Minutes of the fall meeting of the Wintergreen Sporting Club, October 28, 2023
/Wintergreen Sporting Club
October 28, 2023 Fall Dinner Meeting Minutes
The meeting was called to order by President Don Klingemann at 5:35 PM
Welcome and Introductions:
Introductions: Don introduced the BOD members: Don Klingemann: President, Jim White: Vice President, Robin Pullen: Secretary and Social Committee lead, Jerry Gress: Treasurer.
Minutes from April Meeting:
- The minutes of the April meeting had been previously posted on the website for review and edits. There were no additions or corrections. A motion was made by David Crabtree to accept the minutes as posted, seconded by Marlene Thacker. All were in favor with no objections. The vote was unanimous.
Treasurers Report: Jerry Gress
- Currently 348 members – since September 2023, 21 new members have joined.
- Last year at this time we had 295 dues-paying members.
- Subscribers to emails: 676 (about 220 have never been members)
- Balance in January: $9,263.55
- Balance as of 10/28/23: $13,891.26 which includes Trout Stocking Donations of $5575.
- Boating spent $438 on James River trip.
- Archery spent $257 on targets and $75 on Tournament picnic.
- Biking did not spend any money this year.
- Pistol and Rifle spent $500 on targets and ammunition.
- Shotgun spent $16 on ammunition.
- Admin expenses: MailChimp $234, Website $312/year, Square Space fees $243 so far this year.
- Tonight’s dinner cost $1820. Fees collected totaled $1350, the club subsidizes the dinners.
- If you need a membership card, they are available tonight from Jerry. You must check the vendors listed on the back of the card to see if they still give discounts.
Bylaws:
- Bylaws changes were made a year ago to institute the VP position.
The current Bylaws revision was sent out to membership in a previous email. It states as follows:
EXISTING BYLAWS
9. The officer’s terms shall be staggered. The term of office shall be two (2) years, with the positions of President and Treasurer, being elected on alternating years from the positions of Vice President and Secretary.
AMENDED VERSION
9. The officer’s terms shall be staggered. The term of office shall be two (2) years, with the positions of President and Treasurer Vice President, being elected on alternating years from the positions of in odd-numbered years and the positions of Vice President Treasurer and Secretary elected in even-numbered years.
- Don called for a motion to adopt the revision. David Crabtree made the motion to adopt the revision as written. John Tani seconded the motion. All were in favor with none opposed. The vote was unanimous.
Election of Officers:
- Slate: Jim White for President, Chris Corish for Vice President, Robin Pullen for Secretary.
- Don asked for a vote by acclamation (voice vote).
- The vote was unanimous.
Archery: Mike Capps
- The 2023 Season was from March until October 25th.
- The end-of-season tournament was held on the 25th followed by a pizza picnic.
- 25 archers and only 6 lanes at Rodes Farm caused shooting in waves.
- The group met 32 times at Rodes Farm.
- Met 8 times at field archery trail at the end of Old Stoney Creek.
- John Morgan provided personalized, hands-on training for 32 adults and children.
- John instituted a voluntary Archery Achievement Awards Program.
- WPOA replaced the rotting boards supporting the heavy targets, the high-tech target bags were rotated and new target faces were attached.
- Bears mauled two of the targets at Rodes Farm, the field range targets were spared by the bears but not by the environmental elements with fallen trees causing damage.
- Archery instruction is free and there is loaner equipment to be used at Rodes Farm. For the field range you bring your own equipment and wear sturdy shoes.
- John is willing to help archers chose the right equipment for the individual’s style and needs.
Biking: Tim Jordan
- Biking has 150 people getting the biking emails.
- Typically, 8 people show up for the rides. 16 rode in Lynchburg.
- Most of the rides are on covered rail tracks, crushed gravel paths. The rides are generally flat for a 7-to-10-mile one way ride.
- Unfortunately, there were only 9 wonderful rides this year compared to 17 last year, but rain and heat caused the cancellation of many rides.
- Rides usually take place mid-week – Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
- More people are buying Electric bikes which means there can be more challenging rides.
- In November the bike shed will close and bikes in storage there will need to be removed. Bike storage in the shed is a privilege given to club members only. There is no fee to store your bike there during the riding season but there are rules that must be abided by. Your bike must be labeled and a form needs to be filled out with your name, address and contact numbers.
- Tim is open to suggestions for new area rides.
Boating: Ron Cote for Bill Faulkenberry
- Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. Early in the summer the rivers were high and the class 2 rapids became class 3 rapids. And in the spring the water was too cold. Then as summer went on the rivers were too low.
- There were two nice trips, one was on the Jackson River and one on the Upper James River. There was one outing to Mill Creek Lake.
- The cost of the trips is subsidized by the club.
- Bill is hoping to set up more trips to area lakes.
- Bill is also hoping to set up kayaking lessons on Lake Monocan next season in cooperation with the resort and Adaptive Sports.
Fishing: Co-leads Ron Cote and Chris Corish
- Four fishing group co-leads: Ron, Chris, Jerry Gress, and Marty Echols. It is these four that run, monitor and police the pond.
Stocking and Tournaments: Ron
- In the spring 300 trout were added to the Trout Pond. Just before the temperature of the water rose there was a Trout Fishing Tournament attended by over 50 fisherpeople. Several catches were over 3 pounds. Prizes were given out. There will be another tournament again next year.
- No Fall Bass Tournament this year due to scheduling issues. The tournament will return next year.
- The donations for the fall stocking in 2022 provided enough money to not only stock trout but also to buy about 15,000 minnows that were put in seven different ponds. 5500 to Trout Pond, 2000 to Long Pond, 2500 to Black Walnut Pond, 1500 to Grassy Pond, 1500 to Lost Pond, 1500 to Horse Pond, 1000 to Duck Pond. The minnows are considered as forage fish for the bass and trout populations to grow. It may take a few years to see the change this stocking has made to the size of the bass and trout.
- There was a thought to add Yellow Perch to Black Walnut Pond but the hatchery could not supply us with the size and quantity fish we wanted. Perhaps we will be able to do that next spring.
- Donations for another fall stocking of trout this year have been generous and the fish order has been increased twice. The fish cannot be added to the water if it is above 60 degrees or they will die. Marty has been monitoring the bottom and surface temperature of the Trout Pond as well as the ambient temperature. Within the next week the temperature should be ideal for stocking the pond. There will be 450 to 475 trout that are 2-3 pounds transferred to the Trout Pond. Immediately after the stocking the fish will be fed with a high-fat and high-protein diet while they acclimate to gain at least one pound while they gain in length by 1-2 inches. Jerry is recruiting volunteers to feed the trout. The feeding period is then followed by a catch-and-release period before allowing catching and keeping around the first of the year.
- There is hope to acquire an additional water evaluation device to learn more about the water environment in our ponds so we can better support the fish and their habitat.
- We have been working with the Division of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Heritage Foundation at Virginia Commonwealth University. They have done a number of fish studies here to determine the quality of fish in our waters. They will be sampling the DNA in several of our waters here at Wintergreen to see what type of fish we have and whether or not the fish are doing well.
Fly Fishing Lessons: Chris
- This year between both indoor and outdoor lessons we will have taught about 100 people.
- Beginning lessons are very popular and are taught by John Tani and Bruce Henderson. Non-beginning classes are taught by Al Simpson and Tim Hess.
- The outdoor classes have ended for the year. There will be an indoor class on Friday, November 10th at Tuckahoe from 1:30 to 4:30. It is taught by Al Simpson and Mike Fisher.
- If you have missed any of the classes and have a desire to learn how to fly fish, contact Chris and he will find an instructor to work with you.
- Chris thanked the five fishing instructors: John Tani, Bruce Henderson, Al Simpson, Tim Hess, and Mike Fisher.
Fishing Conclaves: Chris
- There have been ten conclaves this year. Four hosted conclaves have all been held by different hosts than in the past. There were two educational ones, one in February on how the Striped Bass follow the Shad. One in October at Three Notch’d on fly fishing for Grass Carp in Wintergreen Ponds. There were 4 Happy Hours at local breweries.
- The hosted conclaves have been dubbed “Roving Cocktail Parties”. The spring garden party was hosted by Jerry and Sharon Gress. The summer BBQ at Renee Mecheski and Paul Garver’s, which was opened club wide in place of the Summer Social, featured BBQ and brisket made by a Pit Master. Kevin and Kristy Kobylinski hosted an October Feast with brats and beer. Marty and Bonnie held the Donors conclave called Burbon and Bass, assisted by Tim and Lynne Hess. To be invited to this one next year you just need to donate to the fall trout stocking.
- A recommendation from the audience suggested considering a trout filleting and cooking class.
Shooting: Co-leads Jim White and Ron Cote and Jerry Gress
Pistol and Rifle: Jim White
- Successful year attracting new members, up to 24.
- The group meets every Monday morning at Rivanna Pistol and Rifle Club.
- Group is very safety conscious.
- Alternate weeks between pistol and rifle.
- There are structured programs based on a national program but shooters are free to come and shoot on their own as long as they follow all the range rules.
- The pistol program is called Bullseye or Precision Pistol Shooting. Targets turn toward you for 10 or 20 seconds and you have 5 shots to hit the target and then targets turn sideways. Tom Willis is leading this program.
- Rifle program is a bit tougher. You are shooting at targets that are at 50 to 100 yards away. Having a scope allows for better targeting.
- At the end of the practice sessions the group has their “conclave” and head to a place for lunch.
- There are plans to have another Ladies Day in 2024. A concealed license is not needed to join that day. Before heading to the practice range a safety and handling lesson will be conducted. Hearing protection is required.
- There will possibly be another Public Firearm Safety class in 2024.
Shotgun: Jerry Gress
- The group meets every Friday morning at Rivanna Rifle and Pistol Club.
- They shoot trap or wobble rain or shine, hot or cold.
- About 250 people are signed up to receive the shotgun emails, but only about 6 people go, so emails only go to the consistent shooters.
- Other places we to go are Central Virginia Sporting Clays to shoot clays or Flying Rabbit to shoot sporting clays.
- If you would like to join this group email Jerry directly.
- Members supply their own ammunition. Hearing protection is necessary.
Social Committee: Robin Pullen
- Thanks to all who helped with set-up.
- Thanks to social committee members: Alice Karrh (Greek salad), Donna and David Crabtree, Lenlee Corish (decorations), Corinne Morgan, Renee Mecheski, Marlene Thacker, Ron Cote.
- To join the social committee please contact me or any of the members.
- Thanks to Dianne Klingemann for being receptionist.
- Caterer: Shady’s: Fried chicken, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, Deviled eggs, and a Greek Salad by Alice.
- Dessert cake by Chandlers.
- Spring dinner meeting in April, emails will be sent once details are decided.
- Holiday Gathering in December, an email will be sent once details are decided.
- Housekeeping items: save utensils, report any spills on the carpet.
- Copy of notes from group leads for minutes’ accuracy.
Secretary Notes: Robin Pullen
- This year is 10th Anniversary of the club formation.
- Tuckahoe Yard Sale was in August – WSC rented 2 tables. Will do so again at the next Yard Sale in May 2024. Members can bring sporting items they wish to sell.
- Many thanks to Don as outgoing President. Don was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation and a Lifetime Membership card good for 99 years.
- Many thanks to Jerry for all he does in his role as Treasurer.
Final Comments:
- Don wanted to thank Charles Batchelor for all his efforts to keep the website updated and all his help with communications. His value to the organization is immeasurable and greatly appreciated.
Adjournment: Don adjourned the meeting for his last time at 6:29 PM.
Submitted by Robin Pullen, Secretary.
