Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Board of Directors

Spring Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Meeting of April 18, 2011, 7 p.m.

Comfort Suites, State College, PA.

Board Members present: Judi Sittler, Rick Van Horn, Chris Haser, Scott Brumbaugh, Bob Vierck, Jim Purtell, Bill Voigt and Bob Eberhart. Also present were Al Jones (see below) and Dick Stevenson, a former Chapter Board member.

Guest Speaker: Al Jones, Executive director of the Centre County Community Foundation, described the activities of his organization and how the Chapter might benefit from them. The Chapter could apply for grants to be funded from discretionary funds held by the Foundation, or the Chapter could work toward establishing an organizational endowment. A fund to benefit the Chapter could be established with as little as $2000 and would become endowed and would make annual distributions when the fund reached $10,000. Chapter members or other individuals could will tax-advantaged bequests to the fund. These opportunities will be discussed at future Board meetings.

New Board Member: Judi Sittler introduced Bill Voigt who will fill the seat vacated by Ron Shealer for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Approval of March Minutes: After several corrections were made, the Minutes of March 14 were approved as amended.

Treasurer’s Report: Rick Van Horn reported that as of March 31, the Chapter had a net worth of $41,763. The Treasurer’s report was accepted as presented. Judi Sittler reported that Jessica Martin, a teacher at Penns Valley Middle School had received a Trout in the Classroom (TIC) grant, and that our Chapter has agreed to provide $350 to help support the project. The Chapter funds budgeted for TIC projects have already been expended for the chiller at the Mount Nittany Middle School project. The Board considered the possibility that $250 budgeted for a Rivers Conservation Scholarship might be used instead for TIC.

Old Business:

Proposed Bylaws: The proposed Bylaws were sent to the Chapter membership for review and comment on March 21 and were discussed at the April 7 membership meeting. Written comments were received from one member . These were discussed and some were incorporated into the proposed bylaws. The proposed Bylaws will be considered again at the May Board meeting, and if no major additional comments are received, may be adopted at that time.

Marcellus Shale: Bob Eberhart passed out flyers announcing a presentation by Cornell professor Anthony Ingraffea on drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus shales. The Chapter is a cosponsor of this presentation. Eberhart also reported that a Joint Committee of ClearWater, the Sierra Club Moshannon Group and our TU Chapter had met to discuss a Joint statement on Marcellus shale drilling and had reviewed a preliminary draft. The project is on hold until ClearWater completes it own position statement that is expected in May.

Spring Creek Heritage Nominee: The Board supported the request from Clearwater that this year’s Spring Creek Heritage Award should go to Don Hamer, a long-time benefactor of many projects to protect and improve Spring Creek. Don has also made substantial donations to our Chapter.

Spring Creek Clean-up Day: Chris Haser reported that this year’s Clean-up day will be on April 23. He said that the Chapter has agreed to clean up the stream and stream bank upstream and downstream from The Rock and Rock Road from the Rock uphill to Barnes Lane. If there are enough volunteers and enough time, the Chapter may also clean up the access area at the McCoy Dam site.

Big Spring Festival in Bellefonte, May 15: The Board decided not to have an exhibit at the Big Spring Festival this year. There was some discussion of the pros and cons of the annual stocking of large trout at the High Street Bridge in Bellefonte as a part of the Festival.

Little Juniata River Association (LJRA): Joe Boston will attend the May Board meeting to request assistance from our Chapter with projects proposed by the LJRA.

Committee Reports:

Banquet Committee: Jim Purtell distributed a report of the Income and Expenses of the 2011 Banquet held on April 9. Net income was $9,184; this figure is close to those of 2010 and 2009. There was discussion of how future banquets might be managed to yield more income.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bob Eberhart,

Secretary

These minutes were accepted as submitted to the Board of Directors at their meeting of May 16, 2011.