DETERMINATION OF QUORUM: President Dave Coughlan called the business meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. It was determined that enough members were present to constitute a quorum.

SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT: The minutes of the 1999 Annual Business Meeting were published in the spring 1999 newsletter and on the Chapter’s web page. A motion was made by Bob Curry to accept the minutes and treasurer’s report as printed. The motion was seconded by Jim Rice and passed unanimously. A total of 90 attendees had registered in some capacity (technical sessions and/or one of the workshops) during this year’s meeting. An updated treasurer’s report was read, and is attached. Current checking account balance as of January 12, 2000, was $14,657.99.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Nominating Committee: Scott Van Horn introduced Bob Curry (Fisheries Program Manager, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) and Shari Bryant (District Fisheries Biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) as candidates for 2000 President-Elect. Secretary-Treasurer candidates were Doug Besler (District Fisheries Biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) and Kim Baker (Fisheries Biologist, Duke Power Company).

Program Committee: President-Elect John Crutchfield thanked EXCOM members and CP&L employees for their assistance in preparing the 2000 meeting. A total of 19 papers was presented, four of which were student submittals. President-Elect Crutchfield remarked that the special invited paper session entitled "Effects of Hurricane Floyd on Coastal Plain Rivers and Estuaries" was a tremendous success and thanked the participants. Ninety registered attendees were present at some point during the meeting. This increase over last year’s attendance was due primarily to participation in the electrofishing workshop by non-chapter members.

Newsletter Committee: Bob Goldstein reported two newsletters were distributed to the membership during 1999 at a cost of approximately $418. Due to language/formatting problems encountered this year, Bob requests hard copies of information be sent with all electronic submittals.

Student Subunit Report: Chris Taylor (President NCSU student subunit) reported the raffle conducted at this year’s social was extremely profitable, providing an income of $629. Chris thanked members of the subunit for their help organizing the raffle, and recognized raffle contributors. The subunit will meet in February to decide how to spend this money. Chris reported the subunit covered meeting expenses of two students during this year’s meeting. Chapter members were encouraged to visit the NCAFS web site frequently as it is updated on a regular basis.

President Coughlan recognized Chris Taylor and Joe Hightower for their web page prowess, and reported that the electronic mail ballot procedures implemented this year were a success with 32 members participating.

Environmental Concerns Committee: No formal report.

Education Committee: President-Elect John Crutchfield, also acting as Chair of the Education Committee provided the following report:

The Continuing Education Committee has been involved in planning and implementing three courses during annual chapter meetings in 1999-2000. A Statistics refresher course was offered at the joint meeting of the North Carolina and Virginia Chapters during January 1999. This meeting was taught by by Dr. John Rawlings, Professor Emeritus of Statistics at N. C. State University and featured a review of parametrical statistical tests and assumptions. Sixteen biologists participated in this four-hour course. A course questionnaire was utilized to gain feedback on the overall effectiveness of the course and future course offerings. Results of this participant survey was published in the April 1999 Chapter newsletter to provide feedback on the course. Two courses are planned for the 2000 annual Chapter meeting—one course on electrofishing principles and safety practices and one course on minnow, darter, and sucker taxonomic identification. The first course will be developed and taught by Mr. Jeff Johnson, a research biologist with Smith-Root, Inc. Dr. Wayne Starnes, with the N.C. Museum of Natural Science, will teach the fish taxonomy course. Both courses are being offered at relatively low fees to Chapter members in order to accommodate continuing education needs of biologists throughout the state. The Chapter was able to offer the electrofishing course through a business partnership with Smith Root, Inc. via a boat electrofishing clinic offered at the same time as the course. Challenges for the Continuing Education Committee during 2000 will be to continue to offer courses for biologists at future chapter meetings and to increase awareness and promote the AFS Professional Certification Program.

President Crutchfield announced his intentions to appoint a new Education Committee Chair during 2000 so he can concentrate on Chapter matters.

OLD BUSINESS:

1999 AFS Annual Meeting: Secretary-Treasurer Thomas briefly discussed financial matters from the Charlotte meeting. Over $110,000 was retained by AFS Bethesda after the meeting, an increase of >$40,000 from that agreed upon in the signed MOU. The sales tax exempt status secured by the Chapter last year paid large dividends with approximately $10,000 to be returned from the NC Department of Revenue. These monies will be forwarded to AFS Bethesda.

Bylaw Changes: President Coughlan reported the Chapter Procedures Manual had been converted to an electronic file, and changes voted upon during the 1999 business meeting had been included. All verbiage referring to the Chapter Constitution (guidelines brought over from the defunct NC Fisheries Workers Association) has been removed, and the current Procedures Manual is now the only official record of Chapter bylaws. The purpose and function of the Education Committee is one area conspicuously absent from the Procedures Manual. This addition and other corrections/updates will be made to the Procedures Manual by EXCOM during 2000.

Long-range Planning Document: President Coughlan reported the Chapter had developed a long-range planning document in the early 1990’s that had not been reviewed for 5+ years. Bob Curry recommended an ad hoc committee be established to review this document. President-Elect Crutchfield agreed to appoint members to this committee during 2000.

NEW BUSINESS:

Financial Planning: With the Chapter checking account swelling to >$14,000, President Coughlan lead discussion concerning how to best handle the surplus. It was suggested that an ad hoc committee be established by the Chapter President to review mutual fund and other investment options. The committee would be responsible for making financial decisions for the Chapter. After much discussion, a motion was made by Bob Curry and seconded by Mike Swing to put $10,000 in a money-market account until formal recommendations could be made by the ad hoc committee. The motion carried with one opposed.

SDAFS Scholarship Requests: President Coughlan reported he had been contacted by Gene Gilliland, SDAFS Reservoir Committee, requesting applicants for the Reservoir Committee’s Annual Scholarship program. The committee presents two $1000 scholarships per year, and had only received one application. The new deadline for submission is Jan. 15.

TAFS Donation: President Coughlan read a letter sent to each Chapter by Sally Kendall requesting donations to help offset production costs in printing the AFS journal Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. A motion was made by Bob Curry to support this endeavor by donating $500. The motion was seconded by Rich Noble, and passed unanimously.

Flood Relief Donation: Secretary-Treasurer Thomas reported $315 was raised from Chapter T-shirt sales at the SEAFWA meeting to support Hurricane Floyd relief. This money will be sent to the Governor’s Relief Fund for Hurricane Floyd victims.

Federal Aid Coordinators Donation: Bob Curry requested the Chapter consider donating $100 to the 2000 Federal Aid Coordinators Meeting to be held in Asheville. Rich Noble made a motion to make a $100 donation to the meeting. The motion was seconded by Jim Rice and passed unanimously.

PRESENTATION OF BEST STUDENT PAPER AWARD: President Coughlan thanked all of this year’s student presenters for their fine contributions. President Coughlan then recognized Scott Waters as the recipient of this year’s Best Student Paper Award for his presentation entitled, "Mortality of adult largemouth bass in a tropical reservoir." Scott will receive a student membership to AFS, a journal of his choice, and a plaque.

PRESENTATION OF DON BAKER MEMORIAL AWARD: President Coughlan then presented the second annual Don Baker Memorial Award for best presentation at the 1999 NC AFS Annual Meeting to Tom Kwak for his presentation, "Production dynamics: a useful tool for fisheries research and management". The winner of the 2000 Don Baker Memorial Award has been selected, and will be recognized at the 2001 chapter meeting.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR RECOGNITION: President Coughlan concluded the awards portion of the business meeting by recognizing Bob Goldstein for outstanding service as Chapter Newsletter Editor since 1993. President Coughlan thanked Bob for his continued commitment in this capacity.

ELECTION OF 2000 CHAPTER OFFICERS: Nominating Committee Chair Scott Van Horn announced President-Elect for 2000 is Bob Curry. Secretary-Treasurer for 2000 & 2001 (two-year term) is Kim Baker.

INSTALLATION OF NEW PRESIDENT: President Dave Coughlan installed John Crutchfield as the new 2000 NC AFS Chapter President.

NEW PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS: New President John Crutchfield thanked Dave Coughlan for his service in 1999, and presented him with a Past-President plaque.

President Crutchfield then thanked Past-President Coughlan, Chad Thomas, David Yow, Chris Taylor, Joe Hightower, Bob Goldstein, and Scott Van Horn for their assistance with Chapter affairs. President Crutchfield identified key areas he would be working on in 2000. One of these areas involves promoting student involvement within the Chapter. This will be done by providing direction and support for students through participation and mentorship. President Crutchfield also hoped to increase Environmental Concerns Committee activity during the upcoming year. Continuing education of fisheries professionals is another area President Crutchfield identified as important to the long-term goals of the Chapter. President Crutchfield promised to work to promote and encourage growth in these areas during 2000, and to revisit the long-range planning document developed in the early 1990’s.

President Crutchfield opened the floor to other issues, and remarked that the 2001 Annual Chapter Meeting would most likely be a joint venture with the South Carolina Chapter. The President-elect will determine if the South Carolina Chapter is interested in hosting a joint meeting. The issue of hosting the AFS Mid-year meeting came up again, and EXCOM agreed to continue to monitor this situation.

President Crutchfield then asked if there was a motion to adjourn the 2000 Annual Business Meeting. The motion was made by Dave Coughlan and seconded by Duane Harrell. The meeting was adjourned at 12:41 p.m.

Minutes respectfully submitted by:

Chad D. Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer

January 13, 2000
 

President - John Crutchfield

CP&L Environmental Services

Harris Energy & Environmental Center

Route 1, Box 327

New Hill, NC 27562

Telephone: (919) 362-3557

Faxform: (919) 362-3391

E-mail: john.crutchfield@cplc.com

President-Elect – Bob Curry

NCWRC – Inland Fisheries

1721 Mail Services Center

Raleigh, NC 27699-1721

Telephone: (919) 733-3633 ext. 280

Faxform: (919) 715-7643

E-mail: curryrl@mail.wildlife.state.nc.us

Secretary-Treasurer – Kim Baker

Duke Power Company Environmental Center

13339 Hagers Ferry Rd.

Huntersville, NC 28078

Telephone: (704) 875-5455

Faxform: (704) 875-5032

E-mail: bkbaker@duke-energy.com

Past-President - Dave Coughlan

Duke Power Company Environmental Center

13339 Hagers Ferry Rd.

Huntersville, NC 28078

Telephone: (704) 875-5236

Faxform: (704) 875-5032

E-mail: djcoughl@duke-energy.com

Student Subunit Representative - Chris Taylor

Department of Zoology

115 David Clark Labs

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, NC 27695

Telephone: (919) 515-8090

E-mail: jctaylo4@unity.ncsu.edu