Board of Directors Meeting March 28, 2007
Members in attendance: Paul Prentiss, Bob Bush, Tom Finley, Mike Malec, Adam Armold, Al Permut, Terry Escamilla, Bill Leuchten.
Members Absent: Mark Riley, Graham Carlson, Dave Clark, Brian Ross, Tony Fernandez.
Call to Order: 6:05 pm by President, Paul Prentiss located at ERA Tradewinds Realty office conference room, 4999 Pearl Circle, Boulder, CO.
I. FYI - Attachments
1. The last issue of CTU Century Club "Currents" (prepared by David Nickum) also serves as a CTU 2006 Year End Report.
2. Current status of the TU Stream Access Amendment. Following a torrent of protest by virtually every TU state organization across the country, Bob Teufel decided to withdraw draft resolution #1, dated March 9, 2007, that he had co-authored with Ted Roosevelt, regarding prohibiting TU involvement in disputes that pitted TU against private landowners. The attached proposal was submitted in its place (not included in BFC BoD meeting minutes). CTU officers have signaled their support of this alternative (effectively it tables the issue). Be aware this is not over yet. What is truly amazing about this entire episode is how out of touch the National Leadership is with the members at large. Paul Prentiss lead a discussion that summarized the status of this very contentious issue up to this point in time.
a) The current national TU position resulting from the latest TU action on this matter is that no "official" TU policy on stream access currently exists and that all considerations previously discussed are off the negotiation table.
b) CTU had joined with other state councils to suggest that national TU form a committee to review stream access matters on a national case-by-case basis.
c) National TU rejected this suggestion and determined that TU would not involve itself in any stream access matters, a position that has also now been rejected.
d) The TU National Leadership Council (NLC) will likely make a proposal asking the TU Board of Trustees (BoT) to determine how to resolve the TU position on stream access.
e) CTU will restructure its proposal and submit it again for national consideration.
f) One facet of this discussion that will probably be retained for future adoption is a proposal for TU to develop some type of incentive program for land owners to permit stream access across private property. Al Permut suggested it might be appropriate for the BFC BoD to develop a BFC sanctioned position on this stream access issue that can be submitted to CTU relative to support or non-support for the future CTU restructured proposal to national TU. Adam Armold mentioned that this stream access issue remains highly volatile and is anticipated to consume a large part of the upcoming CTU Rendezvous program.
Paul Prentiss suggested that the BFC BoD wait to develop a sanctioned position until after the discussion at the CTU Rendezvous and until some action more definitive develops between and among CTU, the NLC, and the national TU BoT. It was agreed that it might be a bit premature for BFC to make a statement to CTU at this time. However, the BFC BoD did agree on a motion to indicate that BFC opposes the original TU position, should it come up again for discussion in the future, that TU will universally never become involved in stream access matters. This motion is passed unanimously.
Beyond this point, the issue remains too fluid and undetermined to proceed with any other type of BFC sanctioned position or statement of support or non-support at this time. It is agreed that Adam Armold, the BFC representative at the CTU Rendezvous, will only represent the BFC BoD at this event on this matter as it relates to the BFC position as noted by the above referenced motion should it become necessary for him to do so. It is also agreed that CTU should be encouraged to be inclusive of the chapter's opinions and seek chapter input as it begins to formulate and restructure its new proposal.
3. Paul will check with Graham Carlson to determine the status of his continued participation on the BFC BoD. Graham has missed a number of Board meetings in succession and his persistent absence raises a question about his interest in continued participation.
II. Agenda.
1. A proposal by John Dowd for summer outings - hiking and fishing. It is agreed that BFC will support John in his proposal to host summer fishing outings for BFC members so long as John utilizes an adequate and signed release of liability on behalf of BFC. Bob Bush will contact John to inform him of this BoD decision and obtain additional information for future announcement in Reel News.
2. City Council Meeting statements by Paul Prentiss, Larry Quilling, Paul Hemple, and Larry McDonald.
Paul Prentiss discussed the meeting with Boulder City Council attended by he and the others listed above during the week of March 9. The objective was to make some statements to the city council regarding the implementation of a more congenial and optimistic working relationship with the city of Erie in an effort to obtain their cooperation with a modification to their water pipeline for the purpose of maintaining minimum flows in Boulder Creek.
3. Auction Recap with some discussion of alternative funding opportunities. Several board members have suggested that it's time to consider some different approaches. Mark Riley, BFC Board Treasurer, is absent from tonight's meeting, so it may not be completely productive to discuss this topic at this time. Therefore, it is not known if all of the final auction financial results are ready yet. The time has come to consider alternative programs for the purpose of BFC fund raising in general. Various ideas were presented as possible future opportunities to consider for fund raising projects. Dave Clark, BFC Board Fundraising Chairperson, also absent from tonight's meeting, has wanted this to be a Board meeting topic of discussion now for some time. It was agreed that a small committee should be formed and lead by Dave to further explore this topic and present recommendations to the Board at a future meeting.
As an addendum to this discussion, Al Permut suggested that, if in the future, BFC continues to purchase a Gold Table at the annual CTU auction, a thoroughly planned and well announced effort should be undertaken to offer seats at the Gold Table to BFC members at large.
4. Offer by Dan Wistrand for any individual who donates $500 to the Chapter, he will take him out on a two day float trip for trout or steelhead (overnight at his home). Dan is a licensed guide in Colorado, Wyoming, and Washington. This trip offered by Dan is valid one time in 2007 in any of these states at any time and is one trip for two fisherpersons. Paul Prentiss will contact Dan to obtain the trip specifics and then this will be announced in upcoming Reel News editions. It is suggested that this mechanism of trip donation/fundraising might be utilized more frequently and regularly as an alternative fundraising method. Bill Leuchten indicated his willingness to make a similar offer in the future for a similar fundraising opportunity with an item supplied by his business, Front Range Anglers.
5. Programs: The Chapter meeting presenter originally planned for April, John Wolff to talk about backcountry high lake/stream fishing, has been rescheduled for May. The April meeting will include a dual presentation. First, Rob Buirgy from the Big Thompson Watershed Forum will present some conservation topics about the Big Thompson. Second, a fly tying expo will be presented by a selection of various local fly tiers demonstrating a variety of successful patterns.
BFC member, Bill Marx is promoting an upcoming fly fishing outing for BFC members and their spouses to La Garita Ranch scheduled for September 2007. Kids Fishing Day in Longmont will be announced. Mark Rayman, formerly of St. Vrain Angler's, is the contact for this function and is looking for volunteers. The Thorne Institute of Boulder will be offering a fly fishing course for youngsters and they will be looking for volunteer instructors. Bob Bush has expressed a desire to terminate his role as BFC Program Chairperson. Terry Escamilla and Adam Armold have both previously indicated an interest in acquiring this role upon Bob's termination.
6. In answer to a previous question at a previous meeting related to what counts as an "open" email when receiving the electronic newsletter, Mike Malec indicates that following a search of the Vertical Response provider site, the newsletter is viewed as "opened" even though it may be placed in a preview file.
7. Terry Escamilla inquired about if Larry Quilling has had any applicants for the summer youth conservation camp. Paul Prentiss has checked with Larry and has learned there currently are no applicants for this program on behalf of BFC. Paul will determine if the Boulder Daily Camera is willing to do a free story and/or advertisement in an attempt to solicit applicants. Mike Malec will contact two possible candidates he knows and also suggested placing an advertisement on Craig's List internet site.
8. Announcing and/or promoting charitable and/or memorial contributions to BFC was suggested as another mechanism that may have future value as a fundraising method.
9. Mike Malec has 25 extra t-shirts left over from the 2004 Boulder Creek cleanup. It was determined that these will be offered as free give-a-ways at the next Chapter meeting.
Meeting Adjournment: 8:07 pm.
Minutes submitted by: Tom Finley, BFC Board Secretary