CONSERVATION OFFICERS OF PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION

Board of Trustee’s Meeting Minutes

Lone Wolf Camp

Pottersdale, PA

      March 9-10, 2007

Table of Contents

Roll Call……………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………………………………………1

Officer Reports…………………………………………………………………………………………………...……………………………2

     Secretary’s report………………………………………………………………………....………………………………2

     Treasurer’s report………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………2

     Membership Secretary’s report………………………………………..……………………………………2

     Media Secretary’s report…………………………………………......…………………………………………2

Ongoing Business…………………………………..……………………………………………..2

            Membership Retention/Recruitment......…………………………………………..2

            Sale Items............................…….…………………………………………………2

            Kayak Raffle...................………………………………………………………….3

            Rendezvous................................…………………………………………………..3

            The Green Line............……………………………………………………………3

            2007 COPA Field Day Event...................................................................................3

            NAWEOA Sponsorship for 2007............................................................................3

            Gun Raffle................................................................................................................3

            2007 Sportsmen’s Shows.........................................................................................3

New Business…………..………………………………………………………………………….4

            Committees........…………………………………………………………………..4

            Body Armor Question..............................................................................................4

Letter to PGC re: Hunting Hours.............................................................................4

Trustee Schmader replacement................................................................................4

Motions...............................……………………………………………………….4

Good of the Order………………………………………………………………………..5

          Next Meeting – Date-Time-Place………………………………………………………...…5

Board meeting attendance………………………………………………………………………….5

The Meeting was called to order at 8:00 am.

  Roll Call of Board Members:  Present (Y/N)

President Tom Burrell                                                                                        Yes

Vice President Erin Czech                                                                                 Yes

Secretary Rich Cramer                                                                                      No

Treasurer Tim Marks                                                                                        No

Membership Secretary Jake Dingel                                                                    No

Media Secretary Patrick Snickles                                                                       Yes

Trustee Tom Grohol                                                                                          No

Trustee Tom McMann                                                                                       Yes

Trustee Colleen Shannon                                                                                   Yes

Trustee Martha Mackey                                                                                                Yes

Trustee Linda Swank                                                                                         No

Trustee Peter Thomas                                                                                       Yes

Trustee Brian Burger                                                                                         Yes

Trustee Matt Visosky                                                                                        Yes

Trustee John Pedrick                                                                                         No

Associate Member Trustee Ted Onufrak                                                                        No

OFFICER REPORTS:

Secretary’s Report:

None

Treasurer’s Report:

• Tim Marks provided the following reports, copies of which are attached:

1.       Citizens Bank - ???

2.       Smith Barney Money Fund - ???

3.       Smith Barney CD - ???

4.       Total = ???

Membership Secretary’s Report:

Jake Dingel submitted the following report:

• Regular members – 267
• Lifetime Regular Members – 120
• Regular Associate – 55
• Lifetime Associate – 18
• Honorary Associate – 29                                                                      
• Junior Associate – 2                                                                             
• Family Associate – 1
• Total membership is 492
• 215 members have memberships that expired at the end of 2006 that are not included in this report

Media Secretary’s Report:  None

ONGOING BUSINESS:                                                                                                        

Membership Retention/Recruitment:

• COPA region reps need to keep up to speed with membership to continually reinforce the fraternalism and camaraderie involved with joining/renewing and maintaining membership. 

Sale Items:

• Virtue of each sale item was discussed, i.e. Cook Book, Best of Field, Coffee Mugs, Golf Shirts, Tee Shirts, Embroidered Hat.  A number of new sale item ideas were discussed as well including turkey calls, lures, spoons, etc.  Martha is gathering info on costs, procedure, etc. for a completely new cookbook and going back to the WCO’s for recipes.  The board was in favor of this approach.

Kayak Raffle:

            $5.00 tickets spread cost out with initial mailing.  How much to spend?  When to start?  When to end?  One supplier from Minnesota sells for $500.00 at a $225.00 cost to COPA with $140.00 to ship.  Sportsmen’s package to include what???  Gander Mountain for guns, to include fly rod package?  Need a price on inflatable PFD.  Prices seem to be about $100.00 to $135.00.

2007 Rendezvous:

            Craig will call.  August 15 (Fri) 2007.  Craig got information on DelGrosso’s and gave it to Tim Marks.  Will confirm date and get new information on pricing etc. for Executive Board decision to be conducted ASAP so things move forward.  Snacks/fluids in morning and afternoon at a location TBD.  COPA will supply two ride passes.  We will also include tickets for dinner.

The Green Line/Membership Communication:

            Colleen reported that Linda has located someone to do the layout.  This person has the material and has begun work on the layout.  Realistically, publication should occur late May to early June.  The spring/summer newsletter was discussed by Colleen with Pat Snickles to be mailed out in June.  To do this, Kayak tickets must be included as well as the information on the Rendezvous.

2007 COPA Field Day Event:

            Move ahead with the alternate dates of 18, 19 & 20 Sept 2007 pending location availability.  Try not to directly compete with the New England states while attempting to attract officers from neighboring states that are not involved in the NE field days.  If the Lancaster County site is unavailable for 2007 then we will definitely schedule one in 2008 for the second or third week in September.  Colleen will speak to Linda about getting this confirmed. 

NAWEOA Sponsorship for 2007:

            Tom Burrell will ask Jake to send out the cards to membership for solicitation of who wants to be in drawing.  Raffle to be held at June 3 meeting at PGC Harrisburg HQ.

Gun Raffle:

            Unknown how many have been sold to date.  We need to push the sales of these tickets hard.  Tickets were printed and went to all Gander Mountain Stores in PA.  Five tickets each were sent to 54 Youth Field Day Coordinators with the T-shirt order forms.  Colleen needs help with the April 15 drawing at the Williamsport Gander Mountain store.

2007 Sports Shows

            Harrisburg:  Tom McMann reported that in 10 days we took in $5,986.00.  What happened to the old days where we took in excess of $10,000.00???  189 gun raffle tickets were sold at the show.  No problems with set up, operations or take down.

Pittsburgh:  Martha reported a take of $1,590.00.  She thought that show activity was pretty good.

Erie:  Matt reported a take of $1,355.00.  The show was good but could have been better.

NEW BUSINESS:

Committees:

            Fundraising:  (Tom Burrell), Tim Marks, Matt Visosky (chair). Frank Parise

            Membership:  (Erin Czech), Jake Dingel (chair), Ted Onufrak, Brian Burger, and Tom Grohol

            Communications:  (Erin Czech), Colleen Shannon (chair), John Pedrick, Martha Mackey, and Pat Snickles

            Field Day Events:  (Tom Burrell), Peter Thomas, Linda Swank (chair), Tom McMann, and Rich Cramer

Body Armor Question:

            COPA is going to try to get info to help the Deputies purchase their own body armor.  Tom McMann reported that the NRA has a discount program for LE members and Pete has a contact in Coatesville with good prices on body armor and guns.  They are both going to get the information and provide it to Colleen for future publications.  COPA cannot supply funding or supplies to anyone, we are a 501.c.3.

Letter to PGC about extended hunting hours:

            Feedback was about evenly split.  Board does not feel we need to write a letter about that or other things that do not affect us.  Disparity of opinion within the ranks of membership exists on this issue.  Almost all of the pros for extending were archers.  “We will NOT enter the issue from an organizational standpoint.”

Replacement of Trustee Bernie Schmader:

            Decided to have the board approach a number of people who have some interest in the position of Retired Game Officer Trustee.  If an interested member is located then the issue will be put before the Board for a vote at the June 3rd meeting.  Election requires 2/3 majority of the Trustees present at the meeting.  If no interested member is located, then the vacant Trustee position will be advertised in the June newsletter.  Interested candidates will be asked to respond prior to the Rendezvous and the issue will be brought to the Trustees for a vote at the Rendezvous.  If no retired PGC officer comes forward by the Rendezvous, then to Board has the authority under Section 6.1 of the Bylaws to fill the vacancy with ANY interested member regardless of classification.

MOTIONS:

Extended Shooting Hours:

            Brian Burger made a motion, seconded by Tom McMann, to not write a letter to the PGC in opposition to the extension of shooting hours.  Motion passed.

NAWEOA Sponsorship:

            Erin Czech made a motion, seconded by Colleen Shannon, that COPA sponsor two members $500.00 each to attend the 2007 NAWEOA Conference.  Motion passed.

Kayak Raffle:

            Tom McMann made a motion, seconded by Matt Visosky, that COPA hold a Kayak Raffle with a maximum of $1500.00 spent.  Drawing will be held Oct 14, 2007 Board meeting.  5000 tickets shall be ordered.  Motion passed.

GOOD OF THE ORDER:

Next Meeting: June 3, 2007 Harrisburg, PGC Building

                        October 14, 2007 Stackhouse 

Board Meeting Attendance 2006-2007

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