Minutes of Pendleton Sportsman’s Club meeting on November 8, 2005

Call to Order.  Meeting opened by President Dennis Loftis at 1835.

Introduction of distinguished guests

-Mr. Frank Hernandez, Warden, Resource Enforcement and Compliance  

Branch

Approval of October’s minutes as published.

Report of Secretary / Treasurer.  New membership year started 1 October and previous annual membership dues expired September 30th.  20 Active paid members, 18 military / 2 civilians.  Total $1000.46, in account.

Committee Reports

a.  Membership Committee – Club membership dues are a flat fee of $20 per year and will be effective for one year from time of activation. Dues will no longer be prorated.  Dues can be paid at Club meetings or mailed in, see the Club Website, http://thesportsmansclub.netfirms.com, for mailing address.

b.  Buildings and Grounds – The Club is still looking for a permanent home for our club meetings and input is welcome.  Currently there are no buildings on the list for consideration.

c.  Publicity Committee – Kellee McCann displayed examples of shirts embroidered with the Club emblem, cost it $10 for T-shirts and $20 for collared shirts.  Club Patches are available from Steve Karns the Clubs Secretary / Treasurer.  Please Contact Steve at a meeting or event about purchasing your Club patch, cost is $5.  Some Club members have sewn the Club patch on their hunting vests to publicize the Club.

d. Hunting Committee – The duck blinds have been built for the Percolation ponds and blind locations have been identified.  Jeff Guilloz and Dave Kelley will head a working party to paint, relocate, and install the blinds, as well as, refurbish the Stuart Mesa pond blinds. 

e.  Fishing Committee – There are still free fishing trips available through the Dana Wharf Sportfishing.  See Fishing News on the Clubs website for information and contact one of the coordinators.

Old and unfinished business

- The Sportsman’s Club Volunteer program to assist the Game Wardens at the Warden’s Office Building was a big success.  The Club had 18 members stand volunteer duty providing over 177 hours of assistance to the Wardens.  Because of the Club Volunteer’s the evening hunting / shooting hours were extended to one-half hour after sunset and check-out was also extended for one hour.  Kudos to all those volunteers!

- Hunter Education Safety Course information

-Classes will be conducted by the Escondido Fish and Game Association on the second full weekend of each month, 0730-1330 each day, cost is FREE for active duty and $10 / person for others.  Contact Larry Collins or Frank Aleisso to sign-up at 760-741-1324 or 760-743-8718.

-Classes will be conducted by Ed Watkins at the Murrieta Police Department on November 13th and 20th from 0900-1700.  Classes are for two weekends, minimum of 16 hours of instruction.  No charge for classes.  To sign-up contact Ed Watkins at 951-461-7846.

- The Camp Pendleton 2005 Hunting Seasons and Requirements Base Bulletin was approved on October 19, 2005, and will be posted on the Club website under the Word from the Wardens (WFTW) page. 

-As a direct result of the Sportsman’s Club efforts the following is a brief description of the most significant changes to the Base Bulletin:

-Hunting Season: Waterfowl hunting will be permitted in the Santa Margarita River basin during deer rifle season.

 -Hunting Hours: Hunting hours will be extended to one-half hour after sunset, dependent upon Sportsman's Club volunteer support during daylight savings time.

  -Check-In and Out: Hunters “check-in” to hunt and “check-out" when complete.  Current positive check-in/out procedures will remain in place, but will be adjusted to provide for check-in at the North end of Base during the deer rifle season.  Check-out will remain at the Wardens Office Building (WOB). The ability to provide this service will be dependent upon augmentation of current staffing by Sportsman's Club volunteers.

-Varmint Hunting: Rifle hunters will be authorized to take coyote.

-Handgun Hunting: Hunters will be authorized to carry and hunt with handguns.

-Revised Sportsman’s Club Constitution and By-laws was voted on and approved.

Mr. Frank Hernandez, Warden, Resource Enforcement and Compliance Branch

-Thanked Club members for their volunteer support.

-Working to provide additional Hunter Education Classes and instructors.

-Reported that deer kill is down, white bass fishing is good off the jetty, and Pulgas Lake is catch and release only.

New business

-Monthly Rifle Sight-in / Familiarization Fire days will be requested for March through September 2006.

-Club needs Base certified Range Safety Officers (RSO’s) / Officers-in-Charge to conduct live-fire events.  Additionally, after January 1, 2006, civilian club RSO’s will be required to complete the National Rifle Association (NRA) RSO course in addition to have the Base certification.  For club members who take the NRA RSO one-day course the cost is $17 and will be paid for by the Club.

-The new and existing duck blinds for both the Percolation ponds and Stuart Mesa ponds need work and maintenance completed on them.  Jeff Guilloz is in charge of duck blind working parties, contact him if you want to help.

-Club Volunteers were asked to verify their volunteer work dates and times.

-Discussion on what to do to recognize the Marines who work at the WOB determined that the best course of action would be to give them Letters of Appreciation (LOA).  Gary Baumann will draft the LOA’s for Club President’s signature.

-Sportsman’s Club will host an organized Dove and Quail hunt for the first weekend in December.  Frank Hernandez will help coordinate hunting areas.

-Sportsman’s Club will sponsor a Hunter / Fisherman Mentoring Program for personnel who are new to the base or the activity and would like assistance.  Rob Shuford is the Chairman for the Mentoring Program, please contact him if you’re willing to volunteer and donate your time to help out another hunter or fisherman.  The Mentor Program will provide a valuable service and improve the outdoor experience for all that participate.

-Discussion on when to perform clean-up and maintenance on fishing areas at Lake O’Neill and Pulgas Lake proposed that the work be conducted beginning in February 2006.  Further discussion and coordination is required and will be completed before actual work can begin.

-The next Club meeting will be held on December 13th at 1830 at building 25264.    

Adjournment.  Meeting adjourned at 1941.