MINUTES FOR
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
SOUTHERN COUNCIL, FEDERATION OF FLY FISHERS(tm)

December 15, 2001
Ramada Inn, Mountain Home, AR

Meeting attachments not included


The Executive Committee Meeting was called to order at approximately 4:10 p.m. by the President, Brian Camp. Roll call was taken by Roger Maler, Senior Vice President/Secretary.  (Attachment 1) Officer status and reports at the meeting:

     President
 Brian Camp
 Present 
 Oral Report

Secretary/Sr. VP
 Roger Maler
 Present
 No Report

Treasurer
 Shawn Taylor
 Present 
 Written Report

VP Communications
 Brian Ellis
 Present
 Written Report

Asst. VP Communications
 Bill Brant
 Absent
 No Report

VP Conservation
 Paul Sodamann
  Present
 Oral Report

VP Development
 Dennis Slane
 Present
 Oral Report

VP Education
 Chuck Easterling
 Absent
 No Report

VP Membership
 Judy Boston
 Absent
 No Report

Editor, Long Casts
 Steve Fritz
 Arrived 5:30 PM
 Oral Report

International Director
 Steve Jensen
 Present
 Oral Report

International Director
 Chet Smith
 Present
 Oral Report

Archivist
 Chet Smith
 Present
 No Report

Parliamentarian
 Duane Kelly
 Absent
 No Report

Managing Director
 Pat Smith
 Present
  

President Camp opened the meeting with welcoming remarks.  He expressed his thanks to everyone for their support of the FFF and the Council

REPORTS

Secretary's Report: Secretary Maler did not have a report; He made the motion to approve the minutes of the October Board meeting.  Motion was seconded by VP Slane.  Minutes approved as corrected.

Treasurer's Report:   Treasurer Taylor presented a written report giving details of current status.  The Council currently has $61,151.08 in the bank.  We have $30,089.45 in a CD at 5.64% and $20,342.25 in a money market account.  The balance is in a general checking account. The current liabilities against these assets are

     
Bill Lambing Memorial Scholarship Fund
 $1,143.45

Long Cast Contingency Fund
 $6,588.99

Wayne Moore Award Fund
 $1,867.75

Outreach Committee
 $7,307.15

Wayne & Catherine Moore Youth Fund
 $3,519.72
   
 Communications: VP Ellis presented a written report.

VP Ellis suggested that it would be good to recognize charter members (those who were present at the founding of the Southern Council and that a certificate of appreciation be given to those members.

The next due date for the Long Casts is January 15 with May 15 and August 1 being the dates that follow that one.

VP Ellis says that he has received positive comments about current communication with clubs.

The written report contained the following:

Annual Award Nominations:
The timetable for the Southern Council Nominations and Awards is as follows:
  1. Nomination submittal due (to Brian Ellis, e-mail or U.S. Mail) - June 14, 2002 
  2. Ballot packets mailed to your club contact person - June 24, 2002
  3. Ballots returned to Pat Smith (SOC Managing Director) - September 13, 2002 
  4. Awards Banquet - October 5, 2002
Next Club contact Mailing Scheduled for January
  1. Nomination Schedule for 2002 with a request for nominations
  2. Officers List
  3. Club Contact List
  4. Directory
  5. Roger Maler's Membership Proposal
History of the Southern Council
I am currently trying to compile a history of the Southern Council that will hopefully result in an article for the Long Cast or webs site.  I have obtained some initial material from Bob Cunningham.

Assistance with Southern Council Web Site
At the request of Bill Brant, the Southern Council Webmaster, I have been assisting him in updating the portions of the Southern Council Web Site related specifically to office of VP of Communications.  In addition, I have assisted in publishing timely information regarding important conservation issued within the Southern Council.

With regards to the third item in his report, VP Ellis asked for assistance in gathering information regarding the history of the Southern Council.  He was given several names to contact for additional information.

Conservation: VP Sodamann did not have a report to present because he has had no business activities since the October meeting.  He did report that the Heart of America Club has a potential request for funds for a project they are working on.  He did not have any details on it.
Director Smith reported that Bear Creek in Arkansas is currently being considered by National for action on a project that is proposed.  There is a faction that is trying to get the Creek dammed to supply water for a local municipality.  Facts need to be gathered to find out if National and/or the Council need to be involved.

The Southern Council has two rivers on the Endangered Fisheries List: the Strawberry River in Arkansas and the Kansas River in Kansas.

Development: VP Slane did not have a written report.  The Videos are still in the works but currently no status is available.

There was some discussion concerning conclaves.  One major statement made was that we need to have continuity.  If everything stays the same people will come.  They know when and  where and so can plan accordingly.

The problem of a location that is conducive to our needs was brought up.  There is a vacant building in the area that is being considered possibly for a convention center.  VP Slane will look into the ownership of the building.

Education: No Report

Membership: No Report

National Directors: National Director Jensen reported that Lauren Bagley, the Managing Director of the National office had abruptly resigned and there is a search on for an Executive Director.  The search committee consists of Earl Rettig, Kent Jennings and Brian Camp.  Salary is to be approximately $50,000 plus benefits.  Ads are being run in appropriate publications to seek the right individual to fill the post.

President's Report: The Federation has drafted a strategic plan and it has been sent out to the Executive Board and Council Presidents for Comments.

A Mission Statement is also being generated and will be sent out to the Executive Committee as soon as it comes out.  It is very comprehensive.  It is not specific - just a guide.

The FFF National show will be in Livingston in 2002.  In 2003 it will be in either West Yellowstone or Idaho Falls.

Budget: It was suggested that the FFF National (IFFC) be added as a line item to more easily track funds sent to National.

The bottom line of the income for the 2001 Conclave was $22,150.83.  The income was in the middle of the prior two years.

The budget for 2002 was set as follows:

     
Communications
 $1,000

Conservation
 $7,000

Development
 $1,000

Education
 $3,000

Exec. Committee
 $200

Long Casts
 $7,000

Managing Director
 $500

Membership
 $500

Salaries               
$8,000

 
$28,200
   
Motion to approve budget made by Director Jensen and seconded by Director Smith.  Approved.

Room sponsorship for the IFFC for $2,000 was also approved.  The Missouri Stream Team was approved for a contribution of $1,500.

Membership: Membership numbers are up and continue to grow.

Managing Director Smith was directed to send an electronic copy of the section of the Policy & Procedures Manual regarding the VP of Membership to the Executive Committee for input.  Due to the creation of the Managing Director position the manual needs to be updated to reflect those duties that the managing director assumed.

Long Casts: Editor Fritz stated that he is pleased with the current status of his position.  The new computer has made his life much easier in that it takes almost half the time it used to take to complete an issue of the newsletter.

Editor Fritz says he has been receiving comments that some of the membership is not happy.  They feel the council is not taking a firm enough stand on conservation issues.  It was brought up that the Federation does not have lobbying powers.  We don't have to follow that example.  We can serve as a sounding board and support those projects we deem worth financially.

Conclave 2002: 2002 Conclave Chairman Shawn Taylor reports that the keynote for the upcoming conclave will be Lefty Kreh.  The committee chairs are as follows:

     
Programs:
 Elmer Meiler

Auction/Raffle:
 North Louisiana Fly Fishers

Youth Conclave:
 Dennis Galyardt

Vendors:
 Chet Smith

Fly Tyers:
 Ron Knight

Outreach:
 Sheryl Knight

Registration:
 Lew & Sharon Goodson

Casting Games:
 Steve Antonic& Bob Temper

Warm-Up Party:
 Northeast Arkansas Fly Fishers

Facilities:
 John Soper

Banquet:
 Pat Smith

Pre-Registration: 
 Pat Smith
   
Chairman Taylor said he is looking for sponsorships and underwriters to help support some of the expenses of the Conclave.

The fly tyers will be chosen first from a core base of tyers which will include the 20± master tyers.  It was suggested that the number of tyers be limited this year.  Those that must be included are the Buz Buszek and the SC tyers of the year award winners.

Duane Hada will be doing the design for the logo for this year.  Chairman Taylor says he is working on one big item for the conclave that will be raffled of for the next ten months.  We want to be able to send information to clubs ready to print in their newsletters at least by July  when the conclave issue of the Long Casts comes out.

New Business: 

Wayne & Catherine Moore Youth Fund: Director Jensen said that Bob Cunningham, who has been a big contributor to the Fund, had asked if the fund grows interest.  He was told that yes it does.

Membership Proposal: Secretary Maler asked permission to pursue his proposal.  Permission was granted.

Nominating Committee: President Camp appointed the committee to select nominees for the next term for the officers for the Southern Council.  The term runs from Conclave to Conclave for a two year period.  The Committee consists of Lew Goodson, Chuck Easterling and Pat Smith.

Adjournment: At approximately 9:30 p.m. Secretary Maler made a motion to adjourn.  Motion seconded by VP Sodamann.  Motion passed..