondy site. The bridge was scheduled to be ready to use on the day of the Rondy but did not open until the after the event. Wouldn’t you guess?
REGION 7N: This Camp Zerbe convention was successful. There seemed to be less attendees but more buyers.
The Independent Fur Harvesters will hold their coyote hunt. Their fur sale is on hold pending fur prices.
ONTARIO COUNTY: Jim Geffert’s personal fur shed burned to the ground. His lure business was unaffected. A motion to donate $500.00 to Jim was made by Thom DeLisle, seconded by Walt Barker. Motion carried.
WAYNE COUNTY: A long established and very active fur buyer has passed away.
REGION 9: Walt Barker and associates met with the staff of the Tonawanda/Oak Orchard Refuge to discuss overall management of that area.
GENESEE COUNTY: The County folks held a small Trapper Ed. Course. Some small traps and memberships to the Genesee County Club were given to the students.
COLUMBIA COUNTY: Membership in this club is now down to 8.
REGION 4E: There were three Trapper Ed. Courses conducted in this region. There were 20 students in each class.
REGION 3: Orange County Trappers is the most active club in the region.
REGION 5N: St Lawrence County is going to be involved in a raccoon study that will also be looking at southern raccoon from Florida. Details of this study will be provided to the writer for distribution to interested members of the Board.
DELAWARE COUNTY: Four Trapper Ed. Courses were conducted in this County.
NYSDEC: There was no report this month.
WEBSITE: A discussion of the pros and cons of operating the website store was held. History of the operation demonstrates a poor return on the effort required to manage this activity efficiently. A motion was made by Thom DeLisle, seconded by Don Hillman to eliminate the online store. Motion carried without objection.
A membership application is now available on the site for printing/downloading. A discussion was held regarding the method now available to purchase membership online via Pay Pal. Changes to improve this feature will be made.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: The Legislature remains pretty quiet during the recess. Things will certainly pick up when the new session begins in January.
A move to ban lead ammunition may be followed by a ban of all metals that might be used in ammunition manufacture, including copper.
A recently authorized authority to allow Counties to opt-out of the new Holiday deer hunting season has caused some fear that this will set a precedent to authorize counties to opt out of other wildlife management regulations. Not a very comforting thought.
MEMBERSHIP: There are now 556 regular and approximately 507 lifetime. There have been to date 33 renewals after expirations of one year and 63 new members.
More complete information from online purchasers of memberships is needed. See website report above.
NYSCC: Jim Greeley provided a report on the meeting he attended as the NYSTA delegate to the Council. He asks that NYSTA prepare a resolution to be presented to the Council Fur Committee that would have NYSTA the lead member of the Council in the matter of fur management and trapping legislation. A motion to have such a resolution prepared was made by Bill Swagler and seconded by Charlie Lamb. Motion carried. The President will draft such a resolution for submittal to the council.
TREASURER:
The Treasurer provided his report on the status of NYSTA’s finances to all attendees. Anyone interested in seeing that report may contact their regional Director or County Representative.
OLD BUSINESS: Dave Leibig indicated an internet service that can do the paper work for the formation of a State corporation and a Federal IRS application for designation as a 501c3. This opportunity is being further researched for NYSTA’s possible use. It looks good. Details of the process will be clarified. It sounds good and will be a big help.
A motion by John Rockwood, seconded by Don Hillman was made to enter into a 5 year contract for future gun shows. Motion carried.
Bill Swagler is looking at acquiring new patches that would honor those who have provided many years of important service to NYSTA .The board agreed to have Bill develop that idea and bring the results of his planning back to the Board.
Bill asked that next years awards be identified by the January BOD meeting to allow a timely inclusion of them in the Convention Booklet.
NEW BUSINESS: The President will arrange to have a communication workshop be conducted for the Board. It will be scheduled on a day separate from a BOD meeting since it is a day long course.
There is a possible opportunity for an Eastern Youth Trapping Camp at a facility named The Capital Region Center. Local Board members will visit the site to determine suitability of the site and any needs that would be have to be attended to.
The Board approved a motion by Mark Charpentier, seconded by Thom DeLisle, to donate $500.00 to the NYSDEC BOW program to be used as scholarship money for participants.
ADJOURNED: 5:10 PM