BFC Board of Directors Meeting
July 25, 2007
Members in attendance: Paul Prentiss, Bob Bush, Tom Finley, Mark Riley, Mike Malec, Dave Clark, Terry Escamilla, Bill Leuchten, Tony Fernandez.
Members absent: Graham Carlson, Adam Armold, Al Permut, Tyler Bowman.
Guests: Chad Pettrone.
Call To Order: 6:04 pm by President, Paul Prentiss located at Re/Max of Boulder Realty office conference room, 2425 Canyon Blvd. #110, Boulder, CO.
Correction to Minutes of 06-27-07: Agenda Item 5 pertinent to the nomination of Larry Quilling for the National TU Youth Education Leadership Award originally lists “Dave Clark has volunteered to lead this nomination task”. It should be changed to read, “Dave Clark has volunteered to participate in this nomination task”.
AGENDA
1. Discussion led by Larry Quilling concerning the upcoming Boulder City Council Candidate Forum. Boulder Creek Watershed Initiative has offered the use of its watershed forum night on September 25th at the library auditorium.
Larry Quilling was absent, therefore did not participate in this discussion. Paul Prentiss suggested that it would be important for BFC to prepare position statements on priority issues of concern to BFC that could be submitted in some form to city council members and/or candidates in association with this awareness effort. Paul suggested the BFC Board collaborate in the development of these position statements and submit them in some manner to the BFC membership for ratification. Mark Riley will attempt to clarify this approach with Larry Quilling as it relates to the City Council awareness project. Following this, Mark and Paul will then meet to develop a draft of the position statements for presentation to the other Board members.
2. Review the Chapter Effectiveness Index (CEI) submitted to Colorado Trout Unlimited for 2005/2006. The score is 20 points above the 2004/2005 total score.
In association with this completed CEI submission, CTU has also submitted the rechartering request on behalf of Boulder Flycasters.
3. Status of the Rogers Park Project.
Formal notification still has not been officially received by BFC for the DOW “Fishing Is Fun” grant award. The delay is likely due to a number of recent personnel changes at the DOW. Roger Svendsen, BFC Roger’s Park Project chairperson, has also applied for an additional grant from the Salmon and Trout Foundation in the amount of $7000, the deadline for which is August 1. Paul Prentiss suggested that the BFC Roger’s Park Project plans be included as a part of the introductory information that will be presented to the Boulder City Council awareness project lead by Larry Quilling and Larry McDonald. The intent of this suggestion would be for the city council members to be made more aware of the larger scope of conservation, recreational, and maintenance issues that might stimulate plans related to the condition of Boulder Canyon as a city attraction with the hope that city interest could be increased for their involvement to further improve Boulder Canyon as a city asset for public use.
4. Membership Survey Topics for open discussion.
(a) Alternative monthly meeting location. The Spice of Life is a showing its age.
The intent of utilizing a more upscale monthly chapter meeting location is to hopefully result in improved chapter meeting attendance. However, it is unclear if the condition and/or amenities of the meeting location have any quantifiable relation to membership attendance. There does not seem to be a lot of other satisfactory alternatives available in Boulder at a similar cost from past experience. Pros and cons of various venues are discussed. It was determined that the Spice of Life Event Center will continue to be used for regular chapter meetings and another more upscale venue will be utilized for 3-4 other annual events, i.e. the auction, the holiday party, youth night, and a special event yet to be determined. Chad Pettrone will explore potential arrangements for these other 3-4 special meetings with the Millennium Hotel and the Prima restaurant.
(b) Create an online BFC website feature that will allow members to make direct monetary contributions to the chapter and its projects. It must be credit card capable.
This feature can be enhanced through links and promotion in the newsletter and other mechanisms utilized for communication with chapter members. BFC webmaster Tony Fernandez will investigate the creation of this online payment feature. The creation of this payment feature could also be utilized for other types of payments to the chapter by the membership. Mark Riley will check with Wells Fargo to determine if they could be helpful in this effort. Bill Leuchten (or his wife) might also be helpful in this effort with relation to his experience in creating an online website payment arrangement for his business.
(c) Provide an automated mechanism that explains the volunteer process and accommodates immediate sign up by volunteers for BFC projects/events.
It is noted that one potential problem with an automated volunteer sign up mechanism is that the process can be corrupted and bogus volunteer registrations can result. It is decided that a definitive solution on this topic is tabled for a future discussion.
(d) Offer a special program between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It was decided that in addition to the BFC holiday party also scheduled during this period, members' individual schedules are simply too busy to permit the implementation of an additional successful special program at this time. Various alternative times are discussed. It was decided that this special program might fit best by planning for the period of time between mid-October to mid-November. Chad Pettrone will check on the availability of a venue for this function.
(e) Develop and deliver via email a Conservation Alert. It should be separate, but linked back to Reel News.
Paul Prentiss will ask Adam Armold to take the lead in developing and implementing a conservation alert feature for the BFC membership. Terry Escamilla has volunteered to assist Adam in this task.
(f) Introduce a search feature on the web site. Further, provide a membership posting area.
BFC webmaster Tony Fernandez will research how this might be achieved. One suggestion would be to create some type of indexing mechanism.
(g) Plan a social mixer that doesn't feature a fishing program.
See item 4-d above.
(h) Member incentives for presenting a program, writing an article, volunteering, etc.
Various suggestions are discussed. Bill Leuchten has indicated a willingness to supply merchandise from Front Range Anglers as incentive items. Individual special recognition awards are discussed. Another viewpoint is that people are either interested in participating in one form or another or they're not interested and any extra incentive may not make any difference. It is decided that a definitive solution on this topic is tabled for a future discussion.
5. Larry Quilling Youth Education Leadership Award
Paul Prentiss has completed the nomination document and it has been sent to Dave Nickum at CTU. Dave Nickum will attach a letter of endorsement for Larry’s nomination. The nomination deadline is July 27, 2007.
6. CTU Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup project.
Scheduled for September 15, 2007. More info is pending from Dave Nickum.
7. Status of the cooperative effort small conservation project.
Paul Prentiss has talked with Curry Rosato to indicate our interest in the storm drain marking. Paul has also talked with BFC Project chairperson, Graham Carlson about implementing this project. Paul Prentiss has also talked with Paul Hemple who has indicated an interest in joint project creation. However, we haven’t had a newsletter or a chapter meeting yet to inform the membership of these joint projects. Any further action is pending the resumption of the upcoming season of chapter meetings.
1. Cleanup of BFC Memorial Park.
2. CTU Executive Committee Summer Meeting
BFC Meeting Adjournment: 7:35 pm
BFC Minutes submitted by: Tom Finley, BFC Board Secretary