April 14, 2000
The spring 2000 EXCOM meeting was held at the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission’s Falls Lake Office in Northside. EXCOM members in attendance included: John Crutchfield (President), Bob Curry (President-Elect), Dave Coughlan (Past-President), Chris Taylor (Student Subunit President) and Kim Baker (Secretary/Treasurer).
Call to Order
Old Business
2003 AFS Mid-Year Meeting
Pres.-Elect Curry recommended the NC Chapter host the 2003 Mid-Year meeting. Potential meeting sites in Wilmington were discussed and information presented by Pres.-Elect Curry. Decision was made to summit a letter to SDAFS from the NC Chapter to host the 2003 meeting. Selection of meeting location and committees is to be completed by the fall Chapter EXCOM meeting.
New Business
Fall Meeting of EXCOM
Decision was made for the fall 2000 EXCOM meeting to be held in September.
Nominating Committee
Pres. Crutchfield is to appoint 3 members to the committee. Biographies of candidates nominated by the committee are to be included in the September newsletter.
Program/Arrangements Committee
Pres.-Elect Curry (Program Chair) asked for the appointment of Keith Ashley as Arrangements Chair. Curry reported that Ashley had been investigating locations for the 2001 Chapter meeting in the Sunset Beach area. Curry is to supply the newsletter editor with details of the meeting arrangements for the Chapter newsletter. Numerous ideas and suggestions were discussed for potential courses and workshops. Topics, courses, and/or workshops for the meeting are to be selected by June 1st. Chris Taylor and the Student Subunit offered to conduct the 2001 raffle/fund raiser.
Newsletter Editor Report
Dave Coughlan reviewed items received and planned for the upcoming newsletter. Coughlan extended invitation for newsletter ideas and submittals and recommended that the newsletter include employment opportunities. EXCOM discussed allocating a section of the newsletter for recognition of students or fisheries professionals in the state. Two candidates were selected for the upcoming issue.
Student Subunit
Student Subunit President Chris Taylor reported Subunit activities which included a Feb. 1st meeting with Lawrence Dorsey, NCWRC, speaking on "Cool water fisheries management in western NC" ; March 7th meeting with Chad Thomas, NCWRC, speaking on "Creative fisheries management in eastern NC: Striking a balance between biological conclusions and angler perception" ; and April 4th meeting with Scott van Horn, NCWRC, speaking on "Piedmont and reservoir fisheries". For further details of Student Subunit activities check out their excellent website. Good job Chris and fellow students.
Environmental Concerns Committee
EXCOM discussed potential candidates for appointment as Chair of Environmental Concerns Committee. Pres. Crutchfield is to appoint a new Chairman with the first action item to be a position statement on the issue of dam removal.
Education Committee
Newsletter editor Coughlan is to include in the upcoming newsletter a call for volunteers to serve on the Education Committee.
Ad Hoc Finance Committee Report
Committee met March 24th at CP&L Harris Visitor Center. Members attending were John Crutchfield, Bob Curry, Scott van Horn, Mike Swing and Jim Rice. Unable to attend were Bob Goldstein and David Coughlan. Chapter financial goals and objectives were discussed. Investment options and approaches were discussed. Recommendations were discussed with a financial advisor. From this meeting an investment recommendation was presented to the EXCOM. Review of the recommendation by the EXCOM resulted in disagreement with the investment approach and the matter was sent back to committee. Chair Kim Baker is to instruct the committee to review the issue. During the interim the majority of Chapter monies are to be moved to an interest bearing account (see attached Financial Report).
EXCOM agreed to the establishment of a permanent Financial Committee. Also, as part of the Chapter financial goals, the Chapter may spend up to $1,000 annually to assist students or young professionals to attend AFS meetings. Bob Curry is to investigate the establishment of criteria for qualifying for these monies.
Chapter By-Laws Status
David Coughlan presented a review of and updates to Chapter Procedure Manual. Updates and changes are to be presented to the membership for review via the website. Membership is to vote on changes at the next Chapter meeting or through electronic balloting on the website. Updates to the By-Laws include the establishment of the Finance Committee and (at the recommendation of Bob Curry) the establishment of an additional recognition award titled "Fisheries Conservationist Award". Bob Curry is to submit details and criteria for this award to the EXCOM.
Chapter Long Range Plan
Bob Curry is to establish a committee to review and revise the Chapter Long Range Plan to bring back to the EXCOM for the September meeting. Revised plan is to be presented to the membership at the January 2001 meeting.
Best Student Paper Award 2000 Meeting
Pres. Crutchfield is to make arrangements to present Best Student Paper Award winner Scott Waters with his recognition plaque.
Outstanding Chapter Awards
The NC Chapter has received an invitation from the Southern Division AFS Awards Committee to complete an application to compete for the SDAFS Outstanding Chapter Award. The EXCOM was provided copies of this form and instructed to submit any information. This information is to be compiled by Bob Curry.
AFS Skinner Memorial Fund
John Hudson, Chair 2000 National Raffle, contacted the NC Chapter asking for support of this years fundraiser. EXCOM agreed to donate $200 to the raffle. All proceeds from the 2000 fundraiser are to go to the Skinner Memorial Fund.
Outdoor Writers Association of America
Bob Curry indicated that the Outdoor Writers Association is having a
convention in Greensboro in the later part of June. The National AFS is
to have a booth at this convention. The Chapter has been asked to help
man this booth. For more details see the Chapter Newsletter.