Susquehanna Branch QDMA

April 3, 2008 Susquehanna Br. BoD. Mtg.

Agenda Items
Directors present - Ken Singer, Kevin Urian, Dave Wilcox, John Butler, Dave Taylor, Jack Sorber, Jim Dovin,
Jim Holbert and Bob Wagner.
Associate Directors - Alton Arnold, Rusty Ely

PRESIDENTS OPENING REMARKS - Great banquet and thanks to all of the workers.

Prayer and Salute to the Flag

TREASURERS REPORT - $7400+ (treasurer not able to be at meeting because of work.)

SECRETARY's Report - verbal report motion by Dave Wilcox to accept the report, seconded by Dave Taylor vote on motion unanimously approved.

OLD BUSINESS
Roger Everitt Memorial Trap Shoot Donation - Wagner/Hollenbeck; Motion made by Dave Wilcox to send a $100 donation to the Silver Lake Rod and Gun Club for this shoot. seconded by Kevin Urian, Unanimous vote by all directors present.

225lb Deer Club Shirts - No presentation as the shirts were not done as of yet.

Branch Discounts - we talked about what is on discount and what is not.

Antler scoring Event - report from Jim Holbert, Dave Taylor, Dave W. Jack S., Jim D.; Dave T. was impressed with the # of the racks that were brought and that were scored - good job. Jim Dovin - good location and a good time. Dave Wilcox - had talked with Joe Andre, one of the owners of Andre & Son, Inc. who was happy with the turnout and that we were utilizing their buildings. Jim Dovin will donate a scoring kit to the cause. Bob Wagner - we made a few dollars at the event.

Springville Baptist Church event - Singer, Wagner. We talked to about 45-50 people on two 40 minute seminars.

NEW BUSINESS
Banquet Report - J. Dovin, A. Cuevas
1)Banquet Wrapup thoughts - $3800 to our branch, $5400 to national office. banquet was a success most people ever. Proud of the team effort, many key players. Jack sorber said that the new RD added some things to the banquet, we did a great job despite a few bumps in the road. Other comments - it was hard to hear and control the crowd, perhaps we need a better PA system next year.

Budget and Finance Committee report - Wilcox, Sorber, Cuevas - Jack Sorber presented what the committee had come up with - $1500 for the banquet, $1750 for education - ($750 for Deer steward courses, 3 $100 scholarships to the Woodland Resources Adventure Camp, 1 $350 scholarship to the Wildlife Leadership Adventure camp.), $1000 Food Plots, $1600 Promotion = $5850.
Discussion of is $1500 enough for the banquet? One of the problems is getting a good deal on guns at that time of the year perhaps it would be better to try and buy guns throughout the year. Do we need another fundraiser?
What would we want to do to raise funds? If we do try a gun raffle we have to do a better job of seeling the tickets. We could also try and get the guns underwritten and this would help out. Perhaps we would sell 400 tickets at $5 each.
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Jakes Event with the Red Rock Chapter - April 20th - R. Wagner, D. Rutkoski, Wilcox, Taylor - we asked Damien Rutkoski to tell us about the event. The Red Rock chapter of the NWTF is from the Noxen area. This is an active chapter and for the last two years this jakes event has been the best in the nation for that age group. The chapter wanted to add something new to the event so they wanted to invite QDMA, our branch and/or the North Mt. branch. Damiens group will have multiple scoring kits available, racks, jawbones and the scoring sheets. The kids will be in groups of 10 to 15, we will see about 5 or 6 groups and will need to talk fro about 45 minutes. They would like this to be combined antler scoring and jawbone aging talks. The event will be at Moon Lake Park, Luzerne County. Our branch decided to go to the event - those who are volunteering are Rusy Ely, Dave Wilcox, Dave Taylor, John Ketchur, Bob Wagner, Al and Carlos Cuevas.

Youth Committee - Cuevas, Sorber, Wagner
   1.Woodland Resources Adventure Camp - our requirements to sponsor the 3 campers - Wagner, Sorber
   2. Wildlife Leadership Adventure Camp - Cuevas, Wagner
   Brief discussion on both camps, we will continue to look for applicants.

Adopt A Food Plot Committee report - Sorber, Butler, Wilcox, Wagner; Dave Wilcox made a motion and Dave Taylor seconded it to make a request for $500 from the DEER Fund for our upcoming brush management project. Unanimous yes approval.
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Directors on Committees - as per the Branch manual guidelines. Wagner, Dovin. Discussion. Secretary missed those who volunteered for certain committees.

Membership Committee - who is on it, who wants to be on it
Making Damien Rutkoski an Associate Director - we talked with Damien Rutkoski and explained to him what an associate director can do and how that director would help the branch. Damien R. said that yes he is still interested. Damien is now an Associate director for our branch.

Future/Potential Directors - Damien Rutkoski, Ray Stanis, Scott Rinehart, Rick Larnerd

New membership plan that National has developed - Dave Wilcox made a motion and John Butler seconded that the Branch take part in the National program for membership in which the branch will receive $3 for each member that registers via our branch. Unanimous yes vote. President Sorber signed the form, i will take it to the PAQDMA meeting.

E-motions
Motion on Caliper purchase - currently 7 yes votes. passed - order 3 of these (one for Ken Singer)
Motion on vote of what to do with the refund from the caterer - motion on the floor no second -
item taken care of by banquet committee decision.
Motion on advertisement for Antler Scoring - received 7 yes votes - passed.
Motion to make a $50 donation to Hill Country Artists for the use of the picture
hanging racks - received 9 yes votes - passed.
Motion to pay ($5) for advertising on Endless Mts. Website - received 7 votes - passed

Website decision - do we continue with our current site on Homestead for $99.99/ year or get some
further info from one of three sources - Damien Rutkoski, wait until the new State Website is up and
running and get on there, or go with what Brian was talking about some site that he knew that the
national was working on.
Discussion, had Damien Rutkoski explain his services that he and his students offer. he explained what they can do and that it helps the students develop skills.
Dave Wilcox and i will find out what the new PAQDMA website can offer us and also what RD Nentrups website can offer us.

Storage of Branch Materials - current site. Possible storage bldg.; Possible portable trailer. -
Cuevas, Dovin, Wagner.
Discussion about costs per month for storage sheds as per sizes - information provided by Dave Wilcox, also possible purchase of a mobile trailer and its associated costs. After much discussion it was decided not to do any of these possible solutions. Dave Taylor offered the use of some of his garage for storage. Motion by John Butler and second by Dave Wilcox that we accept Dave Taylors offer to store QDMA materials at his garage. Vote unanimous, yes.

Chestnut Tree Planting Project Proposal - verbal presentation by Dave Wilcox; Wagner Chestnut Tree Possible Project - discussion Dave Wilcox presented what he knows about the Chestnut foundation and its current tree status. Dave said that the Chestnut Foundation was present at Ag. Progress days at Rock Springs, in August.
The foundation is one generation of trees and breeding way form having a blight resistant tree. Right now the breeding program is a labor intensive effort as trees are hand pollinated. John Butler says he has some natives coming up on his property. Jack Sorber has some natives coming up on his property. The Chestnut Tree foundation is actively looking for existing trees. Dave Wilcox suggested that we get more information from the Foundation as to how we could help and what would be the best use of our resources if we wanted to have some type of a Chestnut Tree Project

PAQDMA State Report from Jan. Mtg. - Wilcox, Wagner; brief report.

Future Fund Raising Ideas - charge $5 per rack to be scored and also offer a prize drawing for those participating

Removal of the Branch email listing from the WEBSITE - Wagner, Wilcox - benched until next meeting.

Actively Working With PGC Commissioner Jay Delaney - ask Commissioner Delaney what more we could do to help him with wildlife issues.

Possible Short Course in Towanda/ Branch Formation - Wagner Bob W explained what he has been doing with Tim Smail and Bob Andrews about the possibility of having a QDMA short course in the Towanda area. Jack Sorber is very much in favor of it. Dave Wilcox says that we should let Tim Smail lead on this. Dave Taylor remembers and explained our involvement in our first short course. Secretary Wagner will continue to work on this with Tim Smail and Bob Andrews and keep the branch informed of any positive activities.

Picture Hanging Racks - do we want to make our own, purchase some already made or just rent
them each year. Is this something that Larry Lee could make?
Table this to the next meeting.

DEER FUND Requests - Wilcox, Wagner The branch wants us to submit tow applications for DEER fund monies. Dave W. and i will bring this up at the PAQDMA meeting.

Never Received his membership from 2 years ago - Holbert, Wagner Received notice that a past banquet attendee had never recieved his issues of Quality Whitetails. It is confirmed that he attended the banquet two years ago. Kevin Urian made a motion and Dave Wilcox seconded it that the Branch pick up the cost of getting this person a new membership.
Vote unanimous to do it. Dave Wilcox will email me the address as to where the magazine should be sent.

Field Day Committee - Ely, Butler, Lucarelli, Sorber, Wagner - discussion about having a joint field day with NWTF this simmer, some discussion has been in progress with Bob Erikson NWTF Regional Biologist for a late summer early fall field day. Possible sites - Donna Salko property, Dave Carey property, as well as the Bonnice, Grasavage or Lucarelli properties.
Also an idea of doing a field day on SGL 219 with NWTF TSI work, chain saw is a wildlife managers best friend type field day.
Dave Wilcox made a motion and John Butler seconded it to have a joint field day with the NWTF with the details to be worked out. Vote - Unanimous, yes.

Other items -
Discussion on offerring some monies to reimburse directors who will be attending the 2008 QDMA National Convention.
Motion by Kevin Urian and seconded by Ken Singer that the branch will reimburse directors for 1/2 of the cost of registration, up to $175, to attend the 2008 QDMA National Convention. Vote - unanimous yes
Motion to send $25 to the Montrose Bible conference for the use of their facilities. Motion made by Dave Wilcox seconded by Kevin Urian vote unanimous yes.

Upcoming events -
April 5th Mini field Day - Rusty Ely property
4th of July Booth with NWTF - Wilcox, Wagner (Use one of the Denault prints as a raffle item -
thousands of people there)
Possible summer joint field day with NWTF - Sorber, Wagner, Wilcox
Mini Field Day - TSI, browse cutting, Chain Saw is a deer's best friend. - Dovin; Jim D. said that this is no longer possible on the property that he was thinking of using for a mini field day.
Short Course in Towanda - Wagner
Andres/QDMA Sportsmens Event September 2008 - Holbert, Wagner

Next meeting - scheduled for May 22 site to be determined.