Arizona Deer Association

Board of Directors Meeting

June 16, 2004

Present:                                                          Guests: 
Mark Bool, President                                       Steve Fairaizl
Craig Dunlap, Treasurer                                 Tracey Martin
Todd Julian, Past President                            Rick Rademacher
Steve Cheuvront, Director                              Ken McKenna
Domenick Lopano, Director
JD Pepper, Director
Joe Bill Pickrell, Director
Pete Cimellaro, Director
Kevin Harris, Director
Amanda Moors, Director
Mike Hull, Director
Chris Denham, Board of Governors
Stan Johnsen, Youth Committee Chair

I.  Welcome and Call to Order

The President called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm 

II.  Minutes

Pete Cimellaro moved, Chris Denham seconded, that the minutes be accepted as presented.  Motion carried. 

III.  Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer distributed a written report.  We have paid our invoice for storage at the Outdoorsman’s and are paid until the end of 2004.  This now puts us on a calendar year payment schedule, and we will next pay for storage in January.  The board discussed the funds request summary for the tag funds, which totaled approximately $31,000 and listed the various projects.  Tag fund disbursements are authorized for only a six-month period.  Joe Bill Pickrell moved, Domenick Lopano seconded, to accept the treasurer’s report as presented.   Motion carried. 

We have received one order for the official mule deer bronze.  The foundry is paying for all the bases of the statues, as a donation to the association. 

IV.  Committee Reports

Membership – Don Johnson is working on the mailing list.  The membership renewal notice will be mailed in the next couple of weeks.  We have not received any new members since the Expo.  

Habitat Projects – We have received the proposal package from G&F; the committee met and thoroughly reviewed all the proposals.  The committee’s preliminary numbers show an approval of $80,000 in funds, out of a total of approximately $700,000 in requests.  There are still some projects that are being investigated and the committee will meet again in the next few weeks prior to a final meeting with G&F.  The board discussed the multi-year tank repair projects on the Strip and several other issues concerning I-88, maintenance of cattle bars and windmills east of Cherry Creek. 

Steve Fairaizl conducted a power point presentation on the preliminary report on the Kaibab Mule Deer Management Plan. He reviewed his contact with the Buckskin Chapter, and the goals of the preliminary management plan.  He is trying to piece together costs for the price of the population survey, which will cover approximately 380 square miles in the study area.  He reviewed the forage study/utilization from his research trip to the Kaibab, which has found that in his opinion the area has suitable winter range forage.  The next plan is to get the department, with the assistance of LSD, to develop quantitative data that will show forage is not significantly impacted by mule deer; drought and domestic range animals are far more damaging to the winter range plants.   

The preliminary plan also looked at the Bridger fire area and how the environment is recovering.  The majority of the area has been revegetated by growth that is not suitable forage for deer.  If this trend continues for the next ten years, the winter range could be lost on a permanent basis due to this unsuitable plant colonization.   

LSD will meet with the Forest Service in the near future to get their input and their revegetation plans for the study area.   

The next step is for LSD to meet with Ron Seig to discuss their preliminary findings and to convince the region to acquire more data to support its current management decisions.   

Game and Fish – We previously approved up to $1000 for Stan Cunningham to spend on darts etc for his project.  We have paid the  $985 invoice for this expenditure.  On July 10^th, there will be a statewide HPC meeting in Flagstaff.  G&F has asked the various participants to fund food and beverages for the meeting.  Pete Cimellaro moved, Steve Cheuvront seconded, that ADA fund $60 for refreshments for the meeting.  Motion carried. 

At the commission meeting this weekend, the spotlighting issue will be discussed, and will move forward in the rules process, since it is believed that the commission will open the docket to change this particular rule.   

Jim deVos has sent an email regarding the department’s extreme reluctance to transplant deer from any area in the north of the state due to the potential problem with CWD, which has recently been found in southern Utah/White Sands deer.  At this point in time, we must support the department in this decision since states that have transplanted infected deer are now suffering both financially and reputation-wise. 

Newsletter – Pete reviewed the mistake in the newsletter relative to Duwane Adams’s company.  We have put a link on our website to True Sage, which is Duwane’s company, and we will print a correction in the next newsletter.  The editor is also developing an advertising package, and we will be tying in advertising in the newsletter with the website.  For the next issue, we will need articles on the banquet, the youth committee activities, and the president’s message.  It was suggested that we use the newsletter to poll our membership about issues in which the association is involved.  The board discussed this issue in-depth relative to the purpose, as well as the form and substance of a survey.  We also discussed developing an issues forum on the website, and conducting a survey through the website.    Joe and Marissa Seretta are making their photographs available to all WCC affiliates at a very reasonable rate; they have thousands of images of deer and we can develop our library of images this way.  Pete will meet with them to discuss this and will report back to the board about the costs involved.   

Youth Committee – Our new youth director is Stan Johnsen.  Stan distributed a written report outlining previous activities, and plans for the future.  Stan met with Bill Hill last week, and talked to both Blaine and Scott about previous activities.  Stan’s goal for 2004 is to sustain activity, including holding three youth camps, conducting the youth seminar at the deer clinic on August 19^th, and holding the rifle raffle.  He reviewed the proposed camps for 2004, including 12A West, 36, and 27.  He also presented a plan for 2005 growth, including sponsorships and donations for the youth camps.  Ken McKenna volunteered his connections at the St. Josephs full-service camp area in Flagstaff.  Expanding our future activity to include a two-day camp was also discussed.  Stan asked that people respond to him about their availability to assist the youth camps and the clinic seminar.  He would also like volunteers to serve on the youth committee.  The board discussed ideas for the youth portion of the clinic, including having a speaker specifically for the kids.  It was also suggested that we develop a hunting handout specifically for kids, for distribution at the clinic and the camps. 

WCC/Legislative  - Boquillas Ranch cleanup is June 25-26; ADA is providing Saturday evening and Sunday morning meals.  Wapiti Weekend is this weekend.  There are directions on the website.  Sample license plates are available and there will be an ad in the next newsletter for plate purchases.  

The State Trust Land Reform Initiative is in its final stages, having been developed over the past two years with the involvement of many different organizations, including the state education department.  At a recent meeting, many different constituencies met to finalize the document that will be presented to the legislature and eventually Congress.  Game and Fish Department and sportsmen’s organizations have been specifically excluded from this development process, and it’s apparent that the stakeholders don’t care about sportsmen’s input.  Pete reviewed the recent land sales, the income generated by these sales, and the proposed initiative.  Only open spaces around urban areas are being protected by the proposed reform; however, the proposal is being revised on nearly a daily basis, and it is expected that it will change from where it is now.  On Tuesday, the WCC will decide on a position to take on the initiative.  Todd Julian moved that the ADA position be that, because the proposal does not benefit wildlife, we do not support the proposal as written.  Joe Bill Pickrell seconded.  Motion carried. 

Website – added this month were Wapiti Weekend, Boquillas Ranch clean up, True Sage Camo link, and the WCC Legislative Update report.  Amanda would like more timely content, including Kaibab mule deer management report, spotlighting issue, new youth committee information. 

Banquet – the board discussed the banquet and the planned mailings for donor solicitation.  Approximately 500 pieces will be mailed by the end of the month.  We discussed our contract with Rawhide and the possibility of using the Coliseum in conjunction with the ISE show. 

Public Relations – An article in Petersen’s Hunting outlined how much money Utah has raised on their deer tags; perhaps we can generate an article about our tags to go to Petersen’s.  Todd reviewed our contact/media list, which is growing.  He also reviewed the list of ADA activities and upcoming events.  We hope to have a news release to go out soon outlining these events.   

Conservation Partners – Pete Cimellaro and Chris Denham plan to meet shortly to go over what has been done in the past and initiate the solicitations.  Chris will have a full report next month. 

We need to have a chair for our affiliates/chapters so that communication can be established and maintained with our affiliates throughout the state. 

The Jameson Conservation Award Committee will consist of: Steve Cheuvront, Tracey Martin, Pete Cimellaro, Kevin Harris, John Brishky, Scott Gorczyca.  The committee will meet to review potential candidates soon.

V.  New Business

Rick Rademacher presented a proposal for selling ADA merchandise in his retail store.  He discussed having an ADA area in the store, where some of the deer heads could be mounted, sell memberships and disseminate information, and sell merchandise.  In return, Rick would like advertising in the newsletter, on the website, possibly send out flyers.  His proposal wouldn’t cost ADA anything.  Rick also previewed new polo shirts, with the ADA logo embroidered.  He will have prices on the shirts within a few days.  The board discussed Rick’s proposal, and it was decided to form a committee to review the written proposal, meet with Rick to suggest changes and draft a final agreement for presentation to the board.  Mark Bool and Chris Denham will serve on the committee.   

Ken McKenna talked with a manufacturer who will put an ADA label on the water bottles for distribution at the Bowhunter Happening.  He is waiting for more information from the manufacturer about how the label can be affixed to the bottle and about prices. 

The board discussed the pros and cons of having a social meeting/retreat for long term planning.  After review, the issue was tabled, but may be brought up in the fall to plan for the spring.

Kevin is still working on the coordinating all the details of the water truck that is being donated to the organization.  We need to get this truck licensed and registered in our name and insured, find out what the requirements are for driving it, how we are going to transport it, how we will fill it, etc. 

 There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm

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