Iowa Trappers Association Inc. Spring Directors Meeting

April 19, 2009

CALL TO ORDER: President, Craig Sweet, called the Spring

Meeting to order at 10:05 A.M. at the Iowa State Tree

Nursery, Ames, Iowa.

ROLL CALL: Answered by 4 Officers, 15 Directors,

4 Directors at Large; NTA Director, George Scalf; FTA Director, Gene Purdy; Tip Director, Jeff Kempf; and DNR Representative, Ron Andrews.

Special Guests introduced: Lynn Logston; Neil Zigman, Mike Cope, Bruce Rhoades and Dean Bartz

NEW DIRECTORS:

Craig Sweet reported that Tom Walters would like to be District 7 Director and Joe Aeschliman is interested in the Director at Large #5.
There were no other names for District 7.
Motion: Nominate Tom Walters as the District 7 Director - by Cody Hutton.
Seconded by Tom Gilman - Motion Carried

Nominations for the Director at Large #5

Ed Clouse nominated George Scalf

Mike Sells nominated Chris Pohl

Gene Purdy nominated Joe Aeschliman

Comments by George Scalf: He has been a member for 30 years and never missed a meeting. He represents the Trappers to the best of his ability. He thinks he has earned the right to have a vote on the board one way or another. He has raised a lot of money through banquets.
Chris has been a past Director of District 24. He then left the area due to a career change. He is back now and wants to get more involved in the ITA.
Joe is from West Des Moines and is an avid trapper. He wants to step up his level in participation and wants to be a part of the ITA.
Comment from Spencer Hill. He wants to see a director from the northern part of the state as they need more help up there.
Ballot Poll was done with the voting Directors only. Jeff Kempf and Randy Mitchell counted the votes. Joe Aeschliman won the vote.

AGENDA

Jim O’Bradovich wants to be placed between the Treasurer Report and Correspondence.

Motion: Approve the Agenda by Tom Walters.
Seconded: Spencer Hill - Motion carried.

MINUTES: Executive Council Minutes:

Conference call was made March 13th at 7:06am. Purpose to discuss the contract between the Franklin Co. Fair and Convention Center and the ITA. There is a flat fee of $2000 to be paid to the Franklin Co Fair and the ITA to retain all the gate and camping fee. There is separate check to be written for damage deposit and after the final inspection upon approval it will be returned.

Motion: Accept the Executive Council Minutes by Mike Long.

Seconded: Tom Walters - Motion carried.

Secretary Report of Minutes: Corrections –1. Spelling of Lynx and Feast should be Fest. 2. Correction regarding the mink and musk rat pelts – “Motion: Spencer Hill to them mounted by Spencer Hill” 3. The division between Unfinished Business and New Business was excluded.

SECRETARY REPORT: Patty Kempf

Current membership is at 1377 with 4 new Lifetime Members since February 1st. The FBU banquet in Pleasant Hill produced 24 membership cards with 6 new members and 18 renewals.
Our subscription price of The Trapper and Predator Caller magazine was increased on April 1st from $10.50 to $11.00. There are only 10 issues per year.

Motion: Approve the minutes and corrections by Cody Hutton.

Seconded: Chris Grillot - Motion carried.

TREASURER REPORT: Chris Grillot

1st Quarter Balance Sheet and Profit/Loss reports were passed out.
The balance sheet shows current total liabilities and equity as of March 31, 2009.
The Profit and Loss report shows through March 2009 with a comparison of last year.
The six month CD was redeemed and is now due March 2010. CD #2 does not show as it went towards CD #4.
$3,000 was moved from general funds to the Lifetime Money Market.

Motion: Approve the Treasurer Report by Jeff Kempf. Seconded: Jim Noneman - Motion Carried.

LEGISLATIVE REPORT: Jim O’Bradovich

The Legislative Breakfast went over great. Jim thinks that we made great public policy!!!! One representative had their daughter at the breakfast. The fur coat was tried on by several representatives. The breakfast made a significant impression for the ITA and it has already paid dividends. A representative showed Jim a draft of a bill in involving trappings in a circumference around homes in an area west of Des Moines. She had been to the breakfast and came to talk to Jim and then decided not to even sponsor the bill.

The breakfast was well accepted by all. The consensus is to do it again next year.

Correspondence:
Cody: Boy Scout Pack #119 is hosting a camp out on May 1-3rd. He passed out a list of ideas that we could participate in. Cody is asking for any help he can get. It is held at Hickory Hills Park in Warren County.
Des Moines Isaac Walton League is having an expo on September 18, 19, 20th for school aged kids.

The FBU educational packets are available. Chris Grillot will take care of the animal trading cards as she reorders them under merchandise as we run out. Cody will take care of the getting the coloring books.

Motion: Order 500 of each coloring books (2) by Randy Mitchell.
Seconded: Jeff Kempf - Motion carried.

Spencer Hill: Correspondence from couple members. A Thank-you from the WI Pheasant Fest.

Mike Sells: He states to be careful of what is said on the Trapper Forum website and the Antis are watching our moves very closely.

They have noted that there is fighting within the organization.

Chris Grillot: (Randy read it for her)

Thank-you:

FTA for $1000 donation for the Circle of Friends
Main Trapper Assoc. Legal Defense Donation
Ronald McDonald House
FBU Donations to the Regional Conventions
NTA: $1.00 per member for 1st quarter

Request from the USSA Trail Blazer Fund Raiser Program wanting to know if we want to participate.

E-mail from Spooner Taxidermy requesting input about his idea of adding a tannery to his current Taxidermy. He wanted feed back. They are located in Clinton.

Craig:

Thank-you from Tom Campbell, Conservation Officer of the Year recipient. He is very appreciative of the framed print.
Letter from Minnesota Trappers regarding their 50th Anniversary book. They asked if we want to do any advertising.
Letter from Jim Ahrens in reference to pre-staking.
Letter from Karola Owen stating that one of the NTA lifetime members wants a membership patch of every association in the United States. Do we want to donate a membership patch? The membership patches are available for purchase but the Lifetime Membership patch has to have a membership.
The Contract from the Franklin County Fair is available for anyone’s review.
Letter from Richard Garret of the NTA requesting name of the Affiliate Representative for the NTA board meetings. Our representative is George Scalf and Bruce Hutton can be the alternate representative.
Brochure from Excel Furs and they will donate 5% straight to the ITA if members buy items or tan and 8% for any garments that are made.

DISTRICT DIRECTORS:

Mike O’Hearn – He has had a lot of people contact him regarding the pre-staking. It is not a problem in his area. Most comments are in favor of keeping it the way it is.
Tom Gilman – No one has a problem with pre-staking itself. The biggest problem seems to be one person who is complaining.
Dean Hoffman -- He has several long liners in his area. Biggest problem is a tagged stake means that the trapper has exclusive rights to that area. Middle ground approach, if there is no tag, then first come; first serve. Jealousy is a factor. There is a problem with out of state trappers coming in as well. It is a problem that will not go away.

Spencer Hill – In his area, local guys are pre-staking. He gets phone complaints about animals left in traps. Once the long liner guy gets so many traps out, he can’t remember where they all are. You can only get so much done on one day. His callers stated that they are against the pre-staking. He will stand on his opinion which is against the pre-staking.
Dwayne Kay –He sent a pre-staking survey letter and had 17 returns, 14 against and 3 for. He has been pre-staking for years. He has been getting complaints in his district (NW Iowa) since the 80’s. Everybody should start at the same time.
Gene Purdy – He sent a survey letter to 44 current members. 20 responses, 16 against and 4 in favor.
Cody Hutton -- He has had 3 contacts in favor of pre-staking. He did some research regarding our motion that was made at the last meeting. He states that it is null and void as there is a previous motion on the books from January 2005 which states “”Limit pre-staking in road right of ways to two weeks prior to opening of trapping season and remove all equipment last day of trapping season.” That motion has never been rescinded. That is the opinion of Janette, the parliamentarian. The motion was given to Ron Andrews and he did give it to the DNR commission. Cody is questioning whether or not the 2005 motion still stands.
It is George Scalf’s opinion that the 2005 motion was not given to the Game Commissioners. It is the opinion of the professional parliamentarian, Janette, that we have two choices; go with first motion or rescind it and then make a new motion.
Eric Rector – He sent out a pre-staking letter (65 in total). He got 16 responses; 8 yes and 8 no.
George Scalf – He feels that we should not give up any rights that we have already. The DNR will be after our snares or conibears in the next five years.
Ron Andrews: The pre-staking issue will be addressed at the Commission’s meeting. The lower level (DNR) is fighting for Bobcat harvest numbers to be increased and increased areas open for harvest.
Dave Phipps: 2 persons replied as against any changes. The Trapper’s website needs to be more active and update.
Ed Clouse: He talked to several trappers and they do not want any changes regarding the pre-staking. It is not a problem. It has been going on since 1984.
Jeff Kempf: He sent out 36 letters and got 30 responses; 20 against and 9 for and one returned. He feels that it is important to know what the guys in his counties feel.
Virgil Davis: He has had two calls.
Jim Noneman: his contacts do not want any changes
Wayne Funke: He has a check for the ITA. He had two trappers who donated furs last year; Ed Grillot and Craig Sweet It is a good way to make money for the Association. We need to notify the members of that program.
Mike Long: There are no problems in the SE area. Young kids may get discouraged if the pre-staking continues. We need young people to stay involved.
Craig Sweet: 5 people called with 3 for pre-staking. Matt Lumley stated the ITA may want to at least contact the Lifetime Members for their opinions in the future.
Joe Aeschliman: He does trap the road right of way. He feels that there is always room for one more. He deals with competition all the time. There is already a law on the books for pre-staking and he doesn’t think that we need to change.

Spencer Hill: Wanted to Thank-you for the donation towards guns for the banquet/. 2. Pheasant Fest Convention in WI. Set up booth and did demonstration on Fri, SAT &SUN. On Saturday the room was full for the demonstration. After that demo, two bird dog organizations would like them to demo.

OPEN FORUM:

1st Guest Speaker: Lynn Logston. He is concerned about loosing right of trapping the road right of ways. He traps a lot of public ground and road right of ways. He stated that everyone should learn to get along. The trouble makers should be the ones reprimanded and not punish ALL trappers. Otherwise, the legislatures will continue to reduce the trapping privileges. 4

2nd Guest Speaker: Bruce Rhoades. He appreciates the hard work of the Board of Directors and acknowledged the members who ran for the Director at Large position. He does Pre-staking. He feels that it is a regional problem. All road right of ways is a FREE area; they don’t belong to any one person. He opposes the Pre-staking issue.

3rd Guest Speaker: Neil Zigman: He is in favor of pre-staking. The other the trappers should deal with it and set somewhere else.

Bruce Hutton was recognized: He is making the suggestion that the Trappers adopt the 2005 motion.

Ed Grillot was recognized: His concern is the Trappers appear to be fighting amongst themselves and it is the Conservation Officers that are getting caught in the middle. We need to police ourselves.
Ron Andrews was recognized: He states that the Conservation Officers do their best. He feels that the issue should be dealt in the fairest way: Trapping Season starts at 8:00 A.M. on the opening day for public right of ways.
Dean Hoffman was recognized: He stated that you just don’t know what the DNR is going to do. RE: Ginsing Harvesting and the new criteria.
Mike O’Hearn was recognized: “Just remember what your mother said, “Life ain’t fair” and you can’t legislate what’s fair”.
There were more random comments regarding the pre-staking issues. Two notable issues: Pre-set stakes that are not set later is a lost resource. A set with no name tag is an illegal set and the DNR should be notified.

LUNCH BREAK

Meeting Back to Order: 1:10 p.m.
Spencer Hill stated that we are now required to make a $50.00 deposit for the facility. Please monitor yourself.

As of April 1, 2009 a $50.00 deposit is required. If no damage, a full refund is warranted.

FTA: Gene Purdy

04/01/09 - The Governing Board voted to send $ 2,000 to CT. The last report is that the bill has been withdrawn.
There was a tornado that hit Mena, AK. Everything is in good condition.

NTA – George Scalf

The split from the Convention is correct according to the Contract. The ITA received half of the ball toss and ½ the gate less the cost of the buttons.
Executive Council had exercised their 30 day notice and cancelled the contract with Dave Miller as the Director of National and International Affairs effective March 1, 2009. Sam Smith is acting as the NTA representative until a replacement is named.
FBU is seeking donations for the awards banquet auction. Sponsorship table cost $250 for eight persons. It enters you into a drawing for 10/22 Ruger. Do the Iowa Trappers want to sponsor a table?
Ottumwa FBU Banquet on March 21st realized $7958.83 for the Iowa Trappers Assoc. The split is 50/50.
George attended the Midwest Regional Banquet on March 28th. Got updates on lawsuits in MN and ME given by Gary Lisco who is the attorney.
NE is reporting that they hope to resume trapping in the road ways. The ruling is to have the adjacent land owner’s permission and use only 110 and 120 conibear.
The National Wildlife Refuge quality control was addressed. Each refuge is monitored separately and the NTA is working to get a network in place to monitor them to see what changes can be made.

Carrie Underwood is donating money from her song Home Sweet Home to the Human Society of USA. He has also received a Las Vegas Newspaper clipping showing that Cary Hart (motor cross racer) is a PETA supporter.
Southeast Regional Conference was held April 18, 2009, in Birmingham, AL.

Several fund raisers in the works: The 2009 cash calendar, The Wake-up call stainless steel travel mug, and the NTA lifetime members can order a special 50th Anniversary hitch cover.

Information for the Regional Conventions is available and the breakdown of the Banquet for interested parties.
Bruce Hutton is running for President of the NTA and George would like to see the ITA endorse him for that position.
Motion: The ITA Board will endorse Bruce Hutton for the NTA President position – by Randy Mitchell.

Seconded by: Dean Hoffman

Motion carried.

Motion: ITA to purchase a table at the National NTA Awards banquet in Lime, OH for $250.00 by Randy Mitchell.

Seconded: Cody Hutton

Motion carried.

TIP: Jeff Kempf

The meeting on the 10th of January was cancelled and then three guys got together and reviewed 19 cases on that day.
January 31st there was a meeting and they scheduled the next meeting for April 11th. On April 5th he received an e-mail stating that there was not enough business to have the meeting; instead, there would be a meeting on the 8th to review cases. He could not make that meeting. At that meeting they reviewed 11 cases for a total of awards $3350.00. There are 14 board members that represent other state organizations. Mike Sells gave a brief history of the TIP organization.

REAP – NO REPORT