Keeping Track…… - Campbell River Fish and Wildlife Association

Keeping Track……
Newsletter
March 2014
Visit our website http://www.crfw.net/
April 8th – General meeting
April 10th (tentative) Gear swap and sale night
President’s Message:
A huge thank you to everyone that helped make this year’s Annual
Banquet a big success. There was good volunteer effort on Friday,
Saturday and Sunday to help look after the many details and clean-up.
The food was awesome, the music was good after they found some
dance music, and most people appeared to have a good time. We did
sell out again this year but seating was not an issue due to the large
number of reserved places. Financially we did very well again this year
and the monies raised will go a long way toward funding our salmon
enhancement, wilderness watch and other projects.
Our archery program is drawing huge numbers of people on Monday
and Friday nights and we have just opened up Wednesday nights for
Wade recognizes volunteer
members with their own equipment. We will soon need to have a work
efforts of Louise and Lil
party to fix up the static range targets, the shooting platform and the walk
through targets. The 3-D shoot is in May and there will be a fair amount
of work required to put off that event. Archers in particular, please watch for notice of work parties and make a
commitment to come out and help. This club works on volunteer effort and we expect those that are getting the
benefit to help out.
The pink salmon fry are not quite ready to be kicked out of the incubation box. We are working with the Quinsam
Hatchery staff and DFO community advisor on that project and are expecting that the fry will be ready in late
March or early April. It will be interesting to see how well the new incubator worked.
I understand that the new No Shooting boundary signs are ready and will need to be installed. Wilderness Watch
is up and running with our members working with the local Conversation Officer to patrol certain identified problem
areas. Anyone that might be interested in Wilderness Watch can contact Merl Eckford or Jaysson Greenfield for
more information.
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Our membership numbers are still down from last year. We are steadily picking up new members from the archery
side but have a large number of last year’s members that have not paid their dues for this year. If you are one of
those folks and intend to rejoin, I encourage you to do so soon. We cannot submit your membership to BCWF and
you do not have the extended insurance until you have paid your dues for the current year.
On a personal note, I will be away on a trip to China from March 26 to April 10. If you have any issues or concerns
during that time, please contact your section director.
Regards, Wade Major
Wade’s BCWF Region One AGM Report
The Vancouver Island BCWF Region One AGM was held in Courtenay on March 15 and 16. I attended the
Saturday portion and the fundraising dinner as a representative from our club. Most of the Fish and Game clubs
from the island were there. There was lots of good information from the various committees and I learned about
some possible sources of funding if the Echo Lake development occurs and we need extra money.
There was considerable discussion around the situation with Douglas Lake. BCWF is now involved and this item is
on the table for the BCWF Conference in April. Most clubs appear to waiting until then to get more information to
decide about financial support for the legal battle.
There is also a proposal going to BCWF around an increase in BCWF dues starting in 2016. Apparently, the
amount of dues currently collected does not pay for the running of the membership program, operational costs and
committee costs. I have asked for a detailed breakdown of where the membership monies are used.
Overall, it appeared to me that as a club we are doing as much or more than many of the other clubs. We have
been involved in some large projects such as Robert’s Lake, Echo Lake and the new clubhouse. We are pursuing
a land access agreement with TimberWest. All of the other clubs are very interested in how this turns out as they
have not been able to get anywhere. We have our ongoing fish enhancement project, wilderness watch and deer
counts. We have an active archery and fly fishing group and the best banquet on Vancouver Island.
BCWF Vancouver Island Region One Association Kid’s Camp
BCWF Vancouver Island Region One Association is putting on its annual Kid’s Camp at the Courtenay Fish and
Game Protective Association’s Comox Lake campground July 21 to 24, 2014. The Camp is free to the
participants. The age range is from 10 to 14 and the maximum number is 30. Children or grandchildren of
members, who belong to Vancouver Island Region One Association clubs, can apply to come to camp through
their individual clubs. Each club can choose two participants and one alternate.
Anyone that is interested should fill out the attached registration forms and submit them to Wade Major by April
30th. Preference will be given to kids that have not participated before but anyone interested is encouraged to
apply as sometimes not all the spaces are taken. If we do get more than two applicants we will use a random draw
for selection purposes. Please note that last year we had four applicants and all four kids got to attend.
Volunteers are also needed to help run the camp. Anyone
interested in doing this is also asked to contact Wade so
that he can pass on your contact information. We did have
two volunteers last year that went to the camp along with
their kids and by all reports felt that is was a worthwhile
thing to do.
Please submit applications to:
Wade Major
663 Nature Park Drive
Campbell River
V9W 7Z9
Courtenay Fish and Game Protective Association’s
Comox Lake campground
Phone 250-923-5326
Email wade.major@telus.net
Banquet Memories – thanks to Ted and Sally for their photos
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There were draws…
… and exhibits
Lots of delicious food
Annual Awards
...and the Tipsy Gypsy played on….
Were these fine beasts major contributors to our dinner?
No, but their kin might have been.
Our thanks to all contributors!
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Fishing and Fly-tying Report…
Note Gear swap & sale night rescheduled for early April.
Weekly meetings continue, though with reduced attendance, due in part to
Brian’s Braided Tail Damsel Nymph
winter vacations and viruses. For these reasons the gear sale night has been
postponed to April, date yet to be fixed.
The fly-of-the-week program continued with demonstrations by Brian, Nigel,
Merle and Tony – others will follow. We may also have a rod-building demo –
date to be announced.
Archery Report:
About 40 members have attended on the Mondays and Fridays, so Wednesday night sessions have begun again.
New bows have been acquired and targets are being restored or replaced.
Wilderness Watch
Key messages are: 1. Observe, record and report
2. The safety of WW volunteers is the program’s first priority, and
3. Never approach or confront suspected violators – instead see #1
Report all poachers and polluters 1-877-952-RAPP (7277)
CORE Course Update
Thanks to Sid Nelson, who instructs the PAL course, our need for
decommissioned firearms is now satisfied. Contact Dave Lavigne if you wish to take
this course - email olavigne@telus.net or phone250-923-0120
No Change in dues for 2014: Family - $70; Single - $60; Senior - $50; Junior - $50. A pro-rated
schedule is available for new members who join in September for the remaining part of the current
year and the following one. PLEASE PAY ASAP.
2014 Executive Officers
President
Wade Major Wade.Major@telus.net
Vice – President
Bruce Tripp
Secretary
Louise Belin
Treasurer
Laura Greenfield
Directors
Archery
Wildlife
Fly Fishers
Fishery
Newsletter
Social
Buildings
Trophies
Legal
Core
Funny Farm…
Neil McKay/ David Lavigne
Jaysson Greenfield
Doug Phyall
Ted Klettke
Malcolm.wilson@shaw.ca
Lil Trip / Louise Belin
Gerry Walerius
Frank Rugani
Bruce Preston
David Lavigne
Part Six of Technology for Country Folk – more next time – Enjoy!
Wakey, wakey, rise and shine!
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Banquet 2014