BOARD OF DIRECTORS  MEETING

MINUTES:  MARCH 2, 2008

Board Members Present:

Joan Blankenship                                President

Pam Bryant                          Secretary/Treasurer

Robert Blankenship            Conservation

Jeff Franklin                         Tournament Director

John Britton                          Region 1 Director

Steve Woodroof                  Region 2 Director

Randy Hinman                    Region 3 Director

Robert Blankenship            Region 4 Director

Mike Bryant                         Region 5 Director

Jim Geiser                              Region 7 Director

Ed Clayton                           Region 10 Director

Joan Blankenship, president, called the meeting to order at Orange, VA, Holiday Inn Express at 9:10AM. 

Minutes from the last meeting were approved as read;  motion by Ed Clayton, Region 10 and second by Steve Woodroof, Region 2.  All approved.

Treasurer’s Report was approved unanimously; motion by Ed Clayton, Region 10 and Steve Woodroof, second, region 2.  All approved.

Joan, discussed the Bassmaster Classic and the Presidents meeting.  The next three locations for the classic will be 2009, Shreveport,  Louisiana, 2010 Birmingham, AL and 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  All three years will be in February.  BASS is considering changing it back to the summer after these three years.

Purolator cash award now must be run  through the state instead of the clubs.  New form to file w/Purolator and must have UPC codes and sales receipts in to Secretary in order to file in March, June, and September 2008.

Alliance – Optima battery added.  Giving coupon to states.  Also, state can buy 6 batteries at 30% off and state team can purchase through October, 2008.  Added $250 gift certificate to highest state.  Any BASS member can get $20 off per purchase.

Longhorn is based in Richmond but due to state regulations we are not allowed to get anything promotional.

Berkley www.purefishing.com  announced  a promotional program for state presidents to purchase product at a large discount.  For more information contact the state president.  .

Toyota contingency program 2007 or newer; if the state winner is running Toyota as a new vehicle can get $250.  Everyone who drives a 2007 or 2008 Toyota can get the $250 bonus.  Submit an official form; copy of vehicle registration form.  Also, can get bonus bucks banner by going to Toyota.com.

Skeeter and Yamaha –have stepped up as the sponsor  for the BCWC and also doing the Drive the Nation  program where the  winning state will get  a Skeeter Yamaha package.  President can get  discount packages beginning at 3/15/08.  Skeeter will pay $50,000 to national winner running the  Skeeter package and registered with real money.  If you have as many as 50 fisherman in your region call Skeeter and get your region tournaments listed with Skeeter real money.  Skeeter said no violation of current contracts involved.  Virginia is still a Triton Alliance state and we will honor our contract for 2008 and promote our present sponsors.  . 

We are approved for Champion, Skeeter, Ranger and Triton money programs if the boat owner has registered with them.

This is the first year the presidents did not have first meeting with sponsors and on opening day there were too many people to meet w/sponsors.  Sponsors are the main reasons presidents go to the classic. 

Discussion about when the membership ends and the BASS Federation Nation will continue insurance coverage.  All clubs must pay their dues in order to be covered by the insurance.  All insurance will run on a calendar year. 

Youth changes impacted states with large youth programs.  Our 2007 contenders, Blake Gillispie and Mitch Willis will go to the final Elite series event in New York in August and fish with one of the pros who are eliminated after the first cut.  Our 2008 contenders will go to Buggs Island Lake and fish with the state federation champion on the Saturday after the event.  State team winners will have to stay an additional day to take the junior anglers fishing.  This sill be added to our state team contract. 

The Alliance contract was discussed and the implications of an announcement made at the Classic.  There will be a Triton Alliance boat package available to members for 2008 and in addition to the Triton Boat, Mercury Motor . Motorguide Trolling Motor, Lowrance Electronics, there will be Optima Batteries.  For details contact the state president. 

If we get a lead through BASS we are starting a club for single members who live in remote areas in the state. Everything at BASS is run by BASS#.  BASS will do a mass mailing from BASS is we ask.  This mailing is based on total BASS members in the state and not just Federation members. 

Talked about BCWC in great detail.  BASS had 51 teams total last year.  Each state is encouraged to conduct a qualifier to go to the BCWC.   Virginia already has a format in place and the top teams from the team championship are eligible to participate if they wish..  There may be an event at Smith Mountain Lake in July. 

Online roster system still evolving.  BASS is not sending out any paper rosters.  Document online at for letter of authorization to be signed by all clubs and returned with dues at the end of each year.  Pam is sending to clubs w/return envelope just in case our clubs have not returned the letter.  If clubs are not paying national dues on line it would be better if entire packet is sent to Pam Bryant to expedite the process.  This ensures that members are eligible for insurance and to compete in state events. 

The club, state and BASS are still covered by the liability insurance. Boaters are still liable for their own negligence and insurance is required to fish any of our events.  Changes on AD and D covers to and from sanctioned event and not 24/7 anymore.  Leisure Sport Services now handles the insurance .  New form for certificate of insurance is now online.

College clubs need boats and encourage the states to waive the fees for membership if they will join. 

Budget cuts are necessary at BASS as well this year.    No travel assistance for contenders anymore.  Casting Kids and JWC travel assistance may be less than before.  Bert asked if the state could help with the travel assistance.  We may have one event per year to help with the youth and one per year for conservation.  BASS says they will still provide rooms and meals for the youth but no travel.  Need better communication between the youth, conservation, and the state.

Pat Cuda with Cabellas spoke about the Casting Kids program.  They will set up toll-free number and be the primary sponsor for the Casting Kids.  The federation will get a discount and they would prefer at the Casting Kids events that everyone wear Cabellas products.  They prefer we don’t wear competing sponsors at the Casting Kids events.  Also, we will get banners and contact info. for everyone.  At the time of the printing of the minutes this information is not available. 

Updates on JWC not sure where 2007 contenders will fish Oneida or Onandaga yet..  No off limits and pairing on Friday night.  The Mitch Willis and Blake Gillespie will fish w/the pros in NY in August.  This will be the last event where youth will fish with the pros.  Divisional format for JWC and Casting Kids for 2008.   Our  VA state champion for 2008 who wins at Buggs Island Lake,  will stay to fish Saturday and take the youth to fish the day after the mid-atlantic..  We have to add this to our state contract. The winners of the 2008 event will advance to Kansas and will fish with the federation champions.  .

The Championships official practice Monday and Tuesday w/pairing on Tuesday and compete on Wednesday thru Friday.  Safe age date for 2009 will now be the calendar year for 2009.  As soon as championship is held in Virginia for 2008, the calendar year will go into effect w/age groups 7-10 and 11-14  in Casting Kids and in respective age groups for the junior angler program. 

Conservation directors will continue to meet at the classic and the youth directors will also meet at the Federation Championships.  Presidents will continue to meet at both events.  .

The display section at the classic was huge and really awesome. 

Old Business:

· Lake Anna Open – We need help w/volunteers:  Bert Seymour and maybe some of the youth to help.   Their responsibility in Orange is to help w/the federation events. 

· Mr. BASS and Six-man entry given out.  Jim Geiser reported that all back rooms at the motel can run drop cords and there will be temporary service in the main parking lot.  Forms will be mailed to all clubs.

· Jim Dalton, a former region director was killed in an automobile accident on February 27, 2008.  The board voted to make a $100 donation to American Heart Association in his memory wJeff Franklin making the motion and Ed Clayton second.

· Pete Robbins has volunteered to write articles for any regions that need help. Youth director should contact Pete for assistance with youth reporting. The deadline was 2/28/08.

· Web site advertising price list needs to be determined.  We have over 150,000 hits per year and are over 250,000 as of March 1, 2008.  Suggestions for rates from members or potential advertisers are welcome at this point. 

· We are a Triton alliance state again this year.  We have 3 props to raffle and 2 trolling motors to raffle.  We will use one prop and one trolling motor to raffle for the youth.  Steve asked how about printing 1,000 tickets to sell for the trolling motor and each region take 100 tickets.  Maybe draw at July 4^th for the winner.  We will have the raffle for one motor and take one to six-man.  All members have to call Joan for discounts for motorguide and lowrance, etc. 

· Skeeter and Yamaha details will be sent to presidents soon. 

· Robert on Conservation:  None of the conservations have any money.  He only had $1000 to use last year.  The largest budget of all states was $5000.  Gary Dobbins in California has his own rods and has agreed to make his two top selling rods and designate these as conservation rods.  Most conservation directors will become pro staff for these rods.  He will give $25 to the conservation funds in each state for any rods sold.  They are excellent rods and are in discussion with the reel companies and maybe they will donate the same $25 to the conservation funds.  Gary Dobbins will also donate $25 to the national conservation for grants for each rod sold.  Monafilment recycling is at the OCHS show and they have already made about 8 collectors and will be putting them in the state.  For any pure brands of fishing line Trilene, Berkley and Stren lines and we send in 75 UPC labels they will donate one container to us.  Robert has a plan to help cut off upc labels so we can send in to get containers free from Berkley.   Berkley conservation will make the labels available for us.  Maybe we can put them in the tackle shops and get help to check the containers.  Berkley made a conservation award and scholarship program.

Now bilge water discharge is now a problem from boats.  By August of this year every boater will have to have an EPA license to run a boat.  If you run a livewell, etc. that is runoff according to the EPA.  There are two bills concerning this before congress and the senate.  Hopefully the bill will exempt recreational boaters and not affect the fisherman and boaters.  All licenses will have to be purchased from the EPA.  This is a big deal for all of VA boaters. 

Scott Taylor, region 9, will try to bring some rods used for conservation for us to see at the next region meeting.  Suggested retail is $165 for these rods and they go up to $265.  Wave spin or wave cast for the reels.

Conservation:  The B.A.S.S. Federation Nation of VA needs one more day to finish the state park pump house and we need a date and volunteers to finish the project.  March 16^th on Sunday; Mike Bryant and Scott Taylor can help and start at 8:00. Anyone else who is available would greatly be appreciated.

The Team Championship at Buggs; Steve said to use all 5 ramps at Occoneechee and we will fill the top parking lot first and then the lower lot.  Steve will block off the lower lot until the first is filled.  All have to flow in one direction for us to have a trailered weigh-in.  Tell all the clubs about the redirection of all boats coming in to weigh-in.  Maybe call Mary to borrow the pontoon boat again.  Best to use the second ramp to take off and keep from backing up. We can use the pontoon boat for take off and come in w/your number.  We need to have a pontoon boat donated for this event as we do not own one.  . 

Tournament Rules for life vests – Only protests will cause a problem.  When anglers start lining up for launch you need to have it on.  Use common sense and inside no wake he cannot run the boat anyways.  Life jackets must be on  from line up to check in will be enforced and during official tournament hours..

We tabled how to select the locations for upcoming tournaments.  The tournament committee will select the locations and regions will rotate the hosting.  We will make decision at the August 2008 meeting when we set the 2009 schedule..

Drive the Nation will now be 11/07 – 11/08 and the state w/highest membership will win a Skeeter/Yamaha package.  .  

2009 Activities – Boat Shows possible and other ways to increase funding for youth and conservation.  Are they worth participating in?  We decided they are not worth the expense to go.  If we are raffling items and raising money it may be cost effective.  Some marinas have customer appreciation days and we could have displays. 

Region 1 – May 31, 2008,  Franklin Park.  Meeting next week

Region 2 – Steve Woodroof, draw from fishing w/partner.  Sid Ryan suggested possible buddy event for fall classic.  The rule is you have a draw tournament to make the state team.  Sid had seen something on another web site that implied that buddy tournaments might be used and it was decided that this would open doors that we would like to avoid.  All tournaments for qualifying events will remain draw events.  .

Region 3 – Still working on the new youth club.  Still growing. New website is cardinalbassva.com for Cardinal BM.

Region 4 – Not present

Region 5 – Had new club join in Danville.  Piedmont BM and youth group has new members joining.

Region 6 – Not present.

Region 7 – Mr. BASS scheduled.  They are still working on sponsors to help w/the expenses of the tournament.

Region 9 – Scott Taylor trying to meet with clubs and get them back..

Region 10 – Fishing in TN lakes.  Now 18” minimum on small mouth bass.  Region 10 invites members to join them on the TN lakes.  Maybe we could get joint ventures w/two states.  They have a new youth club called Wise Co. Jr.  Ed Claytorn suggested we put a ribbon on all of our boats to identify our tournament boats.  Joan said we could pass out the ribbons at the meeting.  Ed Clayton, region 10 made a motion and Mike Bryant, region 5, second to mark our boats.  All approved.

Youth Report – Paul sent report.  Membership is growing.  All advisors committed for 2008.  Growth in region 4 youth.  Wise Co. Jr. new and King George Jr. is new.  Also have queries from New Kent and Liberty Heights. 

Change in JWC w/BASS.  2007 Qualifiers will go to New York as Paul stated.  2008 Qualifiers will go to Buggs Island Lake and then on to Kansas for the final competition. 

Thank you to Ed Clayton for starting the cookout program last year with our youth.  .  We need three sponsors to help with the state tournaments.  Will the Philpott be at Salthouse?  Yes and some will be camping. 

Virginia needs to think about a scholarship program for the youth.  Paul will keep funding through the Joseph Thomson Foundation.  Jeff Franklin will ask the Laurel Park Booster program for a donation and he needs a letter to present to them to help fund.  Joan will get him a letter. 

Paul is planning to take some kids to NJ for a youth invitational but we will not fund it from the state.  Paul can check with the sponsors to get donations for each child – only 6 going.  This could cost $2500-$5000.  According to John Britton, the Bryan Kershel Fund started this about 10-15 years ago for the youth.  Paul states  can get the money raised for this team.  Joan will work with parents to see about needs for the New York trip. 

Tournament Director – Jeff Franklin; needs help at Anna.  The youth from the region will help again this year.   Jim Geiser states that the Mr. BASS help is  arranged as well.

Meeting adjourned at 1:00PM, motion by Mike Bryant and second by Scott Taylor.

Thank you,

Pam Bryant, Secretary/Treasurer

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