APPROVED MINUTES FROM MBF EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING 16 MARCH 2006

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, 1st Vice President – Bill Bennet Jr, 2nd Vice President – Not present, Treasurer – Not present, Secretary – Rich Welden, Membership Committee Chair – Jim Horn.  Update Editor/Webmaster – Not present; Others in attendance, WR Dir – Gunner Beale, SR Director - Denis Schanberger, CR Director – Randy Bottomly, NR Director – Not present, Scholarship Committee/Youth Director – Jim Kline, Conservation – Scott Sewell, Sponsorship – Dick Brown. 

IV. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: None

V. COMMITTEE REPORTS: 

1. Membership: (Jim Horn): 2 new members added.  1 member left the MBF.  Jamie has had questions from some clubs concerning the 80 percent eligible members fishing for the SQT.  Jamie and Jim and working together to ensure the rosters of those clubs affected are complete to determine the correct number of eligible anglers. 

2. Youth: (Jim Kline) Youth Invitational:  Randy has received word from states that originally had signed on for the tx but have since backed out (NJ, VA, WV, & DC)

- Youth Qualifications for Jr. World Championships: Discussion over how the MBF would qualify two youth members to attend the Jr World Championship was tabled.  The prevailing idea is to hold one big youth event (SQT – for all youth members) and take top 15 for tier one and the next 15 for tier two (this tx would be the qualifier for the Jr. World).  Then hold a JR MR Bass and the two winners, one from each tier will then progress onto the Youth Jr World Championships.  These two youth members would then be outfitted with tx shirts/jackets etc to represent MD.  Perhaps the Youth members could get Skeeter to provide the clothing for this event.  The whole issue was tabled until a sound proposal can be presented.

- CTHX – Jim Horn indicated that his company will donate $1000.00 to the MBF Youth, and Jim will be checking on whether his company can buy the Youth members MBF tx shirts.

- THANK YOU:  Jim Kline handed out thank you letters from the youth membership to the region directors whose regions donated funds to the youth program. 

3. Scholarship: (Jim Kline):  No scholarship info, although, the Butch Ward memorial tx is coming up, 25 March 2006 at the Duncannon riverfront park on the Susquehanna River . 

4. Conservation: (Scott) Attended the Sportsman’s talk and fundraiser meeting – discussion was focused on fyke nets north of the railroad bridge in Bush river.  Scott also addressed his concerns over fyke nets and added hull-seining to their agenda.

- Fish Habitat: Scott wants to start a fish habitat structure program similar to what the MSSA has – using (reef balls) concrete fishing structures – under docks to attract fish. 

- Black Bass roundtable – Scott is seeking information about this meeting he would like to attend. Roger asked Scott to set up an agenda for the black bass roundtable meeting.

- Attended four day black bass roundup (in Orlando) had speakers from different orgs, met conservation directors from other states, and learned that there are conservation grants available – will seek info.

- Received a DO (Depleted Oxygen) meter – will use to test water in live wells at MBF Tx events to gain insight on bass survival rates, etc.    

- Received a commitment that the Wheelabrator bass-stocking program will be on again this year, DNR will be stocking.

- Diseased Rockfish:  there have been cases of destructive micro-bacteria affecting humans that handle contaminated rockfish. Be careful if you handle rockfish with open sores on your hands/arms. 

- BASS/Congressional tx: BASS wants to co-sponsor a pro/am congressional bass tx (Monday, June 26) where a BASS pro angler will be host a member from the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation (as a co-angler).  BASS has asked the MBF to assist with the weigh-in and perhaps provide boat captains for camera crews.

- Yellow perch Issue:  The MD DNR has reversed its decision to allow watermen to net 5000 lbs of yellow perch in the Choptank and Nanticoke rivers.  

5. Update Editor/Webmaster: (Roger for Brent): DIRECTORY – HBP received the directory information from Jim.  Brent will be sending the adds and proceed sheets.  Roger specifically asked for a cost estimate – (recommended) that 800 copies be printed. 

6. Tx Committee Report: (Jamie) Jamie briefed the executive board on the following 2006 tx finalized: The Wicomico tx will be held on 7 & 8 October. 

- 2006/7 proposed tx dates – MR Bass: Upper Bay , May 5 & 6, SQT, third weekend in May.  2007 Tx Trail: Dates only – Potomac (14 April), Deep Creek (16 June), Upper Bay (tentative - July), Nanticoke (tentative) Potomac (tentative) Classic will be held on the Upper Bay (tentative).  A MOTION WAS MADE TO ACCEPT THE TX COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDED DATES OF THE 2007 TX TRAIL. A UNANIMOUS “YES” VOTE RESULTED FOR THE RECOMMENDED DATES PRESENTED.   

- 2006: The BASS Mid Atlantic Divisional reservations (Holiday Inn and Smallwood State Park ) are made.  Seven rooms for BASS/ESPN are reserved and for the MBF 18 rooms at $76.00 p/night.  14 of the 18 rooms are for state team with four extras for those who assist.  The banquet room is also reserved.  Jamie mentioned the idea of having the MBF sponsor a trip/tour for BASS officials to St Mary’s ( Soloman Island ) and/or Annapolis .  Future discussions will be held on this matter.

- 2006 State Team:  Since the Mid Atlantic Divisional will be on our home waters, Jamie discussed some recommendations on saving money for the state team.  To summarize:  - Get Skeeter to sponsor at least a shirt for all state team members.  - The MBF will buy the team members one MBF tx shirt, One jacket, one sweatshirt and one bag.  – Allowances, once again, since the tx is on the Potomac each team member receives $100.00 expense money, $75.00 p/day for gas for the boaters plus $75.00 p/day (x6 days) for gas.  Non-boaters will get $75.00 p/day (x3) days.  It was recommended that the standing rule that delineates funding for the state team be changed to allow the tx committee to recommend funding amounts to the Executive board before each year’s divisional.  This recommended amount would be determined under consideration of location, hotel, fuel prices, etc.  Jamie was directed to come up with the proper wording and the matter will be discussed/voted on at the April EB meeting.   

- Award Plaques: keep em’ but may be able to get them cheaper.  It was proposed that for Mr Bass, 1st and 2nd place plaques be awarded.  For the SQT, plaques for places 1 through 8.  For the Tx Trail, 1st 2nd and 3rd.

- BASS Federation (State) six team competition: Jamie presented an idea of how to obtain the qualification of the six teams that would represent MD at BASS Federation nation six team competition.  After considerable discussion it was suggested that since the SQT already has a team structure to it, that the six teams be drawn from the SQT pool until all six team positions are filled.  Also consideration that raising six members per team, six teams from MD that would have to travel to this competition out of pocket may make this issue a non-event.  A MOTION WAS MADE TO USE THE 2006 SQT STANDINGS AS THE STANDARD FOR THE QUALIFICATION OF THE SIX TEAMS TO REPRESENT THE MBF AT THE BASS COMPETITION.  A VOTE WAS HELD AND A UNANIMOUS “YES” VOTE RESULTED.  Finally, since the specifics concerning the structure and rules of this competition have yet to be developed, further discussion on the matter may be required.

- Ranger cup bucks:  Dick Brown briefed the EB on the possibilities of getting the Ranger cup bucks program started again.  There were concerns that our Skeeter sponsor may have problems with this, and, the rules associated with that program are spurious at best.  Dick will get more details and present this at a later date.        

VI. OLD BUSINESS: Skeeter boat:  Gary is checking with Skeeter for the finalities associated with buying back the skeeter boat.  This issue should come to fruition within a couple of weeks.

VII.  NEW BUSINESS:  MBF Tx trail/Expenses/State team slots: Discussion concerning the expenses of the two state team slots from the MBF tx trail, i.e. like last year, if the tx cannot pay for those two slots maybe those slots should be drawn from another tx event, or how can the trail use the entry fee to supplement the team spot.  Discussion also focused on the payout of the MBF tx trail classic prize money.  Why is it winner take all when the prize should be the state team spots?  Perhaps some of the entry fee money is used to supplement the state team spots if there is no profit made for support before that.  The EB summarized the issue as:  if the trail is not able to monetarily support the state team spots, then the entry fee money be tapped to make up any deficit, or, that those team spots be drawn from a different event.

     - SQT Patches:  According to the standing rules, the MBF is supposed to provide an SQT patch to competitors.  Billy Sanders submitted a design for the 2006 SQT, which the EB accepted as the official patch.  Price quoted p/patch is $2.70 each for up to 200 patches, $2.50 for 250 patches.  A MOTION WAS MADE TO PURCHASE 250 PATCHES AT $2.50 P/PATCH; THE MOTION WAS VOTED ON AND ACCEPTED BY ALL.  Roger will place the order.                  

VIII.  REGION REPORTS:  Southern: June/July meetings will be held at Arby’s vice the Crofton Library, Central: Looking at a possible conservation project: cleaning up around the Monoxy river: Randy is also researching the product for give away at Mr. Bass, Western: Attendance is up, there is also the Butch Ward team tx 30 September (replacement of SQT) on Deep Creek lake; Northern: NTR.

 

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

     called to a close at 9:30 PM. Next meeting will be held 20 April, 2006

     at the BPS Conference room.