Susquehanna Branch QDMA

MINUTES FROM THE May 22, 2008 Susquehanna Branch of QDMA Mtg.

Meeting held at the Montrose Bible Conference. Meeting started around 630pm.

Directors present - Kevin Urian, Jim Holbert, Dave Taylor, John Butler, Jim Dovin, Al Cuevas, Jack Sorber,
Bob Wagner. Associate directors present - Donna Salko

President Jack Sorber opened the meeting with remarks that the Wilson Moore Chapter of NWTF had a
much better banquet this year. He estimated about 100 people present.

Pledge of Allegiance and a Prayer

Treasurers report - $7069.72

Secretaries report - minutes of last meeting approved. Motion made by Jim Dovin,
seconded by Jim Holbert.

OLD BUSINESS -
225lb Deer Club Shirts - showed them the shirts gave one to Jack Sorber to deliver to Cody S.,
I will get the ones to Dave Sienko, Jr. and Ken Singer.

DEER Fund requests - told them that the DEER fund does not exist anymore,
so no new requests could be taken.

Jakes Event - Dave Taylor and Bob Wagner told about the Branches participation in the event.
Dave Wilcox, John Ketchur, Rusty Ely and Dave Taylor did a real good job with giving 7 -
45 minute presentations throughout the day. The event was well run.

Person who never received his membership - we will take care of this but his name has
once again been lost - I remember that he is the principa up at the Choconut Elementary School.
whoever remembers his name please send it to me so that we can get him a membership.

NEW BUSINESS
1) Items tabled from the last meeting: A) Remove the branch email listing from the website - discussion
                                                                        We could remove the button - the web address is on Yahoo.
                                                                   B) The picture hanging racks do we want to buy some or
                                                                        continue to rent them. Motion made to continue to rent
                                                                       the picture hanging racks. Kevin Urian made the motion,
                                                                        John Butler seconded. Motiion passed with all yes votes.

2) Thank you letters to QDMA members (non directors Ketchur, Giangreco and Larnerd) who helped with
     the Antler scoring & the Jakes events.
     Secretary asked if the branch directors were in favor of this. No vote taken but consensus said yes.
     Secretary will send out thanky cards/letters to this effect.

3) Youth committee -
     Woodland Resource adventure camp - we have one applicant Ben Hepler,
     the application period is still open. Board agreed that we should continue to accept applications as we
     had allocatted $300 for this purpose.

    Wildlife Leadership Adventure Camp - Motion on the floor to pay $175 to both Scott Sienko and
    Dan Adams motion had been seconded. Motion defeated 5 No to 3 Yes.
    New Motion made by Jim Dovin to pay $350 to Scott Sienko to go to this camp.
    Motion seconded by Dave Taylor. Motion passed 8 yes 0 no

4) Adopt A Food Plot -
    A) Need to have a plan and carry it out in the next few weeks.
         Planting, on SGL 35, will be done when we can schedule it with PGC and with Dave Sienko. Jack Sorber
         said that he would rather spend the money on food plots, than other things on SGL 140. Jack said that
         the ph on the lower fields is 6.3 and the upper field is 6.8.
         This is good for the vague plans that we have which is too late summer plant grasses and legumes into
         these fields into the rye stubble.
    B) Invasive weed control - this was talk about hiring or getting use of the skid steer front mounted
         weed/brush buster. Dave Wilcox had sent us a name and also talk that DCNR atLackawanna State Park
         has one that it uses. Further planning anddiscussion needed. Jack Sorber said that there are areas on
         SGL 219 that could really use this type of machine and its work.
        Secretary will email PGC Biologist Ben Jones to find out
        if what we want to plant and what we want to do with Brush management is okay with the
        management plan. Secretary will contact the Susquehanna Conservation District And the PGC
        about using their notill drills to plant our adopt a food plot plantings.

5) Directors on Committees- every director should be on one committee -
please volunteer for a committee.

6) Website - Damien Rutkoski suggests this name for our website use SUSQQDMA.org
                       (this would be the domain name). It will cost the branch $83.40/year to have the website
                       built and maintained by damien and his students.
                       Motion made, by Jim Dovin and seconded by John Butler, to have the website built
                        and maintained by Damien Rutkoski and his students. All directors voted yes 8-0.

7) Caliper purchase - we decided to purchase several calipers for measuring/scoring antlers with.
secretary will work with treasurer to get these via the internet. We decided upon 2.

8) Chestnut Tree Planting Project proposal - much discussion, decided we would kep on gathering
more information. There is an upcoming walk put on by the Northeast Branch sometime in June.

9) Field day/ Mini field days - much discussion. there is the possibility of us taking part in a woods walk
    thatWayne Forest landowners are putting on at Bill Wallaces and other spots.
    Secretary will contact Scott Rinehart for more details and to see if we can have a table at the site.

    Also might be possible to go to Tom McNamaras - property that is NE of Thompson and hold a
    mini field day.
    Buck Forage Oats and Dr. Kroll might be working with Mr. McNamara, also possibility of seeing good
    orchard maintenance - Jim Holbert will get more details.

Currently we are in contact with Bob Eriksen NWTF Regional Biologist about holding a joint field day in
the Springville area near bob's property.

10) National Convention - Reminder that it is in July in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jack Sorber and Jim Dovin from this branch are going as is Chip Sorber from the North Mt. branch.

11) E-Motions - help the secretary out as i have lost my computer outlook files that contained
my QDMA correspondence.

12) 4th of July Booth - need volunteers for 2 hour shifts. Jack Sorber, Bob Wagner, John Butler have
currently volunteered.

13) Other items -
A) It was usggested that our banquet members names be added to the Andre newsletter list -
Jim Holbert and secretary will work on this.

B) Ask RD Brian Nentrup for QDMA Thank You cards - Secretary will contact Brian.

       C) Al Cuevas suggests that all BoD members have QDMA uniform shirts and that we have our
            own branch stenciling done on them. This is the result of a number of years observations of \
            how hard it is (sometimes) to find your fellow workers at Banquets.

D) Bob Wagner acknowledged for receiving the award from Ducks Unlimited as
the 2007 Pa. Volunteer Conservationist of the year.

E) Discussion that it would be good to send out some type of public acknowledgement to our
Banquet Caterer - Tony's Pizza. Secretary will look into this.

F) Denault Prints - Donna Salko is working on framing all of the prints. The canvas one needs work,
           she discovered why we may have gotten such a good deal as the prints, giclees were stretch and
           atteched on the outside of the frame instead of being attached to the back.
           She said it willcost $270 for the framing.
           Motion made by Jim Dovin and seconded by John Butler
           to pay Donna Salko$270 for the framing. Vote all yes. 8-0

G) Drawing for the returned banquet questionairees - winner of the drawing was Gary Barnhart.
We will send him one of our books up to a $30 value.

H) Motion by John Butler and seconded by Jim dovin to pay the Montrose Bible Conference
$25 for the use of their facilities. Motion passed 8-0

I) Motion to adjourn made by Dave Taylor and seconded by Jim Holbert Motion passed 8-0

         UPCOMING EVENTS -
         July 4th Booth on the Green.
         July 12th Northeast branch Picnic/Banquet
         August 19-21 - AG. PROGRESS DAYS at Rock Springs
         August 23 - Antler scoring class - Pa. State Forest Experimental Camp
         August 24th - PAQDMA BoD meeting - Pa. State Forest Experimental Bldg.
         Sept. 13th - QDMA/NWTF Field Day -
         Sept. 20 - Andres Sportsman's Event - Booth --
         Jim Holbert said that there will be less presentations this year.
         Hopes to have more live animals, people that want to be there to promote local business'.

NEXT MEETING - JULY 31ST at the Montrose Bible Conference - 630pm