BOARD OF DIRECTORS  MEETING

MINUTES:  JUNE 25, 2006

Held at Brian’s Restaurant in South Hill, Va. at 9:00AM.

Board Members Present:

Joan Blankenship                President

Sid Ryan                               Vice-president

Pam Bryant                          Secretary/Treasurer

Steve Woodroof                  Region 2 Director

Kenny Brown                       Region 3 absent

Dwayne Linkous                 Region 4 Director

Mike Bryant                         Region 5 Director

Lee Allison                            for Region 6

Ivan Morris                           Region 7 Director

John Britton                          Region 1 & 9 Director

Ed Clayton                           Region 10 absent

Minutes from the last meeting were accepted as read.

Treasurer’s report was accepted as read.

Old Business:

Magazine:

• “Hook Set” magazine will be created as the official publication for the Virginia BASS Federation Nation. Sid Ryan will coordinate production of the premier edition.  Sid Ryan will ask Ivan Morris to help with cover design.
• Ad rates were given to members of the board.  Advertising space for the back cover was set at $150 per issue or $500 for all four issues. 
• Extra copies of the advertising rates are available for anyone who wants them.
• Each region is expected to write a report and help sell ads.  The deadline for submitting articles is August 1, 2006. Each region is to send info on 3-4 advertisers and Joan will contact. 
• Joan wants three price quotes for printing. Quotes will be obtained by Steve Woodroof in region 2, Lee Allison in Region 6 and Mike Bryant in Region 5.

Mr. BASS 2007:

• Will be hosted by region 10. Chris Lucas has reserved Claytor Lake ramp and is working on the rest of the package for the event.  
• Sid Ryan discussed the use of jet boats.  The tournament rules would need to state if using a jet boat and going above the falls is allowed. Angler will need to abide by the size change if they fish above the falls.  Directors are considering making above the falls off limits. 

Six Man for 2007:

• Joan has spoken to South Hill Chamber of Commerce Head, Frank Malone. They will consider a package for us and the president will also ask for a bid from Clarksville. 
• Holding the tournament at a site other than Bugg’s Island was discussed.
• Having one or two Six Man team tournaments was also discussed. It was agreed to hold one tournament at Bugg’s Island in 2006.  We can run one tournament for much less than two and Bugg’s Island can accommodate a large tournament. 
• Regions 6 and 7 members are in favor of the June date for Six-Man in 2007.  Six-Man dates cannot be finalized until October, 2006, pending permits from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Mr. Bass / Six Man 2006:

• Ivan Morris stated region 7 members did not like the payout scale at this years Six Man.  Mike Bryant, region 5, talked about more money with less places.  Dwayne Linkous, region 4 also had concerns about the payout from his members.    The president asked Ivan, Dwayne and Mike to come up with a payback scale and let the board vote on at August meeting.  Lee Allison motioned payback 1 for every 10 places and Dwayne Linkous seconded. Motioned tabled to allow directors to take to clubs and vote at the next meeting. All approved to take to clubs.   The payback for 2007 will be determined at the August 6, 2007 meeting.

Sponsors: 

• Both the Mercury contract and the Lowrance contracts have been signed and products have been received. Motor Guide and  Lowrance have provided product for the state team.  Lowrance will also give VIP prices to members.
• We are waiting for the Skeeter Alliance Program contract to come back, hopefully before next meeting.
• Any sponsor agreements for product involving the state Federation need to be filed with the president. 
• Sid Ryan talked with a member in region 7 about potential national sponsors for 2007. Sponsors are already committed for this year.  A lot of people are waiting to see what happens this year.
• Several sponsors will need ad space in “Hook Set” and they include Mercury and Lowrance. 

New Business:

BASS Federation Nation:

• BASS has scheduled a presidents meeting July 28-30, 2006, for additional sponsor meetings, 2008 tournaments, 2007 drive the nation promotion, sponsor program and other topics of concern.

Fall Classic 2006:

• Joan has requested the ramp and paid permit fee. It has been approved that the tournament will go out of the State Park at Smith Mountain Lake. 
• Ivan Morris made a motion and Steve Woodroof seconded to set the deadline for entry forms as October 1, 2006. 
• The criteria for participation will be participation in 50% of region BASS functions for the year 2006. 
• Each region will pay for up to 20 people and others that want to fish beyond the 20 may pay their own entry fee.  They must enter in teams of two.  If regions are still in transition they may send less however they need to be in multiples of two.

Fall Classic for 2007: 

• Lee Allison announced that the 2007 Fall Classic will be hosted by region 6 and will be held at Lake Chesdin in Dinwiddie.  He is working on a promotional package and has already discounts on parking fees.

Raffle: 

• According to the Gaming Commission we do not have to have a raffle permit if gross proceeds are less than $25,000. 
• Joan contacted Remington about designing a custom gun for the raffle.    We will use the Virginia BFN state logo on the gun stock.  The gun will be a new issue Remington 1100 G-3 shotgun. Steve Woodroof made a motion print 20,000 tickets to be sold at one dollar a piece. John Britton seconded.  All approved. The tickets will be distributed at the August board meeting. The drawing for the winner will be done at the Fall Classic in October 14 & 15, 2006
• Steve Woodroof discussed getting the small Skeeter to raffle this year if we can and go with the gun now. 

By-Laws: 

• Steve Woodroof and Mike Bryant will review and finalize the by-laws before the August meeting so that the board can vote to approve and post them on the web site for the members.    

Secretary/Treasurer:

• The board approved unanimously to allow Pam Bryant to have Mallard & Mallard accounting firm review our non-profit status application before filing.  A motion was made to pay the fee of $200 by Ivan Morris and seconded by Mike Bryant.   The motion passed unanimously.
• Also, they Anyone who wins must claim all winnings over $600 and we are required to send 990 forms to them.  Mallard and Mallard will file 990 forms at the end of each year for an additional $400-500.  Mike Bryant made the motion and Ivan Morris seconded to pay to file 990s.

Youth:

• Joan Blankenship, President, commended John Britton for a good job as youth director. Joan has asked John to relinquish his position as youth director in order to accept the challenge of growing regions one and nine.    Requests for region 1 & 9 direction continue to come in and a change needed to be made to address the need.   John Britton stated that he has been doing the youth program for six years and never got to take a child out on a boat because he has always run the tournaments.   John stated that he has no problem stepping up to the new challenge
• Mike Bryant asked what is involved in youth?  John said four tournaments to move on to qualifier.  To start a junior club; send two juniors with one boat and cannot have a family member or sibling operating the boat.  A family member can operate for another junior in the tournament.  Region 5 has two clubs that will sponsor the youth and mentor them.  The juniors can compete to earn the opportunity to fish the JWC world championship.  A new youth coordinator will be announced at the August meeting.
• Sid asked about 2007 casting kids championship.  Joan will get us information after the July meeting.  Richard Stanford is casting kids director and will be doing a championship in the first weekend in September 2, 2006.  2005 Casting Kids cast off was held at Bass Pro Shop on Labor Day weekend.  Everyone agreed that it should not be held outside because it is not fair for all children.  Contact Richard.  Steve Woodroof needs one casting kids kit for 50-60 handicapped kids every Tuesday night.  Steve mainly needs reels and targets for expo for demonstration from 5-40 years old.  BASS will send you rods and targets.  Ask in letter format to Joy George. 
• Make sure that Abby Ryan gets a copy of any articles and pictures from youth events for the state scrapbook.
• A question was asked about insurance and Mike Bryant stated that when region 5 holds a youth day, he has to contact BASS and they will cover your event with insurance certification.
• Claytor Lake Youth Tournament 2006:  Will be held August 12, 2006. Chris Lucas has taken care of permits.  Deadline for entries is July 20, 2006.  Steve Woodroof will be bringing six boats to help with the youth tournament.  Teams have been asked to send a head count of participants by July 15, so that we can be certain to have enough boats and enough boat captains. 
• Virginia will host the 2007 Virginia Youth Invitational in June 2007.    Each state can send a team of 6 junior anglers.  This is an open event.  John recommended having at least 10 to 12 boat captains available for this event.  The president attended the 2006 event which was held on the Potomac River and hosted by the Maryland BASS Federation Nation.  Teams came from Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and Virginia.  The Virginia team won under the direction of Paul Thomson from Warren County High School Bass Anglers.    

Miscellaneous:

• The board approved a mileage reimbursement rate.  The national rate is $0.30.  John Britton made motion to approve and seconded by Mike Bryant.  6 favored the motion and one opposed (Lee Allison).   John Britton said $0.17 is deductible if you itemize on taxes.  All expenses are covered.  Keep your receipts.  Also, turn in boat receipts for $0.17. Fill up before youth event and go back to refill after tournament, the second receipt is the one that is deductible. 
• Virginia State team shirts have been ordered. Jackets have been donated by Blue Ridge Sportswear.   Money for team members was discussed.  After expenses the remainder will be divided among the team members.   Mike Bryant said maybe get vendors to help donate nabs and/or water from Coke.    Mike Bryant asked to get quote on shirts and take what is left and divide between each team.  Give each boat owner a limit for gas, and the non-boater will get a food allowance.  We have a really strong team this year and a good opportunity to win. 
• A suggestion was made to consolidate Region 8 with Region 7.  Dwayne Linkous made a motion to consolidate and Mike Bryant seconded.  Pam Bryant will get the information about region 8 clubs to Ivan Morris to contact them before a final decision is made. 
• Also, region 3 may merge with 6.  Joan will discuss with Kenny Brown of Region 3 first.

Region Reports:

• Region 1 and 9:  John Britton- has met with region 1 and 9.  They want to rebuild each region separately.  Region 1 is closer to Washington, D.C.  area.  They want a couple of years to rebuild.  They will hold election for board director for each region.  Give the regions two years before consolidating.  They are just now getting started.  Give until December 31, 2007, per Steve Worded.  Everyone agreed. 

• Region 2: Steve Woodroof- The region clubs voted to donate $20 per club to buy top notch weigh-in bags for the state.  Eddie Johnson asked every club in the state to donate $20 for the state to use to purchase an awning for the state trailer.  Region 2 has 28 clubs and they can purchase 28 bags.  Everyone agreed.  Lee Allison, region 6, has some extra bags and will bring to the August, 2006, meeting.  Region 2 will hold an open tournament on July 22, 2006, Saturday night 8PM – 4AM at Water Wheel @ $80 w/payback of 1 for every 5 boats.  Email Steve Woodroof and he will email flyers and put on websites.  6:00PM registration at Water Wheel.

• Region 4: Dwayne Linkous- stated the region went through a lot of changes since the start of the year.  They obtained a sponsor and went from 80-90% payback for tournaments.  They are donating 10% from every tournament to go to the National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation.  The region said 3 teams from each club will have points added together for MR BASS and six man entry for next year.  They would like to grow the region and hope to get more members next year.  Region 4 split four ways according to counties.  Deep southwest would be region 10 with five clubs.  Region 10 had promised to get five new clubs.  After region 10 established TBF split and the new five never joined.  All of the leaders for region 10 are w/TBF and not BASS.  There are now 4-5 clubs left for region 10, which never developed as promised.  Dwayne wants to consolidate region 10 w/region 4.  Region 10 TBF clubs that fish region 4.  Dwayne, region 4, has 123 members and region 10 has 30-40 members.  Mike Bryant, region 5, said to give region 10 the same 18 months to grow the region. (Ed Clayton region 10 was not present at the meeting). Also, Dwayne said both regions list the same counties, but he would like to separate the counties with boundaries for each region.  Just a general guide line.  Dwayne proposed the dividing counties.  Mike Bryant proposed to take to the members of the regions.  Sid Ryan asked Dwayne Linkous to send him list of the counties for each region. 

• Region 5: Mike Bryant- Tournaments went well, except the weigh-in bags.  Region 5 had four qualify for the state team.  Youth day on June 3, 2006, had 66 kids and 96 total in attendance.  They had two qualify for casting kids.  Also, they have several youth from the churches and it keeps growing and they use small two acre private pond.  John Britton recommended holding youth weigh-ins in flights and break it in half.  One of the wives has helped consolidate and run the youth event.  Region 5 will donate eight bags like region 2 to the state; one for each club.

• Region 6: Lee Allison- seven clubs stayed with BASS.  Most of the seven are fishing both.  Tournament dates for MR BASS and six man and fall classic for next year were in agreement with the new 2007 schedule.  Lee Allison announced Lake Chesdin for the Fall Classic in 2007.  Also, sporting goods stores will give the guys fishing discount items.  Lee asked about putting something to break the wind around the weigh in scale.  Mike Bryant, region 5 stated that he put Plexiglas around the scale.  They need to not attach it to the stage because of movement.  Make sure we are consistent with communication.  Correct times and dates and ramps.  Region six will hold four region tournaments for region 6 to qualify for next year.  They have had one so far.  The next one is July, and August on the Potomac.  They had a couple of clubs fish that were TBF who said they would be back next year. 

• Region 7: Ivan Morris- Region has fished 3 of 4 qualifying tournaments.  TBF and BASS all fish together.  They had about a 50/50 split, but lots of members fish both.  Some people frustrated did not fish any region at all.  Now they wish they had fished the region and will be back.  They had trouble with two sets of scales with their tournament last weekend. 

• His and Hers tournament details were given by Sid Ryan, Vice President.  The event is open to the any federation member with a partner of the opposite sex and will be held on August 5, 2006.  Launch times and rules: North Bend ramp, 6:30AM-2:30PM at $25 per team w/6 fish limit per team.  The size will be   3-12” and 3-14” or over.  One male and one female participant per boat.  Be at ramp by 6 AM if you want to fish.

John Britton made a motion to adjourn and Ivan Morris seconded at 1:30PM. 

The next board meeting will be held at Brian’s in South Hill, VA, at 9:00AM. on August 6, 2007.