There were no new members joining at this month’s meeting.
The Bursar, George reported the Club finances and the Wounded Active Veteran Service Personnel fund finances. Wayne reported supplies reminding the meeting the Club logo can be embroidered or printed on a garment or hat of your choice - Bender Apparel on Old Airport Road does the work.
Jim reported there are now 97 paid members. Jim reminded the meeting: 2023 dues, payable starting January, will be $20.00 for the year.
Art reminded the meeting, his mentoring seminar starts 14 December at 6pm in the Activity center - it will run for several classes, pausing over the Christmas/New Year holidays. Contact Art for space available.
The speaker was Ms. Samantha Krop - the Neuse Riverkeeper from
SoundRivers.org - Samantha gave an informative and interesting overview of all the functions of Sound Rivers whose staff monitor our local waters, inspecting spills of waste from agriculture and farming as well as water conditions and effects on the quality and fish health.
There are various aspects of the Sound Rivers function our Club would like to support, more information will be collected to determine the best and most effective way we can contribute and help their efforts.
Club members together with other fishing club members and the CCA, will attend the MFC meeting on Wednesday 16 November (starting at 6 pm) and Thursday 17 November starting at 9 am) at the Islander Motel in Emerald Isle. Those willing can speak or comment to the MFC about our opposition to reinstalling gill fishing nets upstream of the Minnesott Ferry line on the Neuse River and upstream of the Aurora ferry line on the Pamlico River.
The Club will participate in the POA annual Christmas Parade on Sunday 4 December at 3 pm. Meeting at Pelican Park from 2.30 pm.
A kayak fishing trip is planned for the new Boathouse Creek launch ramp/park, located off Masonic Road, Swansboro - behind the Neuse Sport Shop on Highway 24/ Cedar Point Blvd. The trip date/details are posted on the website and sent out on the FHFC Groups mail.
The audit of finances voted on the October meeting will be conducted by year-end 2022, by Ms. Chris Skrotsky. Chris has done small club audits and has extensive financial accounting, and reporting background - Chis offered to do the audit "Pro Bono." We will report the audit results once complete. Our thanks to Chris.
It was agreed the December meeting would include a member gift giving/exchange - the idea was presented by Jim and Steve who will jointly organize it for the meeting - it sounds like fun - also, some light bite table snacks will be included. I'll post more details in the December meeting agenda.
As you know, I volunteered for the leadership role of the Club after Bob announced his retirement in October 2021. I agreed to do so for a year - my year ends in December 2022.
I am very pleased to confirm Steve Mink has volunteered to assume the leadership role starting January 2023.
Steve has shown by his attendance and participation his strong interest and commitment to the Club - Steve is a fine person for this role. I will support Steve as I know will all the others in the leadership group in the Club. Thank you Steve for volunteering.
Thanks to Gayle Albertini, a Club member and director of the FH POA board, for arranging THE BEACON to publish the story of the FHFC and its founder Bob Bruggeworth - I am working with Pam Gaskill on the story details - I expect it will be published in The Beacon by year-end.
As you know, earlier this year we established a task force to restart/explore worthwhile ways the Club can support the Wounded Active/Veteran Service personnel - Don Yuska will lead the group to look at the best choices to do this. Support and care for wounded personnel are now active on the bases, Camp LeJeune and Cherry Point. Though our contacts at the bases changed, we are now in communication again so that the successful outing we did in the past, maybe revived for 2023.
There were 2 motions made by members from the floor, both were voted on and passed with a majority in favor:
1. For the December meeting, we will have a gift exchange - members will bring a wrapped gift (fishing related up to a $15.00 value) and the Club will “donate” various mystery gifts paid by Club funds to $100.00. Ayes voted unanimously.
2. In the future, the Club can agree to “pay” a speaker attending our monthly meeting, a “fee” up to $100.00 - any amount exceeding that $100.00 requires a Club vote. This “fee” is not automatically paid to every speaker only as discussed and agreed in advance with the speaker. Ayes voted in favor with one nay vote.
Some local fish catches were reported around the entrance of Broad Creek and Northwest Creeks, some in the inner Harbour but slow at the coast inshore, piers and surf. The fall bite should start up as soon as temperatures fall and activate feeding.
A special thanks to the stewards for this quarter: Tim Welch and John Roy and to those members who signed up for the next year 2023:
First Quarter: January 4, February 1, March 1
Don Yuska, Geoff Gable, Dan Beaucaire
Second Quarter: April 5, May 3, June 7
Steve Zdanowitz, Alan Harrop, Dan Dudley
Third Quarter: July 5, August 2, September 6
Eric Thinguldstad, John McClain, Harvey Pye
Fourth Quarter: October 4, November 1, December 6
Dan Furimsky, Bill Zimmerman, Mike McHale
Backup Stewards: Doug Benz, Guy Pascarella, John Roy
The 50/50 winner was Bill Zimmerman