June 21, 2007
Finger Lakes Conservation Club
President & Vice President Dinner
General Meeting
American Legion – Waterloo
60 Members and guests representing 11 Clubs
Guest Speakers:
Ranger Michael Liu & Ranger Marvin Moobe
Finger Lakes National Forest – Hector, NY
Finger Lakes Conservation Club hosted the 2007 President and Vice President Dinner on June 19, 2007. We all enjoyed a Steak Dinner furnished by the American Legion in Waterloo.
Guest Speakers:
President John Sipos introduced Ranger Michael Liu and he spoke on what the FL National Forest has to offer visitors. There are 16,200 acres in NY States only National Forest. 1/3 of the forest is grasslands. There are 70 ponds located on the forest and many are stocked with trout every spring. Many can be fished from the shore as they are not that deep.
There were 283 cars parked on the forest perimeter last year for opening day of Deer Season, so they do have a lot of hunters during deer season.
Ranger Liu was born in California and then moved to Colorado. He always enjoyed hiking in the woods and that ultimately led him to here to Hector.
Ranger Liu presented the federation with a letter of Thanks for supporting their Youth Fishing Derby program held every year in the spring. Ranger Liu then presented Mark White with a certificate of appreciation from the Vermont Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest for his many years of service of donating his time and support to the Youth Fishing Program on Potomac Ponds. For the last five years, Mark has camped out at Potomac Pond, to deter poachers from taking trout out of the ponds for the kids that will be fishing on that Saturday. Mark stated that he goes to the pond with only a camera and a smile. Why a camera you ask? “When someone pulls up in there vehicle to take trout out of the pond, I explain why I am here. If they continue on to the pond, I take their picture and their license plate and tell them I am going to give this to the DEC in Avon to have them arrested for illegal fishing”. Mark White of course is no small guy! He states that they usually get right back in there vehicle and leave. Great detective work, Mark.
Ranger Marvin Moobe is a retired DEC Game Warden with 30 years of service from Tompkins County. He is now a Forest Technician. He also has worked for the US Forest Service. There are 40 Miles of trails for people and horses. Kestrel boxes for when we band the chicks. They do a lot of walking and hiking, logging, setting up campsites. They have two camps.
Ranger Liu stated they are always looking for volunteers to help out in the forest service. They need volunteers with surveys for wildlife, help to maintain and build trails, etc.
They are partnered with the Vermont Green Mountain Forest and do share staff at times but they have their own agenda as far as the forest is maintained. There are some homes in the forest area so they sometimes have boundary problems so many times there are problems with homeowners. They are putting up boundary markers, but it takes time. They hope to have it done in the next two years.
Questioned asked about the ponds if there has been a problem monitoring for VHS and certified bait. Mike doesn’t believe there is a problem there and that would be covered and monitored by DEC.
Thanks a lot Ranger Liu and Ranger Moobe.
Meeting opened with the pledge allegiance to the flag.
Secretary’s report:
Minutes reviewed. Motioned made to accept. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report:
John Andrews gave a detailed report on accounts. Banquet report – still receiving advertisement money. Motion made to accept. Motion carried.
Correspondences:
None
Committee Reports:
None
Old Business:
Seneca White Deer:
Last year, Seneca White Deer inquired to the federation about becoming a member club. Ron Enslow answered questions from the floor about the organization and their mission. After the discussion, vote was taken to allow them to be a member club. Vote was unanimous. Motion made to accept. Motion carried. Welcome to the Federation.
Seneca County IDA:
Letter sent out to all clubs to inquire if we, the Federation, would like to have an interest in the Conservation Area in the old Seneca Army Depot. With Cilion, Seneca County IDA, Empire Green Biofuels, FL Technology Group and others. We, the Federation, would like to preserve an area for sportsmen and their families for the future. Motion made to accept. Motion carried. Vote was unanimous. President John Sipos will draft a letter to the S.C. IDA to let them know of our interest.
New Business:
Donation:
Letter read from MacDougall Sportsmen’s Club. Kathy Larsen letter stated they are having their 6th Annual Hunting and Fishing Day on September 15, 2007. Asking for a donation to defray costs for supplies that are needed. Motion made to donate $200.00. Motion carried.
Adjournment:
Motion made to adjourn meeting. Motion Carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Wells
Secretary
Seneca County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc.
Have a Great Summer and Safe one, too!
Motions:
Minutes: 1st: Art Hall 2nd: Tom LaBell
Treasurer: 1st: Bill Dadson 2nd: Ed Mitchell
Seneca White Deer: 1st: Ed Mitchell 2nd: John Andrews
Conservation Area Depot: 1st: Ron Enslow 2nd: Tom Grasek
Adjournment: 1st: Bill Dadson 2nd: Art Hall
This just in from the NYS Conservation Council:
Avoiding Black Bear and Coyote Problems:
New York’s Black Bear and Coyote populations are increasing, resulting in more encounters with humans and pets. Both are drawn to various temptations that are inadvertently offered by people. Garbage and bird feeders may attract them to your yard, as well as dog/cat food left outdoors. DEC recommends taking precautions to help prevent negative encounters. Trash cans should be cleaned frequently with ammonia and stored in buildings when possible; barbeques grills should be cleaned after use and stored in buildings as well. If feeding pets outdoors, put away uneaten food before dark. Bears that learn to associate food with people can become dangerous nuisances, returning time after time and often damaging buildings and other property such as grills, tents and cars in their search for food. Coyotes may harm or kill pets such as cats and dogs. DEC recommends keeping pets indoors at night; when they need to go out, accompany them, and keep your dog a leash. Coyotes may crawl under outbuildings to rest or to have their young, so it is a good idea to close off crawl spaces to keep them out. DEC advises that coyote attacks directed toward people have occurred in the western United States and aggressive coyote behavior has been reported in the eastern United States and in New York State as well. Never try to approach a bear or coyote, and do not put food out for them.
Up Coming Events:
Waterloo Rifle and Pistol Club 1392 West River Rd. Waterloo, NY 13165 315-539-2819
Girls and Boys 12 yrs to 14 yrs old. Safe introduction to using 22 Cal. Rifle Shooting Clinic on the following dates. Saturdays July 14, 21, 28. You may attend one or all 3 dates. Adults must accompany youth to sign permission slip. This is a free clinic. Open to 20 youngsters at each class. Call number above to reserve your class.
MacDougall Sportsmen’s Club is holding their 6th Annual Hunting and Fishing Day at 3800 MacDougall Rd. Waterloo, NY 13165. Introduce Youths and Adults to Fishing, Archery, Hunting, Target and Trap Shooting. Demonstration and material will be available and the Admission is Free. For information or to drop off donations call Kathy Larsen at 315-585-2293.