Minutes of Pendleton Sportsman’s Club meeting on May 9, 2006

Call to Order.  Meeting opened by Vice President Gary Baumann at 1838.

Approval of April’s minutes as published.

Report of Secretary / Treasurer.  Given by Tom Johnson.  New membership year started 1 October and previous annual membership dues expired September 30th.  51 Active paid members, 46 military / 5 civilians. Total $1170.13 in account. 

Committee Reports

- Membership Committee – Club membership dues are $20 per year and are effective for one year from time of activation.  Dues can be paid at Club meetings or mailed in.  See the Club Website for mailing address at http://thesportsmansclub.netfirms.com.

- Buildings and Grounds –Club meetings will be at building number 24065 in the 24 area next to the PX and Gym. Please help spread the word of the new location.

- Publicity Committee – Club Patches are available from Tom Johnson the Club’s Secretary / Treasurer.  Please contact Tom at a meeting or event about purchasing your Club patch, cost is $5.  Recommend Club members sew the Club patch on their hunting vests to publicize the Club. 

- Hunting Committee

  - The archery range was brought up by a guest attending the meeting.  The Club would like to solicit volunteers to help with the range.  Anyone who is a bow hunter or likes shooting at the archery range please contact an officer of the club or bring ideas to next club meeting.

  - We are looking at repairing/replacing some of the duck blinds around the base.  Earlier this year some new blinds were built but we still need more.

  - The club is looking at marking the hunting areas around the base.  If anyone has access to engineer stakes and ammo cans please let a club officer know or at the next meeting.

  - As always, help police trash found while hunting.

- Fishing Committee

  – Free fishing trips still available through the Dana Wharf Sportfishing.  See Fishing News on the Clubs website for information and contact one of the coordinators.  Active duty can now go for free through the entire week including weekends now. 

- Fred Wolfrom from Pacific Coast Bait and Tackle reported low numbers of fish being taken right now.  Contributes the low numbers to the water temp and storms we’ve had lately.

- Lake O’Neil’s fishing is still slow although reports crappie are spawning right now.  Bass are hitting around the lily pads and a reminder that Bass are catch and release.  The lake’s fishing will pick as we near the summer months.

- The Club is planning a deep-sea fishing trip sometime in June.  Anyone who is interested should contact Wayne or any officer of the club.  Again, dates are not solid. 

Old and unfinished business

  - The club is still planning a plaque presentation to the Greenhead club who put on the fabulous duck shoot in February.  Larry will give a date and time for the presentation and dinner at the June meeting. 

  - A waiver has been requested to shoot on Wilcox Range.  This waiver is necessary for shotgun firing since they are not regular weapons fired on this range.

  - NRA/RSO Course.  Frank Alessio at the Escondido Fish and Game Association conducts the classes.  Dennis will be contacting Frank for available dates to qualify more members. 

  - Rifle Sight-in / Familiarization Fire range dates have been approved for June 24th, July 15th, August 12th, and September 9th. 

  - The Club still needs to get members qualified as Range Safety Officers (RSO) and Officers-In-Charge (OIC) by the Base.  Any Club member can receive the training and become qualified as an RSO / OIC.  The Base RSO / OIC course is given every Friday starting at 0700 in building 2399. 

New business

  - Members are encouraged to send emails to John Cullen, former Vice-President of the Club, who is currently serving in Iraq at jdjrc@hotmail.com.

  - Members are requested to review the current Hunting Program Base Bulletin and submit any recommended changes via email to Club Secretary Tom Johnson at t-d-johnson@cox.net, or bring any suggestions to the June meeting.  Vic Yoder needs these recommendations ASAP.  He needs to send the recommendations up the chain of command in June.  The current bulletins will be posted on the Club website for your review.  Your recommendations are critical to continue to improve the hunting and fishing opportunities on board the base.  We have made tremendous progress and improvements this last year and we need to continue our efforts.  Please review and make your recommendations they are important.

Future Hunting

  - Hunting during the off season is available for rabbits, squirrels and coyotes.  The hunting hours will be 0800 to 1800.  Please call the warden’s office at 725-3360 to ensure that there are open areas and that the fire danger conditions allow hunting. 

  - Pig hunting in Vandenberg AFB.  Tex is doing research to report at the June meeting.

  - Elk hunting lottery is coming soon.  Also, elk hunting is available at Ft. Hunter Leggett which had military tags unused last year.  Jimbo mentioned hunting in Arizona at Camp Navaho if interested please contact him.

Other News

  - Two Marines attended the meeting; Dan Mildbrand and James Willett, we hope they enjoyed them selves and will become members of the club.

  - A recommendation was made to send flyers to the game shack announcing the monthly meetings.

  - Need any ideas or suggestions to attract more person’s to the meetings.  

The next Club meeting will be on 13 June at 1830 in Bldg 24065. 

Adjournment.  Meeting adjourned at 1944.