APPROVED MINUTES FROM MBF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING 21 DECEMBER 2005

I. MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING: Approved with no corrections.

II. MEETING LOCATION: Bass Pro Shops–Arundel Mills Mall, Called to order 7:01 PM

III. 2005 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Executive Board Members as follows:  President – Roger Trageser, 1^st Vice President – Not present, 2^nd Vice President – Randy Dotson, Treasurer – Brian Cox, Secretary – Rich Welden, Membership Committee Chair – Jim Horn.  Update Editor/Webmaster – Brent Nelson; Others in attendance, WR Dir – Gunner Beale, SR Director - Denis Schanberger, CR Director – Randy Bottomly, NR Director – George Fortner, Scholarship Committee/Youth Director - Jim Kline, Conservation – Scott Sewell. 

IV. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: Former MBF President Ed Riley

TREASURER’S REPORT: Brian handed out a financial statement and explained all aspects to the Board members.

Brian handed out a budget document to all present comparing the previous years budget expenditures against the proposed budget for 2006.   A Motion was made to accept the treasurer’s report as presented; the motion was seconded and accepted by all present as record.

SECRETARY NOTE: Beginning January 2006, the MBF Executive Board minutes will be snail mailed to all MBF Club Presidents.  This is due, in part, to the very few members who do not own or have access to a computer and/or email.  In 2005, electronic mailing of the minutes resulted in a cost savings to the MBF of $900.00.  This year, I expect the cost to the MBF for snail mailing all correspondence to exceed the allotted $1000.00 budget for Secretaries expenses.  Club presidents will receive the EB minutes soon after they are ratified/approved.  They will arrive in a plain white envelope (I don’t own my own business so I cannot use company letterhead paper and envelopes to accomplish this mailing). 

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

1. Membership: (Jim Horn) As of 21 December, Jim has only received 34 renewals out of the 83 MBF clubs.  The deadline to send in club rosters and payment was extended to 31 December.  Brent will post a reminder on the website and Rich will put a reminder letter in with the minutes to be mailed out to all club presidents.  Jim indicated that a good portion of club officers have changed and until he receives the updated rosters, the mailing of minutes may be delayed to ensure that the right representatives can receive official MBF correspondence.   

2. Youth: (Randy) Randy asked the EB to authorize an additional $800.00 per Child ($1,600.00 total) to cover airfare for Child and parent to attend the Jr. National Championship tx in Florida .  Last year the MBF EB authorized $600.00 each to cover transportation costs.  Additional cost is for child and parent to fly round trip, (non-stop) to Florida and back. Discussion from the EB centered on finding less expensive airfare through different carriers.  Randy will submit his ticket pricing/details to Roger and Roger will do a cost comparison to try and find a less expensive alternative.  A MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED TO ALLOW ROGER TO COMPLETE A COST COMPARISON AND SHOULD HE FIND CHEAPER COMPORABLE AIRFARE THAT EXPENDITURE WOULD BE APPROVED FOR THE MBF YOUTH. IF HE CANNOT FIND A CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE, THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR FUNDS ($800.00 each) WOULD BE APPROVED.  A VOTE ON THIS MOTION WAS CONDUCTED WITH 7 FOR AND 1 AGAINST.  Roger will contact the EB with his findings.

- Roger asked Jim and/or Randy to ensure that the youth’s biographies are sent to the Jr. World Championship Tx sponsors.   

- Potomac River Youth Invitational:  Randy has prepared youth Invitation packages for the MBF sponsored Youth Invitational Tx.  Roger and Jim will receive the packages for editorial purposes if applicable.  Pending approval, they will be mailed out as soon as possible.  To date Randy has received positive feedback from PA, VA, DC and NJ.  A team monetary charge will be collected for each state sending a team, additional tx details will be published as they become available.  Tx date is scheduled for 18 June 2006 out of Smallwood State Park .

A committee will most likely be formed to handle the event and MBF members are highly encouraged to lend support for this tx.  Boat Captains

3. Scholarship: (Jim Kline): Hopefully a contribution was allotted for in the 2006 budget for this fund.  

4. Conservation: (Scott) Due to the overwhelming success of the 2005 Wheelabrator initiative, Scott has received a confirmation from MD DNR to supply MBF/Wheelabrator with bass fry for 2006.  These fry will be supplied at no cost.  Scott will be putting together a display to show off the MBF/Wheelabrator initiative at the upcoming Timonium fishing expo.  Scott also asked BASS for one thousand copies of their “Keep Bass Alive” publication to hand out at the expo.

- MARC: Scott and Roger have met/talked with other sport fishing group representatives to establish an outline of ways that DNR could improve the State’s sport fishing programs.  Specifically, the MBF’s concerns centered around the DNR contacting MBF more frequently and involving the organization in stocking programs and other issues concerning bass habitat.   MARC is setting up a future meeting between the sport fishing organiztions and MD DNR to present their outline. 

- DCL Committee report: (Jim Kline) “its frozen!”     

5. Update Editor/Webmaster: (Brent): Update: - The Fall issue was delayed due to the onset of the holiday season, and the fact that the Update is mailed out third class mail.  The Winter edition is currently being worked for a January 2006 release, Brent can still use some input. He has received a good article from Scott on conservation but needs more. Website: Brent has uploaded some historical tournament data/results onto the web site as well as the Standing Rules.  Brent, as always, asked for input/suggestions on how to improve the site.

VI. OLD BUSINESS: Skeeter boat update: Roger confirmed with Skeeter Representative Joe Horvath and Highway Marine the specifics on buyback of the Skeeter Boat/note.  Gary Wimmer’s timeline on possibly buying the boat back would be the first week in February, so Roger proposed a bid opportunity window for 2/3 weeks.  Roger and Dick Brown will put together the wording for a bid (open to MBF members only) and mail it out with the January EB minutes.  The bid will also be put out on the website.  Bids from MBF members should be mailed to the official MBF PO Box address. 

- Nominations for 1^st VP: As noted last month, Bill Sanders announced his resignation as 1^st VP.  In keeping with By-laws, and since the vacancy was officially announced in the November EB meeting the time requirements have been successfully met and nominations for the office are valid and closed as of this meeting.  Nomination from the Southern Region is Robert (Bob) Lauder; from the Northern Region Bill Bennett Jr.  Central and Western Regions did not present a nominee.  An official ballot will be drafted and sent out with the January EB minutes.  It is the responsibility of each club President to administer the vote (at their next club meeting) and return vote results on the two candidates.  Upon receipt of official ballots, a check of the membership roster will be conducted to ensure that the tallied votes are legal and binding.  Votes will not be counted if the member(s) have not fulfilled their MBF/BASS membership requirements.

VII. NEW BUSINESS:  Timonium fishing expo:  Roger will not be in MD during the Timonium fishing expo and needs some volunteer(s) from the MBF to step up and run the expo in his absence.  Bob has moved the casting kids event back into the main event hall this year and wants to hold a CK competition on all four days of the expo with an AM and PM event on Saturday and Sunday. Region reps were directed to canvas their membership for volunteers to assist with the Casting Kids events. Historically, the Central Region would handle Thursday, Northern region Friday, Southern region Saturday and Western Region Sunday.  The following CK events times will be proposed:  Thursday/Friday: 6 – 7:30PM, Saturday/Sunday 11AM - 1230 pm and 1:30 - 3PM.  - MBF booth preparations: Scott is putting together a display of the Wheelabrator conservation project, Roger has a display about the MBF, and it was discussed holding a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to the MBF Youth.  Roger would also like to see some of the MBF youth members work the booth wearing their MBF shirts and even selling raffle tickets etc. It was also suggested that a map of Maryland be displayed with a pin locating each MBF club home base location. 

- B.A.S.S./TBF standoff: Roger and Dick Brown briefed those present on the current situation between BASS and TBF to include how the TBF became the organization that they are today.  The following summarize Roger’s and Dick’s comments:

- TBF’s position: is for solidarity between all of the members of the Federation.  One unified voice should speak for everyone.  TBF feels justified in having BASS delineate how and where the dues increase money will be spent, how is it going to help the Federation, etc.

- MBF’s position:  During the Federation Championship tx, The TBF and BASS will meet to arbitrate their differences.  Roger will be present at that meeting and will inform the MBF of that meeting’s outcome.  Until then the MBF will conduct business as usual.

VIII. REGION REPORTS:  Southern: Due to Christmas, SR meeting will be held on Tuesday, 27 December. Central: Is considering holding two tournaments throughout the year in place of the RQT, Western: NTR, Northern: NR has changed their Region’s mininum meeting attendance requirements (50%) to 80% due to poor attendance at their Regional meeting(s).

IX MOTION TO CLOSE: A motion was made to adjourn, seconded and the meeting was

     called to a close at 9:59 PM. Next meeting will be held 19 January, 2006

     at the BPS Conference room.