April 15, 2004 Regular Meeting
BROOKS AND DISTRICT FISH AND GAME ASSOCIATION

Members Present – 14
Meeting was called to order 7:35pm by Pete Green (President)
Agenda was read and adopted
1.0 APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES (March 18, 2004)
The minutes were distributed and read
MOTION – Donna Martin moved that the minutes be adopted as presented, seconded by Pete Green. CARRIED.

2.0 BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
2.1 Sept. 5 & 6 Zone Casino – we have forms if anyone wants to volunteer
– no interest was expressed due to distance, need to books hotel rooms, etc.
2.2 Sylvia Birkholz and Reg Russell presentations, May 14, 2004, 7:00pm at the Brooks Kinplex (item 3.5 Feb. 26 minutes)
– building cost – $125.00
– Membership table
– Rick Martin (Membership Chair) will arrange to have people available to run the table
– Public Address System
– will be borrowed from Alberta Fish and Wildlife
– Liquor License – should we sell beer?
– After some discussion it was decided that due to insurance costs no alcoholic beverages will be sold. A concession will be set up to sell coffee, donuts, juice etc. Rod Rosland will approach the 1st Brooks Venturers to see if they will run the concession.
– sell Brooks Fish & Game hats?
– will be sold at the Membership table
– Event advertising – Patty Green and Donna Martin will arrange
2.3 Charitable Organization registration approved
– Same registration number as we have on current receipts, so no additional printing costs are required

3.0 CHAIR REPORTS
3.1 Treasury (Kerry McKenzie, Treasurer – see attached reports)
– Association bank balance (Feb. 23/04) – 9,585.26
– Association GIC – 10,727.75
– total financial assets – 20,313.57
3.2 Membership (Rick Martin, chair)
– 289 memberships total (114 regular, 54 family with 121 dependents) sold to date
3.3 Pheasant Festival (Scott Briggs, chair)
– Dan Wester has been confirmed to plant the corn plots at the Vern Potiuk Project. There will be two plots; one seeded into the stubble of the existing plot and one new one.
– Pattersons have been confirmed to plant the corn plot on the Sproule property.
– Long Pump project – the trees have been ordered and are scheduled to arrive May 5 or 6.
– Pete Green is looking into the feasibility of leasing property for habitat projects
– P. F. Committee windup scheduled for May 19, 2004, 6:00pm at the Canadian Pheasant Company facility. Committee members will be contacted with the details.
3.4 Trophy Chair (Larry Busse)
– no report
3.5 Hunter Education (Bill Marshall – chair)
– no report
3.6 Firearms Instructor (Jim Johnson)
– two challenge sessions were held, 9 participants total
– no courses scheduled at this time
3.7 Firearms Chair (Cliff Healy)
– the changes to the federal Firearms Act have been completed but have not yet been released, so no one knows what they contain.
– There will be a meeting (Mayday Meeting) May 1, 2004 in Saskatoon, focused on understanding the federal Firearms Act. Among the speakers will be Gary Breitkreutz, MP for Yorkton-Melville. Cliff Healy will attend the meeting.
3.8 Rifle Range (Lloyd Cook, Scott Briggs)
– the shooting station building was completed April 15, 2004 – total cost $4286.83 (under budget).
– the gateposts at the entrance are complete and installed. The gate and the signs to go into the gate posts (Brooks Fish and Game, emergency information) are under construction.
– Target butts, backstop, access control fencing and warning signs are scheduled to be completed soon. Lynn Springer will be contacted to begin the federal approval process.

3.9 Fishing (Wayne Pullin, chair)
No report

4.0 NEW BUSINESS
4.1 2004 Annual Provincial Wildlife Awards Banquet – Brooks F & G sponsoring the Typical Whitetail Deer award
– Two tickets are available
4.2 Zone 1 meeting
– There was some concern expressed at this meeting that Mike Cardinal (Alberta Minister of Sustainable Resources Development) may retire soon, and that his replacement may not place as high a priority on wildlife.
– The Alberta Conservation Association approached the Zone for funding to perform antelope counts. They were turned down.
4.3 Conference expenses
– There was some discussion concerning the practice of the Brooks F & G Club providing funding to send five delegate and their wives to the annual Alberta Fish And Game Association conference. It was decided that as this is the most direct way of having our opinions heard at a provincial level, the funding will continue.
– All members are asked to bring their concerns and suggested resolutions to the September meeting of the Brooks Fish and Game Club for discussion and approval. The approved resolutions will be taken to the Zone and the provincial conference by our delegates. A reminder will be placed in the appropriate edition of the newsletter.
4.4 June 9 or 10 – class on how to run a volunteer organization
– this is a free presentation on leadership and volunteer training. There was sufficient interest expressed for Pete Green to book the presenter.


5.0 CORRESPONDENCE
5.1 Beau Jackson – a 4-H member sent an email expressing interest in obtaining and raising pheasant chicks for release. The request was forwarded to the Canadian Pheasant Company.
5.2 Special Events Insurance – events where alcohol is served are not covered
– additional insurance
5.3 News release from Alberta Fish and Game supporting the provincial government in their management of Alberta’s grizzly bear population
5.4 News release from AFGA expressing disappointment with the Alberta provincial budget
5.5 email from Yves Oullette re: Mountain Equipment Coop supports anti-hunting groups
– it was suggested that members boycott this business due to their anti-hunting stand

4.0 NEXT MEETING – May 20, 2004 Brooks Legion
MOTION – Patty Green moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Jim Johnson. CARRIED.
Meeting was adjourned 9:00pm.