CT BASS FEDERATION MEETING MINUTES
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Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation
Meeting Minutes
March 22, 2007


The regular monthly meeting of the Connecticut B.A.S.S. Federation Nation was called to order March 22, at 7:32 p.m. by the President.

Roll Call: The following clubs were absent: Bass Blazers, Hartford County and North Eastern

Excused Absences from the previous month: Because of the bad weather during last months meeting it was proposed that all absences be excused. Motion Adopted. All absences from February will be excused.

The minutes of previous month’s minutes where accepted as posted.

Guest Speaker

Guest speaker from River Front Recapture, Mr. Craig Mergins. He gave us an update on upcoming event and programs.

Correspondence
None

Reports of Officers

Treasurer’s Report:

As of December, 2006 there were the following amounts in the accounts:

CBFN General Checking - $9,118.75

CBFN Money Market Account - $11,474.18

CBFN Scholarship Checking - $79.52

CBFN Scholarship Money Market Account - $11,231.70

Scholarship Report:

Applications are available on the Website. Application Deadline is April 1, 2007

Conservation / Environmental Report: David Santos

The Conservation Committee has developed a Conservation Alert Form. Any Member of the Connecticut Federation Nation may bring to the attention of the Conservation Committee any environmental, conservation, habitat or fish life cycle issue that they are aware of in their community. The Conservation Committee will investigate the issue and take action based upon their findings. Action may include public awareness, lobbying public officials for public policy change, forming alliances to monitor the situation, among others. The form will be available on the CBFN website.

DEP Fisheries Biologist began collecting largemouth bass to test for Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) in 2005. Each year, several Connecticut Lakes will be sampled. To date Bass from Amos Lake in Preston have tested positive for LMBV. The DEP asked to help keep this from spreading to properly clean and disinfect boats, livewells, and gear. Anglers should never transfer fish between water bodies.

Dense water chestnuts growth can make fishing and boating impossible. Water chestnuts have been found in Keeney Cove, the Hockanum and Podunk Rivers, ponds in Eastford, and West Hartford, and Bantam Lake. Anglers should be on the lookout for this highly invasive plant. The DEP is involved in eradication efforts.

We passed the 1st hurdle of our grant application for the Housatonic River Natural Resource Damage Restoration Project. The approval process timeline is as follows:
• Final eligibility report due March 27, 2007
• Request for supplemental information due March 28, 2007
• Supplemental information due submittal due June 20, 2007
• Short list projects based on evaluation criteria analysis due September 2007
• Publish Draft Restoration Plan with preferred projects list January 2008
• Final Restoration Plan adopted May/June 2008
• Grant awards 3rd to 4th quarter 2008

DEP Biologist Peter Aarrestad will be a guest speaker at our April 2007 and address the CBFN about habitat issues on our inland fisheries.

The CBFN received the $1,000 grant money from the Fish Care Grant Application we applied for.


Legislative Bills
• HB-5456 An act requiring the issuance of DEP hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and permits via the internet. This Bill was filed with the Legislative Commissioners office on 3/14/07
• HB-6561 An act increasing the number of DEP Conservation Law Enforcement Officers. This Bill is still in committee and need our support.
• HB-6577 An act concerning the Motor Boat Fuel Taxes and Conservation Fund. This Bill and a Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding on 3/22/07.
• HB-6865 An act concerning the establishment of an invasive aquatic plant eradication and control program. This Bill is still in committee and needs our support.
• SB-282 An act concerning an appropriation to control invasive plants. This Bill had a change of Reference Appropriations on 2/9/07. This Bill needs our support.
• SB-994 An act removing jurisdiction of State Parks and Forests from the DEP. There was a public hearing on 2/9/07 and remains in Committee.
• HB-7124 An act concerning Natural Resource Programs of the DEP. This is the new License Program the DEP came in and spoke to us about. It was referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis on 03/28/07.

Youth Committee:

The Casting Kids State Championship will be September 1st at Stephen Auto Mall Central 1069 Farmington Ave. Rt. 6, Bristol, Ct. 06010 from 1:00 to 2:00pm.

Jr. Bassmasters Club members will fish as Co-Anglers on the Fed Trail. All are 16 years of age or over. They will be competing among themselves and not the other Co-Anglers on the trail. They will also be providing assistance with the cooking of Hotdogs and Hamburgers at the end of the tournament.

Jr Bassmaster Clubs meeting on April 1, contact Terry for additional info.

Tournament Committee:

The Tournament Committee held a meeting on Saturday, March 10 at Sylvia and Jim’s house in Milford. At this point in time the committee consists of 21 members. We are moving forward nicely and should have everything in order for the first tournament.

The new scale has been ordered from Pro Tournament Scales and should be delivered within the next week. The software has also been ordered from Taysys Software. I spoke with Bob Taylor from Taysys and he will customize the software to our specifications. Jack Vinyard and I will be working on the fine details and I will get back to Bob within the next five days. It should take him around two weeks to get us the finished product.

I have received the permit from the D.E.P. for our first tournament on Lillinonah. We will be able to launch 40 boats from the Steel Bridge and 35 from Pond Brook. If there are any members who have permission to launch from any of the private launches on Lillinonah please take advantage of that and let either myself or Jack Vinyard know. Cooperation in this area would be greatly appreciated.

I have also signed and returned the agreement from The City of Danbury allowing the CBFN to use Candlewood Lake Park for the two day state championship. There will be a $10 launch fee charge per day. We will also have to rent a portable toilet for the weekend. I will work on that when we get closer to October.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks Dave Santos and I will be ordering the components for the new tournament fish care system.

Mailing Deadline for the first Tournament on Lake Lillinonah is April 6, 2007

Fishing Advisory Report: David Santos

Habitat Conservation and Enhancement:

• Completed the Draft Eligibility Report for the Housatonic River Natural Resource Damages Restoration Project. 92 responses to the RFP (issued November 2006) were received. Of those, 75 were found eligible for further consideration in the development of the Restoration Plan. A request for Supplemental Information will be issued for all eligible projects on March 28, 2007. It is expected that the Restoration Plan will be completed in the first quarter of 2008, with funds distributed thereafter.
• Produced a 6-page Large Woody Debris (LWD) fact sheet that describes the ecological importance of LWD to river ecosystems and provides guidance for its beneficial management.
• Broadwater LNG Project – Staff identified a number of issues that require additional consideration by FERC, including the possibility of long-term impact to the seabed, recreational fishing and commercial fishing. Staff recommended additional evaluation of alternate locations outside of Long Island Sound to avoid these impacts. In consideration of the various issues identified, staff concluded the project should not be authorized as proposed.

Candlewood Lake: A meeting was recently called. Upon of all member towns of the Candlewood Lake Authority (Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman a boat-use permit may be adopted. The reason for this is the Shoreline Management Plan is in need of funds. Lakefront owners think they should be exempt, but DEP says that if there is to be a boat-use permit all boaters Lakefront owners as well as out-of-towners will be charged. As of now, there is no boat-use permit in the immediate future. But it is my opinion that we need to be vigilant on this issue.


Boating Advisory Report: Jack Vinyard

Meeting was held on March 14, 2007

- Gardner Lake Boat Ramp – project is set to start this fall.
- National Safe Boating Week – May 19 – 25, 2007
- Connecticut Coastal Boater Program – New program for advanced boating safety / navigation course. After completing the course you get a sticker that goes on your Boating Certificate. Check the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep/boating for a link to course dates, times and places.
Connecticut Coastal Boater Endorsement Program
Boating on Connecticut’s waterways and Long Island Sound may seem easier with the modern electronics of today. But what if they fail? You will need to quickly depend on the time-tested methods of the past. These methods of navigation form the basis that modern electronics rely upon to make navigation so easy today. Should your electronics fail, having a basic understanding of navigation and plotting methods could save your life and those of others.
Boaters desiring to travel in coastal waters should seek advanced courses in navigation. Boaters should be confident in their vessel and their handling skills. To further promote safety in coastal waters, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is sponsoring the Connecticut Coastal Boater Endorsement Program. This program seeks to recognize and reward those boaters who have chosen to further their boating education.
Boaters who complete a course in basic navigation will receive the Coastal Boater Endorsement decal to be placed on their Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. There is no fee for the endorsement. It is simply our way of recognizing and thanking those who have taken the extra time to learn more about boating safety in our waters. Your efforts may be rewarded further by a decrease in insurance rates.
- The topic of the Candlewood use sticker came up. The DEP position is that the sticker would have to apply to all boats on Candlewood Lake, not just people launching that the ramps on a daily basis, but all boats on the lake. The Candlewood Lake Authority is against having it apply to all boats on the lake. Seems to be a dead issue.

State Team Report:

Had meeting at Sylvia’s on March 11th. The rooms for the State Team are all set for the Regional’s.

Raffle Report:

Tickets handed out to FED Reps. Tickets are due back at the July Meeting. NO CASH – Checks Only!!

Candlewood Lake Authority Report:

We are still looking for a volunteer to represent us at this meeting. If interested please contact Bob or Jack.

Lake Lillinonah Authority Report:

No Report

We are looking for someone to attend the Lake Lillinonah monthly meetings.

Financial Committee: Ray Bessette

Handed out copies of the proposed budget for 2007 to each Club Rep.

Audit Committee:

Audit will be conducted at the end of the busy tax season. Members of the committee and the Treasurer are extremely busy during the tax season.

Banquet Committee: Sylvia Morris

The banquet is scheduled for November 3rd.

Membership Committee:
None

Sponsors Committee: Ed Weeks

Please support our SPONSORS! Let them know that you are Connecticut BASS Federation Nation members when you visit them. They need to know that we are supporting them.

Liberty Mutual Insurance – Bob was contacted by Liberty Mutual, they are interested in wanting to sponsor the Federation with a $600.00 donation. With this sponsorship deal comes a 10 – 15% discount for members on insurance. Motion was made to let Bob use his best judgment in accepting the deal. Motion Adopted.

A motion made to accept all reports as given. Adopted.

Old Business

Heart of Connecticut Bassmasters submitted a Expense Request for $125.00 to support the Heart of Connecticut 9th Annual Team Open which supports the Jr. Bassmasters. Motion to approve the request. Motion Adopted.

BASS Club World Championship – 6 Man Team Tournaments. The application forms should arrive from BASS within the next couple of weeks. Those Teams that plan on participating need to be ready to send their money into BASS when they arrive. There is not enough time for a fish off to qualify teams for this year. The first 6 teams that contact Bob will be in. Your Team members must be on the same club roster. If they are members of a different club, they need to join your club as non mothering members. Update the online BASS roster and send copy to Secretary.

Travel Advance – Settlement. Chris Novack received an advance of $1,000.00 for his travel to the Nationals. His actual expenses where $200.00 more than the advance. Motion made to pay him for the difference. Motion was Adopted.

New Business

MotorGuide – We have a discount of 35% off on the purchase of two trolling motors through MotorGuide. It was proposed that we purchase two motors using this discount and have any members interested in purchasing these motors at the discount, submit their names. Put all the names in a hat and draw two names. These two people would buy the motors using the discount price. This motion was tabled until next meeting.

Announcements

Pachaug Area Bassmasters – 18TH Annual Ice Breaker Tournament, Pachaug Pond State Park, Sunday, April 15, 2007, 7:00 – 3:00. For more info: http://www.pachaugareabassmasters.com/

Heart of Connecticut 9th Annual Team Open - Sunday, April 15, 2007.

Tobacco Valley – 13th Annual Ice Out Team Tournament on Sunday, April 15, 2007, 8:00 – 4:00, Congamond Lake, North Ramp.

Bryan Kerchal Camp – There be a kids camp in 2007. Point of contact is Jennifer Sposta, 203-426-3624. The camp will be August 13 – 17 and Boat Captains are needed.

Bryan Kerchal Tournament – will be held April 29, 2007. At Danbury Town Park, Candlewood Lake.

New England PVA is holding their first tournament of the season on Lake Congomond, April 28th. They are in need of Boaters for this event. If you are able to help, please contact Bob Malloy.

Next Meeting: April 26, 2007

Meeting was adjourned at 9:45 pm


Jack Vinyard
CBFN Secretary
 

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