Meeting Minutes 8/8/09

Ohio Waterfowl Association

1 pm, Cardinal Center

The meeting was called to order a few minutes after 1 pm.

*The first agenda item was a review of the minutes from February. A motion was made by Bob Chaplin to accept the minutes without review. Jay Comyns seconded. The minutes were accepted without review.

*Rance Gamblin and Amy Petkovich showed the t-shirts, sweatshirts, plaques and window decals that sponsors were to receive as part of the individual sponsorship and corporate sponsorship programs.

*Sponsorship recognition was given to Jim McNamara on the corporate level for McNamara Taxidermy, Darren Brooks, Hunter Brooks, and Dan Barney on the individual levels. Special consideration was also given by the committee to Steve Hoover for his outstanding donation to the Waterfowler’s Bootcamp. The only recipient present was Jim McNamara.

*Rance Gamblin gave the following report, highlighting his activity since the last meeting, and his agenda for the upcoming weeks:

March 22 Attended and helped man OWA booth at ODCCA show with Amy Petkovich, Shawn Philbrick, and Ky Kraus

April 4 Assisted with the Dick Benson Memorial Decoy Painting Station at Fairfield County Pheasants Forever Event with Bill Snader, Bryan Schreiber and other OWA volunteers

April 18 Attempted to organize a Nimisila Reservoir Cleanup Day with Tony Tilson. Event cancelled due to lack of volunteer participation.

Represented the OWA (along with Amy Petkovich) at Crooked River Guide Service’s Wild Game Dinner. Event featured a Hen nest tube build (app 20 built) which were provided to any attendee that requested them. Raffle and auction proceeds that night were split between the OWA and another charity. OWA received $545. Thanks to John Beckwith and Brain Laux for hosting the event.

April 30 Attended OWA Officers meeting in Fairlawn OH. Decision made to make success of Bootcamp the priority for 2009, knowing this would decrease availability for projects this year.

May 12 and June 9 Attended meetings of OWA officers and WBC committee members to discuss progress and logistics of WBC, Ashland OH.

July17-19 Represented OWA at Waterfowlers Bootcamp, Marengo OH

August 1 Attended SpringValley Youth and Handicap Accessible Blind Build with Bill Snader, Bryan Schreiber and other OWA volunteers.

August 7. Blind delivery to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge with Dan Boone

Upcoming Events on President’s Schedule

August 15. Facilitating Unmanned Display at “Duck Day-Waterfowling and Hunting Clinic for Kids”. Osborn MetroPark, Sandusky. OWA volunteers: Chris Vendergoot, Dan Barney, and others

August 22-23. Lake Erie Waterfowlers Crane Creek Show. OWA booth staffing with other OWA officers. Blind build (OWA volunteers Randy Eyre and Chad Buehler) and Decoy Painting and Build-a-call Event for Kids (OWA volunteer DeWayne Knight)

*Dan Boone, Northern Vice President gave the following report:

Dan, his father and brother in law picked up blind building materials from Sarah Mason at Ottawa, built the blinds, and delivered them to Bootcamp. The blinds have now been delivered to Ottawa, after Bill Snader and Bootcamp participants (mainly youths) stained and sealed them. OWA member Chad Buelher is preparing signs bearing the OWA logo and name to be placed on the blinds.

Dan also stated that the Wayne County goose banding project that OWA had participated in years past had to be eliminated this year. The geese have become wary, and the DNR offered to allow them to help with wood duck banding instead, however, it would be during the week, and volunteers would be harder to find, and youth participation would be very limited.

*Bill Snader, South Zone Vice President gave the following report:

Bill, along with other OWA members and officers attended the Spring Valley handicap and youth blind build. The blind is set up at the end of an APV trail, and will be accessible for handicapped hunters using their all purpose vehicles.

Bill also attended the goose round up at Mercer. The banding effort was highly successful, as the quota of banded geese was met by 10 a.m.that morning.

On April 4^th Bill worked at the Fairfield county PF event, where youths painted over 500 duck heads in the OWA tent with other OWA members and officers.

Bill also announced a Buckeye Lake cleanup that occurred in March, removing old blind debris and other trash, a project spearheaded by member Greg Gbur.

*Treasurer Ky Kraus gave the following financial report:

Waterfowler’s Bootcamp brought in revenue of approximately $8,000. While all expenses are accounted for, revenue is still coming in the form of t-shirt sales.

OWA has an approximate balance of $12,700 in the bank, and just shy of $200 in our pay pal account.

Detailed treasurer’s reports were made available to anyone that wanted to see the actual, detailed accounting sheets.

*Amy Petkovich, Membership Chair, gave the following report (after presenting McNamara with his sponsorship package) :

Since February we have 195 new members, many of which came from the Bootcamp event. There have also been 55 renewals. Current active membership in good standing is 298 members. 520 memberships are either present or expired. Amy and Rance will be reaching out to the expired members in an attempt to renew their memberships.

The drawing was held for the membership renewal or new membership sign up. Brian Laux was drawn as the winner. Brian will receive a guided hunt package for a trip to Texas.

*After the committee reports the next agenda item was amending the constitution to reflect the sponsorship program. The program had been discussed at earlier meetings, and was already underway, although not formally in the constitution. A motion was made by Bob Chaplin to waive the 14 day voting requirement since this was really old business. Mike Petkovich seconded. A unanimous vote was taken to waive. Discussion on the amendment began.

Cliff asked what were to happen if the balance had not been paid in full by the end of the first full year. Ky stated that the receipt would reflect that sponsorship would end if the amount due was not paid in full. Receipts would reflect due amounts, and expiration dates.

A motion and second were made to vote to accept the sponsorship program. A unanimous decision was made by show of hands to enter the program into the constitution.

*Rance announced that the committee had decided that all sponsorships paid for prior to August 8^th 2009 would actually begin on that day, and expire two years after.

*Bill Snader had already addressed the blind build in District 5 during his report, so that agenda item was bypassed.

*Randy Eyre discussed the blind project at Ottawa, and Magee. He wanted to purchase the materials for 2 blinds to be built at the Crane Creek Waterfowl festival, and have them in the water by the time teal season opens at Magee. He also stated that Ottawa wanted two more blinds, and they had the lumber for them. He submitted a request for approximately 450 dollars. He stated these blinds would have the same signage and logo attached as the ones previously delivered.

A motion was made to grant Randy $500 for the project. The motion was seconded, and a vote was taken. A unanimous show of hands authorized the expenditure.

Randy and Tom Kubicz then stated that they have tools available, but welcome volunteers for the building at the Crane Creek show, Aug 22 and 23.

Randy also stated that Magee has asked for wood duck boxes and hen tubes. Discussion about building pre assembled kits would be possible. Itemized expenses would be needed.

*Waterfowl Bootcamp Chair Jay Comyns gave the following review of Waterfowler’s Bootcamp:

There were 76 vendors on hand, and an estimated 2500 patrons.

Jay announced that a lot of positive feedback came to him. Most notably that DU, Delta, and the OWa were all three present, and cooperative.

He announced that DU would have a new event for next year.

He announced that Delta Waterfowl had gained three potential new chapters by their presence at Bootcamp.

Many vendors have vowed to return next year.

Next year’s event has been booked at the Cardinal Center for the third weekend of July. The grounds have been secured.

A plea was made to the attendees for volunteer help. Meetings will be held for planning, and committee building over the next several months.

Bob Chaplin motioned to give the OWA committee latitude to work on the planning of Bootcamp, without committing financially until a vote could be held in February. Jay Comyns seconded. A unanimous vote gave the committee the latitude to assist in the planning of 2010 Bootcamp, without committing financially.

Rance made a plea for volunteers, not just for Bootcamp, but for all projects.

*Returning to the agenda, suggestions forwarded by Chad Buehler were tabled for a Bootcamp planning meeting, since they pertained directly to Bootcamp.

*The next item was OWA involvement at Crane Creek. Rance, Amy, Dan and Ky will all be present. The blind building will take place, and the OWA has funded a decoy painting, call building event for youths, to be coordinated by members Dewayne Knight and John Barsa. Volunteers would be appreciated.

In a related addendum, Rance and Dan suggested that a call for old, unwanted decoys be placed on the OWA website, to have available for events like this, instead of buying newer, high quality decoys.

*The last agenda item was a proposal by Ky Kraus and Shawn Philbrick, for discussion only, involving a board of directors, and constitutional changes.

Ky presented the program, which will be placed on the OWA website in the weeks to come, that will allow all members to read it, and send email suggestions, ideas, or alternate programs to the committee for review. It is hoped that an agreed upon BOD program can be voted on, and implemented at the February 2010 meeting.

The program summary is basically as follows:

An amendment to the constitution would be needed, changing the executive officers from 3 to 5, (adding the secretary and treasurer to the President and two VP’s.)

The board would then be made up of 11 people in total. The 5 executive officers, 5 District representatives, and the immediate preceding full term President, or if declined, the one preceding the immediate, would be the board of directors.

Stipulations are made for the district members. They cannot already be a current elected committee member. Their membership must be in good standing. And they must reside in the district in which they are elected. If no one meeting the qualifications is elected, then the seat remains vacant.

Stipulations for the immediate past President are simply that he/she served the full two year term. In the event the immediate past President did not serve a full term, or declines to be on the board, his/her predecessor would be eligible. If neither is so inclined, or eligible, the seat remains vacant.

To maintain continuity, elections for the board would take place in the years opposite the elections for the executive officers. This means if this proposal were to be implemented, a vote would need to take place in February 2010 to elect the district representatives, and the only eligible past President would be former President Ken Parrott.

The board of directors would be responsible for decision making and mandating courses of action to the committee.

Suggestions for changes, ideas, or other proposals should be directed to the email links on the OWA site. A final proposal will be made available prior to the meeting in February, meeting the 14 day notice requirement.

**A call was made for new business.

*Tom Kubicz asked if the OWA was going to be present at the blind drawings. He volunteered to take the banner and membership applications to both Magee and Pipe Creek. Randy Eyres will join Tom at Magee, Shawn Philbrick may join Tom at Pipe Creek.

Other volunteer membership drives will take place with:

Bob Chaplin and Greg Reed at Ladue.

Rance Gamblin at Portage Lakes

Ky Kraus at West Branch

Mike Petkovich at Mosquito

Jay Comyms at Alum Creek

Shawn Philbrick at Killbuck

*Tom also asked if the OWA was donating calls to the youth hunts at Magee. Shawn Philbrick will contact John Barsa of Buck Gardner calls to attempt purchasing them.

*In other new business, Rance announced that the he would like to give honorary memberships to both Flo Benson and Dr. Gary Riggs. Following the articles of the constitution, both were granted lifetime honorary memberships.

*Bill Snader announced that he was to be working with Delta Waterfowl in Cincinnati at Bass Pro Shops. He also stated that he needed decoy heads for the Fairfield event again,